Kansas City (Clay County portion), MO - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Home rule jurisdiction covering the Clay County portion of Kansas City; the Permits Division issues building, trade, and zoning clearance permits for all city addresses regardless of county line. citeturn16view0

Department

City Planning & Development Department, Permits Division. citeturn16view0

Address

City Hall, 414 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106; Permits Division on the 5th floor, walk-ups served Monday–Friday 8:30–3:00 PM. citeturn16view0

Phone

(816) 513-1500, option 1; email: cdpermits@kcmo.org. citeturn16view0

Website

https://www.kcmo.gov/city-hall/departments/city-planning-development/permits-division. citeturn16view0

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Set up a CompassKC account, select the correct permit type (building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, site, etc.), and upload project documents. citeturn16view0
2. Planning staff processes the submission, requests clarifications through CompassKC, and schedules plan review. citeturn16view0
3. Applicants receive electronic review comments and resubmit revisions as needed; no permit is released until all corrections are answered. citeturn16view0
4. Pay the calculated fee per Section 18 of the municipal code; CompassKC flags unpaid amounts and holds the permit. citeturn16view0
5. Once approved, inspectors assign inspection steps through CompassKC and the permit holder schedules each inspection with 24-hour notice. citeturn17search7

Typical processing time: The Development Process Guide frames typical timelines (roughly six weeks for standard applications after pre‐application meeting). citeturn17search0

Source: City Planning & Development Department, Permits Division. citeturn16view0

General Requirements

Almost all new construction, additions, remodels, accessory structures, demolition, roofs, decks, pools, and trade work within the city or street right-of-way. citeturn16view0

Required Documents

• When a permit is required: Almost all new construction, additions, remodels, accessory structures, demolition, roofs, decks, pools, and trade work within the city or street right-of-way. citeturn16view0
• Required documents: Full construction plans, site plan, structural calculations, energy code compliance, and floodplain documentation as applicable, all uploaded to CompassKC. citeturn16view0
• Permit validity/expiration: Permits are valid for the duration listed on the approval; amendments require additional fees and the permit remains on hold until the fees are paid. citeturn16view0
• Owner-builder rules if available: Homeowners performing work themselves still submit permit applications and must comply with the same inspection schedule; exceptions for residential owner-occupied work are documented in Kansas City policy bulletins. citeturn16view0
• Contractor license requirements: Contractors must hold a city business license (Contractor Licensing & Certification Requirements) and register trades in CompassKC before pulling permits. citeturn16view0
• Building code adopted: Kansas City references the 2018 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Plumbing, and Energy Codes (as further amended in Section 18). citeturn17search0

Permit validity

Permits are valid for the duration listed on the approval; amendments require additional fees and the permit remains on hold until the fees are paid. citeturn16view0

Building code

Kansas City references the 2018 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Plumbing, and Energy Codes (as further amended in Section 18). citeturn17search0

Owner-builder

Homeowners performing work themselves still submit permit applications and must comply with the same inspection schedule; exceptions for residential owner-occupied work are documented in Kansas City policy bulletins. citeturn16view0

Contractor requirements

Contractors must hold a city business license (Contractor Licensing & Certification Requirements) and register trades in CompassKC before pulling permits. citeturn16view0

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Not publicly listed as a flat minimum; CompassKC pulls the lowest fee for the selected permit type. citeturn16view0

Plan check fee

Calculated by the downloadable fee calculator PDF; plan review is included in the cost of the permit. citeturn16view0

Permit fee formula

Valuation-based schedule with base fees for the first ,000 and per-,000 increments plus specialized fees (site disturbance, plan review, etc.). citeturn16view0

Reinspection fee

Issued per Section 18; CompassKC posts outstanding reinspection fees and a value is typical for each follow-up visit. citeturn16view0

Payment note

Payments are made through CompassKC; plan releases are blocked until the fees are settled. citeturn16view0

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the City Planning & Development Department, Permits Division. citeturn16view0 to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Inspectors are scheduled through CompassKC; call (816) 513-1500, option 1, only after a permit number is issued. citeturn16view0 ()

Inspection hours

Monday–Friday inspections; walk-in consultation/staff hours 8:30 AM–3:00 PM. citeturn16view0

Typical inspection sequence: Foundation, framing, trades, insulation, and final inspections follow the CompassKC sequencing; trade inspections may be scheduled separately. citeturn16view0

Additional Resources

• Building code: Kansas City references the 2018 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Plumbing, and Energy Codes (as further amended in Section 18). citeturn17search0
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• (links to Zoning Verification, Comprehensive Plan, and district maps). citeturn16view0
• License lookup guide: Missouri Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Missouri Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Missouri hub: Missouri Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Kansas City (Clay County portion) Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in Kansas City (Clay County portion), MO?

Almost all new construction, additions, remodels, accessory structures, demolition, roofs, decks, pools, and trade work within the city or street right-of-way. citeturn16view0

How much does a building permit cost in Kansas City (Clay County portion), MO?

The minimum permit fee is Not publicly listed as a flat minimum; CompassKC pulls the lowest fee for the selected permit type. citeturn16view0. Fees are calculated as: Valuation-based schedule with base fees for the first ,000 and per-,000 increments plus specialized fees (site disturbance, plan review, etc.). citeturn16view0. Plan check fee: Calculated by the downloadable fee calculator PDF; plan review is included in the cost of the permit. citeturn16view0.

How do I apply for a building permit in Kansas City (Clay County portion), MO?

1. Set up a CompassKC account, select the correct permit type (building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, site, etc.), and upload project documents. citeturn16view0 2. Planning staff processes the submission, requests clarifications through CompassKC, and schedules plan review. citeturn16view0 3. Applicants receive electronic review comments and resubmit revisions as needed; no permit is released until all corrections are answered. citeturn16view0 4. Pay the calculated fee per Section 18 of the municipal code; CompassKC flags unpaid amounts and holds the permit. citeturn16view0 5. Once approved, inspectors assign inspection steps through CompassKC and the permit holder schedules each inspection with 24-hour notice. citeturn17search7

How long does it take to get a building permit in Kansas City (Clay County portion), MO?

Typical processing time is The Development Process Guide frames typical timelines (roughly six weeks for standard applications after pre‐application meeting). citeturn17search0.

What work is exempt from building permits in Kansas City (Clay County portion), MO?

The following work is generally exempt: See Building Permit Exempt Work bulletin for small fences, certain electrical fixes, portable heaters, etc. citeturn19search0.

How do I schedule a building inspection in Kansas City (Clay County portion), MO?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Inspectors are scheduled through CompassKC; call (816) 513-1500, option 1, only after a permit number is issued. citeturn16view0.