Bolthole Index

Maries County, Missouri

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

68Index Score / 100
#71 of 115 in Missouri

Unincorporated Maries County, Missouri does not require a county building permit for a home1. Zoning rules exist inside the cities of Vienna and Belle, and Belle also issues its own building permits23; county zoning on unincorporated land could not be confirmed4. Septic permits come from Missouri's DHSS outside city limits5, and from the city superintendent inside Belle6.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required in unincorporated Maries County; the City of Belle issues its own13
Zoning
Vienna and Belle have city zoning; countywide zoning unconfirmed427
Septic permit
DHSS handles permits outside city limits; Belle's city superintendent inside Belle56
RV / tiny home living
No published county rule found either way; ask the Commission4
Owner-builder exemption
Not confirmed; there is no county permit process to be exempt from8
Minimum lot size / setbacks
Not published; no county zoning ordinance was found4

Who to call

Also useful

Maries County Commission

General county government; the office to ask about county roads, floodplain status, or zoning/subdivision questions, since Maries County has no building, planning or zoning department

573-422-3388

commission@mariescountymo.gov

Property records

Maries County Assessor's Office

Property assessment, parcel records and valuation for Maries County

573-422-3540

assessor@mariescountymo.gov

211 4th Street, Courthouse, P.O. Box 188, Vienna, MO 65582

Health department

Missouri Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program (DHSS)

Onsite wastewater treatment system (septic) construction permits for Maries County, since the Phelps/Maries County Health Department stopped issuing them locally on October 16, 2024

573-751-6095

onsiteprogram@health.mo.gov

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 13, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Maries 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 Maries County, Missouri?

No county building permit is required to build or renovate a home in unincorporated Maries County: the county's own website lists no building, code-enforcement or inspection office among its departments1. Missouri law lets only counties of the first or second classification adopt a residential building code9. Like most counties around it in Missouri, Maries County does not require a county building permit1. The cities differ: inside Belle, a building permit is required for any building to be erected, converted, structurally altered or enlarged3. Without a county permit process, no county inspection, certificate-of-occupancy or owner-builder-exemption rule is confirmed8.

Who do you call about land-use and building questions in Maries County?

Maries County has no building, planning or zoning department, so there is no dedicated county land-use office to call14. The Maries County Commission, at 573-422-3388 or commission@mariescountymo.gov, is the general county government office and the practical place to start with a road, floodplain or land-use question10. The Maries County Assessor's Office, at 573-422-3540, keeps parcel records and acreage and can confirm the boundaries and classification of a specific tract11. Inside Belle, building permits come from the city: stop by Belle City Hall or use the building permit application on the city's site3. For septic work outside city limits, call Missouri's Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program at 573-751-6095125.

Does Maries County have zoning?

Maries County's website lists no county planning or zoning department, and we could not confirm an adopted county zoning order for unincorporated land4. Missouri law lets a county like Maries zone unincorporated territory only after voter approval, and the available county material does not show that happened13. The incorporated cities are different. Belle adopts and administers its own zoning districts, shown on a District Map filed with the City Clerk7. Vienna has planning and zoning provisions, and its building inspector enforces city ordinances on zoning, subdivision regulations and building codes2. Those city rules do not apply to unincorporated Maries County. For unincorporated land, we could not confirm county rules for lot size, setbacks, building height, accessory dwellings, or RV and tiny-home occupancy; ask the County Commission10.

How do septic (onsite wastewater) permits work in Maries County?

Outside city limits, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is the onsite wastewater permitting authority for Maries County5. A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most systems, although some single-family residential lots may qualify for an exemption; do not start work until DHSS issues the permit or confirms the exemption5. Apply through Missouri's Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program at PO Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570, phone 573-751-609512. The state requires a construction permit for residential property under three acres, and the exemption does not apply in some counties, so ask DHSS whether a larger tract qualifies14. Inside Belle, the owner must first obtain a written permit signed by the city Superintendent before building a private sewage disposal system6. Only 0.7% of Maries County land has soil without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so get the site evaluated before fixing a house location15. Application fees for onsite sewage system construction, modification and repair are temporarily suspended as of August 28, 20265.

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

We could not confirm a county rule addressing RV or tiny-home occupancy on private land in unincorporated Maries County4. Call the County Commission at 573-422-3388 before setting up a long-term RV, park model or tiny home on unincorporated land10. A parcel inside Belle falls under the city's own zoning districts, so ask Belle's Building Inspector first7. A parcel inside Vienna is subject to the city's planning and zoning framework2. For an unsewered homesite, DHSS requires a construction permit for most onsite wastewater systems unless it confirms that the lot qualifies for an exemption5.

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

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is inside Vienna, inside Belle or in unincorporated Maries County, because both cities have their own zoning27.
  2. Call the Maries County Assessor's Office at 573-422-3540 to confirm the parcel's recorded acreage and existing structures11.
  3. Inside Belle, get a city building permit before building3. In unincorporated Maries County, no county residential building permit is required, so arrange your own construction supervision and quality checks1.
  4. Contact Missouri's Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program at 573-751-6095 before fixing the house location; DHSS must issue the septic construction permit or confirm that the lot is exempt before work begins125.
  5. Ask the Maries County Commission about county-road access, culverts and the parcel's floodplain status before moving equipment onto the site10.
  6. If the entrance meets a state highway, obtain the required MoDOT right-of-way permit before constructing or modifying the driveway, and contact the MoDOT Traffic Specialist at least 48 hours before work begins1617.

What to check before you buy land in Maries County

Test the soil before you commit: only 0.7% of Maries County's land has soil without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so budget cautiously and get a site evaluation early15. About 70.2% of the land has a slope of 15% or less, and 54% is wooded, so compare the cost of clearing and grading each candidate homesite1819. Maries County has about 16 people per square mile, and the nearest city of 100,000 or more is roughly 63 miles from the county's center2021. Farmland value averages about $3,134 per acre, while the typical home value is about $260,1602223. Maries County's effective property-tax rate is about 0.6%, with a median annual bill near $1,0882425. A septic inspection is not automatically required for every Missouri real-estate transaction, but a buyer or lender may request one and it must be performed by a licensed individual26. Before closing, ask the County Commission whether the parcel is unincorporated, lies in a mapped flood hazard area, or is subject to a subdivision rule1013.

Watch-outs

  • Farm buildings and structures used strictly for agriculture (not a residence) get a separate state-law exemption from local building and land-use restrictions outside mapped flood-hazard areas, if Maries County ever regulates them27.
  • Whether unincorporated Maries County has ever adopted subdivision regulations under state law is unconfirmed; ask the County Commission before platting a new parcel1013.
  • No floodplain administrator is published on the county's site; ask the County Commission whether your parcel is in a mapped flood hazard area before you build1028.

Sources

  1. Maries County, Missouri - Official County Website (department directory) (2026 county census)
  2. Vienna City Codes, quoted and re-checked
  3. Belle: Article XII: Inspections and Permits (Maries County), quoted and re-checked
  4. Maries County, Missouri - Official County Website (department directory) (2026 county census)
  5. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  6. Belle: Chapter 710 Sewer System (Maries County), quoted and re-checked
  7. Belle: Article II: Establishment of Districts and General Requirements (Maries County), quoted and re-checked
  8. (2026 county census)
  9. RSMo § 64.170 — County commissions control construction and issue building permits (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Maries County Commission (mariescountymo.gov)
  11. Maries County Assessor's Office (mariescountymo.gov)
  12. Missouri Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program (DHSS) (health.mo.gov)
  13. RSMo § 64.090 — Planning and zoning powers of county commission (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  15. 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
  16. Permits, quoted and re-checked
  17. Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  18. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  23. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  26. health.mo.gov, quoted and re-checked
  27. Building and land use restrictions — exemptions — limitations on use of powers, quoted and re-checked
  28. Laws and Regulations That Might Affect You if You Mine Sand or Gravel From Missouri Streams (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 13, 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 4 of the neighbors with published rules, Maries County has no countywide zoning.

RuleMaries CountyPhelps CountyPulaski CountyOsage CountyMiller CountyCrawford CountyGasconade County
Building permitNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredLimitedNot requiredNot requiredLimited
County zoningNoNoNot publishedNoNot publishedNoNo
Septic permitsDHSSDHSSDHSSDHSSDHSSCounty Health Dept.DHSS

County locator

Maries County in Missouri

68
County map
Maries County highlighted among the Missouri counties · colored by Index score

How Maries County scores

Seclusion46100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency60100% ev.
Admin Boringness8790% ev.
Durability51100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost82100% 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 →

$260kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$3,134Land / acre
43.5"Annual rain
5.4% of yrsSevere drought
13.1 / yr (+10.8)Mid-century 100°F days
16.7 daysMid-century dry spell
2.09" (+4.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.82×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,962Home insurance / yr
2.2% / yrInsurance growth
1.15%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
52,206People within 30 min
3,301,616People within 2 hr
19,931Radius comparison (15 mi)
16People / sq mi
0%Federal land
70.2%Land at 15% slope or less
0.7%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
2,362 acWorkable land screen
54%Wooded land
40 tonsBiomass / forest ac
55.9°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Maries 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Maries County

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

Maries County rules

  • Building permitNot required

    The official county website lists no building/permit or code-enforcement office; Missouri has no statewide residential code and non-charter (third-class) counties like Maries generally lack authority to 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.

    Maries County, Missouri - Official County Website (department directory) ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    The official county department directory contains no planning/zoning office; zoning applies only within incorporated cities such as Vienna.

    Maries County, Missouri - Official County Website (department directory) ↗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 septicState (with conditions)

    Onsite wastewater treatment system construction permitting in Maries County, as identified in the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services county authority listing.

    • The Maries County listing identifies the agency as DHSS and the authority type as DHSS.
    • A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems; some single-family residential lots may be exempt from permitting.
    • The first step is to determine the agency with permitting authority where the work is being done.
    • 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 due to changes to RSMo 701.046; the $90 permit fee was removed and DHSS is authorized to set reasonable fees until new standards take effect.
    • 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.
    • The Department of Natural Resources regulates lagoons serving anything other than single-family residences, systems that treat and discharge into surface waters, systems treating wastewater flows greater than 3,000 gallons per day and dispersing through soil treatment or absorption systems, and industrial non-domestic wastewater systems.
    • DNR must approve subdivisions, mobile home parks, and campgrounds if OWTS use is planned.

    domestic wastewater flow covered by DHSS regulations: <= 3000 gallons per day (Systems exceeding this flow threshold are regulated by DNR when wastewater is dispersed through soil treatment or absorption systems.) · application fees: temporarily suspended (Effective August 28, 2026, due to changes to RSMo 701.046; current fees are on hold until new standards take effect.)

    “Agency: DHSS Authority Type: DHSS Address: 930 Wildwood Dr. Jefferson City, MO 65102 County: Maries”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • 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.”
    • Mixed (with conditions) — Onsite wastewater treatment systems statewide in Missouri.
      “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.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems, including residential systems in Maries County, under Missouri state standards.

    • Some single-family residential lots may be exempt from permitting.
    • A construction permit is required for a residential property less than three acres; the exemption does not apply in some counties, so the county authority must be checked.
    • Regardless of property size, a permit is necessary for other onsite systems serving non-residential structures.
    • The first step is to determine the agency with permitting authority where the work is being done.
    • Work should not begin until a permit has been issued or an exemption has been confirmed by the appropriate permitting authority.
    • Effective August 28, 2026, application fees associated with onsite sewage disposal system construction, modifications, and repairs were temporarily suspended under the stated statutory change.

    residential property threshold: < 3 acres (The stated exemption does not apply in some counties.) · application fee suspension effective date: 2026-08-28 (Temporary suspension described by DHSS.)

    “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.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • 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 system before a Missouri real-estate transaction.
      “No. However, if a lender or buyer requests an inspection/evaluation, it must be conducted by a licensed individual.”
    • 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”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • 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 in areas governed by Missouri county planning and zoning powers, including unincorporated Maries County where those state provisions apply.

    • The statutory provision does not apply to incorporated portions of counties.
    • The statutory provision does not apply to the raising of crops, livestock, orchards, or forestry, or to seasonal or temporary impoundments used for rice farming or flood irrigation.
    • Rice-farming or flood-irrigation berms covered by the provision must be no more than eighteen inches high.
    • The exemption for erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures applies only in an area not within the area shown on the flood hazard area map.
    • The section separately addresses recovery of natural resources by strip or open-cut mining; commercial structures are permitted in all districts except districts zoned for residential or recreational use.
    • The statute preserves existing lawful property uses and maintenance, judicial review of reasonableness, and public utility services authorized or ordered by the public service commission or by county commission permit.
    • The statute does not affect an ordinance or order adopted by a county before March 4, 1991.

    rice farming or flood irrigation berm height: <= 18 inches · statutory effective date: 1991-03-04

    “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.”
    5 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.”
    • Available (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.
      “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.”
  • 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 of driveways or modification of existing driveways within MoDOT right-of-way in Maries County.

    • An initial online request must be submitted for each planned listed activity.
    • Existing-driveway modifications covered include proposed changes in width, grade, location, or surface type.
    • Engineered drawings or plans may be required depending on scope, type, or complexity; traffic studies may be required for larger developments or commercial activity; hydraulic analysis may be required if stormwater or drainage is impacted; a traffic-control plan may be required; a surety deposit or performance bond may be required.
    • After issuance, a Missouri One Call locate is required before digging; a Notice of Intent is required at least two business days before proposed lane closures; the permit and approved plans must remain on site; and the local Traffic Specialist must be contacted before work begins and when complete for final inspection.
    “We require you to obtain a permit to work on MoDOT's Right of Way for: Construction of driveways”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Construction or modification of driveways within MoDOT right-of-way statewide.
      “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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Work on Missouri Department of Transportation right-of-way in Maries County, including driveway construction and modification.
      “there are three ways to submit a permit application for processing.”
    • 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”

Inside cities and towns in Maries County

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

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Property within the incorporated City of Belle, Missouri, in Maries County.

    • Uses and construction are subject to the applicable City of Belle zoning districts and regulations.
    • The City of Belle states that building work requires contacting the Building Inspector before work starts.
    “Reminder: All property within the City of Belle is zoned for certain uses.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — Land-use regulation within the incorporated City of Vienna, Maries County, Missouri.
      “Chapter 20 PLANNING AND ZONING [...] The building inspector is hereby authorized and directed to enforce all the provisions of this Article and all other ordinances of the city now in force or hereafter adopted, relating to zoning, subdivision regulations or building codes.”
    • Present (with conditions) — Zoning-related regulation within the City of Vienna, Missouri, in Maries County.
      “The building inspector is hereby authorized and directed to enforce all the provisions of this Article and all other ordinances of the city now in force or hereafter adopted, relating to zoning, subdivision regulations or building codes.”

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 Maries County
  • Inspections — Building inspections for residential construction in Maries County, including unincorporated areas
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in Maries County, including unincorporated areas
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Maries County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in unincorporated Maries County.
10 more unanswered
  • 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 Maries County, Missouri

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

Maries County scores 68/100 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 Maries County, Missouri?

Maries County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Maries County, Missouri?

Land in Maries County runs about $3,134 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Maries County?

Maries County gets about 43.5" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 5.4% of years.

How remote is Maries County?

A representative private-land location has about 52,206 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,301,616 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 Maries compares in Missouri

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