Bolthole Index

Atchison County, Missouri

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Tarkio, Missouri

Tarkio, Missouri requires a city building permit before constructing, altering or moving a building or structure.1 Tarkio has its own zoning; Atchison County’s unincorporated-land rules are not the city’s rules.2 Within Tarkio, qualifying properties must connect to public sewer; private sewage systems involve city inspection and Missouri DHSS onsite wastewater permitting.345

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the city Building Inspector before covered work begins1
Zoning
City zoning applies inside Tarkio; requirements vary by district2
Sewer and septic
Public sewer connection required where the city’s conditions apply; private systems also need city inspection and DHSS review346
Small houses
R-1 small houses: 128–900 square feet of living space, including all floors7
Residential lots
R-1 single-family lots: 7,200 square feet and 60 feet wide, with an exception for qualifying older lots8
Occupancy approval
New buildings need a certificate of occupancy from the Building Inspector9

Who to call

Building permits

Tarkio City Hall — Building Inspector referral

Starting contact to reach the Building Inspector and ask about city building applications, sewer service and floodplain review.

(660) 736-4821

[email protected]

602 Main Street, Tarkio, MO 64491

Zoning

Tarkio Planning and Zoning Commission

Advises on rezoning, subdivision plats, zoning issues and Special Use Permits; the Board of Aldermen makes the final determination.

Septic permits

Missouri DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program

Onsite wastewater construction permits for Atchison County

(573) 751-6095 ext. 5

[email protected]

930 Wildwood Dr, Jefferson City, MO 65102

Online permits →

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

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Tarkio, MO?

Yes: inside Tarkio city limits, a building permit is required before erection, construction, reconstruction, conversion, alteration, enlargement, extension, raising or moving of a building or structure.1 Apply in writing to the city Building Inspector and wait for the permit before starting covered work.10 Tarkio’s published fee schedule is based on the cost of work; ask the Building Inspector for the current amount applicable to your project.11 For a parcel outside city limits, use the Atchison County guide for the unincorporated-area answer: a county residential building permit appears not to be required there.12

Who handles building applications and zoning in Tarkio?

Tarkio’s Building Inspector receives written building permit applications and issues certificates of occupancy.109 Start at Tarkio City Hall to request the Building Inspector’s application instructions; City Hall publishes its phone and email in the office listing below.13 For rezoning, subdivision plats, zoning issues and Special Use Permits, Tarkio’s Planning and Zoning Commission advises the Board of Aldermen, which makes the final determination.14 That city planning process does not replace wastewater review: Missouri DHSS is listed as Atchison County’s onsite wastewater permitting agency, and Tarkio separately inspects private sewage installations.54

Does Tarkio have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

Tarkio has municipal zoning with district-specific requirements and permitted uses; confirm the parcel’s district before choosing a house plan.2 In Tarkio’s R-1 Residential District, a single-family dwelling generally needs a lot of at least 7,200 square feet and a width of at least 60 feet.8 A lot recorded under separate ownership from adjoining lots on October 30, 1967 may qualify for the smaller-lot exception.8 R-1 yard requirements are at least 30 feet in front, 7 feet on each side and 30 feet at the rear, subject to the code’s modifications.15 These R-1 dimensions should not be substituted for the rules of another Tarkio zoning district.2

How do sewer connections and septic permits work in Tarkio?

Tarkio requires direct public sewer connection for covered buildings on property abutting a street, alley or right-of-way containing public sewer when that sewer is within 300 feet of the property line; connection is due within 90 days after official notice.3 Where public sewer is unavailable under that rule, Tarkio allows a private sewage disposal system.3 Missouri DHSS lists Atchison County under its onsite wastewater program, and most system installations or repairs require a construction permit before work begins unless an exemption is confirmed.56 Tarkio also requires notice to the Superintendent for final inspection before underground portions are covered.4 DHSS application fees for onsite sewage construction, modification and repair are temporarily suspended effective August 28, 2026; that suspension does not remove the permit process.1617

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Tarkio?

Tarkio’s R-1 code expressly provides for small houses with living space of at least 128 and at most 900 square feet, counting all floors.7 Small-house site work and foundations require building permits and inspections, as do houses built off site if not HUD certified.18 New buildings also require a certificate of occupancy before use.9 Those small-house provisions do not establish permission to occupy an RV: we could not confirm Tarkio’s private-land RV occupancy or temporary-camping rules. Ask the Building Inspector through City Hall about your proposed vehicle, foundation and occupancy arrangement before buying or placing it.13

Building a home in Tarkio: what are the steps in order?

  1. Confirm the Tarkio zoning district and whether the proposed use needs a zoning hearing; the city commission advises on zoning issues and Special Use Permits.214
  2. Resolve public sewer availability under Tarkio’s connection rule; if using private sewage disposal, confirm DHSS permitting or exemption before installation.36
  3. Deliver a written building application and duplicate detailed plans showing building size, lot location, basic materials and construction details to the Building Inspector; the Inspector may accept a written statement instead for structures outside fire districts.10
  4. Obtain the building permit before covered work starts, and schedule the applicable small-house and private-sewage inspections.1184
  5. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before occupying a new building.9

Watch-outs

  • Tarkio building permits expire after 180 days if construction is not completed; ask the Building Inspector about a continuance before the deadline.10
  • We could not confirm a separate Tarkio owner-builder exemption or a rule allowing private-land RV occupancy; ask the Building Inspector through City Hall.13
  • Missouri requires a permit for all floodplain development; ask Tarkio City Hall who administers the city’s floodplain review before committing to a site.1913

Sources

  1. Article X: Administration - City of Tarkio, MO (Tarkio), quoted and re-checked
  2. Table of Contents - City of Tarkio, MO (Tarkio), quoted and re-checked
  3. Article II: Sewer Use — Generally - City of Tarkio, MO (Tarkio), quoted and re-checked
  4. Article II: Sewer Use — Generally - City of Tarkio, MO (Tarkio), quoted and re-checked
  5. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  6. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  7. Article III: “R-1” Residential District Regulations - City of Tarkio, MO (Tarkio), quoted and re-checked
  8. Article III: “R-1” Residential District Regulations - City of Tarkio, MO (Tarkio), quoted and re-checked
  9. Article X: Administration - City of Tarkio, MO (Tarkio), quoted and re-checked
  10. Article X: Administration - City of Tarkio, MO (Tarkio), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article X: Administration - City of Tarkio, MO (Tarkio), quoted and re-checked
  12. Atchison County - Local Government (2026 county census)
  13. Tarkio City Hall — Building Inspector referral (tarkiomo.com)
  14. Tarkio Planning and Zoning Commission (tarkiomo.com)
  15. Article III: “R-1” Residential District Regulations - City of Tarkio, MO (Tarkio), quoted and re-checked
  16. OWTS Construction Permit Process (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. OWTS Construction Permit Process (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Article III: “R-1” Residential District Regulations - City of Tarkio, MO (Tarkio), quoted and re-checked
  19. 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Tarkio

Tarkio’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, construction, reconstruction, conversion, alteration, enlargement, extension, raising, or moving of a building or structure inside Tarkio city limits.

    • A written application must be made to the Building Inspector before work begins.
    • A building permit must be granted before work proceeds.
    • Applications generally require duplicate detailed plans, subject to the stated discretion for structures outside fire districts.
    “It shall be unlawful to commence or to proceed with the erection, construction, reconstruction, conversion, alteration, enlargement, extension, raising or moving of any building or structure or any portion thereof without first having applied in writing to the Building Inspector for a building permit to do so and until a building permit has been granted therefor.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Small-house construction and placement inside Tarkio city limits.

    • Building permits and inspections are required for site work, foundations, and houses built off site if not HUD certified.
    • The available excerpt is specific to small houses, not every building type.
    “Building Permits: Building permits and inspections are required for site work, foundations and houses built off site (if not HUD certified).”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New buildings and changes in land or building occupancy inside Tarkio city limits.

    • The code states that no new building may be occupied until a certificate is issued.
    • The rule excludes changes of use or occupancy in an existing building when the use is a single-family dwelling.
    • A certificate and permit must be issued before occupancy.
    “Subsequent to October 30, 1967, no change in the use or occupancy of land, nor any change of use or occupancy in an existing building other than for single-family dwelling purposes, shall be made, nor shall any new building be occupied until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the Building Inspector.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Tarkio city limits; the City of Tarkio adopts and administers zoning regulations.

    • The code includes Chapter 405 Zoning Regulations and a City Planning and Zoning Commission.
    • District-specific requirements and permitted uses apply.
    “Chapter 405 Zoning Regulations (Section 405.010 – Section 405.470)”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Small houses in the R-1 Residential District inside Tarkio city limits.

    • The small-house minimum applies to construction and placement of small houses.
    • The provision states that living space includes all floors.
    • The same subsection sets a maximum of 900 square feet.

    minimum small-house living space: >= 128 square feet (Including all floors.) · maximum small-house living space: <= 900 square feet (Including all floors.)

    “Living Space: maximum square footage, including all floors, nine hundred (900); minimum square footage, including all floors, one hundred and twenty-eight (128).”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Residential District inside Tarkio city limits.

    • The lot must also be at least 60 feet wide.
    • A lot recorded under separate ownership from adjoining lots on October 30, 1967 may be occupied by a single-family dwelling despite lesser area or width.

    minimum lot area: >= 7200 square feet (Pre-existing separately owned lot recorded October 30, 1967.) · minimum lot width: >= 60 feet (Pre-existing separately owned lot recorded October 30, 1967.)

    “A lot occupied by a single-family dwelling shall contain not less than seven thousand two hundred (7,200) square feet and shall be not less than sixty (60) feet in width.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family residential development in the R-1 Residential District inside Tarkio city limits.

    • The section states these are yard regulations and subjects them to modifications in Article IX.

    front yard setback: >= 30 feet (Subject to Article IX modifications.) · side yard setback: >= 7 feet (On each side of the lot; subject to Article IX modifications.) · rear yard setback: >= 30 feet (Subject to Article IX modifications.)

    “Front yard. There shall be a front yard of not less than thirty (30) feet. Side yard. There shall be a side yard on each side of a lot of not less than seven (7) feet. Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard of not less than thirty (30) feet.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings in the R-1 Residential District inside Tarkio city limits.

    • The rule allows an exception under Section 405.400.
    • Small houses have a separate maximum of two stories or 30 feet.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Except as provided in Section 405.400; also limited to 2.5 stories.)

    “No building shall exceed two and one-half (2½) stories nor shall it exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height except as provided in Section 405.400.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private sewage disposal system installations inside Tarkio city limits.

    • The Superintendent may inspect at any stage.
    • The applicant must notify the Superintendent for final inspection before underground portions are covered.
    • Inspection is to be made within 24 hours after notice.

    inspection response time: 24 hours

    “The inspection shall be made within twenty-four (24) hours of the receipt of notice by the Superintendent.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Buildings and properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes inside Tarkio city limits.

    • Direct connection to the public sewer is required when the property abuts a street, alley, or right-of-way containing a public sanitary or combined sewer.
    • The public sewer must be within 300 feet of the property line.
    • Connection is required within 90 days after official notice.
    • If public sewer is unavailable under the rule, a private sewage disposal system may be used.

    public sewer distance from property line: <= 300 feet · connection deadline after official notice: 90 days

    “The owner of all houses, buildings or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes, situated within the City and abutting on any street, alley or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public sanitary or combined sewer of the City, is hereby required at his/her expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this Article within ninety (90) days after date of official notice to do so, provided that said public sewer is within three hundred (300) feet of the property line.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision development inside Tarkio city limits.

    • The city code contains Chapter 410 Subdivision Regulations.
    • The City Planning and Zoning Commission reviews preliminary and final plats and makes recommendations to the Board of Aldermen.
    “The Planning and Zoning Commission serves as an advisory board to the Board of Aldermen on issues such as rezoning requests, approval of preliminary and final plats of a subdivision development, zoning issues, and Special Use Permits.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building permits inside Tarkio city limits.

    • Fees are based on cost of work.
    • The permit expires after 180 days if construction is not completed; a 90-day continuance may be issued on request.
    • The fee schedule is from Section 405.450(E) in the currently published code.

    fee for work costing $500 or less: 0.5 USD · fee for work over $500 and up to $1,000: 1 USD · fee for work over $1,000 and up to $2,500: 2 USD · fee for work over $2,500 and up to $5,000: 4 USD · fee for work over $5,000 and up to $10,000: 6 USD · fee for work over $10,000 and up to $15,000: 10 USD · fee for work over $15,000 and up to $25,000: 15 USD · fee for work over $25,000 and up to $50,000: 20 USD · fee for work over $50,000: 25 USD

    “The fees to be charged for building permits shall be as follows:”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building permit applications inside Tarkio city limits.

    • Submit a written application to the Building Inspector.
    • Provide duplicate detailed plans showing size, location, materials, and construction type.
    • For structures outside fire districts, the Building Inspector may allow a written statement instead of plans.
    • The permit expires after 180 days without completed construction; a 90-day continuance may be issued.

    permit validity before expiration: 180 days (90-day continuance may be issued upon request.)

    “Every application for a building permit shall be in writing and delivered to the Building Inspector and shall be accompanied by a detailed set of plans, in duplicate, showing the size of the proposed building or structure, its location on the lot, the basic materials of which it is to be constructed and the details and type of construction to be used.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Tarkio or Atchison County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders performing construction inside Tarkio city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Tarkio city limits.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Tarkio city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Tarkio city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Tarkio city limits.
7 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Tarkio publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Atchison County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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