Fees, valuation & enforcement
Permit fees are a project input. Enforcement exposure is a project risk. Use the official schedule where available, then confirm valuation, trade permits, plan review, and inspection charges with the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
Official fee pathway
The final charge may depend on declared construction value, occupancy classification, square footage, plan review, state surcharges, trade permits, technology fees, and inspection activity. Do not use a neighboring city’s fee table as a substitute for this jurisdiction.
Fee desk contact
636-583-6384 (Building Department); 636-583-6369 (Planning & Zoning)
Ask the counter to confirm current charges before submitting a project with multiple trades or a change of use.
Financial exposure
Plan for building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire, energy, zoning, septic, right-of-way, or other reviews that the project scope triggers. The lowest initial permit fee is not always the lowest project cost.
Enforcement exposure
When work begins without authorization, the agency may halt the site, require corrective plans, impose additional fees, withhold inspection release, or require concealed work to be exposed for review.
Closeout exposure
A missing final inspection or certificate can complicate occupancy, refinancing, sale, insurance, and utility connection. Preserve the approved plans and signed inspection record through closeout.
Professional field note
Even when a cosmetic or minor project does not require a building permit, zoning, floodplain, shoreline, historic, utility, fire, or right-of-way controls may still apply. Confirm the full jurisdictional picture before work starts.
Source trail
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
Franklin County Building Department and Planning & Zoning Department is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 636-583-6384 (Building Department); 636-583-6369 (Planning & Zoning).
N/A for ordinary building permits; the county publishes no fixed review timeline. Conditional-use applications must generally be submitted at least 30 days before the next Planning & Zoning Commission meeting, and staffing/workload may affect response times.
The Building Department issues permits and inspects new construction in unincorporated Franklin County. The county publishes inspection guidelines by request; contact 636-583-6384 or building@franklinmo.gov to schedule inspections and obtain the current guidelines. Floodplain applications may require longer review and SEMA forms.
For unincorporated Franklin County, the county lists the 2021 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire, ICC Electrical, and Swimming Pool & Spa Codes, plus the 2020 National Electrical Code. The county's on-site sewage ordinance was amended September 23, 2025 and became effective October 1, 2025; the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance and Unified Land-Use Regulations also apply. Franklin County requires permits for construction and right-of-way use, and the county notes that municipalities and Missouri may require additional permits. The current building page publishes no broad cosmetic/minor-work exemption list; contact the Building Department to determine whether a specific repair or alteration requires a permit.
Why permit costs vary
Building departments commonly calculate charges from valuation, occupancy, floor area, project type, plan review effort, trade scope, state surcharges, and inspection activity. A remodel that appears small on paper may still trigger structural, energy, fire, or utility review. Ask the permit counter which disciplines apply before you finalize the construction budget.
The same discipline applies to enforcement. Correcting unpermitted work after finishes are installed can require demolition, revised plans, additional inspections, and schedule disruption. Authorization is usually the less expensive project-management decision.