Permits Needed for a Camps/ Parks

If you would like to place a cache in a Missouri State Park, you will need to apply for a Geocaching and Letterboxing Permit and follow specific steps and guidelines provided by Missouri State Parks. Please visit their Geocaching and Letterboxing Permit page directly to apply for the permit.

If your business is a no-discharge, private or domestic wastewater treatment facility with design flows of less than 50,000 gallons per day and land apply the wastewater, design flows of less than 50,000 gallons per day and plan to land apply the wastewater, you must obtain a Land Application of Domestic Wastewater MOG823000 master general permit.

Missouri collects water use data to better understand and manage the state’s water inventory.  A Major Water User is any person or entity that has the capability of producing a large amount of water (100,000 gallons per day or 70 gallons per minute or more) with all their combined wells or surface intakes. This water can be from either groundwater via a well, or surface water from a stream, river, lake, pond, or spring. 

Major Water Users are required by law to report the volume of water used by March 31 of the year following the usage.

If you would like to use a metal detector to seek for hidden treasures in Missouri State Parks, you must submit a Metal Detecting Registration Form. There are 11 state parks that allow metal detecting in designated beach areas, however, registration is required. Please visit their Metal Detecting Registration Form website to apply.

Off-road enthusiasts have two state parks to explore Missouri’s outdoors from a different angle. If you would like to purchase your off-road vehicle or ORV permit for St. Joe State Park or Finger Lakes State Park, remember, you must purchase your permit before arriving at the parks. Please visit their ORV permit website to purchase your permit.

Open burning is the burning of any materials in which air contaminants are emitted directly into the air without first passing through a stack or chimney. The department's fact sheet summarizes allowable and prohibited open burning under Missouri regulations. It does not include open burning restrictions that city or county governments may impose in addition to Missouri’s state regulations. Prior to conducting any open burning, businesses and citizens should contact the city or county of jurisdiction for any local restrictions.

• Facts on Open Burning Under Missouri Regulations - PUB2047

If your business plans to construct a public water system that will supply drinking water to the public, you must obtain a Public Water Systems Construction Permit. You must obtain this permit if you also plan to complete the following construction projects to the water system: waterline extensions, waterline replacements, drilling water supply well, construction a storage tank, adding a disinfection system, treatment changes, building a pump station or other improvements or modifications. A public water system has at least 15 service connections or serves at least 25 people at least 60 days out of the year. If your business plans to connect to a permitted public water system, then you are not required to obtain this permit.

If your business meets the definition of a transient noncommunity public water system, you must obtain a Public Water Systems Permit to Dispense. A transient noncommunity public water system has at least 15 service connections or serves at least 25 people at least 60 days out of the year. If your business plans to connect to a permitted public water system, then you are not required to obtain this permit.

Please refer to the Public Water Systems Permit to Dispense for additional information regarding the permit and applications. There are two forms available to use when applying for this permit. 

• Permit to Dispense Application for Public Water Systems – MO 780-2122 (be sure to check the box Transient Noncommunity Water Systems at the top of the form)
• Permit to Dispense Application for Transient Noncommunity Water Systems – MO 780-2228 (this is a simplified form to use specifically for transient noncommunity water systems.)

If you would like to rock climb or rappel in Missouri State Parks, you must obtain a Rock Climbing/ Rappelling Permit. Rock climbing is allowed at four state parks and rappelling is allowed at five. Bouldering, which does not require a permit, is allowed only at Elephant Rocks State Park. Visit their Rock Climbing/ Rappelling Permit website to apply for your permit.

If your business plans to construct a gravity sewer extension, force main and lift station, you may need a site-specific Sewer Extension Construction Permit. You may also need this permit if you plan to construct a non-earthen flow equalization storage basin at a lift station and an inline storage.

Are you are interested in hosting a special event or fund raiser in Missouri State Parks or use a state park or historic site to film a video? Contact the Missouri State Parks office to apply for a Special Event Permit.

If your business plans to discharge filter backwash and pool drainage from swimming pools and lined ponds that use chlorine as a sanitizer, you must obtain a Swimming Pools Discharge MOG760000 master general permit.

Missouri State Parks offers three parks to fish for trout. The streams at Bennett Spring, Montauk and Roaring River state parks are stocked every night. You may purchase your Trout Fishing Permit at the park store. Remember, all fishing in Missouri state parks is governed by state fishing regulations under the Missouri Department of Conservation. Make sure to take note of catch limits posted at each park. Visit Missouri State Parks' Trout Fishing Permit website to learn more.