All construction in or to a structure such as the house or garage will likely require a permit.  Additionally, the City requires permits for fences, decks, pools and outbuildings larger than 120 square feet.  Some items such as re-roofing your house or replacing existing windows do not require permits.  It is recommended that all persons interested in constructing in the city limits to contact the Building Regulations Department to find out what permits are needed and the cost for the permit.

The City of Smithville regulates the allowable height for weeds and grass in all areas of the City to reduce nuisances to adjacent property owners.  The City of Smithville's revision to Section 302.4 of the International Property Maintenance Code requires:

 

All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 7 inches in all residentially zoned ground with an approved final plat and all commercial and industrial ground, if a structure is located on the lot.
 16 inches on all undeveloped ground without structures that is adjacent to ground with an occupied structure, but only for the first 30 feet from the property line or 50 feet from the adjacent residential structure, whichever is less.
 16 inches on all agricultural zoned ground without crops that is adjacent to ground with an occupied structure, but only for the first 30 feet from the property line or 50 feet from the adjacent residential structure, whichever is less.  Hay and grass shall constitute a crop if, and only if, it is regularly harvested.  If not regularly harvested, then such hay or grass shall not constitute a crop for purposes of this Section.

The city has adopted the International Codes for construction issued in 2006.  These include the 2006 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Property Maintenance, Fuel Gas Codes, as well as the 2005 National Electrical Code.

The Code Enforcement Department enforces all nuisance violations on a complaint only basis. If you believe a nuisance exists, contact our Department at 532-3897 or file a complaint here.

You will need to provide the address of the property where the nuisance exists.  Within 24 hours, an inspector will view the property to determine if any violations exist and proceed with enforcement if warranted. 

All questions concerning Zoning Issues will be handled through the department by calling 532-3897.  The Planning and Zoning Director will meet with parties interested in changing the zoning, subdividing or otherwise developing property inside the city limits.  At the initial meeting, the property owner will be provided information and instructions on what requirements exist for the specific plan.

The City must follow several state laws concerning nuisance abatement.  Upon identification of a violation, the City must provide the property owner with a written notice of the violations and time to correct the violations.  After 10 days, if the violations are not corrected, the City must provide the owner with a separate notice that if the violation is not corrected with 5 additional days, the city can enter the property and abate the violation, and record a special tax bill on the property.  Only after these notices may the city actually correct the violation. 

No.

Yes. They must be purchased annually at City Hall.

$5.00 annually – valid from January through December, purchased at City Hall.

Yes. Yard waste (limbs, sticks, grass clippings and brush) can be dropped off at the street department next to Helvey Lake Monday thru Friday between 8:00am and 3:30 pm.

Call the Parks Department at 816.532.8130

Call City Hall at 816.532.3897

$25.00 non refundable fee

$50.00 non-refundable fee

April 15 to October 15 each year

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources requires the water supplier to inform the public immediately if a regulation that is considered to be a danger to public health is not being met. A Consumer Confidence Report is also provided every July to inform the customer of Smithville`s water quality. 

Every public water supply in Missouri is regulated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. There are strict limits and regulations on minerals, chlorine and other disinfectants, disinfection by-products, nitrates, lead and copper and other chemicals for every supplier of public water.  

You can reach the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Kansas City regional office at (816) 622-7000 or visit their website at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/.

Water is pumped from Smithville Lake into the drinking water treatment plant. Upon entering the plant, a coagulant and a disinfectant are added to remove algae, dirt and other organics from the water. A small amount of fluoride is also added to help prevent tooth decay. The water then goes through a process of settling in three different treatment basins before it is filtered. Smithville uses sand and anthracite filters to filter the water before it is pumped to holding towers at the water treatment facilities. As it enters these holding towers a small amount of chlorine is added for disinfection. The treated water is then pumped to three towers at different locations throughout the city.  

Black particles can come from several different sources: the inside of steel pipe, a broken water filter, a degrading washer or gasket in a plumbing fixture or a disintegrating, black rubber, flexible supply line hose.

White or tan particles can come from several different sources: the inside of your plastic plumbing, your water heater or a water softener. 

Smithville`s water does contain some calcium that can precipitate out and cause scaling or clogging of lines in appliances. Yearly flushing maintenance of your water heater is recommended to prevent build-up. Use white vinegar or a specialized product for scale removing in appliances. Scale build-up on plumbing fixtures can be removed with any lime-removing product. 

If you prefer water that requires less soap for showering or less detergent for laundry, then a water softener may be a good solution for you.

Smithville is not considered to have hard water. Since Smithville gets their water from the lake, there are very low concentrations of iron and other minerals that contribute to hard water. Most hard water comes from wells or ground water with high concentrations of these minerals. Smithville`s water hardness averages between 95-110 parts per million. This is equivalent to 5.5-6.4 grains per gallon.

The water department utilizes a strong oxidant called chlorine dioxide to disinfect the water. Chlorine dioxide is a gas that can interact with other chemicals in the home to give off a cat urine type smell. This usually occurs in homes that have been newly built or have been recently remodeled. New paint and new carpeting will also react with chlorine dioxide.

Smithville`s water does contain manganese at levels that can sometimes cause an objectionable metallic taste in the drinking water. Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral in the water that has no adverse health effects. 

Water that has a reddish tint often indicates rust problems in the home`s plumbing. Contact a local plumber to determine if the plumbing is becoming corroded. Corroded plumbing in a home will eventually lead to a water leak at a weak spot in the pipe. 

Discolored water usually occurs when there has been a water break, a water main repair or addition of water mains into the distribution system. Water mains are always flushed after work is completed but some discolored water can enter into the customer`s service line. Flush all cold-water faucets in the house until the water runs clear. Avoid using any hot water during this process so you do not draw discolored water into your hot water heater. 

Alkalinity averages between 88-105 parts per million.  

The pink film that sometimes grows in these areas is serratia marcescens bacteria. These bacteria are naturally occurring in animal and human feces, dust, soil and can be carried in the air. They will grow in an environment that is moist and in areas that have soap and food residue. These bacteria cannot grow in chlorinated water. Homes that use carbon filters will often notice a greater problem with this bacteria due to the chlorine being stripped from the water. 

Smithville treats water from Smithville Lake. 

The most common cause of cloudy water is air in the water main or the customer`s service line. Air may get in the water line because of a water break of water line repair. Cold water in winter months contains dissolved oxygen that will appear as air bubbles in the water as it warms up. To test this, fill a clear glass with water and allow it to sit out until it reaches room temperature. You should notice air bubbles along the side of the glass as the water warms. 

Several types of blue-green algae are prevalent in Smithville Lake. As these algae bloom or decay they release chemical compounds that cause musty, earthy tastes and odors. These chemical compounds are called Geosmin and Methylisoborneol (MIB).These compounds have no adverse health effects but do cause taste and odor complaints.