Building Code Department

Mike Hite - Building Inspector
Contact - (636)586-3326
City Hall
17 Boyd St.
De Soto, MO  63020

WHEN DO I NEED A PERMIT?

RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION

Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct a single-family dwelling, two family dwelling, multi-family dwelling, room addition or extension, garage or carport, fence, porch or deck, patio or breezeway; storage building (any size), retaining wall (any size), all concrete work for future construction, all remodeling work or rehabilitation that requires replacement or changing of load bearing wall, electrical, rafter change, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, floor, door, or stairs.

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

All new commercial construction; any extension, addition, rehabilitation, or remodeling to the interior or the exterior of a commmercial building.

BUSINESS LICENSE

A business license is required for all contractors doing business in the City of De Soto.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A BUILDING PERMIT

A building permit application may be obtained from City Hall, Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.  The building permit application along with the required information must be submitted to the Building Inspector for approval.

PERMIT COST: April 1, 2008
      Commercial              27 cents per sq. ft.
      Residential               27 cents per sq. ft.
      Re-Inspections         $28.41 (over 6)
      All Other Permits       $25.00 minimum (non-refundable)
**The fee increases annually April 1st by 3%

OTHER FEES:
      Swimming Pools - $25.00  Above and below ground pools require fencing which is an additional fee of $25.00.
      Demolition or Destruction - $25.00  Any demolition or destruction of an existing building or part of an existing building.  The City reserves the right to request an engineer's seal of approval.
      Driveway & Excavations in Streets - No person shall begin to excavate, construct, repair, alter or grade any right-of-way, curb, curb cut, driveway or street on a public street without first obtaining a permit from the City Manager.  A deposit of $250.00 is required for asphalt and $400.00 for concrete, or such sum as may be required by the City on a project-by-project basis.  In the even the applicant does not repair the street to the City's satisfaction, the deposit will be forfeited.
      Signs - $25.00  All signs whether lighted or not require a sign permit, including any changes to an existing sign.
      Fences - $25.00  A permit is required before constructing any kind of fence, including the replacement of an existing fence.
      Water - In the event water service is being installed to a residence or commercial building in which no connection currently exist, the applicant shall be required to pay the connection charge of $1,000.00 for a three-quarter (3/4) inch tap.  The tap fee for greater than three-quarter (3/4) inch shall be $750.00 plus cost of materials.
      Sewer - A permit and inspection fee of $1,000.00 for a residential or commercial building sewer connection is required.  The applicant must notify the Public Works Dept. for an inspection prior to back filling the sewer tap.

TO OBTAIN A BUILDING PERMIT

The following items must be submitted to the Building Inspector for all residential and commercial building permits.

1. A copy of the current paid real property tax receipt.
2. The owner must have the corners of the property marked as well as the proposed building staked as to position on the lot.  The position of the building on the property will be shown on a site plan submitted prior to issuance of a building permit.
3. One set of site plans to scale to size location of all new construction.  All existing structures on the site are to be shown and the distance from the lot line with all being in accordance with an accurate boundary survey.  The City reserves the right to require a survey of the property.  If a public sewer is not available, the site plan must show the location of a private sewage disposal system.
   • Lot dimensions/location of building and proposed building or addition.
   • Location of all utility easements, water, sewer, gas, electric, telephone.
4. Two sets of building plans (one of which will be returned upon issuance of the building permit).
   • Typical wall section/footing, foundation, and basement wall section.
   • First floor plans/second floor plans, if applicable.
   • Front, side, and rear view of building (3 grade elevations).
   • Roof rafters - size and span/truss detail, stating live load.  Must have engineer/architect stamp.
   • Heat unit, chimney or metal flue, fireplace.
   • Stair first section/exhaust fans, kitchen, and bathroom.

THE PROCESS

1. A $25.00 non-refundable fee to be applied toward the permit must be submitted when submitting the building permit application.
2. Submit required information to the Building Inspector on the Building Permit Application Form.
3. A preliminary inspection of the property must be made by the Building Inspector per site plan.
4. Building plans must be approved prior to permit issuance and commencement of construction.
5. Once the preliminary inspection has been made and the plans have been approved the permit may be issued.  This usually takes one to three days.
6. Upon approval, the building permit application must be posted on site.
7. Prior to any excavation, the applicant should contact DIG RITE at 1-800-344-7483 for all utility locates.
8. The following inspections will be made: site, footing, framing, rough electric, rough plumbing, and final.  An additional fee of $28.41 per inspection will be charged after the first six inspections are made.
9. No structure may be occupied or used for any purpose until the Building Inspector has issued a final inspection / occupancy permit. 
10. Any building in a floodplain will require a Floodproof Certificate and Elevation Certification filed with permit application.
11. If a building permit request is denied, a variance may be requested by the applicant to the City's Board of Adjustment.