HB 1791 Missouri House · 2026 Regular Session

Establishes building permit issuance deadlines

HB 1791 establishes specific deadlines for local governments to process building permit applications based on permit type and project size. For example, residential permits under 7,500 sq. ft. (Level 1) must be approved within 30 business days, while larger projects (Level 2-4) have 60-day deadlines. If local governments miss these deadlines, they must reduce the permit fee by 10% per business day, with exceptions for applicant-caused delays or written extensions. The bill also requires local governments to notify applicants within 5 days if more information is needed, or the application is automatically accepted. This directly affects homeowners, contractors, and local governments handling construction permits.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Governor

Introduced Dec 1, 2025 Last action May 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Committee Substitute → Perfected · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was perfected to repeal three existing building permit sections and replace them with five new ones. This change expands the scope of the law by adding new permit categories and clarifying definitions for residential and commercial construction projects.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from amending a single section to repealing three existing sections and enacting five new sections that cover a broader range of building permit types and enforcement requirements.

SCOPE

Added new sections 67.491 and 67.492 to establish requirements for certified enforcement inspectors and define specific building permit levels.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'Level 1 building permit' to include specific residential categories like alarms, electrical, irrigation, landscaping, mechanical, plumbing, and roofing.

REQUIREMENT

Added new definitions for 'Level 3', 'Level 4', and 'Level 5' building permits to cover signs, nonresidential buildings, multifamily properties, and site-specific repetitive construction.

Added a new definition for 'Level 6 building permit' specifically for single-family dwellings applied for by contractors under federal disaster recovery grants.

TIMELINE

Established specific business day deadlines for reviewing building permit applications, ranging from 12 days for Level 5 permits to 60 days for Levels 2-4.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

SCS Voted Do Pass (S)

upper

May 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion to Reconsider Adopted (S)

upper

May 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive Session Held (S) - Thursday, May 7, 2026, 9:15 a.m., Senate Committee Room 1 - 1st Floor

upper

Apr 21, 2026

Committee

Second read and referred: Local Government, Elections and Pensions(S)

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 111 NOES: 24 PRESENT: 8

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Perfected with Amendments (H) - HA 1, adopted

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Adopted (H)

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 9 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred: Commerce(H)

lower

Dec 1, 2025

Introduced

Prefiled (H)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor