Bolthole Index

Clark County, Missouri

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

73Index Score / 100
#37 of 115 in Missouri

Unincorporated Clark County, Missouri does not require a county building permit for a home1. Countywide zoning has not been confirmed, so ask the County Clerk before relying on a parcel having no land-use restrictions23. Missouri DHSS handles septic permits, while development and manufactured-home placement in mapped flood-hazard areas require a county floodplain permit45.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required in unincorporated Clark County1
Zoning
No countywide zoning ordinance found; unincorporated status otherwise unconfirmed2
Septic (OWTS) permit
DHSS; residential installation or repair under 3 acres needs a construction permit46
Water well
Owner installation is permit-exempt; construction standards and reporting still apply7
Floodplain development permit
Required in FIRM-mapped flood zones, issued by the Presiding Commissioner8
RV or manufactured home in a mapped flood zone
RVs face stay or highway-readiness limits; manufactured homes need a floodplain permit, elevation and anchoring95
Property tax
About 1% effective rate; roughly $1,139 median annual bill1011

Who to call

Floodplain permits

Clark County Presiding Commissioner's Office

The Presiding Commissioner is the county's designated Floodplain Administrator under the county's floodplain management ordinance and issues floodplain development permits

660-727-8241

presidingcommissioner@clarkcountymo.org

111 E. Court Street, Ste 110, Kahoka, MO 63445-1268

Also useful

Clark County Clerk's Office

County records and general county-government contact; the office to ask about zoning, subdivision, or building questions the county site doesn't route to a named department

660-727-3283

clark@sos.mo.gov

111 E. Court Street, Ste 110, Kahoka, MO 63445-1268

Roads & driveways

Clark County Road & Bridge Department

County road and bridge maintenance and development; the office to ask about access to a county road

660-341-4016

Septic permits

Missouri DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program

State onsite wastewater treatment system (septic) permitting authority for Clark County; the state's own county lookup lists a dedicated Clark County contact line at (573) 751-6095 ext. 5

573-751-6095

PO Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570

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

Off-grid gear

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

No. Unincorporated Clark County does not require a county building permit for a home1. Missouri law lets only first- and second-class counties adopt building-permit regulations, and a county that had not adopted a code before August 28, 2001 needs voter approval to begin12. We could not confirm county building inspections or certificates of occupancy; ask the County Clerk before construction3. A home site in a mapped flood-hazard area still needs the separate floodplain approval handled by the Presiding Commissioner13.

Who handles building questions and floodplain permits in Clark County?

For Clark County floodplain development permits, contact the Presiding Commissioner, 111 E. Court Street, Ste 110, Kahoka, MO 63445-1268, phone 660-727-8241, is the county's designated Floodplain Administrator and issues floodplain development permits1413. The published process starts with a written application and requires a separate permit for each structure or other development8. For county road and bridge questions, the Road & Bridge Department at 660-341-4016 handles maintenance and development on county roads15. For zoning, subdivision or other questions the county site doesn't route elsewhere, call the Clark County Clerk's Office at 660-727-32833.

Does Clark County have zoning?

No countywide zoning ordinance appears among Clark County's published ordinances, but ask the County Clerk to confirm the current status for unincorporated land23. Missouri allows qualifying counties to establish zoning through a voter referendum16. We could not confirm Clark County subdivision regulations, minimum lot sizes, setbacks, or plat review; the Missouri subdivision framework cited here applies conditionally to noncharter first-class counties and does not establish Clark County adoption1718. Do not rely on that framework's acreage exception without confirmation from the County Clerk193.

How do septic and well permits work in Clark County?

Missouri DHSS is the listed septic permitting authority for Clark County4. Installing or repairing a residential onsite system on property under 3 acres requires a construction permit; larger residential parcels are not automatically exempt, and non-residential systems require a permit regardless of acreage6. Obtain the permit or DHSS confirmation of an exemption before work begins6. Inside Wayland, private sewage systems also need city approval and inspection; the city code preserves additional state or county health requirements20. Clark County has 0% of soils rated “not limited” for conventional drain fields; that does not make septic impossible, but calls for a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system21. Landowners may install their own well or pump without a state permit, but construction standards and certification or reporting requirements still apply7. Hired well and pump installers need the applicable installation permits, including for plumbing and electrical lines from the well to the structure; contractors directing the work need the applicable restricted permit7.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Clark County?

It depends on whether your parcel sits in a mapped flood-hazard zone. Inside an unnumbered or numbered A zone or AE zone on Clark County's Flood Insurance Rate Map, an RV must be on-site fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or comply with the manufactured-home rules922. Placing or substantially improving a manufactured home in those mapped areas requires a floodplain development permit, elevation and anchoring against flood forces; many sites require the lowest floor at least 1 foot above base flood elevation, while qualifying sites in existing manufactured-home parks may use the ordinance's 36-inch reinforced-pier alternative5. Outside a mapped flood zone, we could not confirm a county rule for RV, tiny-home, or manufactured-home occupancy, so ask the County Clerk before planning long-term occupancy23. DHSS must issue a septic permit or confirm an exemption before onsite-system work begins23.

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

  1. Check whether the parcel is in a mapped flood-hazard zone; construction or manufactured-home placement there needs a floodplain development permit from the Presiding Commissioner, beginning with a written application148.
  2. Confirm the parcel is outside a municipality and ask the County Clerk about any recent building, zoning, or subdivision change; unincorporated Clark County does not require a county home-building permit31.
  3. Contact the DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program before installing or repairing septic; residential properties under 3 acres need a construction permit, and DHSS must confirm any exemption before work begins246.
  4. A landowner may install a personal well or pump without a state permit, but standards and reporting still apply; hired installers need the applicable installation permit7.
  5. Work touching a Missouri Department of Transportation right-of-way needs a MoDOT permit and at least 48 hours' notice to the Traffic Specialist25.
  6. Farm buildings and farm structures are exempt from county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinance permits, but not from floodplain or septic requirements26.

What to check before you buy land in Clark County

Clark County has about 13.2 people per square mile and roughly 6,641 residents2728. The county center is about 98 miles in a straight line from the nearest city with 100,000 or more residents29. Farmland averages about $4,859 an acre, and typical home value is around $191,6123031. Before buying, arrange a septic site evaluation: 0% of county soils are rated “not limited” for conventional drain fields, which may mean an engineered system rather than an unusable lot21. Check the Flood Insurance Rate Map because development in covered flood-hazard areas requires a county floodplain permit32. Ask Road & Bridge about county-road access; we could not confirm a county driveway-permit rule15. Budget roughly $2,000 annually for a typical homeowner's policy, an effective property tax rate of about 1%, and a median annual property tax bill around $1,139331011.

Watch-outs

  • Missouri lets counties adopt zoning by voter referendum, so "no zoning ordinance found today" is a snapshot, not a permanent guarantee; check current status with the County Clerk's Office before you rely on it316.
  • Clark County’s RV floodplain conditions apply in mapped A and AE zones; occupancy rules outside those zones remain unconfirmed, so ask the County Clerk before planning long-term RV or tiny-home living93.
  • DHSS application fees for onsite sewage construction, modifications and repairs are temporarily suspended effective August 28, 2026; the suspension does not remove the construction-permit requirement34.

Sources

  1. Clark County, MO Ordinances (2026 county census)
  2. Clark County, MO Ordinances (2026 county census)
  3. Clark County Clerk's Office (clarkcountymo.org)
  4. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  5. clarkcountymo.org, quoted and re-checked
  6. health.mo.gov, quoted and re-checked
  7. Water Wells - PUB2945, quoted and re-checked
  8. clarkcountymo.org, quoted and re-checked
  9. Ordinance No. 6, quoted and re-checked
  10. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  11. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  12. RSMo § 64.170 — County commissions control construction and issue building permits (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Floodplain Management Ordinance 6, quoted and re-checked
  14. Clark County Presiding Commissioner's Office (clarkcountymo.org)
  15. Clark County Road & Bridge Department (clarkcountymo.org)
  16. RSMo § 64.090 — Planning and zoning powers of county commission (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Missouri Revised Statutes § 64.241, quoted and re-checked
  18. Missouri Revised Statutes § 64.245, quoted and re-checked
  19. Missouri Revised Statutes § 64.241, quoted and re-checked
  20. Wayland: official source (Clark County), 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. Ordinance No. 6, quoted and re-checked
  23. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  24. Missouri DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program (health.mo.gov)
  25. Permit Process | Missouri Department of Transportation (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. RSMo Section 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures, quoted and re-checked
  27. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  28. County population: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data
  30. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  31. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  32. Floodplain Management Ordinance 6, quoted and re-checked
  33. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data
  34. OWTS Construction Permit Process, 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

Like 3 of the 5 neighbors with published rules, Clark County requires no county building permit for a home.

RuleClark CountyLewis CountyScotland CountyKnox CountySchuyler CountyMarion CountyShelby County
Building permitNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot publishedLimitedRequiredNot required
County zoningNoNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedYesNo
Septic permitsDHSSMO DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment ProgramMO DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment ProgramMO Dept. of Health & Senior ServicesDHSSCounty Health Dept.MO Dept. of Health & Senior Services

County locator

Clark County in Missouri

73
County map
Clark County highlighted among the Missouri counties · colored by Index score

How Clark County scores

Seclusion73100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency55100% ev.
Admin Boringness8790% ev.
Durability47100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost7996% 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 →

$192kTypical home
1%Property tax
$4,859Land / acre
39.2"Annual rain
7.7% of yrsSevere drought
8.2 / yr (+7.1)Mid-century 100°F days
16.2 daysMid-century dry spell
2.03" (+6.9%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.81×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,000Home insurance / yr
4.6% / yrInsurance growth
0.85%Nonrenewal rate
single ZIP shrunk to state medianInsurance basis
7,095People within 30 min
671,199People within 2 hr
10,962Radius comparison (15 mi)
13.2People / sq mi
1.6%Federal land
83.2%Land at 15% slope or less
0%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
0 acWorkable land screen
28.8%Wooded land
32.6 tonsBiomass / forest ac
52.2°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Clark 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: Alexandria · Kahoka · Village of Luray · Town of Revere · Wyaconda

Answers from the rulebook for Clark County

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

Clark County rules

  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles placed on sites within unnumbered or numbered A zones and AE zones on Clark County's Flood Insurance Rate Map.

    • The RV must be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days, or be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet the ordinance's permitting, elevation, and anchoring requirements for manufactured homes.
    • A recreational vehicle is ready for highway use only if it is on its wheels or jacking system, attached to the site only by quick-disconnect utilities and security devices, and has no permanently attached additions.

    maximum consecutive site duration: < 180 days (The alternative highway-use or manufactured-home requirements may apply instead.)

    “be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days, or”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary camping or temporary RV living quarters on sites within unnumbered or numbered A zones and AE zones on Clark County's Flood Insurance Rate Map.

    • For an RV in the covered flood-hazard areas, the ordinance requires fewer than 180 consecutive days on site, full licensing and highway readiness, or compliance with manufactured-home permitting, elevation, and anchoring requirements.
    • Highway-ready status requires the RV to remain on wheels or a jacking system, use only quick-disconnect utilities and security devices, and have no permanently attached additions.

    maximum consecutive site duration: < 180 days (The alternative highway-use or manufactured-home requirements may apply instead.)

    “temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Placement or substantial improvement of manufactured homes within unnumbered or numbered A zones and AE zones on Clark County's Flood Insurance Rate Map.

    • A floodplain development permit is required before placement or other development in the covered areas.
    • Manufactured homes must be elevated and anchored to resist flotation, collapse, or lateral movement.
    • For sites outside a manufactured-home park or subdivision, in a new park or subdivision, in an expansion to an existing park or subdivision, or in an existing park or subdivision where the home incurred substantial flood damage, the lowest floor must be one foot above base flood elevation and the home must be securely attached to an adequately anchored foundation system.
    • For other existing manufactured-home park or subdivision sites, the lowest floor must be one foot above base flood elevation or the chassis must be supported by reinforced piers or equivalent foundation elements at least 36 inches above grade and securely attached to an adequately anchored foundation system.

    minimum elevation above base flood elevation: >= 1 foot (For qualifying existing manufactured-home park or subdivision sites, a 36-inch reinforced-pier alternative is provided.) · minimum pier height alternative: >= 36 inches above grade (Applies to qualifying existing manufactured-home park or subdivision sites.)

    “A floodplain development permit shall be required for all proposed construction or other development, including the placement of manufactured homes, in the areas described in Article 2, Section A. No person, firm, corporation, or unit of government shall initiate any development or substantial-improvement or cause the same to be done without first obtaining a separate floodplain development permit for each structure or other development.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    All development in Clark County, Missouri lands identified as unnumbered or numbered A zones and AE Zones on the FIRM dated January 19, 2000, as amended and future revisions.

    • No development is permitted in covered areas except through a floodplain development permit.
    • The ordinance requires compliance with additional Article 4 flood-hazard-reduction standards.
    • Residential structures must generally have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated one foot above base flood elevation where base-flood-elevation data are provided.
    • Agricultural structures and certain accessory structures have specific variance, non-habitation, design, size, and permit conditions.
    • Recreational vehicles must either remain fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet manufactured-home permitting, elevation, and anchoring requirements.

    residential lowest-floor elevation: 1 foot above base flood elevation (Where base-flood-elevation data have been provided.) · development proposal threshold for base-flood-elevation data: greater than five (5) acres or fifty (50) lots, whichever is lesser (Subdivision proposals and other proposed new development in special flood hazard areas.) · recreational vehicle maximum stay without alternate compliance: < 180 consecutive days (Alternatively, the vehicle must be fully licensed and ready for highway use or meet manufactured-home requirements.)

    “elevated to one (1) foot above base flood elevation.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Floodplain development in Clark County, Missouri special flood hazard areas identified as unnumbered or numbered A zones and AE Zones on the FIRM dated January 19, 2000, as amended and revised.

    • A floodplain development permit is required before any construction or other development, including placement of manufactured homes.
    • A separate permit is required for each structure or other development.
    • The applicant must file a written application on a county-furnished form.
    • The application must identify the land and proposed work, state the intended use or occupancy, provide assessed and fair-market values, identify existing base-flood elevation and proposed-development elevation, include any other information reasonably required by the Presiding Commissioner, include plans and specifications, and be signed by the permittee or authorized agent.
    • The Presiding Commissioner is the Floodplain Administrator; the County Commission or its designated representative grants permits.
    • All necessary prior federal, state, and local permits must be obtained where required.

    FIRM effective reference date: January 19, 2000, as amended and any future revisions thereto · permit quantity: one separate permit for each structure or other development

    “A floodplain development permit shall be required for all proposed construction or other development”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — The Clark County floodplain development permit process for development in designated special flood hazard areas.
      “To obtain a floodplain development permit, the applicant shall first file an application in writing on a form furnished for that purpose.”
  • Building permitNot required

    Clark County is a non-charter rural county with no building code or building-permit ordinance among its adopted ordinances; Missouri has no statewide residential code. Corroborated by the state County Building Codes dataset (data.mo.gov iq7s-izvt, 2021): no county residential building code adopted.

    Clark County, MO Ordinances ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    No countywide zoning ordinance appears among Clark County's adopted ordinances; only municipalities such as Kahoka administer zoning.

    Clark County, MO Ordinances ↗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”
  • 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.”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Mixed (with conditions) — Onsite wastewater treatment system permitting in Missouri, including Clark County where applicable state or local authority governs.
      “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. Work should not begin until a permit has been issued or an exemption to permitting has been confirmed by the appropriate permitting authority.”
    • State — OWTS permitting in Clark County, Missouri, as identified by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services directory.
      “Agency: DHSS Authority Type: DHSS Address: 930 Wildwood Dr, Jefferson City, MO 65102 County: Clark”
    • State (with conditions) — OWTS construction permitting in Clark County, Missouri, under the Missouri DHSS Onsite Wastewater Program.
      “Agency: DHSS Authority Type: DHSS [...] County: Clark”
    • 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.”
  • Septic permitLimited

    Onsite wastewater treatment system installation or repair in Clark County where Missouri DHSS is the permitting authority, including residential systems and other systems within DHSS jurisdiction.

    • A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems.
    • A construction permit is required for an onsite system on any residential property less than three acres.
    • Some single-family residential lots may be exempt from permitting; the exemption does not apply in some counties, so the applicable county authority must be checked.
    • Regardless of property size, a permit is necessary for all other onsite systems serving non-residential structures.
    • DHSS regulations cover single-family residential systems, including lagoons, and onsite or cluster systems treating domestic wastewater flows of 3,000 gallons per day or less and dispersing wastewater through soil treatment or absorption systems.
    • Lagoons serving anything other than a single-family residence, systems discharging to surface waters, systems treating flows greater than 3,000 gallons per day and dispersing through soil treatment or absorption systems, and industrial non-domestic wastewater systems are regulated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
    • Work should not begin until a permit has been issued or an exemption to permitting has been confirmed by the appropriate permitting authority.
    • Effective August 28, 2026, application fees associated with onsite sewage disposal system construction, modifications, and repairs are temporarily suspended under the page's stated RSMo 701.046 update.

    residential property threshold: < 3 acres (The source states that some single-family residential lots may be exempt and that the exemption does not apply in some counties.) · DHSS-covered domestic wastewater flow: <= 3000 gallons per day (Systems outside DHSS jurisdiction may be regulated by DNR.)

    “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. [...] Agency: DHSS Authority Type: DHSS Address: 930 Wildwood Dr, Jefferson City, MO 65102 County: Clark”
    5 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Installation or repair of onsite wastewater systems in Clark County under the DHSS permitting authority.
      “A construction permit is required to install or repair an onsite system on any residential property less than three acres. (This exemption does not apply in some counties; check with the county authority.) Regardless of the size of the property, a permit is necessary for all other onsite systems that serve non-residential structures.”
    • Required — Installation or repair of most OWTS in Clark County, where DHSS is the listed permitting authority.
      “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.”
    • Required — 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 onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). Some single family residential lots may be exempt from permitting.”
    • 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.”
    • 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.”
  • 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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Not required — Inspection or evaluation of an onsite wastewater treatment system before a real-estate transaction in Missouri, including Clark County.
      “No. However, if a lender or buyer requests an inspection/evaluation, it must be conducted by a licensed individual. Some counties may require an onsite system inspection/evaluation for every real estate transaction. Check with the local permitting authority.”
    • 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.”
  • 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.”
    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).”
  • 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”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Construction or repair of water wells in Clark County, Missouri.
      “Landowners may install their own well or pump without a permit pursuant to the above mentioned law and rules.”
    • Limited — Water-well construction or repair in Clark County, Missouri.
      “A non-restricted water well installation permit is required to construct or repair a water well in Missouri. A non-restricted pump installation permit is required to install or replace a pump in a water well. A non-restricted pump installation permit is also needed to install or repair the plumbing and electrical lines from the well to the point of entry in the structure. A restricted water well or pump installation permit is required for someone to contract these activities or to direct the installation. Landowners may install their own well or pump without a permit pursuant to the above mentioned law and rules.”
    • 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.”
    6 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Available — Erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures in Clark County when the otherwise applicable requirement is a county fire protection or fire prevention ordinance
      “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.”
    • Conditional — Land divisions under subdivision regulations adopted by a noncharter first class Missouri county; the statute describes an acreage exception but does not label it an agricultural exemption.
      “The county planning board may prepare and adopt regulations governing the subdivision of land, within the unincorporated area, including all plats or proposed streets prepared for record, and all division of land or lots into two or more parts, except the division of land resulting in tracts or lots, the smallest of which is an area of five acres or more, or ten acres or more in any county having a population of at least two hundred seven thousand.”
    • 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 landRegulated (with conditions)

    Noncharter first class Missouri counties; subdivision regulation authority concerns land in unincorporated areas.

    • The county planning board may prepare and adopt subdivision regulations only within the statutory framework for noncharter first class counties.
    • Regulations may govern plats or proposed streets prepared for record and divisions of land or lots into two or more parts.
    • The statutory acreage exception excludes divisions resulting in tracts or lots, the smallest of which is five acres or more, or ten acres or more in a county having a population of at least 207,000.
    • Regulations must be adopted after a public hearing and become effective after approval and adoption by order of the county commission.
    • The regulations may address street location and width, building lines, open spaces, minimum lot width and area, access to major streets, street grading and paving, drainage or utility easements, sewers, water, and other utilities.
    • For required improvements that are not immediately completed or installed, the county auditor must accept a bond in the amount and with the surety and conditions prescribed by the county commission; the bond secures construction of the improvements and utilities within the period prescribed by the regulations.

    minimum acreage exception: >= 5 acres (Ten acres or more applies in any county having a population of at least 207,000.) · larger-county acreage exception: >= 10 acres (Applies in any county having a population of at least 207,000.)

    “The county planning board may prepare and adopt regulations governing the subdivision of land, within the unincorporated area, including all plats or proposed streets prepared for record, and all division of land or lots into two or more parts, except the division of land resulting in tracts or lots, the smallest of which is an area of five acres or more, or ten acres or more in any county having a population of at least two hundred seven thousand.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Noncharter first class Missouri counties after the county commission has adopted subdivision regulations; primarily subdivisions in unincorporated areas.
      “After the county commission has adopted the subdivision regulations, no plat or instrument describing a subdivision of land within the unincorporated area of the county shall be recorded or vacated until the plat is first submitted to the planning board.”
    • Limited — Subdivision plats in the unincorporated areas of counties covered by RSMo section 64.070 after the county commission adopts subdivision regulations.
      “After the county commission shall have adopted such subdivision regulations, no plat of a subdivision of land within the unincorporated area of such county [...]”
    • 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”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Missouri Department of Natural Resources air construction permits statewide.

    • Fees apply to air construction permits, not to every Missouri building or land-use permit.
    • Construction permit fees include a filing fee and an hourly processing fee.
    • The filing fee depends on the type of construction permit.
    • The listed fees are effective January 1, 2026.
    • Fees applicable until December 31, 2025 are available on the Air Construction Permit Fees white sheet.
    • A convenience fee is charged for electronic payment.

    portable source relocation filing fee: 300 USD · minor permit filing fee: 300 USD · minor permit processing fee: per 100 USD (hour) · general permit filing fee: 700 USD · new source review filing fee: 6000 USD (plus $100 per hour processing fee) · prevention of significant deterioration filing fee: 6000 USD (plus $100 per hour processing fee) · hazardous air pollutant filing fee: 6000 USD (plus $100 per hour processing fee) · temporary or pilot filing fee: 250 USD (plus $100 per hour processing fee)

    “Construction permit fees include a filing fee and an hourly processing fee. The filing fee is dependent on the type of construction permit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Missouri onsite wastewater treatment system construction, modification, and repair application fees administered under the statewide DHSS OWTS program.
      “Effective August 28, 2026, [...] the application fees associated with on-site sewage disposal system construction, modifications, and repairs will be temporarily suspended.”
  • 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”

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 residential building-permit, inspection, or contractor requirements in Clark County, Missouri
  • Inspections — Residential building inspections in Clark County, Missouri, including unincorporated areas
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for residential buildings in Clark County, Missouri, including unincorporated areas
  • Local zoning — Aggregate of municipal or other subordinate local zoning authorities within Clark County; the county itself is not treated as administering municipal ordinances.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size requirements in Clark County, including unincorporated areas.
8 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • 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 Clark County, Missouri

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

Clark County scores 73/100 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 Clark County, Missouri?

Clark 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. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Clark County, Missouri?

Land in Clark County runs about $4,859 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Clark County?

Clark County gets about 39.2" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 7.7% of years.

How remote is Clark County?

A representative private-land location has about 7,095 people within a 30-minute drive and 671,199 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 Clark compares in Missouri

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