Jackson County, MO Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit fee
- $500 base + $100 per acre
- Small-job exemption
- Under 100 cubic yards of earth
- Performance bond
- 120% of costs, 3-year minimum
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine or 1 year jail
- Coverage
- Unincorporated county only, not Kansas City
Summary
Grading, excavating, or filling land in unincorporated Jackson County requires an Erosion and Sediment Control permit from the Director of Public Works before work begins. Kansas City and other cities enforce their own separate codes.
No person, firm, corporation or other legal entity may develop, landscape or disturb
land without the issuance of an Erosion Control permit and the approval of an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan by the Director of Public Works for Jackson County. Each applicant must disclose on the application all names under which it has conducted the business of developing, landscaping or otherwise disturbing land within Jackson County, Missouri. Disclosure shall include but not be limited to the status of the applicant as owner, proprietor, shareholder or investor. (Ord. 3606, Eff. 03/08/05)
B. All design, construction and maintenance standards shall be in accordance with the most current standards as established in APWA sections 5100, 5600, 2100, 2150, BMP Best Management Practices Manual and APWA Division III Standard Drawings. It is the Director's option to delete portions of these regulations that may not be appropriate for unincorporated Jackson County. The Director shall promulgate a list of any deleted regulations or portions thereof by means of public posting, brochures and/or posting on the County's website. (Ord. 3606, Eff.
-3- 03/08/05; Ord. 3654, Eff. 08/09/05)
C. No site development permit is required for the following activities:
1. any land disturbance activity that involves less than 100 cubic yards of earth movement; or
Full Breakdown
Jackson County Public Works requires an Erosion and Sediment Control permit before any land disturbance in unincorporated areas, under Code § 24103. Small jobs are exempt: under 100 cubic yards of earth movement, home landscaping, lawn reestablishment, and existing agricultural or nursery operations don't need a permit. Larger projects need an engineer-certified plan showing grading, drainage, contours and construction sequencing, a $500 base fee plus $100 per disturbed acre, and a performance bond worth 120% of estimated improvement costs, held for at least three years. This chapter applies only outside Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Raytown and Grandview, which administer their own grading and drainage rules.
Violations & Fines
Building or grading without a permit is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 per offense and up to a year in jail; each day of continued violation counts separately, per § 24109(B).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to regrade my property in unincorporated Jackson County?
Does this permit requirement apply inside Kansas City?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jackson County
Compare Jackson County to another location·View the Missouri environmental rules overview
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