Greene County, MO Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Bond
- $2,000 minimum per graded acre
- Fine
- $10-$1,000 per day violation
- Permit required
- Before any grading begins
- Agency
- Resource Management Department
- Scope
- Unincorporated county only, not Springfield
Summary
Anyone grading land in unincorporated Greene County must get a Resource Management Department erosion control plan approved and obtain a grading permit before touching dirt; Springfield and other cities enforce their own separate codes.
A. Scope of Authority
1. Any person, firm, corporation, or business proposing to develop land within Greene County shall apply to the Resource Management Department for approval of their erosion control plan and issuance of a grading permit as specified in this Regulation.
a. No land shall be graded except upon the issuance of such a permit.
B. Bond Requirement
1. Upon approval of the erosion control plan and prior to issuance of a grading permit, the Resource Management Department shall require the developer to post a performance bond, escrow agreement, lender’s agreement, cash bond, cash, or certified check of not less than $2,000 per graded acre plus the value of all other work to be done under the grading, sediment, and erosion control plan, including all other temporary and permanent sediment and erosion control measures.
a. This may be a part of other bond/escrow funds, subject to the County’s discretion.
2. For grading permits which do not include the construction of public improvements related to subdividing land under jurisdiction of the Subdivision Regulations, or construction of permanent buildings or structures under jurisdiction of the Building Regulations (i.e. where only grading work is included, such as for a borrow pit or pond), the only type of security which will be accepted will be a cash bond. Greene County Zoning Regulations
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Greene County's zoning regulations require anyone developing land in the unincorporated county to submit an erosion and sediment control plan to the Resource Management Department and secure a grading permit before any grading begins; no land can be graded without one. Before the permit issues, the developer must post a bond, escrow, or cash of not less than $2,000 per graded acre plus the cost of all other work under the plan, covering both temporary and permanent erosion control measures. The rule binds only unincorporated areas -- Springfield, Republic, Willard, Strafford, Ash Grove, and Battlefield enforce their own separate codes.
Violations & Fines
Grading without an approved plan and permit is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $10 to $1,000, with each day of continued violation counted as a separate offense; the County can also seek injunctive relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply inside Springfield?
How big must the bond be?
What happens if I grade without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greene County
Compare Greene County to another location·View the Missouri environmental rules overview
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