Bollinger County, MO: No Building Permit, No Zoning

Unincorporated Bollinger County, Missouri does not require a building permit and has no countywide zoning ordinance¹². The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services handles onsite wastewater permits for Bollinger County³⁴. Marble Hill has its own zoning process, and development in a mapped floodplain still requires a floodplain permit⁵⁶.

At a glance

Building permit: Not required; no adopted county building code was found¹
Zoning: None countywide on unincorporated land; Marble Hill has local zoning²⁵
Septic permit: Missouri DHSS is the permitting authority³
Private well: A landowner may install their own well or pump without an installer permit; hired work requires permitted installers⁷
Floodplain development permit: Required for all development in the mapped Special Flood Hazard Area⁶
Manufactured homes: Must be anchored and tied down statewide unless permanently on a foundation⁸
Land-disturbance permit: State permit required for 1 acre or more of disturbance, fee $500 to $5,000 by acreage⁹

Who to call

Also useful

Bollinger County Presiding Commissioner

The County Commission oversees county government generally, including county roads and bridges; the first call for anything not handled by a specific office listed here

573-238-1900

204 High St # 5, Marble Hill, MO 63764-9136

Also useful

Bollinger County Clerk

County records, commission meeting minutes, and general county administration; a starting point for any land-use question with no dedicated county department

573-238-1900

204 High St # 5, Marble Hill, MO 63764-9136

Property records

Bollinger County Assessor

Property assessment for Bollinger County; a useful contact for parcel and land-use records questions

573-238-1900 ext. 1

204 High St # 1, Marble Hill, MO 63764-9149

Health department

Bollinger County Health Center

Environmental services for Bollinger County: sewage complaints and sewage-permit fee questions, private water system technical assistance, and food/lodging/daycare inspections; can refer callers to the right state office for a formal septic or floodplain permit

573-238-2817

info@bollingercountyhealth.org

107 Hwy 51 North, PO Box 409, Marble Hill, MO 63764

Septic permits

Missouri DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program (Bollinger County)

Issues onsite wastewater (septic) construction permits for Bollinger County as the state authority listed for this county

(573) 751-6095 ext. 5

onsiteprogram@health.mo.gov

930 Wildwood Dr, Jefferson City, MO 65102

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 3, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Bollinger County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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

Unincorporated Bollinger County does not require a building permit: the state's own county-by-county building-code inventory lists no adopted residential, commercial or energy code for the county¹. Missouri law only lets counties of the first and second classification adopt a building-permit and inspection program under RSMo 64.170, and a county that had not adopted one before August 28, 2001 needs voter approval to start¹⁰. One exception applies everywhere in the county: if any part of a project sits in a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, some type of floodplain development permit must be issued before that specific work, even though ordinary buildable land outside the floodplain needs no permit⁶. If a project disturbs one acre or more of land, or is part of a larger development that will eventually disturb an acre, a separate state land-disturbance stormwater permit is required regardless of the county's own building-permit status⁹.

Who handles building, zoning and environmental permitting in Bollinger County?

Bollinger County has no separate building, planning or zoning department¹². The County Commission, based at the courthouse in Marble Hill, is the county's general governing body and the right first call for county-road access or a land-use question without a dedicated office¹¹. The County Clerk handles county records and administration and can point callers to the appropriate county office¹². The Bollinger County Health Center handles environmental services, including sewage questions, sewage-permit fees and private-water-system information¹³. Missouri DHSS, rather than the county health center, is the identified onsite wastewater permitting authority for Bollinger County³⁴. For a floodplain development permit, ask the County Commission or Health Center for the current local contact because a separate floodplain-office number could not be confirmed¹¹¹³⁶.

Does Bollinger County have zoning?

Bollinger County has no countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land². That county answer does not extend inside Marble Hill: the city publishes a zoning-change application, so confirm the parcel's district and current standards with the city before buying or building there⁵. Zoning in Glen Allen and Sedgewickville could not be confirmed. Minimum lot size, setbacks, building height and lot coverage also remain unconfirmed for unincorporated Bollinger County, so ask the County Commission about the specific parcel rather than treating the land as unrestricted¹¹. Missouri law allows qualifying non-charter counties to adopt zoning for unincorporated territory only after voter approval¹⁴. Missouri's agricultural protections are conditional, not a blanket exemption from every land-use rule: qualifying farm buildings used for agricultural purposes receive protection outside mapped flood-hazard areas, and county fire-prevention ordinances cannot require permits for qualifying farm structures¹⁵¹⁶. New manufactured homes generally must still be anchored and tied down⁸.

How do septic permits work in Bollinger County?

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is the onsite wastewater permitting authority for Bollinger County³⁴. A construction permit is required to install or repair an onsite system on most residential property under 3 acres, although a single-family tract may qualify for an exemption that DHSS should confirm for the parcel¹⁷. Only 5.8% of Bollinger County's soils are rated free of severe limits for a conventional drain field, so get the site evaluated before assuming a conventional system will work¹⁸. The Bollinger County Health Center says sewage permits are available for a fee but does not publish the amount, so confirm both the process and current cost with DHSS or the Health Center¹³¹⁹. Missouri does not require a local health-agency inspection before most real-estate transfers, so buyers should not assume an existing system has already been checked²⁰.

Can you live in an RV, mobile home or tiny home on your land in Bollinger County?

Long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping and tiny-home occupancy on a private unincorporated parcel in Bollinger County could not be confirmed; ask the County Commission and DHSS before relying on any of those uses¹¹⁴. Missouri's separate rule for a campground does not answer the private-parcel question: DNR approval is required when a campground or RV park plans to use onsite wastewater treatment²¹. Marble Hill has a local zoning process, so property inside the city needs a separate city review⁵. New manufactured homes have a statewide siting rule: they generally must be anchored and tied down against overturning and sliding unless permanently attached to a foundation whose structural elements make separate anchoring unnecessary⁸. That anchoring requirement does not settle septic, floodplain or parcel-specific land-use questions⁸.

Building a home in Bollinger County: the steps, in order

Confirm whether the parcel is in unincorporated Bollinger County, where ordinary construction does not require a county building permit, or inside Marble Hill, where local zoning applies¹⁵.
Check the flood map; development in a Special Flood Hazard Area needs a floodplain permit, and work in the regulatory floodway first needs an Engineering No-Rise Certificate⁶.
If the project will disturb 1 acre or more, obtain the state land-disturbance stormwater permit before grading²²⁹.
Contact Missouri DHSS about the septic construction permit before installing or repairing an onsite system on residential property under 3 acres³¹⁷⁴.
Decide how the property will get water. A Bollinger County landowner may install their own private well or pump without the state installer permit, but hired well construction, repair or pump work requires the appropriate permitted installer⁷.
Ask the County Commission about access from a county road¹¹. For a new or modified driveway within MoDOT right-of-way, submit MoDOT's initial online request; MoDOT may require plans, studies, analysis, traffic control or a bond²³.
Keep the MoDOT permit and approved plans at the job site, submit any lane-closure request at least 2 working days ahead, and contact the Traffic Specialist at least 48 hours before work begins²⁴.
Arrange the required anchoring for a new manufactured home unless its permanent foundation makes separate anchoring unnecessary⁸.

What to check before you buy land in Bollinger County

Soils: only 5.8% of Bollinger County's soils are rated free of severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so get a DHSS site evaluation before assuming a conventional system will work¹⁸⁴. Water: confirm the source and well condition; a landowner may install their own private well or pump without the state installer permit, but hired construction, repair or pump work requires a permitted installer⁷. Terrain: 63.7% of the land is at 15% slope or less and 62.5% is wooded, which can affect clearing, driveway grades and septic layout²⁵²⁶. Flood risk: development in a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area requires a floodplain permit⁶. Access: a new or modified driveway within MoDOT right-of-way needs a MoDOT permit, while county-road access should be checked with the County Commission²³¹¹. Jurisdiction: confirm whether the parcel is unincorporated or inside Marble Hill because the city has its own zoning process²⁵. Taxes: Bollinger County's effective property tax rate is about 0.6%, and the median annual property tax bill is about $874²⁷²⁸. Market: the typical home value is about $198,050, while farmland averages roughly $3,609 per acre²⁹³⁰.

Watch-outs

For anything not covered here, start with the Bollinger County Commission or County Clerk at the courthouse in Marble Hill, or the Bollinger County Health Center for environmental questions, and expect to be referred to the right office¹¹¹²¹³.
Long-term RV use, temporary camping and tiny-home occupancy on a private unincorporated parcel remain unconfirmed; the state wastewater rule for campgrounds does not answer those private-parcel questions²¹.
A floodplain development permit is required for all development inside Bollinger County's mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas even though ordinary land outside the floodplain needs no building permit at all, so check the flood map before you buy⁶.

Sources

Written October 3, 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.

Compared with neighboring counties

Like all 4 of the neighbors with published rules, Bollinger County has no countywide zoning.

Rule	Bollinger County	Madison County	Cape Girardeau County	Perry County	Ste. Genevieve County	Iron County	Scott County
Building permit	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required	Required	Not required	Not required
County zoning	No	No	No	No	Not published	Not published	No
Septic permits	DHSS	MO Dept. of Health & Senior Services	County Public Health Center	DHSS	County Health Dept.	DHSS	County Health Dept.

How Bollinger County scores

Seclusion75100% ev.

Self-Sufficiency67100% ev.

Admin Boringness8790% ev.

Durability52100% ev.

Property Autonomy47100% ev.

Carry Cost83100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$198kTypical home

0.6%Property tax

$3,609Land / acre

49"Annual rain

2.9% of yrsSevere drought

12 / yr (+10.6)Mid-century 100°F days

17.1 daysMid-century dry spell

2.27" (+6.3%)Mid-century 1-day rain

1.79×Wildfire change factor

100%Forward climate coverage

$1,868Home insurance / yr

1.5% / yrInsurance growth

1.19%Nonrenewal rate

county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis

9,098People within 30 min

735,874People within 2 hr

18,501Radius comparison (15 mi)

17.1People / sq mi

1.1%Federal land

63.7%Land at 15% slope or less

5.8%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)

22,826 acWorkable land screen

62.5%Wooded land

44.6 tonsBiomass / forest ac

56.7°FAvg temp

Answers from the rulebook for Bollinger County

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

Bollinger County rules

Building in a floodplainRequired
All development in the floodplain in Bollinger County, administered by the listed local floodplain administrator; mapped floodplain applicability must be determined for the site.
- Some type of permit must be issued for all development in the floodplain.
- Development outside the floodplain is not covered by this floodplain-permit rule.
- An Engineering No-Rise Certificate is required for all proposed development in the regulatory floodway before the community may issue the floodplain development permit.
- Bollinger County's listed floodplain administrator is Mike Henson; incorporated communities may have separate administrators.
“Regardless, some type of permit MUST be issued for ALL development in the floodplain. An Engineering “No-Rise” Certificate is required for all proposed development in the regulatory floodway, and must be obtained by the community before the floodplain development permit may be issued.”
Floodplain Forms ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Permit feesVariable (with conditions)
Onsite sewage permits for properties in Bollinger County.
- The Bollinger County Health Center states that sewage permits are available for a fee, but it does not publish the fee amount on the cited page.
- The 2024 county annual report states that onsite sewage permits are provided via Missouri DHSS.
permit fee: fee amount not stated
“Sewage permits are available for a fee”
Environmental Services - Bollinger County Health Center ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Building permitNot required
The Missouri Data Portal building-code inventory lists no adopted residential, commercial, or energy code for Bollinger County, consistent with a non-charter rural county that cannot require building permits in unincorporated areas. NOTE 2026-07-08: the county participates in the NFIP, so a floodplain development permit is required WITHIN mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas only — ordinary buildable land outside the floodplain needs no permit; coded not-required per store convention (floodplain-only ≠ building permit). Corroborated by the state County Building Codes dataset (data.mo.gov iq7s-izvt, 2021): no county residential building code adopted.
County Building Codes for Missouri (data.mo.gov) ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked
County-wide zoningAbsent
Bollinger County has no adopted building code and, as a rural non-charter county, imposes no countywide zoning in unincorporated areas; land-use control is limited to incorporated municipalities such as Marble Hill.
County Building Codes for Missouri (data.mo.gov) ↗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”
RSMo Section 64.170 ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
- Partial — Residential building-code adoption by Missouri counties, particularly construction in unincorporated county territory.
  “the county commission in all counties of the first and second classification [...] is for this purpose empowered [...] to adopt [...] regulations”
  RSMo § 64.170 — County commissions control construction; issue building permits ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
- Partial — County adoption of residential building codes in Missouri, with the resulting regulations applicable to unincorporated territory when adopted under the statutory authority.
  “the county commission in all counties of the first and second classification, as provided by law, is for this purpose empowered”
  RSMo Section 64.170 — County commissions control construction; issue building permits ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
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”
RSMo Section 64.261 — Zoning districts, creation, regulations ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
Manufactured homesLimited
New manufactured homes located in Missouri, including Bollinger County, subject to statewide anchoring and tie-down requirements.
- All new manufactured homes located in Missouri must be anchored and tied down under the standards referenced in RSMo sections 700.010 to 700.115 and 700.650 to 700.692.
- The owner must secure the manufactured home to the ground with anchors and tiedowns to resist wind overturning and sliding.
- Anchors and tiedowns are not required when the manufactured home is permanently attached to a permanent structure with a foundation and structural elements assuring rigidity and stability.
- The statute does not resolve any additional municipal, county, floodplain, septic, or site-specific requirements.
“All new manufactured homes located in this state shall be anchored and tied down in accordance with the standards promulgated by the commission pursuant to the provisions of sections 700.010 to 700.115 and 700.650 to 700.692.”
Missouri Revised Statutes Section 700.065 ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)
Onsite wastewater treatment systems statewide in Missouri.
- DHSS administers minimum standards and permits through DHSS, local contract authorities, or local authorities operating under ordinance.
- County or city governments may adopt standards stricter than the state standard.
- DNR regulates lagoons serving anything other than single-family residences, systems discharging to surface waters, systems treating flows greater than 3,000 gallons per day and dispersing through soil absorption systems, and industrial wastewater systems.
- DNR approval is required for subdivisions, mobile home parks, and campgrounds when OWTS use is planned.
domestic wastewater flow threshold: <= 3000 gallons per day (DNR regulates systems with flows greater than 3,000 gallons per day when wastewater is dispersed through soil treatment or absorption systems)
“DHSS OWTS permitting falls under one of three authority types: DHSS Onsite Program, Local Authority (contract), or Local Authority via Ordinance. The application process varies by permitting authority.”
OWTS Construction Permit Process ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
- State — Onsite wastewater treatment permitting for Bollinger County.
  “Authority Type: DHSS [...] County: Bollinger”
  OWTS Construction Permit Process ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
- Mixed — Missouri wastewater treatment systems, including domestic onsite systems, larger-flow systems, direct discharges, lagoons, subdivisions, and industrial wastewater.
  “In Missouri, different state and local agencies are responsible for regulating wastewater treatment systems.”
  On-site Septic Systems and Subdivisions ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Septic permitRequired
Installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems in Missouri, including residential systems subject to state permitting.
- A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most OWTS.
- Some single-family residential lots may be exempt.
- For residential property less than three acres, a permit is required; the exemption does not apply in some counties, so the county authority must be checked.
- Work should not begin until a permit is issued or an exemption is confirmed.
- Effective August 28, 2026, application fees for onsite sewage disposal system construction, modifications, and repairs are temporarily suspended.
residential lot threshold: < 3 acres (The exemption does not apply in some counties.) · temporary permit-fee suspension effective date: 2026-08-28 (Applies to application fees associated with onsite sewage disposal system construction, modifications, and repairs.)
“A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). Some single family residential lots may be exempt from permitting.”
OWTS Construction Permit Process ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
- Limited — Installation or repair of onsite wastewater treatment systems in Bollinger County under Missouri requirements.
  “A construction permit is required to install or repair an onsite system on any residential property less than three acres.”
  OWTS Construction Permit Process ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
- Required — Installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems statewide in Missouri.
  “A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). Some single family residential lots may be exempt from permitting.”
  OWTS Construction Permit Process ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
- Required — Proposed campgrounds, mobile home parks, and subdivisions planning to use onsite wastewater treatment systems anywhere in Missouri.
  “DNR must approve subdivisions, mobile home parks and campgrounds if the use of OWTS is planned.”
  OWTS Construction Permit Process ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
Septic inspectionLimited
Inspection or evaluation of existing onsite wastewater systems in connection with Missouri real-estate transfers.
- Local public health agencies generally no longer inspect existing systems for real-estate transfers.
- A private licensed inspector may perform an inspection or evaluation.
- A lender, buyer, or other transaction participant may require an assessment.
- Some local standards may be more stringent than state regulations.
- Inspections and evaluations are distinct; an inspection includes a hydraulic test, while an evaluation does not.
“For the most part, local public health agencies no longer inspect existing systems related to real estate transfer. The help of a licensed inspector can be obtained to check the condition of the system.”
Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Inspections Versus Evaluations ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Limited — Inspections of existing onsite sewage systems in connection with property sales statewide in Missouri.
  “Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' (DHSS) rules governing onsite sewage systems cover minimum construction requirements, system inspections at the time of property sales, and requirements for percolation testers and soil evaluators.”
  health.mo.gov ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
Off-grid sanitationLimited
Off-grid domestic wastewater treatment using onsite wastewater treatment systems where central sewer service is unavailable.
- Onsite systems treat and dispose of domestic sewage on the property where generated.
- A construction permit is generally required, including for residential property less than three acres, subject to county-specific exceptions.
- Wastewater may not be discharged into a road ditch or onto the ground.
- Local permitting authorities may impose additional requirements.
residential lot threshold: < 3 acres (The exemption does not apply in some counties.)
“Onsite wastewater treatment systems are sometimes referred to as "septic systems." These systems treat and dispose of domestic sewage on the property where it is generated.”
health.mo.gov ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Allowed (with conditions) — Use of onsite wastewater treatment systems as off-grid sanitation where central sewer service is unavailable in Missouri.
  “In Missouri, where central sewer service is not available, homeowners and small business owners use various types of onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS).”
  Onsite Wastewater Treatment ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
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”
Who Regulates Water Wells in Missouri? - PUB4001 ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
- Limited — Water-well construction, repair, pump installation, and public-water-system wells in Bollinger County under Missouri statewide regulation.
  “A non-restricted water well installation permit is required to construct or repair a water well in Missouri. [...] Landowners may install their own well or pump without a permit pursuant to the above mentioned law and rules.”
  Water Wells - PUB2945 ↗Re-checked Oct 2, 2026
- 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.”
  Well and Pump Installation Contractor Permitting ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
- 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.”
  Water Wells - PUB2945 ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
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.”
RSMo Section 64.890 — Building and land use restrictions; exemptions ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
5 more reviewed findings on this topic
- Available (with conditions) — Agricultural activities and qualifying farm buildings or farm structures in counties regulated under RSMo sections 64.510 to 64.690.
  “This section shall not apply to [...] farm buildings or farm structures [...] in an area not within the area shown on the flood hazard area map.”
  RSMo Section 64.620 — Building restrictions — limitations on regulations ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
- 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.”
  RSMo Section 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
- 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 [...]”
  RSMo Section 64.890 ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
- 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 [...]”
  revisor.mo.gov ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
- 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.”
  RSMo Section 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
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 [...]”
RSMo Section 64.070 ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- 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.”
  RSMo Section 89.410 ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
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”
Permits | Missouri Department of Transportation ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Required — Construction or modification of driveways within MoDOT right-of-way in Bollinger County.
  “We require you to obtain a permit to work on MoDOT's Right of Way for: Construction of driveways; Modifications to existing driveways (e.g. proposed changes in width, grade, location, surface type, etc.)”
  Permits ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
Installation or repair of most onsite wastewater treatment systems in Missouri.
- Some single-family residential lots may be exempt from permitting.
- The applicant must determine which agency has permitting authority where the work is being done.
- DHSS permitting may be administered by the DHSS Onsite Program, a local authority under contract, or a local authority via ordinance.
- Work should not begin until a permit has been issued or an exemption has been confirmed.
- DHSS regulates single-family residential systems and onsite or cluster systems treating domestic wastewater flows of 3,000 gallons per day or less that disperse wastewater through soil treatment or absorption systems.
- DNR regulates other systems, including non-single-family lagoons, systems discharging to surface waters, systems over 3,000 gallons per day, and industrial wastewater systems.
- DNR must approve subdivisions, mobile home parks, and campgrounds if OWTS use is planned.
domestic wastewater flow threshold: <= 3000 gallons per day (Systems above this threshold are regulated by DNR when they disperse wastewater through soil treatment or absorption systems.)
“A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). Some single family residential lots may be exempt from permitting.”
OWTS Construction Permit Process ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
- Published (with conditions) — Missouri construction land-disturbance permits applicable to qualifying projects in Bollinger County.
  “Electronic Permitting is an online tool that allows users to apply for and obtain a Missouri Land Disturbance Stormwater General Operating Permit (MO-RAxxxxx). The department no longer processes MO-RAxxxxx paper applications.”
  Construction Land Disturbance Permits ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
- Published (with conditions) — Work in MoDOT right-of-way in Bollinger County, including driveway construction or modification on MoDOT right-of-way.
  “If your work requires a “Lane Closure” you must submit a request a minimum of 2 working days in advance and receive authorization from our staff before closing any lanes of traffic. [...] Contact the Traffic Specialist a minimum of 48 hours prior to beginning work and for all necessary inspections.”
  Permits ↗Re-checked Sep 10, 2026
- Published (with conditions) — Permit applications for work on Missouri Department of Transportation right-of-way statewide.
  “Contact the Traffic Specialist a minimum of 48 hours prior to beginning work and for all necessary inspections.”
  Permit Process | Missouri Department of Transportation ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Campground & park staysLimited
Campground operation, including recreational-vehicle parks, where onsite wastewater treatment systems are planned.
- Missouri Department of Natural Resources approval is required for campgrounds if the use of onsite wastewater treatment systems is planned.
- This claim addresses the stated wastewater condition only; it does not establish a general county or municipal permit, time limit, or long-term occupancy rule.
“DNR must approve subdivisions, mobile home parks and campgrounds if the use of OWTS is planned.”
OWTS Construction Permit Process — campground wastewater approval ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
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.”
RSMo § 64.850 — County commission may prescribe zoning regulations ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
- General — Missouri counties adopting zoning regulations for unincorporated territory.
  “If a majority of the votes cast is in favor of county zoning, the county commission shall proceed with a program of county zoning”
  RSMo § 64.090 — Planning and zoning powers of county commission ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
- Limited — Missouri county zoning of unincorporated land.
  “counties of the second, third or fourth class may, after approval by vote of the people [...] in the unincorporated portions of the county”
  RSMo § 64.090 — Planning and zoning powers of county commission ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
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”
RSMo Section 64.170 — County commissions control construction; issue building permits ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
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”
  RSMo § 64.170 — County commissions control construction and issue building permits ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
- 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”
  RSMo § 64.170 — County commissions control construction; issue building permits ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026

Inside cities and towns in Bollinger County

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

Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
Zoning changes and ordinances within the City of Marble Hill, Missouri.
- The official city website provides municipal ordinances and a zoning-change application.
- The exact zoning title/chapter and operative dimensional standards could not be extracted because the linked municipal-code documents were DOCX files unavailable for webpage text extraction.
“Application for Zoning Change Request (pdf)”
City of Marble Hill - Your Community, Your Voice ↗Re-checked Oct 7, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Present (with conditions) — Zoning regulation within the City of Marble Hill, Missouri.
  “Application for Zoning Change Request (pdf)”
  City of Marble Hill - Your Community, Your Voice ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026

Still unanswered

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

Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from county building-permit or inspection requirements in unincorporated Bollinger County.
Inspections — Building inspections for construction in unincorporated Bollinger County.
Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in unincorporated Bollinger County.
Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size requirements in unincorporated Bollinger County.
Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size requirements in unincorporated Bollinger County.

8 more unanswered

Setbacks
Lot coverage
Building height
Living in an RV
Tiny 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 Bollinger County, Missouri

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

Bollinger County scores 80/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and manageable long-term carry cost.

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

Bollinger County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program. 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 Bollinger County, Missouri?

Land in Bollinger County runs about $3,609 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Bollinger County?

Bollinger County gets about 49" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 2.9% of years.

How remote is Bollinger County?

A representative private-land location has about 9,098 people within a 30-minute drive and 735,874 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.

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Bollinger County, Missouri

At a glance

Who to call

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

Who handles building, zoning and environmental permitting in Bollinger County?

Does Bollinger County have zoning?

How do septic permits work in Bollinger County?

Can you live in an RV, mobile home or tiny home on your land in Bollinger County?

Building a home in Bollinger County: the steps, in order

What to check before you buy land in Bollinger County

Watch-outs

Sources

Compared with neighboring counties

Bollinger County in Missouri

How Bollinger County scores

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Parcel due diligence

Cities and towns in Bollinger County

Answers from the rulebook for Bollinger County

Bollinger County rules

Missouri rules that apply here

Inside cities and towns in Bollinger County

Still unanswered

Living off-grid in Bollinger County, Missouri

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

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

How much does land cost in Bollinger County, Missouri?

What is the water situation in Bollinger County?

How remote is Bollinger County?

How Bollinger compares in Missouri