City Building Permits
Richmond, MO - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Richmond, Missouri. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
City limits of Richmond, Missouri. The city page states the Community Development Department handles permits and inspections
- Department
- Richmond Community Development Department
- Address
- City of Richmond, 205 Summit Street, Richmond, MO 64085
- Phone
- 816-776-5304
Online Permit Portal
Platform: City of Richmond website • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Review the city page to determine whether the project is permitted work
- Assemble a site plan and complete building plans; for new dwellings, a registered surveyor site plan is required
- Submit the permit request to Community Development
- Wait for review and approval before starting work
- Schedule inspections with at least 24 hours notice
Typical processing time: Plan reviews may take up to five days. Same-day issuance is generally not available for building or fence permits
General Requirements
Richmond requires permits for new construction, additions, basement finishing, commercial additions and tenant finishes, fences over 6 feet, decks, pools, outbuildings, and most electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and irrigation work
Required Documents
- When a permit is required: Richmond requires permits for new construction, additions, basement finishing, commercial additions and tenant finishes, fences over 6 feet, decks, pools, outbuildings, and most electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and irrigation work
- Required documents: Site plan, complete building plans, contractor information, and the property owner; commercial work also requires engineered plans and a surveyor site plan
- Permit validity/expiration: No permit expiration period was clearly published on the reviewed page
- Owner-builder rules if available: The page lists the property owner among the information required, but no formal owner-builder exception rule was clearly published
- Contractor license requirements: No explicit contractor licensing rule was clearly published on the reviewed page
- Building code adopted: 2021 International Building Code, 2021 International Residential Code, 2020 National Electrical Code, 2021 International Plumbing Code, 2021 International Mechanical Code, 2021 International Fuel Gas Code, and 2021 International Existing Building Code
- Permit validity
- No permit expiration period was clearly published on the reviewed page
- Building code
- 2021 International Building Code, 2021 International Residential Code, 2020 National Electrical Code, 2021 International Plumbing Code, 2021 International Mechanical Code, 2021 International Fuel Gas Code, and 2021 International Existing Building Code
- Owner-builder
- The page lists the property owner among the information required, but no formal owner-builder exception rule was clearly published
- Contractor requirements
- No explicit contractor licensing rule was clearly published on the reviewed page
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- No minimum dollar amount was clearly published on the reviewed page
- Plan check fee
- No separate plan-check fee was clearly published on the reviewed page
- Permit fee formula
- Based on total estimated cost of construction; new residential dwellings are based on square footage
- Reinspection fee
- No separate reinspection or penalty fee was clearly published on the reviewed page
- Payment note
- Estimated cost must be included on the application. The city says permit fees are based on estimated construction cost
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Richmond Community Development Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Contact Lisa Hastings by phone or email; inspections can be arranged by direct contact ()
- Inspection hours
- Inspections are performed during regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
Typical inspection sequence: The city page does not list a formal stage sequence, but it requires 24 hours notice before inspections except in emergencies
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2021 International Building Code, 2021 International Residential Code, 2020 National Electrical Code, 2021 International Plumbing Code, 2021 International Mechanical Code, 2021 International Fuel Gas Code, and 2021 International Existing Building Code
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- and
- cityofrichmondmo.org
- License lookup guide: Missouri Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Missouri Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Missouri hub: Missouri Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Richmond Community Development Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Richmond, MO?
- Richmond requires permits for new construction, additions, basement finishing, commercial additions and tenant finishes, fences over 6 feet, decks, pools, outbuildings, and most electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and irrigation work
- How much does a building permit cost in Richmond, MO?
- The minimum permit fee is No minimum dollar amount was clearly published on the reviewed page. Fees are calculated as: Based on total estimated cost of construction; new residential dwellings are based on square footage. Plan check fee: No separate plan-check fee was clearly published on the reviewed page.
- How do I apply for a building permit in Richmond, MO?
- 1. Review the city page to determine whether the project is permitted work 2. Assemble a site plan and complete building plans; for new dwellings, a registered surveyor site plan is required 3. Submit the permit request to Community Development 4. Wait for review and approval before starting work 5. Schedule inspections with at least 24 hours notice
- How long does it take to get a building permit in Richmond, MO?
- Typical processing time is Plan reviews may take up to five days. Same-day issuance is generally not available for building or fence permits.
- What work is exempt from building permits in Richmond, MO?
- The following work is generally exempt: Siding; Painting; Sheetrock; Above-ground pools under 24 inches; Retaining walls under 4 feet; Sidewalks, driveways, and platforms less than 30 inches above grade; Fences less than 6 feet; Other cosmetic alterations and minor interior or exterior repairs.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Richmond, MO?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Contact Lisa Hastings by phone or email; inspections can be arranged by direct contact.
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