Independence building department

The Building Inspections Division, part of Independence’s Community Development Department, issues building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits and inspects all new residential and commercial construction inside city limits. Permit staff work from the Independence Municipal Commons on E. Jackson Drive, while mailed submittals go to City Hall at 111 E. Maple Ave., Independence, MO 64050 (ATTN: Building Permits).

What needs a permit in Independence

The division publishes a specific list of work that always requires a permit:

• Detached garages, carports and tree houses over 120 sq ft
• Fences over 6 feet tall
• All residential additions, porch enclosures and basement finishes
• Decks and ramps
• Re-roofing
• Swimming pools with walls 24 inches or taller or holding 5,000 gallons or more
• Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work
• Windmill and wind-turbine towers

Replacement windows and doors need a permit only when the opening gets larger. Siding replacement does not need a permit.

Adopted codes

Independence enforces the 2024 IRC, 2024 IBC and 2023 NEC. The city has also adopted local amendment packages to the 2024 IEBC, IECC, IFC, IFGC, IMC, IPC and IPMC. Each amendment document is posted on the Applications, Forms & Permits page. Read the IRC amendments before you design a house or addition.

How to apply

The official permit center at apps.indepmo.org has links to apply, pay fees, print an issued permit, request inspections, search permit status and apply for contractor licenses. The city’s packets also accept submittals by email to [email protected]. After staff receive the documents, they email the applicant with payment options. The application, plans and fee are all due at submittal. Incomplete packages are not processed, and nothing goes to review until the fee is paid.

Project packets list exactly what each review needs:

• Deck packet: residential application, deck/ramp plan review sheet (plus the covered-deck sheet if the deck has a roof), expanded deck view, plot plan and fee. The packet includes joist-span tables and ledger and handrail details.
• Detached building packet: application, building plan review sheet, footing detail sheet, engineer-stamped truss drawings where trusses are used, and plot plan.
• Solar, pool and mobile home checklists are posted with the other forms.

Deck and detached-building permits are reviewed within 5 business days, counted from the day after submittal. Three groups review them: Building at (816) 325-7401, Zoning at (816) 325-7421 or 7823 for setbacks and Unified Development Ordinance design standards, and Engineering/Public Works for easements and floodplains. You can pay extra for expedited plan review. Email [email protected] for rates.

Fees (schedule effective July 1, 2024)

Item	Fee
Residential building, $1–$50,000 valuation	$60 + $9.25 per $1,000
Residential building, $50,001–$500,000	$200 + $6.50 per $1,000
Residential building, over $500,000	$700 + $5.75 per $1,000
Trade permits (each trade), $1–$500 / $501–$1,000 / $1,001–$5,000	$50 / $60 / $70
Trade permits, over $5,000	$90 + $13.50 per $1,000 over $5,000
Swimming pool, under / over 15,000 gallons	$140 / $175
Demolition, 0–500 sq ft up to 5,001+ sq ft	$200 to $600
Certificate of use and occupancy	$20
Reinspection, first / second	$20 / $40

New dwellings also carry a license surcharge: $1,414 for a single-family home, $756 per unit for a duplex and $868 per unit for three or more units. Some areas of western Independence are exempt, and a map on the application shows which. If you cancel with just cause, the city refunds the permit fee minus a 10% charge.

Contractor licensing and homeowner permits

Anyone hired to do permitted work in Independence needs a city contractor license and a city business license before a permit is issued. Both can be applied for online.

License	Scope
Class A general	Residential and commercial
Class B general	Residential and commercial up to 3 stories
Class C general	Residential only
Class D (Master Electrical, Mechanical or Plumbing)	The licensed trade

To qualify, you need one of these: an ICC or Prometric score of 75% or higher from the last five years, an active license from a jurisdiction Independence reciprocates with, or (for general licenses only) a bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture or construction science. Licenses are issued to individuals, not companies. All licenses expire December 31 each year and are not prorated. Journeymen cannot pull permits; only a master license holder can.

Homeowners can pull their own permits only if they personally own and live in the single-family house or accessory structure. The roofing guide says the same applies to re-roofing. If the house has been tagged dangerous or unsafe, you can act as your own contractor only if you lived there when it was tagged.

Inspections

Request inspections through the city’s online inspection request page, using your permit number. A re-roof gets inspected at two stages.