Bolthole Index

Harrison County, Missouri

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

74Index Score / 100
#32 of 115 in Missouri

Unincorporated Harrison County, Missouri does not require a county building permit for a home, but the County Clerk should confirm the current status before construction12. County zoning could not be confirmed3. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services handles Harrison County septic permitting, and most installations and repairs need approval before work begins45.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required for a home in unincorporated Harrison County; confirm with the County Clerk12
Zoning
Countywide zoning could not be confirmed; ask the County Clerk before relying on a proposed use32
Septic
DHSS handles Harrison County; most installations and repairs need advance approval, with inspections conducted on an aggregate sampling basis456
RV living
No county rule was confirmed; ask the County Clerk and DHSS about land use and sanitation324
Tiny homes
No county occupancy or minimum-size rule was confirmed; ask the County Clerk32
Owner-builder
No documented owner-builder exemption was confirmed7
Private well
Missouri requires regulated well-construction work to be done by licensed or permitted individuals8

Who to call

Building permits

Harrison County Clerk

First contact for current county building, zoning, road-access and land-use questions

660-425-6424

PO BOX 525 1505 MAIN ST BETHANY MO 64424-0525

Septic permits

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program

Onsite wastewater construction permits and exemption determinations for Harrison County

(573) 751-6095 ext. 5

OnsiteProgram@health.mo.gov

930 Wildwood Dr, Jefferson City, MO 65102

Online permits →

Floodplain permits

Harrison County Floodplain Administrator

County floodplain questions outside the listed incorporated communities

(660) 868-0709

1003 Factory Street Bethany, MO 64424

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 2, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Harrison 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 Harrison County, Missouri?

Unincorporated Harrison County does not require a residential building permit1. Missouri does not impose one uniform statewide building code; fire and building codes are adopted locally under state law9. The available state county-code listing shows no adopted Harrison County residential code, but we could not find a county page that explicitly states the permit answer1. Call the Harrison County Clerk at 660-425-6424 before ordering materials to confirm that the county's practice has not changed and to ask whether another approval applies to the site2. A project inside an incorporated city may face municipal rules that do not apply in unincorporated Harrison County9.

Who handles building and permit questions in Harrison County?

Harrison County does not identify a building department, so the Harrison County Clerk is the practical first contact for current county requirements12. The Clerk's office is at PO BOX 525 1505 MAIN ST BETHANY MO 64424-0525 and can be reached at 660-425-64242. Ask the Clerk to confirm whether the parcel is unincorporated, whether any county land-use approval applies, and which office controls an entrance onto the adjoining county road2. Septic is separate: DHSS, not the county health department, is the listed Harrison County onsite-wastewater authority4. Floodplain questions outside a listed city can go to the Harrison County representative shown by Missouri SEMA at (660) 868-070910.

Does Harrison County have zoning?

We could not confirm whether Harrison County has countywide zoning for unincorporated land3. Missouri law allows eligible counties to adopt zoning for unincorporated territory through the applicable voter-approval process, but that statewide authority does not prove Harrison County adopted it11. Ask the Harrison County Clerk for a current ordinance, zoning map or written confirmation before treating a parcel as unrestricted2. We also could not confirm county standards for minimum lot size, home size, setbacks, lot coverage or building height3. Missouri's protection for farm buildings concerns county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinances and is not a blanket exemption from septic, floodplain, zoning or other land-use requirements12.

How do septic permits work in Harrison County?

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is the listed onsite-wastewater permitting authority for Harrison County4. A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater systems, although some single-family residential lots may qualify for an exemption5. Submit the information through the state request form to obtain an application number, or call DHSS at (573) 751-6095 ext. 5 before work begins13. Missouri's program inspects an aggregate sample rather than every notified project: up to 60% of systems handled by registered contractors and at least 75% of systems handled by unregistered people6. Harrison County's soil data rates 0% of mapped soils as free from severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so establish site and system feasibility before fixing the home location14. Larger-flow, direct-discharge and certain lagoon systems fall under Missouri DNR instead4.

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

We could not confirm a Harrison County rule that allows or prohibits living in an RV on private land, temporary camping, or tiny-home occupancy3. We also could not confirm a county minimum dwelling size or setback standard3. Ask the Harrison County Clerk for the rule applying to the parcel and proposed use before moving an RV or tiny home onto the land2. A lack of a residential building permit does not answer occupancy or wastewater questions because those are separate requirements15. Off-grid wastewater still requires a lawful disposal system: Missouri's onsite systems treat and dispose of domestic sewage on the property, and most construction requires approval15.

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

  1. Confirm with the Harrison County Clerk that the parcel is unincorporated and that no county residential building permit has been added12.
  1. Ask the Clerk for any current zoning, setback, county-road entrance or other land-use rule affecting the parcel32.
  1. Contact DHSS for an onsite-wastewater application number and do not start septic work until a permit or exemption is confirmed513.
  1. Ask DHSS whether the septic work will receive an onsite inspection because Missouri applies different aggregate inspection rates based on contractor registration613.
  1. If the driveway enters MoDOT right-of-way, obtain the required state permit before constructing or modifying it16.
  1. Check mapped flood hazards and contact the Harrison County Floodplain Administrator before grading or building in a designated hazard area1710.
  1. Use a Missouri-licensed or permitted well contractor for regulated water-well construction8.

What should you check before buying land in Harrison County?

Confirm the parcel's jurisdiction and land-use rules with the Harrison County Clerk because countywide zoning, setbacks and minimum sizes remain unconfirmed32. Test septic feasibility early because 0% of mapped county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field14. For an existing system, arrange a private licensed inspection if the buyer or lender needs one because public-health agencies generally do not inspect systems for real-estate transfers18. Check flood maps and contact the county representative before development in a designated hazard area1710. Verify whether road access meets a county road or MoDOT right-of-way, because MoDOT requires a permit for driveway work in its right-of-way while a county-road requirement could not be confirmed162. Harrison County's median property-tax bill is about $885 per year, with an effective rate near 0.8%1920.

Watch-outs

  • No residential building permit is required in unincorporated Harrison County, but confirm the current practice with the County Clerk before construction12.
  • Countywide zoning, RV occupancy, tiny-home rules, setbacks and minimum dwelling size could not be confirmed; ask the County Clerk for a parcel-specific answer32.
  • Harrison County's soil data rates 0% of mapped soils as free from severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so resolve wastewater feasibility before choosing a building site14.

Sources

  1. Missouri State Data - County Building Codes for Missouri (2026 county census)
  2. Harrison County Clerk (mocounties.com)
  3. (2026 county census)
  4. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  5. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  6. RSMo Section 701.043, quoted and re-checked
  7. (2026 county census)
  8. Well and Pump Installation Contractor Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  9. RSMo Section 64.170 (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Harrison County Floodplain Administrator (sema.dps.mo.gov)
  11. RSMo § 64.090 — Planning and zoning powers of county commission (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. RSMo Section 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program (health.mo.gov)
  14. 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
  15. health.mo.gov (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Permits | Missouri Department of Transportation (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Laws and Regulations That Might Affect You if You Mine Sand or Gravel From Missouri Streams (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Inspections Versus Evaluations (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 2, 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 all 6 of its neighbors, Harrison County requires no county building permit for a home.

RuleHarrison CountyGentry CountyDaviess CountyMercer CountyWorth CountyGrundy CountyDeKalb County
Building permitNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot required
County zoningNot publishedNoNoNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNo
Septic permitsDHSSNot publishedCounty Health Dept.MO Dept. of Health & Senior ServicesNot publishedMO DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment ProgramDHSS

County locator

Harrison County in Missouri

74
County map
Harrison County highlighted among the Missouri counties · colored by Index score

How Harrison County scores

Seclusion74100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency60100% ev.
Admin Boringness7868% ev.
Durability48100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost8296% ev.

Evidence strength: 94%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$138kTypical home
0.8%Property tax
$3,799Land / acre
38.6"Annual rain
6.7% of yrsSevere drought
10.5 / yr (+8.7)Mid-century 100°F days
17.6 daysMid-century dry spell
2.11" (+7.4%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.8×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,882Home insurance / yr
3% / yrInsurance growth
1.5%Nonrenewal rate
single ZIP shrunk to state medianInsurance basis
5,482People within 30 min
2,411,764People within 2 hr
8,731Radius comparison (15 mi)
11.4People / sq mi
0.1%Federal land
88.5%Land at 15% slope or less
0%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
0 acWorkable land screen
21.7%Wooded land
38.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac
51.8°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Harrison 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.

Adams Township · Bethany · Bethany Township · Village of Blythedale · Butler Township · Cainsville · Clay Township · Colfax Township · Cypress Township · Dallas Township · Town of Eagleville · Fox Creek Township · Grant Township · Hamilton Township · Jefferson Township · Lincoln Township · Madison Township · Marion Township · Town of Mount Moriah · New Hampton · Ridgeway · Sherman Township · Sugar Creek Township · Trail Creek Township · Union Township · Washington Township · White Oak Township

Answers from the rulebook for Harrison County

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

Harrison County rules

  • Building permitNot required

    Missouri has no statewide residential building code and the state's county building-code listing shows no adopted building code for Harrison County, so the rural county does not require building permits in unincorporated areas. Corroborated by the state County Building Codes dataset (data.mo.gov iq7s-izvt, 2021): no county residential building code adopted.

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

Missouri rules that apply here

  • Building code adoptedPartial

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

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

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

    • The statute applies to unincorporated territory of counties subject to sections 64.211 to 64.295.
    • Actual district boundaries, regulations, and maps depend on county adoption and are not supplied by this statewide statute.
    • District regulations must be uniform for each class or kind of building or land use within each district, although regulations may differ between districts.
    • The regulations must be made in accordance with a comprehensive plan.
    “the unincorporated territory may be divided into districts of such number, shape and area as may be deemed best suited”
  • 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.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • State — Onsite wastewater permitting for Harrison County.
      “Agency: DHSS Authority Type: DHSS Address: 930 Wildwood Dr, Jefferson City, MO 65102 County: Harrison Phone: (573) 751-6095 ext. 5 Website: N/A”
    • State (with conditions) — Onsite wastewater permitting for Harrison County, as identified by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
      “Agency: DHSS Authority Type: DHSS Address: 930 Wildwood Dr, Jefferson City, MO 65102 County: Harrison Phone: (573) 751-6095 ext. 5 Website: N/A”
    • 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 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.”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Construction, major modification, or major repair of onsite sewage disposal systems in Harrison County under the state-administered DHSS program.
      “Except as otherwise provided in section 701.031, no person may, on or after September 1, 1995, construct or make a major modification or major repair to an on-site sewage disposal system without first notifying the city, county or department and completing an application, upon a form provided by the department, submitting an application fee in the amount established by the city, county or department, and obtaining a construction permit.”
    • Required — Installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems in Harrison County.
      “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. The first step of the permitting process is to determine the agency that has permitting authority where the work is being done.”
    • 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

    Onsite sewage disposal systems in Harrison County subject to Missouri state standards and notice requirements.

    • For systems constructed, modified, or repaired by registered contractors, the city, county, or department must inspect in the aggregate up to 60 percent.
    • For systems constructed, modified, or repaired by unregistered persons, the city, county, or department must inspect in the aggregate at least 75 percent.
    • The inspection percentages apply when notice is given under sections 701.046 to 701.048 and 701.050.
    • Certification without onsite inspection may be accepted from an eligible registered contractor.

    inspection rate for registered contractors: <= 60 percent maximum aggregate · inspection rate for unregistered persons: >= 75 percent minimum aggregate

    “A city, county or the department shall inspect, in the aggregate, up to sixty percent of on-site sewage disposal systems constructed, modified or repaired by contractors registered under sections 701.053 to 701.055 and at least seventy-five percent of on-site sewage disposal systems constructed, modified or repaired by persons not registered under sections 701.053 to 701.055 for which notice of construction, repair or modification is given under sections 701.046 to 701.048 and 701.050.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Inspection or evaluation of existing onsite wastewater systems in connection with Missouri real-estate transfers.
      “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.”
    • 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”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Construction of water wells in Harrison County by persons doing regulated well-construction work.
      “Individuals must test and become licensed/permitted in order to do business in Missouri to construct a water, heat pump or monitoring well.”
    • Required — A person or contractor conducting regulated work to drill, construct, repair, reconstruct, plug, or install pumps or pumping equipment in a water well, heat-pump well, monitoring well, or related well in Missouri.
      “A non-restricted permit is required to drill, construct, repair, reconstruct, plug, or install pumps or pumping equipment in a well.”
    • Limited — Construction or repair of water wells, installation or replacement of pumps, and associated plumbing and electrical work in Missouri.
      “A non-restricted water well installation permit is required to construct or repair a water well in Missouri.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    “After the county commission shall have adopted such subdivision regulations, no plat of a subdivision of land within the unincorporated area of such county [...]”
    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.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

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

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

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

    • The source describes local county or city flood damage reduction ordinances rather than one uniform statewide ordinance.
    • The project must be within a participating jurisdiction.
    • The project must be within a designated flood hazard area.
    • The cited rule does not apply if either condition is absent.
    • Covered projects must not raise flood heights.
    “Some jurisdictions (for example, county, city) require any projects in certain floodplains do not raise flood heights.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — All development in a Missouri floodplain, administered through the applicable community floodplain permitting process.
      “Regardless, some type of permit MUST be issued for ALL development in the floodplain.”
  • 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.”
  • 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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • 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.”
  • 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 for residential construction in Harrison County, Missouri, outside Bethany.
  • Inspections — Building inspections in unincorporated Harrison County.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy in unincorporated Harrison County.
  • County-wide zoning — Countywide zoning in Harrison County, Missouri, including unincorporated areas.
  • Local zoning — Aggregate local zoning in Harrison County, Missouri, including municipalities and any township-level controls, with Bethany treated separately where applicable.
12 more unanswered
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Short-term rentals

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

Living off-grid in Harrison County, Missouri

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

Harrison County scores 74/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property.

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

Harrison County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas. 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 Harrison County, Missouri?

Land in Harrison County runs about $3,799 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Harrison County?

Harrison County gets about 38.6" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 6.7% of years.

How remote is Harrison County?

A representative private-land location has about 5,482 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,411,764 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 Harrison compares in Missouri

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