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ADU rules in Missouri

Representative cities: St. Louis, Kansas City.

Verify locally. Missouri is a home-rule state with NO mandatory statewide residential building code — codes are adopted and enforced locally, so permit thresholds and fees vary by city or county. Verify with your municipal building department (e.g., St. Louis Building Division or Kansas City Permits Division). ADU rules below are drawn from official sources — always confirm with the issuing building department before designing or building.

ADU permit rule

Permit requiredCase by casecity authority
Fee basis
Permit fees set locally by each municipality — verify with the city building department (St. Louis Building Division or KC Permits Division).
Typical timeline
Varies by municipality — simple permits often same-day to ~2 weeks; full plan-review permits several weeks.
Setback
Area threshold
Not size-exempt
Exempt if
Not exempt
Go / no-go
case-by-case
ADUs require a building permit plus zoning/use approval. Missouri has no statewide residential building code, so allowance and rules are set locally (e.g., St. Louis and Kansas City each have their own requirements). Verify with your municipal building department.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to build an ADU in Missouri?

Per Missouri rules, an ADU is "yes" for a permit and the authority is "city". ADUs require a building permit plus zoning/use approval. Missouri has no statewide residential building code, so allowance and rules are set locally (e.g., St. Louis and Kansas City each have their own requirements). Verify with your municipal building department. Always confirm with the issuing building department.

How big can an ADU be in Missouri?

Size limits for an ADU in Missouri are set by local zoning — verify with your city building department.

What are the ADU setbacks in Missouri?

Setback rules vary by city in Missouri; confirm with the local planning or building department.

How much does an ADU permit cost in Missouri?

Fee basis: Permit fees set locally by each municipality — verify with the city building department (St. Louis Building Division or KC Permits Division).

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