Bolthole Index

Barry County, Missouri

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Barry County, Missouri

70Index Score / 100
#63 of 115 in Missouri

Unincorporated Barry County, Missouri does not require a general county building permit for a home1. County zoning remains unconfirmed; Monett issues city building permits and sets zoning234. Barry County Health Department requires septic permits for covered work, except regulated wastewater systems operated by or for an incorporated municipality5.

At a glance

Building permit
No general county permit; verify city rules for incorporated land1
Zoning
Countywide status unconfirmed; ask the County Commission2
Septic permit
Health Department permit for covered work; municipal-operated regulated systems exempt5
Septic inspection
Installation and repair inspection before trenches are backfilled6
RV living
Not confirmed; ask the County Commission and applicable city2
Tiny homes
No confirmed countywide occupancy or minimum-size rule2
Private well
Public-system wells need approval; private domestic wells are treated differently7

Who to call

Septic permits

Barry County Health Department, Environmental Services

Onsite wastewater inspections, complaints, and private-well laboratory testing in Barry County, Missouri

417-847-2114

info@barrycountyhealth.com

90 Barry County Drive, PO Box 207, Cassville, MO 65625

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

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Do you need a building permit in Barry County, Missouri?

A general county building permit is not required for a home in unincorporated Barry County, Missouri1. Missouri adopts fire and building codes locally, and we could not confirm Barry County’s current adopted building codes81. Monett issues its own building permits; Pierce City, mainly in Lawrence County but reaching into Barry County, also requires city building permits for covered construction39. City building approval does not settle wastewater approval: Barry County Health Department administers covered septic systems, while Pierce City’s Superintendent issues its local private-sewage permit1011. We could not confirm a county certificate-of-occupancy rule or owner-builder exemption12. Missouri’s farm-structure protection applies specifically to county fire-protection or fire-prevention permits13.

Who handles building permits and septic permits in Barry County?

Barry County has no general county building-permit application for a house in an unincorporated area1. Monett’s Zoning Inspector issues its city building permit; Pierce City, which lies mainly in Lawrence County and reaches into Barry County, requires plans submitted to the Fire Chief for covered building work39. For county-administered septic permits, contact Barry County Health Department Environmental Services in Cassville; its specialists inspect onsite wastewater systems and its laboratory tests private-well water514. Regulated systems operated by or for an incorporated municipality are exempt from the county ordinance; Pierce City’s Superintendent handles its local private-sewage permit and inspection511. Ask the Barry County Commission which zoning authority applies to unincorporated land because county zoning remains unconfirmed2.

Does Barry County, Missouri have zoning?

We could not confirm whether Barry County currently has county zoning for unincorporated land; ask the Barry County Commission before relying on a parcel’s advertised uses2. Monett administers city zoning through Community Development, and Pierce City, mainly in Lawrence County but reaching into Barry County, has city zoning districts415. City zoning approval does not replace wastewater approval: Barry County Health Department administers covered septic systems, and Pierce City’s Superintendent issues its local private-sewage permit1011. Cassville also has zoning districts and a zoning map kept by the City Clerk16. We could not confirm county rules for RV residences, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, setbacks, minimum house size or minimum lot size2.

How do septic permits work in Barry County?

Barry County Health Department requires a septic permit before covered construction, installation, renovation, repair or modification; regulated systems operated by or for an incorporated municipality are exempt5. The Health Department must approve system type, design and capacity before issuing the Permit to Install, and the permit also includes authorization to use the system17. Every installation needs a site evaluation by a registered soil scientist or professional engineer; a percolation test alone is not acceptable18. Published septic fees are $200 for a single-family dwelling, $300 for a non-single-family dwelling and $75 for repairs; confirm the amount currently collected with the Health Department because fees may change and Missouri DHSS announced a temporary application-fee suspension effective August 20261920. Plans and the site are reviewed before approval; installation and repair work requires final inspection before backfilling, with 24-hour advance notice when possible6. Only 15.3% of Barry County soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field, so evaluate septic feasibility early21.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Barry County?

We could not confirm a Barry County rule that allows or prohibits living in an RV, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy or manufactured-home occupancy2. Countywide zoning remains unconfirmed, and no confirmed countywide minimum dwelling size, setback or accessory-dwelling rule answers those questions indirectly2. Ask the Barry County Commission about an unincorporated parcel; inside Cassville, check the city zoning district and map before buying or placing a dwelling216. Barry County prohibits living, working or assembling in a building for 6 or more hours without Health Department-approved sanitary disposal of wastewater and human waste22. A small or movable dwelling therefore does not avoid the sanitation requirement or the septic permit required for covered work in unincorporated Barry County2220.

What are the steps to build a home in Barry County?

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is unincorporated and ask the Barry County Commission which zoning approval, floodplain development permit or access rule applies223.
  1. For incorporated land, ask the city whether it requires a building permit and zoning approval; Cassville has zoning districts and a zoning map116. Also identify the wastewater authority because a city building office does not automatically handle septic17.
  1. For a septic permit in unincorporated Barry County, obtain a 911 address and parcel ID, then have a registered soil scientist or professional engineer complete the site evaluation18.
  1. Submit the system drawing, site evaluation and wastewater permit fee to Barry County Health Department, then wait for plan review and a site visit before approval1820.
  1. Wait for the Permit to Install before construction and arrange the final installation inspection before backfilling176.
  1. If the project has a public water-system well, obtain written approval before construction or alteration; private domestic wells are treated differently7.
  1. Obtain a MoDOT driveway permit before constructing or modifying a driveway in state right-of-way24.

What should you check before buying land in Barry County?

Start with septic feasibility: only 15.3% of Barry County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field21. Missouri generally requires a septic construction permit for major work and requires one for a residential property under 3 acres where state rules apply, but qualifying acreage exclusions exist252627. Barry County independently requires a septic permit for covered work in unincorporated areas, including residential systems that might qualify for the state acreage exclusion20. Developers should check the separate Missouri DNR review for qualifying subdivisions using individual onsite systems28. Confirm zoning, RV use, tiny-home use, setbacks and the local floodplain development permit process with the County Commission; for Cassville property, consult the city zoning district and map22316. A driveway constructed or modified within MoDOT right-of-way requires a MoDOT driveway permit24.

Watch-outs

  • Barry County's zoning status is unconfirmed, so do not treat an unincorporated parcel as unrestricted2.
  • Barry County's septic ordinance independently requires a septic permit in unincorporated areas, so do not assume Missouri's acreage exclusion eliminates the county application2720.
  • Barry County’s septic ordinance exempts regulated systems operated by or for a municipality, rather than all septic systems inside city limits5.

Sources

  1. State of Missouri - County Building Codes for Missouri (2026 county census)
  2. (2026 county census)
  3. Monett: official source (Barry County), quoted and re-checked
  4. Monett: Table of Contents - City of Monett, MO (Barry County), quoted and re-checked
  5. Barry County Wastewater Treatment Systems Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  6. Wastewater Treatment Systems Permit Application Procedure and Barry County Wastewater Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  7. Who Regulates Water Wells in Missouri?, quoted and re-checked
  8. RSMo Section 64.170 (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Pierce City: Section 500.020 Permit Required (Barry County), quoted and re-checked
  10. Environmental Services | Barry County Health, quoted and re-checked
  11. Pierce City: Chapter 705 Public and Private Sewers (Barry County), quoted and re-checked
  12. (2026 county census)
  13. RSMo Section 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Barry County Health Department, Environmental Services (barrycountyhealth.com)
  15. Pierce City: Chapter 405, Article I: General Provisions (Barry County), quoted and re-checked
  16. Chapter 400: Zoning Regulations - City of Cassville, MO, quoted and re-checked
  17. Barry County Wastewater Treatment Systems Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  18. Wastewater Treatment Systems Permit Application Procedure, quoted and re-checked
  19. Wastewater Treatment Systems Permit Application Procedure, quoted and re-checked
  20. Barry County Wastewater Treatment Systems Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  21. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Wastewater Treatment Systems Permit Application Procedure and Barry County Wastewater Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  23. Floodplain Forms (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Permits | Missouri Department of Transportation (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. RSMo Section 701.046, quoted and re-checked
  26. health.mo.gov, quoted and re-checked
  27. RSMo 701.031 — Disposal of sewage, who, how, exception, quoted and re-checked
  28. On-site Wastewater Treatment (Septic) in a Subdivision, quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Unlike 5 of its 6 neighbors, Barry County requires no county building permit for a home.

RuleBarry CountyStone CountyMcDonald CountyNewton CountyLawrence CountyTaney CountyChristian County
Building permitNot requiredRequiredLimitedRequiredNot requiredRequiredRequired
County zoningNot publishedYesNoNot publishedNoYesYes
Septic permitsCounty Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Env. Services Dept.County Health Dept.

County locator

Barry County in Missouri

70
County map
Barry County highlighted among the Missouri counties · colored by Index score

How Barry County scores

Seclusion56100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency63100% ev.
Admin Boringness7868% ev.
Durability47100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost79100% ev.

Evidence strength: 95%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$249kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$4,384Land / acre
46.7"Annual rain
8.2% of yrsSevere drought
11.4 / yr (+9.8)Mid-century 100°F days
17.1 daysMid-century dry spell
2.08" (+4.6%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.58×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,974Home insurance / yr
3.5% / yrInsurance growth
0.99%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
25,604People within 30 min
1,709,429People within 2 hr
37,426Radius comparison (15 mi)
45.3People / sq mi
13.2%Federal land
68.8%Land at 15% slope or less
15.3%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
75,135 acWorkable land screen
46.8%Wooded land
45.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
57°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Barry County

Inside a city or town, that city usually issues building permits and sets zoning; the county’s rules above cover unincorporated land. Septic, wells and floodplain rules usually stay with the county or state everywhere.

Not yet researched: Village of Arrow Point · Butterfield · Cassville · Village of Chain-O-Lakes · Village of Emerald Beach · Exeter · Purdy · Seligman · Washburn · Wheaton

Answers from the rulebook for Barry County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Barry County rules

  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    On-site wastewater treatment systems administered by the Barry County Health Department.

    • The county health department administers inspections and wastewater permit materials; Missouri Department of Natural Resources or another federal or state agency may also issue applicable permits.
    • The ordinance requires compliance with permits issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources or another federal or state agency.
    “Any person engaged in construction, installation, renovation or repair of any wastewater treatment system or part of a wastewater treatment system shall obtain a permit from the Barry County Health Department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, installation, renovation, repair, or modification of wastewater treatment systems in Barry County, except regulated wastewater treatment systems operated by or on behalf of an incorporated municipality.

    • Barry County's ordinance applies to all wastewater treatment systems in the county.
    • Regulated wastewater treatment systems operated by or on behalf of an incorporated municipality are exempt from the county ordinance.
    • A permit from the Barry County Health Department is required before construction, installation, renovation, or repair proceeds.
    • The system type, design, and capacity must be approved by the Health Department before issuance of the Permit to Install.
    • The permit has two parts: Part One authorizes construction, installation, or modification; Part Two authorizes operation/use.
    • A site evaluation by a registered soil scientist or professional engineer is required for every installation; a percolation test alone is not acceptable.
    • A 911 address and parcel identification number are required before applying.
    • The application must include a detailed system drawing, site evaluation, and the applicable permit fee.
    • Plans are reviewed by the Health Department and a site visit is made; the procedure states this process might take up to 5 days, with approval or denial at that time.
    • Final inspection is required before backfilling, with 24-hour advance notice required when possible.
    • Construction must be performed by a Health Department-registered installer, except as specified in Section 7.03; a homeowner may install a system serving the homeowner's residence after demonstrating proper knowledge and passing the required written test.
    • The ordinance states it was adopted April 19, 1999, effective May 10, 1999, and amended April 11, 2008, effective May 15, 2008.

    single-family dwelling permit fee: 200 USD · non-single-family dwelling permit fee: 300 USD · repair permit fee: 75 USD · permit review process: up to 5 days (The procedure says approval or denial is made after the Health Department review and site visit.) · final inspection notice: >= 24 hours (Advance notice is required when possible.)

    “SECTION 2. APPLICABILITY. These regulations apply to all wastewater treatment systems in the county. Regulated wastewater treatment systems operated by or on behalf on an incorporated municipality are exempt from this ordinance. [...] 5.01 Any person engaged in construction, installation, renovation or repair of any wastewater treatment system or part of a wastewater treatment system shall obtain a permit from the Barry County Health Department.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Construction, installation, renovation, repair, or modification of wastewater treatment systems governed by the Barry County ordinance.
      “shall obtain a permit from the Barry County Health Department.”
    • Required — Construction, installation, renovation, repair, or modification of wastewater treatment systems under Barry County Health Department jurisdiction, principally in unincorporated Barry County.
      “Any person engaged in construction, installation, renovation or repair of any wastewater treatment system [...] shall obtain a permit from the Barry County Health Department.”
    • Required — Construction, installation, renovation, repair, or modification of wastewater treatment systems in unincorporated Barry County, including residential systems on lots that might otherwise qualify for Missouri's state-law acreage exclusion.
      “4.01 Construct, install, or modify any wastewater treatment system without the permit required herein. [...] Repairs $75.00 [...] Once approval is given, construction of the system can begin.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Final inspection of wastewater treatment system installation before backfilling trenches under the Barry County Health Department permit procedure.

    • The cited procedure specifies a final inspection before backfilling the trenches, in accordance with the current ordinance.
    • Twenty-four-hour advance notice is required when possible.
    • The county ordinance exempts regulated wastewater treatment systems operated by or on behalf of an incorporated municipality.
    • The cited materials do not establish a periodic inspection requirement for every existing septic system.

    advance inspection notice: 24 hours (Required when possible.)

    “Final inspection is made before back-filling the trenches in accordance with the current ordinance. A 24-hour advance notice is required, when possible.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Sanitation for buildings and public gatherings using on-site wastewater treatment or other approved methods in Barry County.

    • Sanitary disposal of all wastewater and human excreta must be provided by methods or devices approved by the Health Department.
    • The quoted restriction applies to living, working, or assembling in a building, or assembling at a public gathering, for six or more hours.

    minimum duration triggering rule: >= 6 hours

    “Live, work or assemble in any building or assemble at any public gathering six (6) or more hours in duration where sanitary disposal of all wastewater and human excreta is not provided by methods or devices approved by the Health Department.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Barry County wastewater permit fees.

    • The published fees apply to the wastewater permit procedure documented by the Barry County Health Department.
    • The source does not establish that these fees apply to building or other permits.

    single-family dwelling wastewater permit fee: 200 USD · non-single-family dwelling wastewater permit fee: 300 USD · wastewater repair permit fee: 75 USD

    “Single-family dwelling $200.00 Non-single family dwelling $300.00 Repairs $75.00”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Barry County wastewater treatment system permit applications.

    • A registered soil scientist or professional engineer must perform a site evaluation for every installation.
    • A percolation test alone is not acceptable.
    • A 911 address and parcel ID are required before application.
    • Plans are reviewed and the site is visited; the process may take up to five days.
    • Construction may begin only after approval.
    • Final inspection occurs before backfilling.

    possible plan-review period: <= 5 days (the procedure says the process might take up to 5 days)

    “A percolation test by itself is not acceptable.”
  • Building permitNot required

    Missouri has no statewide residential building code and the state's County Building Codes dataset lists no adopted residential/commercial/energy code for Barry County; as a non-charter rural county it generally cannot require building permits in unincorporated areas. Corroborated by the state County Building Codes dataset (data.mo.gov iq7s-izvt, 2021): no county residential building code adopted.

    State of Missouri - County Building Codes for Missouri ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Missouri rules that apply here

  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Missouri statewide legal framework for building-code adoption by counties and other communities; the statutes authorize local adoption rather than establishing one uniformly adopted statewide building code.

    • County authority under RSMo 64.170 applies to counties of the first and second classification.
    • A county that had not adopted a building code before August 28, 2001 must obtain voter approval before adopting under RSMo 64.170 to 64.200.
    • The adoption vote is limited to voters in the affected area; a code affecting a county is not voted on by citizens of incorporated territory.
    • A county adopting under RSMo 64.180 must use a current nationally recognized building code edition from calendar year 1999 or later, as amended.
    • A county building ordinance may not conflict with liquefied petroleum gas installation requirements governed by RSMo 323.020.
    • A community may incorporate a code by reference only if it otherwise has legal power to adopt the ordinance.
    • A code incorporated by reference must be filed with the community clerk and available for public inspection for 90 days before adoption.
    • An ordinance adopting a code by reference must state the penalty separately rather than incorporate the penalty by reference.
    • RSMo 67.280 defines community to include any county, fire protection district, or municipality, and municipality to include an incorporated city, town, or village.
    “Because fire and building codes are adopted at the local level in Missouri”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Missouri statutory authority for counties to create zoning districts in unincorporated territory; this does not establish or publish the actual zoning districts for any particular county.

    • The statute applies to unincorporated territory of counties subject to sections 64.211 to 64.295.
    • Actual district boundaries, regulations, and maps depend on county adoption and are not supplied by this statewide statute.
    • District regulations must be uniform for each class or kind of building or land use within each district, although regulations may differ between districts.
    • The regulations must be made in accordance with a comprehensive plan.
    “the unincorporated territory may be divided into districts of such number, shape and area as may be deemed best suited”
  • Well permitLimited

    Construction or alteration of a public well serving a Missouri public water system.

    • Public water systems must receive written approval from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Public Drinking Water Branch before constructing or altering a public well.
    • The requirement does not apply when the system meets the charitable-and-benevolent-organization exemptions in section 640.116, RSMo.
    • Anyone proposing to install a public well must contact the department’s regional office for a well-site survey.
    • The survey addresses minimum isolation or setback distances from known or potential contaminant sources, including septic tanks, sanitary sewer lines, and landfills.
    • Before applying for construction authorization, the public water system must obtain an estimated casing-depth letter from the Missouri Geological Survey Water Resources Center.
    • There is no fee for the well-site-survey and estimated-casing-depth-letter services.
    • Failure to obtain construction authorization may result in approval delays and possibly require the owner to properly plug the well and drill a new one according to 10 CSR 60-3.

    public water system threshold: at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily, at least 60 days per calendar year

    “Public water systems must receive written approval from the PDWB before constructing or altering a public well”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Construction or alteration of a public water-system well serving Barry County projects.
      “Public water systems must receive written approval from the PDWB before constructing or altering a public well, unless the system meets the charitable and benevolent organization exemptions in section 640.116, RSMo.”
    • Required — A person or contractor conducting regulated work to drill, construct, repair, reconstruct, plug, or install pumps or pumping equipment in a water well, heat-pump well, monitoring well, or related well in Missouri.
      “A non-restricted permit is required to drill, construct, repair, reconstruct, plug, or install pumps or pumping equipment in a well.”
    • Limited — Construction or repair of water wells, installation or replacement of pumps, and associated plumbing and electrical work in Missouri.
      “A non-restricted water well installation permit is required to construct or repair a water well in Missouri.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Farm buildings and farm structures used for agricultural purposes under the county building and land-use restriction provisions of RSMo sections 64.800 to 64.905.

    • The exemption does not apply within incorporated portions of counties.
    • The exemption applies to raising crops, livestock, orchards, or forestry and to specified rice-farming or flood-irrigation impoundments.
    • For farm buildings or farm structures, the area must not be within the area shown on the flood hazard area map.
    • The statute preserves the validity of county ordinances or orders adopted before March 4, 1991.
    • Other laws and local requirements may still apply.

    rice-farming or flood-irrigation berm height: <= 18 inches (small berms placed around a field to hold water for growing rice or flood irrigation)

    “This section shall not apply to the erection, maintenance, repair, alteration or extension of farm buildings or farm structures used for such purposes in an area not within the area shown on the flood hazard area map.”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — Erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures as against county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinances.
      “Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no fire protection or fire prevention ordinance adopted by any county in this state shall be exercised so as to impose regulations or to require permits with respect to the erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures.”
    • Available (with conditions) — Erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures used for agricultural purposes under RSMo section 64.890, outside incorporated portions of counties and outside areas shown on flood hazard area maps.
      “This section shall not apply to the erection, maintenance, repair, alteration or extension of farm buildings or farm structures used for such purposes [...]”
    • Available (with conditions) — Farm buildings and farm structures statewide, with respect to county fire-protection and fire-prevention ordinances.
      “no fire protection or fire prevention ordinance adopted by any county in this state shall be exercised so as to impose regulations or to require permits [...]”
    • Available — Erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures with respect to county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinances.
      “Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no fire protection or fire prevention ordinance adopted by any county in this state shall be exercised so as to impose regulations or to require permits with respect to the erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures.”
  • Subdividing landLimited

    Subdivision plats in the unincorporated areas of counties covered by RSMo section 64.070 after the county commission adopts subdivision regulations.

    • The county commission must first adopt subdivision regulations.
    • The plat must first be submitted to the planning commission.
    • If the county planning commission does not report upon the plat within thirty days, it may then be deemed approved.
    • If amended or rejected by the planning commission, the action may be overruled and the plat approved only by the county commission, with the reasons for overruling spread upon the county commission minutes.
    • The recorder of deeds may not record the plat until receiving a certificate of authority from the county zoning enforcement officer.
    • The statute also permits a county planning commission, upon written request of an incorporated area's legislative body where there is no municipal planning commission, to pass upon subdivision plats within that incorporated area; those plats are subject to county planning commission rules and approval procedures.

    planning commission reporting period: 30 days (If no report is made, the plat may then be deemed approved.)

    “After the county commission shall have adopted such subdivision regulations, no plat of a subdivision of land within the unincorporated area of such county [...]”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — New residential subdivisions and expansions in Barry County that use individual onsite wastewater systems.
      “As described in the Residential Housing Development Rule, new subdivisions need to receive written approval from MoDNR for the method of wastewater treatment when a developer proposes seven or more lots, each less than five acres and use individual on-site wastewater treatment systems on the individual lots.”
    • Limited — Subdivision regulations adopted by Missouri cities, towns, or villages under RSMo section 89.410.
      “The planning commission shall recommend and the council may by ordinance adopt regulations governing the subdivision of land within its jurisdiction.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Construction or modification of driveways within MoDOT right-of-way statewide.

    • A permit is required for construction of driveways and modifications to existing driveways on MoDOT right-of-way.
    • An initial online request must be submitted for each planned listed activity.
    • Engineered plans, traffic studies, hydraulic analysis, traffic-control plans, surety deposits, or performance bonds may be required depending on the work.
    • The rule does not establish a permit requirement for driveways outside MoDOT right-of-way.
    “We require you to obtain a permit to work on MoDOT's Right of Way for: Construction of driveways”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Projects including mining, dredging, building construction, and other dirt-moving activities in designated flood hazard areas within participating Missouri jurisdictions.

    • The source describes local county or city flood damage reduction ordinances rather than one uniform statewide ordinance.
    • The project must be within a participating jurisdiction.
    • The project must be within a designated flood hazard area.
    • The cited rule does not apply if either condition is absent.
    • Covered projects must not raise flood heights.
    “Some jurisdictions (for example, county, city) require any projects in certain floodplains do not raise flood heights.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — All development in a Missouri floodplain, administered through the applicable community floodplain permitting process.
      “Regardless, some type of permit MUST be issued for ALL development in the floodplain.”
  • county zoning authorityLimited

    Missouri county zoning authority over unincorporated land.

    • RSMo § 64.850 applies to counties of the first class without a charter and counties of the second, third, or fourth class.
    • RSMo § 64.620 applies to counties of the second or third class to which §§ 64.510–64.690 apply.
    • Adoption under §§ 64.510–64.690 requires approval by vote of the people under § 64.530.
    • The authority applies in unincorporated portions and not incorporated portions.
    • The regulations must be in accordance with a comprehensive plan.
    • Under § 64.090, the zoning power does not apply to raising crops, livestock, orchards, or forestry; seasonal or temporary rice-farming or flood-irrigation impoundments; specified farm structures outside mapped flood-hazard areas; or underground mining entered through shafts outside mapped flood-hazard areas.
    • Existing lawful uses and specified public-utility services are protected under the cited statutory schemes.
    “the county commission of any county of the first class not having a charter form of government, or of any county of the second, third or fourth class may, after approval by vote of the people as provided in section 64.845, regulate and restrict, by order of record, in the unincorporated portions of the county, the height, number of stories, and size of buildings, the percentage of lots that may be occupied, the size of yards, courts and other open spaces, the density of population, the location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence or other purposes.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • county building authorityLimited

    County authority to regulate residential construction and issue building permits in unincorporated areas of Missouri.

    • The authority under sections 64.170 to 64.200 applies to counties of the first and second classification.
    • A county that had not adopted a building code before August 28, 2001, must obtain voter approval before adopting one under those sections.
    • Only voters in the area affected by the proposed code may vote; incorporated-territory citizens cannot vote on a code affecting a county.
    • The county commission must hold at least three public hearings and provide the statutory newspaper publication and county posting notices before adoption.
    • Regulations adopted under section 64.180 apply to unincorporated territory, except as otherwise provided.
    • Adopted or amended codes after August 28, 2001, must use a current, calendar year 1999 or later edition of a nationally recognized building code, as amended.
    • A county building ordinance may not conflict with liquefied petroleum gas installations governed by section 323.020.

    public hearings before adoption: >= 3 hearings minimum (Section 64.180(3)) · newspaper notice: >= 15 days (Notice of hearing time and place must be published in at least two newspapers having general circulation within the county) · posted notice: >= 15 days (Notice must be posted in four conspicuous places in the county) · minimum nationally recognized building-code edition: >= calendar year 1999 edition year (Applies after August 28, 2001, under section 64.180)

    “The regulations adopted shall be applicable to the unincorporated territory of the county, except as otherwise provided herein”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — County regulation of construction and issuance of building permits for buildings, including residential construction, in Missouri counties, with the practical focus on county-controlled areas outside incorporated territory.
      “the county commission in all counties of the first and second classification [...] is for this purpose empowered [...] to adopt [...] regulations to control the construction”
    • Limited — Missouri counties' authority to require permits and regulate residential construction in unincorporated areas.
      “Before the adoption of such code of regulations, the county commission shall hold at least three public hearings thereon”

Inside cities and towns in Barry County

Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land and buildings within the City of Cassville, Barry County, Missouri, subject to the City's zoning districts and zoning map.

    • Cassville's zoning area is divided into designated districts.
    • District boundaries are shown on the Zoning Map, which is part of the regulation and is on file in the City Clerk's office.
    • The applicable district and City zoning map must be consulted for parcel-specific requirements.
    “In order to classify, regulate, and restrict the location of trades, industries, and the location of buildings designed for specified uses; to regulate and limit the height and bulk of buildings; to regulate and limit the intensity of the use of lots; to regulate and determine the area of yards and other open space surrounding buildings; and to regulate and restrict the density of population, the Zoning Area is hereby divided into districts designated as follows, replacing existing districts as noted:”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Any owner-builder exemption from county building-permit, licensing, inspection, or construction requirements in unincorporated Barry County.
  • Inspections — Building inspections in unincorporated Barry County.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in unincorporated Barry County.
  • County-wide zoning — Whether Barry County has adopted and currently maintains a countywide zoning ordinance or zoning map applicable to unincorporated areas.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area or other minimum dwelling-size requirement for dwellings in unincorporated Barry County.
11 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in Barry County, Missouri

Is Barry County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Barry County scores 70/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property.

Do you need a building permit in Barry County, Missouri?

Barry County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas. Onsite septic is permitted by Barry County Health Department, Environmental Services. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Barry County, Missouri?

Land in Barry County runs about $4,384 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Barry County?

Barry County gets about 46.7" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 8.2% of years.

How remote is Barry County?

A representative private-land location has about 25,604 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,709,429 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Barry compares in Missouri

Compare side-by-side →See all 115 Missouri counties ranked →