Springfield building department

Springfield’s Building Development Services (BDS) issues building, trade, fence, sign, and wrecking permits, reviews plans, inspects construction, and certifies trade workers inside Springfield city limits. The permit desk is on the first floor of the Busch Municipal Building, 840 Boonville Ave. It’s open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Unincorporated Greene County and neighboring towns are separate jurisdictions. The city’s online GIS map shows whether a property is inside city limits. Sewer, excavation, driveway, encroachment, and sidewalk permits are requested by phone or email through Public Works, at (417) 864-1921 or (417) 864-1980.

When a permit is required

Under City Code Sec. 36-128, a building permit is needed to build, alter, enlarge, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure. Electrical, fuel gas, mechanical, private sewage, and plumbing work regulated by the codes also needs a permit. The city’s “When a Permit is Required” sheet spells out common cases:

Project	Rule
Deck or patio	Permit needed if more than 30 inches above grade, over a basement or story below, or part of an accessible route
Accessory building (shed, detached garage)	Permit needed over 100 sq ft
Wall	Permit needed over 5 feet 9 inches
Swimming pool	Permit needed if deeper than 24 inches, over 5,000 gallons, or below grade
Drywall	Permit needed if replacing all wall surfaces in a room, or walls in more than one room
Door or window	Same-size replacement generally exempt; resizing or new framing needs a permit
Private sidewalk or driveway	Permit needed if more than 30 inches above grade, over a basement, or part of an accessible route

On the trade side, fixture replacement doesn’t need a plumbing permit, but relocating fixtures does. Replacing up to 10 feet of sewer pipe outside the building footprint is exempt. Ductless mini-splits need a mechanical permit. Gas dryers, ranges, and ovens can be connected without a permit. Gas water heaters, furnaces, space heaters, pool heaters, and fireplaces can’t. Switches, receptacles, and light fixtures can be replaced without an electrical permit.

Sheds and accessory buildings

The 100-square-foot shed limit is lower than in many cities, so a typical 10-by-12 storage building needs a permit. A permitted accessory building needs a site plan, a permanent foundation or piers, and a way to resist wind uplift, such as trailer tie-downs. The foundation must bear on undisturbed soil at least 2 feet below grade. Buildings from 100 to 399 sq ft need a plan showing setbacks and distances to other structures. At 400 sq ft or more, you also need a foundation/footing plan and elevations, drafted to scale. In residential districts, accessory buildings must be at least 10 feet from the rear lot line and can’t sit in the required front yard. See also do I need a permit for a shed.

Fences

Fences need a permit. One 6 feet or lower is a no-cost permit with site plan review only. A taller fence costs $50 and gets structural review. The fence application sets these limits:

• Front yard (the narrowest side facing the street): 48 inches maximum, and at least 50% open
• Rear yard: 6-foot privacy fence
• Over 6 feet and under 8 feet: engineered, sealed drawings if the part above 6 feet is less than 50% open
• Over 8 feet: engineered, sealed drawings, and it’s reviewed as a structure for setbacks

Submit a site plan or aerial photo showing the fence location, height, lot dimensions, and easements. You can build up to an easement but not over it. Call for a “Fence Final” inspection when you’re done.

Fees

Residential fees changed July 1, 2025. New homes and additions are charged on a construction factor: finished square footage x 85 x 1.02 x 0.38. The minimum building permit fee is $151. Other common fees:

Permit	Fee
Trade permit with a building permit	40% of building permit fee, $110 minimum
Trade permit without a building permit	$110
Furnace/AC or water heater change-out (like for like)	$49
Swimming pool	$151
Wrecking	$151
Re-inspection	$100 first; $200 each for second and third; $500 each after
Work without a permit	Permit fee x 2, plus $200

Who can pull permits

On new one- and two-family homes, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical work must be done by certified, bonded professionals, who pull their own permits. Homeowner permits are available for minor extensions or alterations of these systems entirely inside the house. Gas work, mechanical service, and water heater replacement are excluded. Electricians, plumbers, gas fitters, and mechanical workers must pass a city-sanctioned exam to hold a trade certification. A board reviews applications on the first Thursday of each month.

Applying through eCity

Applications can be filed on eCity, in person, or by mail. eCity handles residential and commercial projects, trade permits, wrecking permits, and planning applications. It lets you pay online, print your permit, request inspections, and track results. Commercial projects submitted after 3 p.m. are processed the next business day. Plan sets still go through the separate ePlans review. A new house application needs a verifiable legal description, such as a deed or tax receipt. It also needs a scale site plan of at least 1 inch = 20 feet, a cover sheet with square footage and estimated value, and sewer connection or septic approval.

Codes in effect

Springfield enforces the 2018 International Residential, Building, Existing Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Fire, Swimming Pool and Spa, and Private Sewage Disposal codes, plus the 2017 National Electrical Code. The 2018 International Energy Conservation Code applies to projects from January 1, 2023. Older projects stay under the 2012 edition.

Inspections and occupancy

Request inspections in eCity. Starting June 17, 2026, fire sprinkler and alarm inspections aren’t done on Wednesdays. Where a Fire Department final inspection applies, it comes after all BDS and fire inspections are approved. Request it through BDS or eCity with two business days’ notice. It must pass before a certificate of occupancy is issued. See certificate of occupancy for general background.