Permits Needed for Forest and Park Service Businesses

Above ground storage tanks are regulated by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. For more information, please visit their Fuel Device Safety and Accuracy Program webpage.

The department requires notification of demolitions and abatement projects involving regulated structures at least 10 working days before crews begin a project. To learn more, visit the department's Asbestos webpage.

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. For more information, please visit the Missouri State Parks' Geocaching and Letterboxing Permit webpage.

If you or your business plans to transport used oil, hazardous waste (combustible liquids, corrosives, poisons/ toxins, flammable liquids, flammable solids, PCB's) or infectious waste in Missouri, you are required to obtain a Hazardous Waste Transporter License.

Even though the request is approved by both Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, you must apply for and renew the license through MoDOT. For more information, please visit MoDOT's Hazardous Waste Transport webpage.

If you or your business is capable of producing 100,000 gallons per day, or approximately 70 gallons per minute, including all wells or surface intakes, you are required to register with the department as a Major Water User. This registration is not for permitting purposes or to regulate water usage. Major water users are required by law to report the volume of water they used by March 31 of the year following the usage. Registration is required in order to submit reports.

The Major Water Users Program is established to simply gather water use data. Missouri collects water use data to better understand and manage the state’s water inventory. For more information, or to complete the online registration, please visit the Major Water Users webpage.

There are 11 state parks that allow metal detecting in designated beach areas. If you would like to use a metal detector to seek for hidden treasures in Missouri State Parks, registration is required. For more information, please visit the Missouri State Parks' Metal Detecting Registration Form webpage.

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. For more information, please visit the Missouri State Parks' ORV permit webpage.

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 Missouri Department of Natural Resources does not issue permits for open burning. Prior to conducting any open burning, businesses and citizens should contact the city or county of jurisdiction for any local restrictions.

The department's Facts on Open Burning Under Missouri Regulations - PUB2047 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. 

Rock climbing is allowed at four state parks and rappelling is allowed at five. If you would like to rock climb or rappel in Missouri State Parks, you must obtain a Rock Climbing/ Rappelling Permit. Bouldering, which does not require a permit, is allowed only at Elephant Rocks State Park. For more information, please visit the Missouri State Parks' Rock Climbing/ Rappelling Permit webpage.

If 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, you must apply for a Special Event Permit. Contact the Missouri State Parks office to apply for a Special Event 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. For more information, please visit the Missouri State Parks' Trout Fishing Permit webpage.

If you would like to become a licensed wastewater treatment operator including a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Waste Management System operator, visit the department's Operator Certification webpage. The department can help provide you with training, examinations, funding vouchers to obtain certification and information about employment opportunities within Missouri.