Community Development
Developing Your Property

Development regulations are issued for the protection of all citizens. It helps guarantee that all the work will be inspected so you can be assured that shoddy work, poor materials, or deviations from the plans will not result in unsafe conditions for the building occupants, whether the building is for commercial, residential, or any other use. To ensure the safety and welfare of Cape Girardeau citizens, permits must be obtained and inspections must be made from the City government for any structural work conducted on private property.

There are two divisions in the City that regulate development in Cape Girardeau: Inspection Services and Planning Services. Building Permits and Street and Right-of-Way Permits can be obtained at the inspection services office at City Hall (401 Independence). General Property Improvement permits can be obtained online or at the planning services office at City Hall.

The topics on the left provide the necessary information for developing your property in Cape Girardeau. If you have questions, you can email us or call Inspections Services at 573-334-4466, Planning Services at 573-3334-2322 or Engineering at 573-334-9020.

The City Council has established Tax Increment Financing (TIF) policy and guidelines .  Additionally, the City has adopted an application form for businesses interested in applying for TIF consideration.