Missouri does not authorize traditional municipal impact fees the way California or Washington do. RSMo Chapter 89 (Zoning) and Chapter 67 (Political Subdivisions) do not include a general development-impact-fee enabling statute, and Missouri courts have struck down fees lacking a specific statutory basis. Springfield charges building permit fees calculated on construction valuation under the adopted International Residential Code and City Utilities water/sewer tap fees, but no separate parks, transportation, or school impact fees on ADU construction.
Missouri cities operate under Dillon's Rule for development fees: the General Assembly has not enacted a statewide development-impact-fee enabling statute analogous to California's Mitigation Fee Act. Missouri appellate courts have invalidated fees that function as taxes without express statutory authorization, requiring any 'fee' to bear a direct relationship to the cost of services provided. Costs of building a second dwelling unit on a Springfield parcel therefore consist of: (1) a zoning compliance review fee through Planning and Development (typically a few hundred dollars); (2) building permit fees calculated on construction valuation under the Springfield-adopted 2018 International Residential Code, plus separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits; (3) plan review fees typically a fixed percentage of the building permit fee; (4) City Utilities of Springfield water, sewer, and natural gas tap fees if new services are installed (sharing the existing tap with the principal dwelling avoids new connection charges); (5) Greene County recording fees through the Recorder of Deeds if any easements or covenants are recorded against title. Greene County does not impose a separate building permit on parcels within Springfield city limits. School funding: Springfield Public Schools (R-XII) is funded through the Missouri state foundation formula and local property tax levies; there is no school impact fee. Property taxes on the increased assessed value after construction provide the long-term revenue stream to SPS, Ozarks Technical Community College, Greene County, the City, and Springfield-Greene County Library District. Stormwater fees: City Utilities assesses a monthly stormwater utility fee based on impervious surface area; an ADU footprint may marginally increase the fee but is not a one-time impact charge.
Failure to pay permit fees blocks issuance of the building permit and certificate of occupancy. Unpermitted construction to avoid fees: stop-work order, double permit fees on after-the-fact applications, mandatory exposure of concealed work for inspection. Unpaid City Utilities tap fees may result in service refusal or disconnection. Improper tap connections without permits expose the property owner to City Utilities back-billing and reconnection charges.
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