Local Government
Where Do I Go To…?
These answers explain which city, county, or state office handles common tasks, such as licenses, permits, taxes, and vehicle registration. Select a question to read the answer and see the offices that can help.
Where do I apply for a City of Springfield business license?
Business licenses are issued by the Finance Department's Licensing Division on the first floor of the Busch Municipal Building, 840 N. Boonville Ave., (417) 864-1617. Choose the application that matches how your business operates on the City's Business License Applications page; new applications must include a personal property tax receipt or Statement of Non-Assessment for the business.
Business Licensing (Finance Department Licensing Division)Business license applications
Where do I get a building permit?
Building permits are issued by Building Development Services, whose permit desk is on the first floor of the Busch Municipal Building and is open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Many permits can be applied for, paid for and printed online through the City's eCity portal. For permit questions, call (417) 864-1585.
Building Development Services Permit DeskeCity permit portalBuilding permit forms, applications and fees
Where do I get a certified birth or death certificate?
The Vital Records office at the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, 227 E. Chestnut Expressway, issues birth and death certificates for any county in Missouri. Short-form birth certificates requested in person are printed while you wait; bring proof of identity and payment. You can also order by mail or online through VitalChek.
Vital Records (Birth and Death Certificates)Birth and death certificates
How do I report a pothole or another problem with a city street or property?
Submit a service request on the City's Report a Concern page, through the GoSpringfieldMO mobile app, or by calling the Citizen Resource Center at (417) 864-1010, which is staffed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For emergencies, call 911.
Public WorksReport a Concern (online service request)City information line (Citizen Resource Center), (417) 864-1010
How do I start, transfer or stop electric, gas or water service?
City Utilities of Springfield handles utility service. You can start, transfer or stop service online through MyAccount, by calling (417) 863-9000 (7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday), or in person at the customer service lobby at 301 E. Central St. A $100 deposit may be required for new service.
City Utilities Customer Service LobbyStart, transfer or stop utility service
How do I pay my City Utilities bill?
You can pay online through MyAccount, by phone at (417) 863-9000 or the Payment Line at (417) 831-8331, by mail to City Utilities of Springfield, P.O. Box 551, Springfield, MO 65801-0551, or in person. The customer service lobby at 301 E. Central St. is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, and payment kiosks there are available 24 hours a day.
City Utilities Customer Service LobbyPay a City Utilities bill
How do I pay a Springfield Municipal Court ticket?
Some tickets can be paid online before the court date; the City's Pay Your Ticket page explains which tickets qualify. You can also pay in person at the Municipal Court, 625 N. Benton Ave., or leave a payment in the secure drop box on the north side of the front entrance in an envelope with your name, ticket number and date of birth.
Springfield Municipal CourtPay a Municipal Court ticketTrack a Municipal Court case
How do I get a copy of a police report?
Incident reports can be requested in person or by mail at Springfield Police Headquarters, 321 E. Chestnut Expressway, using the Information Request Form, for $3 per report. Accident reports are available online through LexisNexis BuyCrash, usually 7 to 10 business days after the crash.
Springfield Police Department HeadquartersCopies of police and accident reports
Where can I drop off recycling, yard waste or household chemicals?
The City's Franklin Avenue and Lone Pine recycling centers accept household recyclables and small amounts of yard waste, Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Larger loads of yard waste and brush go to the Yardwaste Recycling Center, and household chemicals are accepted by appointment at the Household Chemical Collection Center; call (417) 864-2000 to schedule.
Franklin Avenue Recycling CenterLone Pine Recycling CenterYardwaste Recycling CenterHousehold Chemical Collection CenterCity recycling centers
How do I request public records from the City of Springfield?
The City Clerk is the City's custodian of records and handles Sunshine Law requests. Submit a request through the online Public Records Center linked from the City Clerk's Sunshine Law page, or contact the City Clerk's Office at (417) 864-1651.
Where do I pay my personal property or real estate taxes?
Pay the Greene County Collector of Revenue in person at the Cashier Office, Room 109 of the Historic Courthouse, 940 N. Boonville Ave., or pay online, by phone at (877) 690-3729 (jurisdiction code 3567), or by mailing a check or money order with your statement. Card and eCheck payments carry a processor fee.
Greene County Collector of RevenuePay property taxes and find tax statements and receipts
Where do I get a paid tax receipt or a tax waiver to register my vehicle?
The Greene County Collector of Revenue issues paid personal property tax receipts in Room 107 of the Historic Courthouse and through its online statement and receipt search. An online payment confirmation is not accepted at the license office, and official receipts for online payments are available after 10:00 a.m. the next business day, so pay in person if you need a receipt right away. If you owed no personal property tax, you can request a waiver from the Collector by email if you have an account with the Assessor; if you do not, call the Assessor's Office at (417) 868-4101, option 1.
Greene County Collector of RevenueGreene County AssessorPay property taxes and find tax statements and receiptsRequest a tax waiver for vehicle registration
Where do I file my personal property assessment list or ask about my property's value?
Contact the Greene County Assessor in Room 35 of the Historic Courthouse, 940 N. Boonville Ave., or call (417) 868-4195 for personal property and (417) 868-4101 for real estate. Assessment lists are mailed in early January and must be returned by March 1 to avoid a late penalty, and property records and maps can be searched online.
Greene County AssessorAssessor forms and personal property assessment listsProperty and assessment search with maps
Where do I get a marriage license?
Both applicants must apply in person at the Greene County Recorder of Deeds, Room 102 of the Historic Courthouse, 940 N. Boonville Ave., Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with valid government-issued photo identification, proof of age, and Social Security numbers. The license fee is $53, payable in cash or by card with a convenience fee, and there is no waiting period.
Greene County Recorder of DeedsMarriage license requirements
How do I register to vote or find my polling place?
You can register online through the Missouri Secretary of State, by mail, or in person at the Greene County Clerk's Office, Room 113 of the Historic Courthouse, 940 N. Boonville Ave.; registration closes on the fourth Wednesday before an election. Polling places and sample ballots are posted on the County Clerk's elections website, and polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Greene County ClerkVoter registration, absentee voting, and polling places
Where can I vote absentee in person before Election Day?
In-person absentee voting takes place at the Greene County Elections Center, 1126 N. Boonville Ave. It begins six weeks before an election for voters with a qualifying reason and two weeks before for no-excuse voting, and it ends at 5:00 p.m. on the Monday before Election Day; check the County Clerk's elections website for each election's hours and any additional locations.
Greene County Elections CenterGreene County ClerkVoter registration, absentee voting, and polling places
Where do I record a deed?
Deeds and other real estate documents are recorded by the Greene County Recorder of Deeds at the Historic Courthouse, 940 N. Boonville Ave., Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Documents presented after 4:00 p.m. are recorded beginning at 8:00 a.m. the next business day.
Where do I get a building permit for property outside city limits?
For property in unincorporated Greene County, building permits are issued by Greene County Building Regulations in Room 305 of the Historic Courthouse, 940 N. Boonville Ave., (417) 868-4015; same-day permits and inspections are not available. Zoning questions go to Greene County Planning and Zoning at (417) 868-4005, and a new driveway onto a county road requires a permit from the Greene County Highway Department. Property inside a city's limits is permitted by that city.
Greene County Building RegulationsGreene County Planning and ZoningGreene County Highway DepartmentBuilding permit applications for unincorporated Greene CountyZoning map, applications, and hearing scheduleDriveway and utility permits on county roads
Where do I apply for a concealed carry permit?
Greene County residents apply at the Greene County Sheriff's Office Concealed Carry Permit Office, 5100 W. Division St., Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., by appointment only. Schedule online or by calling (417) 868-4026; new applicants need a Missouri firearms safety training certificate, and the new-applicant fee is $100.
Greene County Sheriff's Office Concealed Carry Permit Office
How do I look up a court case or pay a court fine?
Greene County court cases can be searched on Missouri Case.net, which is linked from the Greene County Circuit Clerk's website. Fines and court costs can be paid online, by phone at (417) 868-4074 (option 5), by mail, or in person at the Circuit Clerk's Office, 1010 N. Boonville Ave., Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Greene County Circuit Clerk (31st Judicial Circuit)Search Greene County court recordsPay court fines and costs
Where do I renew my driver license?
Renew your driver license at any Missouri Department of Revenue license office; Springfield has offices on Park Central Square, South Glenstone and South Campbell Avenue. You may renew up to six months before your license expires, and renewal includes a vision test and a road sign test. Some drivers ages 21 to 49 whose last renewal was in person may be eligible to renew remotely through MyDMV.
Springfield License OfficeGlenstone License OfficeSouth Springfield License OfficeMissouri Department of Revenue — Driver LicensingMissouri Department of Revenue — Remote Driver License Renewal EligibilityMissouri Department of Revenue — License Office Locator
How do I renew my vehicle registration (license plates)?
You can renew online, by phone or at any license office. You will need a paid personal property tax receipt or statement of non-assessment from your county for the previous year (the previous two years for a two-year registration), proof of insurance, and, if your vehicle is not exempt, a safety inspection certificate no more than 60 days old. Vehicles are exempt from safety inspection for the first ten years after the model year if they have fewer than 150,000 miles, and emissions inspections are not required for vehicles registered in Greene County.
Springfield License OfficeGlenstone License OfficeSouth Springfield License OfficeMissouri Department of Revenue — Renewing License PlatesMissouri Department of Revenue — Vehicle Safety and Emissions InspectionsMissouri Department of Revenue — License Office Locator
Where do I title a vehicle I just bought?
Title the vehicle and pay sales tax at a Missouri Department of Revenue license office within 30 days of purchase; a penalty of $25 begins on day 31 and increases by $25 for each additional 30 days, up to $200. Bring the title signed over to you, a completed Application for Missouri Title and License (Form 108), and any other required documents, such as a lien release or odometer disclosure.
Springfield License OfficeGlenstone License OfficeSouth Springfield License OfficeMissouri Department of Revenue — Motor Vehicle Titling and RegistrationMissouri Department of Revenue — License Office Locator
Where do I take a written or driving test?
Driver tests are given by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, not the Department of Revenue. In Springfield, the Highway Patrol's driver examination station at 149 Park Central Square is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; no appointment is needed for a non-commercial driving test, and you must provide your own vehicle. After you pass, take your test results to a license office to purchase your permit or license.
Springfield Driver Examination StationSpringfield License OfficeMissouri State Highway Patrol — Driver ExaminationMissouri Department of Revenue — Driver Licensing
How do I file for unemployment?
File an unemployment claim online through the Missouri Department of Labor's UInteract system, or call the Springfield regional claims center at 417-895-6851 (800-320-2519 from outside the local calling area). Staff at the Missouri Job Center in Springfield can also help you file a claim and look for work.
Missouri Job Center - SpringfieldMissouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations — Unemployed Workersjobs.mo.gov — Missouri Office of Workforce Development
How do I apply for SNAP or MO HealthNet?
Apply online through the Missouri Department of Social Services, or apply for MO HealthNet by phone at 855-373-9994. You can also get help in person at the Family Support Division resource center in Springfield, and the Family Support Division Information Center is available at 855-373-4636.
Springfield Resource Center (Family Support Division)Missouri Department of Social Services — Apply for SNAPMissouri Department of Social Services — Apply for MO HealthNet
Where do I buy a fishing or hunting permit?
Buy Missouri hunting and fishing permits online from the Missouri Department of Conservation, through the MO Hunting or MO Fishing app, by phone at 800-392-4115, or from permit vendors such as sporting goods stores. In Springfield, permits are also sold at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, and MDC's Southwest Regional Office can answer permit questions.
Springfield Conservation Nature CenterMissouri Department of Conservation Southwest Regional OfficeMissouri Department of Conservation — Permits
How do I register a business?
Register a business entity, such as a limited liability company, or a fictitious name online with the Missouri Secretary of State's Business Services. Business tax registration, such as for sales tax or employee withholding, is handled by the Missouri Department of Revenue, and local business licenses are handled separately by local governments.
Missouri Secretary of State — Business ServicesMissouri Department of Revenue — Taxation
How do I look up a court case?
Search public Missouri state court records on Case.net by name, case number, filing date or scheduled hearing. Court documents filed before July 1, 2023 can be viewed only at public access terminals in local courthouses.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern DistrictMissouri Courts — Case.net
How do I claim unclaimed property?
Search the Missouri State Treasurer's unclaimed property database by name and submit a claim online. The Treasurer's Office does not charge a fee to return unclaimed property.
How do I report a problem on a state highway?
Report road concerns on state highways, such as traffic signals that are dark or flashing and downed stop signs, to the Missouri Department of Transportation online or by calling 1-888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636). Concerns about city streets should be directed to the City of Springfield.
MoDOT Southwest District OfficeMoDOT — Report a Road ConcernMoDOT Traveler Information Map
How do I register to vote?
Register to vote online through the Missouri Secretary of State, or submit a paper voter registration form. Paper forms must be postmarked by the fourth Wednesday before an election.
Missouri Secretary of State — Register to VoteMissouri Secretary of State — Elections and Voting
Springfield Misery is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the City of Springfield, Greene County, or the State of Missouri. Hours and services can change without notice, so please confirm with the office before you visit, especially near holidays.