Administrative overview · FIPS 29021
Buchanan County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Buchanan County Planning and Zoning Department
For a project in or near Buchanan County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
816-271-1528 (Planning and Zoning); 816-271-1503 (County Commissioner's Office)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Buchanan County Planning and Zoning Department, 411 Jules Street, Room 201, St. Joseph, MO 64501
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.
Review expectation
The zoning order states that a compliant building-permit application should be approved no later than 30 days after filing; if requirements are not met or action is not completed within 30 days, the applicant is notified and may appeal to the Board of Zoning Adjustment.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Buchanan County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Buchanan County Planning and Zoning Department is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 816-271-1528 (Planning and Zoning); 816-271-1503 (County Commissioner's Office).
How long might review take?
The zoning order states that a compliant building-permit application should be approved no later than 30 days after filing; if requirements are not met or action is not completed within 30 days, the applicant is notified and may appeal to the Board of Zoning Adjustment.
How are inspections scheduled?
The Zoning Officer or authorized representative may inspect buildings, structures, premises, and work for which a permit is required. The official county pages do not publish an online inspection scheduler or appointment procedure; contact Planning and Zoning at 816-271-1528. The Planning Commission meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
N/A—the current county materials identify and enforce the Buchanan County Zoning Order, including a 2026 amendments section, but do not identify a current International Building Code edition. The county building-code dataset dated February 23, 2026 reports no county energy or residential code adoption. The zoning order applies in the unincorporated area; incorporated municipalities may have separate codes. The county's official planning page states that every zoning district, regardless of acreage, requires a building permit for any structure and an on-site wastewater system where applicable; no broad minor/cosmetic exemption list is published. The fee schedule exempts qualifying not-for-profit churches, schools, charitable institutions, and government subdivisions from building-permit application charges, but this is a fee exemption rather than a permit exemption.