On a small screen, swipe tables sideways to read every column.
Start with the property address.
| Where the work is | Licensing route | Who handles the permit |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri side | Missouri's statewide electrical-contractor license must be recognized by political subdivisions in place of a local contractor license under RSMo §324.925. Local business licensing, permits, code enforcement and individual-electrician licensing can still apply. | The city or county with authority over the property. A KCMO address and a “Kansas City” mailing address are not interchangeable. |
| Kansas side | The Kansas business starter guide directs electrical contractors to local licensing. K.S.A. §12-1526 addresses local licensing and qualifying examination recognition; passing a transferable exam does not itself issue a contractor license or permit. | The incorporated city, or the county for an unincorporated property. Johnson County contractor licensing and Johnson County building permits have different geographic roles. |
State rules checked October 29, 2026. This guide covers four permit authorities; it does not substitute their rules for those in Kansas City, Kansas, Independence, Lee's Summit or another metro city.
Match the license class to the work.
| Credential | Scope to check | Common confusion |
|---|---|---|
| KCMO Class I | General electrical installation, alteration, repair and removal. | A company contractor license and the qualified supervisor's certificate are separate records. |
| KCMO Class II | Restricted maintenance and specified connections; read the limitations before using this class for a project. | Class II is not equivalent to unrestricted Class I contracting. |
| KCMO Class III | Specified communications, alarm, signal and other low-voltage systems. | A low-voltage credential does not authorize general power wiring. |
| Johnson County Class DE | Electrical contractor class. The company must meet the county's qualifying-individual requirements. | General building classes A, B and C do not authorize electrical work. |
Sources: KCMO Chapter 18, Article XII, §18-327 and Johnson County, New License / License Types. Checked October 29, 2026. Ask the permit authority how a Missouri statewide credential is recorded for a specific application.
The scope triggers a permit, not a minimum job price.
| Authority | Work to bring to the permit desk | Exception or boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, Missouri | New or altered electrical installations, including circuits and service equipment. | §18-16(b)(5) exempts specified minor work, including replacement switches, receptacles and fixtures other than ceiling fans when no circuit alteration or extension is needed. An exemption still requires code-compliant work. |
| Unincorporated Johnson County | Electrical work under the county's roofing/electrical/plumbing/mechanical permit process; submit amperage, scope and valuation, with applicable inspections. | The county directs properties inside a city to that city. Residential trade permits have no plan-review fee; commercial trade work requires plan review. |
| Overland Park | New or extended circuits, service upgrades and installation or replacement of building wiring or panels under the city's permit guidance. | Use Title 16 and the permit desk for exemptions. The $19,000 fee bracket below is not permission to work without a permit. |
| Olathe | Submit electrical construction or alteration through the building permit application process; identify the trade contractor and scope. | The city verifies Johnson County contractor credentials. A homeowner exception is limited to qualifying work on the owner's primary residence; it does not exempt required permits. |
Before signing, put the permit holder, required inspections and utility coordination in the proposal. A homeowner exemption is not a way for an otherwise unqualified hired contractor to work under the owner's name. Confirm the exact exception with the authority before relying on it.
Published fee schedules: compare like scopes.
These are permit calculations, separate from an electrician's labor and material price. The authority determines accepted valuation and any additional review, reinspection or special-service charges. Figures below were checked October 29, 2026; open the linked schedule before filing.
| Authority / schedule | Relevant published brackets | Review fees and limits |
|---|---|---|
| KCMO: detached one- and two-family dwellings §18-20(b)(2) | $0–$1,000: $52. $1,001–$2,000: $58. $2,001–$100,000: $58 plus $4.33 per additional $1,000 or fraction above $2,000. | Use the separate higher-value brackets above $100,000. Current code version: October 21, 2026. |
| KCMO: other buildings §18-20(b)(3), (c)(1) | $0–$500: $52. $501–$2,000: $93. $2,001–$200,000: $93 plus $14 per additional $1,000 or fraction above $2,000. | When initial construction-document review is required, half the permit fee is paid at submission and credited toward the total. Larger projects use later brackets. |
| Unincorporated Johnson County Residential fee chart · Commercial fee chart | $1–$500: $22. $501–$2,000: $22 plus $2.75 per additional $100 or fraction above $500. $2,001–$25,000: $63 plus $12.50 per additional $1,000 or fraction above $2,000. | Residential standalone trade permits: no plan-review fee. Commercial chart adds 65% of the permit fee for plan review. Charts are linked by the county's current permit page; filenames date to 2021/2022. |
| Overland Park Development Approval and Permit Fees, pp. 4–7, effective August 1, 2025 | Applicant-valued work $1–$5,000: $60 combined permit/review. $5,001–$19,000: $80 combined. Above $19,000: valuation × 0.0050. | For reviewed plans above $19,000, 50% is paid at application, not added again. New construction uses ICC valuation × 0.0035. Category assignment and fee reductions can change the charge; qualifying EV-ready retrofits receive a permit-fee reduction through December 31, 2027. |
| Olathe 2026 adopted fees, MEP Trade Permit, §15.02.180 | Residential: $50 for the first $10,000 of project cost. Commercial: $100 for the first $10,000. Both add 0.5% of cost above $10,000. | These are MEP trade fees. The adopted list separately lists building plan review: residential 15% of building permit fee, minimum $40; commercial 30%, minimum $200. Confirm which review charges apply to your submission. |
Olathe's adopted PDF was readable through indexed official text during this check; direct retrieval was unavailable. Overland Park's current fee-page body was unavailable, so the linked official PDF supplies the dated schedule. These are published schedule summaries, not binding fee quotes.
Check the contractor before the deposit.
- Get the exact legal company name, license number and proposed permit holder from the written bid.
- Use the KCMO licensed-contractor search for the appropriate electrical class, the Johnson County contractor search for Class DE, or Missouri's MO PRO license search for a claimed statewide credential.
- Match the record to the company on the proposal. Check status, expiration and class; a similarly named person or business is not enough. If the record names an individual, confirm the connection to the contracting company.
- Ask the local authority whether that credential and permit holder cover this property and scope. Save the dated result and obtain current insurance documentation separately.
A search with no exact match is a reason to clarify the name and issuing authority, not proof that the business is unlicensed. The lookup interfaces above were functioning on October 29, 2026.
Next, use the Kansas City electrical cost guide to separate contractor scope from permit allowances. Our source methodology explains why a dated credential record does not establish workmanship.