Bolthole Index

Scott County, Missouri

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

69Index Score / 100
#66 of 115 in Missouri

Unincorporated Scott County, Missouri does not require a county building permit; the County Clerk's Office is the contact for building questions outside city limits12. Zoning information comes from the applicable city or, outside city limits, the County Clerk; we could not confirm countywide zoning3. Septic approval is separate and remains with the Scott County Health Department4.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required by the county in unincorporated areas; questions outside a city go to the County Clerk's Office12
Zoning
Varies by location; cities provide their rules, and the County Clerk handles questions outside city limits5
Septic permits
Scott County Health Department is the regulating authority for on-site sewage systems64
Septic permit validity
The state Construction Permit issued through the county is valid for one calendar year7
Owner-builder
No county-specific owner-builder exemption was confirmed; ask the County Clerk before starting work8
Farm building exemption
Agricultural uses have a statutory land-use exemption; qualifying farm structures must be outside mapped flood-hazard areas, and a separate exemption covers county fire ordinances910
Domestic well permit
A non-restricted well or pump-installation permit is required statewide, though landowners may install their own without one11
Septic soil difficulty
Only 8.4% of county soils are free of severe limits for a conventional drain field12

Who to call

Also useful

Scott County Clerk's Office

Point of contact for building-permit and zoning-regulation questions on land outside any city, and for the county's floodplain administrator, per the county Assessor's office

573-545-3549

scottcoclerk@scottcomo.com

131 S. Winchester Street, Benton, MO 63736

Septic permits

Scott County Health Department, Environmental

On-site sewage system (septic) Construction Permit applications, soil review, and final inspections for Scott County

573-471-4044

info@scottcountyhealth.com

102 Groves Estates Court, Sikeston, MO 63801

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

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Scott 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 Scott County, Missouri?

Unincorporated Scott County, Missouri does not require a county building permit1. Scott County directs building-permit questions outside city limits to the County Clerk's Office, but the published referral does not establish a requirement or give an application form, inspection schedule, or occupancy-certificate rule2. Inside Scott City, new construction and major structural renovations require a city building permit before construction or occupancy13. Septic approval for Scott County parcels remains with the Scott County Health Department, and work entering MoDOT right-of-way needs separate state authorization414.

Who handles Scott County building-permit and zoning questions?

For land outside any city, call the Scott County Clerk's Office at 573-545-3549 or email scottcoclerk@scottcomo.com; Scott County names the Clerk as the contact for both building-permit and zoning questions1525. For property inside an incorporated city, contact that city for its own building-permit and zoning information; septic permits remain with the Scott County Health Department254. The County Clerk's Office is in the courthouse at 131 S. Winchester Street, Benton, MO 6373615.

Does Scott County have zoning?

Scott County directs zoning questions outside city limits to the County Clerk; we could not confirm whether Scott County has adopted countywide zoning5. Sikeston, Scott City, Chaffee, and Miner have municipal zoning, as does Cape Girardeau, a city mainly in Cape Girardeau County that reaches into Scott County1617181920. Septic regulation for Scott County parcels remains with the Scott County Health Department; Chaffee also requires a city permit for private sewage disposal when public sewer is unavailable421. In unincorporated Scott County, Missouri's statutory land-use exemption covers raising crops, livestock, orchards, and forestry; the farm-structure exemption applies outside mapped flood-hazard areas9. A separate exemption prevents county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinances from regulating farm-building work or requiring permits for it, without waiving septic, subdivision, floodplain, or other requirements under separate authority10. We could not confirm unincorporated Scott County's minimum lot size, setbacks, dwelling size, lot coverage, or building height; ask the County Clerk about your site plan3.

How do septic permits work in Scott County?

The Scott County Health Department administers the Missouri On Site Sewage Disposal System Construction Permit locally47. Submit a completed application packet and Soil Morphology Report; Environmental Public Health Specialists review the packet and visit the site before deciding whether to issue the permit7. Unsuitable soils, an incomplete or missing packet, or a noncompliant proposed system prevent approval7. Missouri temporarily suspended state onsite-sewage application fees effective August 28, 2026; ask the Health Department about any separate local charges22. The Construction Permit is valid for one calendar year and must be displayed at the construction site during covered work; the Health Department makes a final site inspection after installation723. Missouri generally requires residential septic permits on property under three acres, but larger-lot exemptions do not apply in every county; obtain a permit or confirm an exemption before starting work24. Only 8.4% of Scott County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so the site evaluation may point toward an engineered or alternative system12.

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

We could not confirm a Scott County rule for long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy, or manufactured-home siting on private land, so ask the County Clerk before relying on any of those uses5. Sewage disposal still falls under the Scott County Health Department's septic-permit process47. Before buying land for an RV or tiny home, ask the County Clerk whether a parcel-specific restriction applies and ask the Health Department what sewage system the proposed use requires1525. Property inside a city must also be checked with that city because Scott County directs municipal zoning questions to the city where the property lies5.

What are the steps to building a home in Scott County?

  1. Confirm that the parcel is outside city limits, then call the Scott County Clerk's Office about parcel-specific zoning and building questions; unincorporated Scott County does not require a county building permit15125.
  1. If the project is agricultural, ask whether the farm-use and farm-structure exemptions apply and whether the site lies in a mapped flood-hazard area910.
  1. Start the septic review with the Scott County Health Department; the application requires a Soil Morphology Report, and only 8.4% of county soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field25712.
  1. Arrange water. Missouri requires installer permits for covered well and pump work, although a landowner may install the landowner's own well or pump without one11.
  1. If a driveway or other work enters MoDOT right-of-way, submit the state request and contact the Traffic Specialist at least 48 hours before work begins1426.
  1. Keep the septic Construction Permit posted during covered work and schedule the Health Department's final inspection after installation723.

What should you check before buying land in Scott County?

Septic soils deserve the most attention here: only 8.4% of Scott County's land is free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so arrange the required Soil Morphology Report and site review before counting on a standard system127. The land is mostly gentle, with 91% at 15% slope or less, though lightly wooded at just 15.9% forest cover2728. Confirm whether the parcel sits inside or outside city limits before assuming anything about building permits or zoning; Scott County directs city parcels to the city and outside-city parcels to the County Clerk25. If the land touches a mapped flood-hazard area, ask the County Clerk how to reach the floodplain administrator before buying15. Scott County's effective property-tax rate is about 0.7%, with a median annual bill around $936 and a typical home value near $163,070293031.

Watch-outs

  • A lack of a county building-permit requirement does not settle zoning or remove septic approval and MoDOT access permits when those rules apply15714.
  • We could not confirm Scott County rules for RV occupancy, tiny homes, or temporary camping on private land; ask the County Clerk before relying on any of those uses515.
  • Farm-building exemptions do not remove separate floodplain requirements; Missouri requires a floodplain development permit for development in a floodplain1032.

Sources

  1. Scott County MO - Office of County Development (2026 county census)
  2. Scott County Assessor, quoted and re-checked
  3. Scott County Assessor, quoted and re-checked
  4. Environmental, quoted and re-checked
  5. Scott County Assessor, quoted and re-checked
  6. Environmental (2026 county census)
  7. Environmental, quoted and re-checked
  8. (2026 county census)
  9. RSMo Section 64.620 — Building restrictions — limitations on regulations (second and third class counties), quoted and re-checked
  10. RSMo Section 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures, quoted and re-checked
  11. Water Wells - PUB2945, quoted and re-checked
  12. 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
  13. Scott City: Article III: Permits and Fees - Scott City, MO (Scott County), quoted and re-checked
  14. Permits | Missouri Department of Transportation (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Scott County Clerk's Office (scottcountymo.com)
  16. Sikeston: Division 1 R-1 and R-2 Single-Family Residential Districts (Scott County), quoted and re-checked
  17. Scott City: Municipal Code (Scott County), quoted and re-checked
  18. Chaffee: Table of Contents - City of Chaffee, MO (Scott County), quoted and re-checked
  19. Miner: Miner Code § 44-60, R-1 Single-Family Residential District (Scott County), quoted and re-checked
  20. Cape Girardeau: Sec. 30-57. R-1, Single-Family Suburban Residential District (Scott County), quoted and re-checked
  21. Chaffee: Chapter 705: Public and Private Sewers - City of Chaffee, MO (Scott County), quoted and re-checked
  22. OWTS Construction Permit Process (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Environmental, quoted and re-checked
  24. OWTS Construction Permit Process (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Scott County Health Department, Environmental (scottcountyhealth.com)
  26. Permit Process | Missouri Department of Transportation (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  30. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  31. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  32. Floodplain Forms (Missouri statewide rule), 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 all 6 of its neighbors, Scott County requires no county building permit for a home.

RuleScott CountyMississippi CountyCape Girardeau CountyStoddard CountyNew Madrid CountyBollinger CountyPerry County
Building permitNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot required
County zoningNoNot publishedNoNot publishedNot publishedNoNo
Septic permitsCounty Health Dept.DHSSCounty Public Health CenterMO Dept. of Health & Senior ServicesDHSSDHSSDHSS

County locator

Scott County in Missouri

69
County map
Scott County highlighted among the Missouri counties · colored by Index score

How Scott County scores

Seclusion53100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency58100% ev.
Admin Boringness8790% ev.
Durability50100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost76100% 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 →

$163kTypical home
0.7%Property tax
$6,405Land / acre
48.9"Annual rain
5.6% of yrsSevere drought
15.4 / yr (+13.7)Mid-century 100°F days
16.8 daysMid-century dry spell
2.53" (+6.1%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.71×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,039Home insurance / yr
0.5% / yrInsurance growth
2.05%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
32,798People within 30 min
1,161,120People within 2 hr
41,393Radius comparison (15 mi)
90.2People / sq mi
0.9%Federal land
91%Land at 15% slope or less
8.4%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
21,907 acWorkable land screen
15.9%Wooded land
73.7 tonsBiomass / forest ac
58.1°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Scott 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: Benton · Blodgett · Village of Commerce · Village of Diehlstadt · Village of Haywood City · Village of Kelso · Morley · Oran · Village of Vanduser

Answers from the rulebook for Scott County

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

Scott County rules

  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Countywide aggregate of zoning administration by incorporated cities and by the County Clerk for property outside city limits; the claim does not attribute each municipal ordinance to Scott County.

    • For property within a city, zoning regulations may be obtained from that city.
    • For property outside any city limits, zoning information is directed to the Scott County Clerk's Office.
    • The source does not state whether Scott County itself has adopted a countywide zoning ordinance.
    “Zoning regulations may be obtained from the city in which the property lies. For zoning regulations outside any city limits, contact the County Clerk's Office at 573-545-3549.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Varies (with conditions) — Aggregate local zoning administration across Scott County: properties inside city limits are directed to the applicable city, while properties outside city limits are directed to the County Clerk.
      “Zoning regulations may be obtained from the city in which the property lies. For zoning regulations outside any city limits, contact the County Clerk's Office at 573-545-3549.”
    • Varies (with conditions) — Aggregate local zoning across incorporated municipalities and unincorporated Scott County; the county itself is not claimed to administer municipal ordinances.
      “Zoning regulations may be obtained from the city in which the property lies. For zoning regulations outside any city limits, contact the County Clerk's Office at 573-545-3549.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    On-site sewage systems in Scott County, Missouri.

    “The Scott County Health Department is the regulating authority in Scott County Missouri.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    On-site sewage disposal system construction and covered repair work in Scott County, Missouri.

    • The county page identifies the permit as the Missouri Department of Health On Site Sewage Disposal System Construction Permit.
    • The application must be completed correctly and the fee paid; the permit is issued to the local health department.
    • The Scott County Health Department requires the Soil Morphology Report and completed application packet, reviews the packet, and visits the site.
    • The construction permit is not issued if the state permit is not purchased, the soils report indicates unsuitable soil, the application packet is incomplete or not submitted, or the proposed system does not meet regulations.
    • The permit is valid for one calendar year and must be displayed at the construction site while covered work is being conducted.
    • The Missouri DHSS FAQ states that a permit is required for residential property less than three acres and for all non-residential systems regardless of property size, while noting that the residential exemption does not apply in some counties; the county-specific page governs the local process.

    construction permit validity: 1 calendar year

    “If the State Permit is not purchased, if the soils report indicates the soil is unsuitable, if the application packet is not completed correctly, or not turned in, if the proposed system does not meet the regulations, the Construction Permit will not be issued.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    A permitted on-site sewage system installation in Scott County, Missouri, after installation is complete.

    • The county page states that the final site inspection occurs once the system has been installed.
    • The county page also states that Environmental Public Health Specialists review the application packet and visit the site before the construction permit is issued.
    “Once this system has been installed, the Scott County Health Department will make a final site inspection of the system.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable

    Erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures in Scott County when the restriction would otherwise arise from a county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinance.

    • The exemption is limited to fire protection or fire prevention ordinances adopted by a county.
    • The source does not exempt agricultural buildings from subdivision, septic, floodplain, environmental, utility, or other requirements imposed under separate authority.
    • The statute is effective August 28, 2025.

    effective date: 2025-08-28

    “no fire protection or fire prevention ordinance [...] require permits with respect to the erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit access for property in Scott County, with different contacts depending on whether the property lies inside a city.

    • For property inside a city, obtain building permits from the city in which the property lies.
    • For property outside any city limits, contact the Scott County Clerk's Office at 573-545-3549.
    • The cited page does not state application forms, review times, inspections, or fees.
    “Building permits may be obtained from the city in which the property in question lies. For building permits outside any city limits, contact the County Clerk's Office at 573-545-3549.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Obtaining building permits for property outside incorporated city limits in Scott County.
      “Building permits may be obtained from the city in which the property in question lies. For building permits outside any city limits, contact the County Clerk's Office at 573-545-3549.”
  • Building permitNot required

    Scott County's Office of County Development is an economic-development function with no building-inspection role; as a non-charter rural Missouri county with no statewide residential code, the county has no building-permit authority in unincorporated areas. Corroborated by the state County Building Codes dataset (data.mo.gov iq7s-izvt, 2021): no county residential building code adopted.

    Scott County MO - Office of County Development ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    No county zoning ordinance or planning/zoning department is published; the county development office handles infrastructure and grants, not land-use zoning.

    Scott County MO - Office of County Development ↗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”
  • 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
    • Limited — Water wells constructed or repaired in Scott County under Missouri statewide well-construction rules.
      “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.”
    • 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.”
  • 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.”
  • 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 permitting, inspection, or licensing requirements in Scott County.
  • Inspections — Building inspections in Scott County, including residential construction in unincorporated areas.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in Scott County, including unincorporated areas.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Scott County, Missouri
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in unincorporated Scott County, Missouri
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 Scott County, Missouri

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

Scott County scores 69/100 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 Scott County, Missouri?

Scott 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 Scott County Health Department. 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 Scott County, Missouri?

Land in Scott County runs about $6,405 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Scott County?

Scott County gets about 48.9" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 5.6% of years.

How remote is Scott County?

A representative private-land location has about 32,798 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,161,120 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 Scott compares in Missouri

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