Bolthole Index

Barry County, Missouri

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

70Index Score / 100
#63 of 115 in Missouri

Barry County, Missouri does not require a general county building permit for a home, but a municipality may have its own rules1. Countywide zoning remains unconfirmed, so ask the Barry County Commission about the specific parcel2. Barry County Health Department requires a permit before covered wastewater-system work3.

At a glance

Building permit
No general county permit; verify city rules for incorporated land1
Zoning
Countywide status unconfirmed; ask the County Commission2
Septic permit
Required for covered construction, installation, renovation and repair3
Septic site evaluation
Required before trenches are backfilled4
RV living
Not confirmed; ask the County Commission and applicable city2
Tiny homes
No confirmed countywide occupancy or minimum-size rule2
Private well
Public-system wells need approval; private domestic wells are treated differently5

Who to call

Septic permits

Barry County Health Department, Environmental Services

Onsite wastewater inspections, complaints, and private-well laboratory testing in Barry County, Missouri

417-847-2114

[email protected]

90 Barry County Drive, PO Box 207, Cassville, MO 65625

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

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

A general county building permit is not required for a home in Barry County, Missouri1. Missouri adopts fire and building codes locally rather than through one uniform statewide code, and Barry County has no confirmed adopted residential, commercial or energy code61. That answer concerns the county program, not permits an incorporated city may require1. We could not confirm a countywide certificate-of-occupancy rule or documented owner-builder exemption7. Missouri also prevents a county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinance from imposing permits on farm buildings and farm structures, but that narrow protection does not erase zoning, floodplain, septic or other land-use requirements8.

Who handles Barry County permits, and how do you reach them?

Barry County has no general county home-building permit program for an unincorporated-area house application1. For onsite wastewater, contact Barry County Health Department Environmental Services in Cassville; its specialists inspect onsite wastewater systems and its laboratory tests private-well water9. The department administers county-regulated onsite systems, while regulated systems operated by or for an incorporated municipality are exempt from the county ordinance10. Missouri DNR or another state or federal agency may regulate other systems10. Countywide zoning and a zoning office could not be confirmed, so ask the Barry County Commission which land-use authority applies to a particular unincorporated parcel2.

Does Barry County, Missouri have zoning?

We could not confirm whether Barry County currently has county zoning for unincorporated land2. Missouri law allows qualifying noncharter counties to establish zoning for unincorporated territory only after the question goes to voters and a majority favors it, but no official source confirmed that Barry County held or passed that vote or supplied a current zoning order112. Do not treat the lack of a confirmed zoning order as permission for an RV residence, tiny home, accessory dwelling, particular setback, minimum house size or minimum lot size2. Ask the Barry County Commission to identify any county rule for the parcel, and ask the city directly when land lies inside municipal limits2.

How do septic permits work in Barry County?

Barry County requires a Health Department permit before covered wastewater-system construction, installation, renovation or repair; regulated systems operated by or for an incorporated municipality are exempt from the county ordinance3. The Health Department must approve system type, design and capacity before issuing the permit3. A final inspection is required before trenches are backfilled, with advance notice required when possible4. Only 15.3% of Barry County soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field, so septic feasibility deserves early attention12. For a land division, Missouri DNR approval is required for qualifying new subdivisions or expansions that use individual onsite systems13.

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

We could not confirm a Barry County rule that allows or prohibits living in an RV, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy or manufactured-home occupancy2. Countywide zoning remains unconfirmed, and no confirmed countywide minimum dwelling size, setback or accessory-dwelling rule answers those questions indirectly2. Ask the Barry County Commission about an unincorporated parcel and the relevant city about land within municipal limits before buying or placing a dwelling2. Barry County prohibits living, working or assembling in a building without Health Department-approved sanitary disposal of wastewater and human waste14. A small or movable dwelling therefore does not avoid the sanitation requirement or the permit required for covered wastewater work143.

What are the steps to build a home in Barry County?

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is unincorporated and ask the Barry County Commission which zoning, floodplain or access rules apply2.
  1. For incorporated land, ask the city about its building and land-use permits1.
  1. Contact Barry County Health Department before designing or starting onsite wastewater work3.
  1. Obtain Health Department approval of the system type, design and capacity, and secure the permit before construction, installation, renovation or repair3.
  1. Arrange the required final inspection before the trenches are backfilled4.
  1. If the project has a public water-system well, obtain written approval before construction or alteration; private domestic wells are treated differently5.
  1. Obtain a MoDOT permit before constructing or modifying a driveway in state right-of-way15.

What should you check before buying land in Barry County?

Start with septic feasibility: only 15.3% of Barry County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field12. Missouri's acreage exclusion can cover a qualifying single-family lot of at least 3 acres, or an alternative qualifying tract of at least 10 acres with added conditions, but Barry County's ordinance independently requires a permit163. Developers should also check the separate Missouri DNR review for qualifying subdivisions using individual onsite systems13. Confirm zoning, RV use, tiny-home use, setbacks and floodplain review with the County Commission because those countywide answers remain unconfirmed2. A driveway constructed or modified within MoDOT right-of-way requires a state permit15. The effective property-tax rate is about 0.6%, and the median annual property-tax bill is about $9881718.

Watch-outs

  • Barry County's zoning status is unconfirmed, so do not treat an unincorporated parcel as unrestricted2.
  • Barry County's septic ordinance independently requires a permit, so do not assume Missouri's acreage exclusion eliminates the county application163.
  • Search results often surface Barry County, Michigan; the Health Department office listed here is in Cassville, Missouri9.

Sources

  1. State of Missouri - County Building Codes for Missouri (2026 county census)
  2. (2026 county census)
  3. Barry County Wastewater Treatment Systems Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  4. Environmental Services, quoted and re-checked
  5. Who Regulates Water Wells in Missouri?, quoted and re-checked
  6. RSMo Section 64.170 (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. (2026 county census)
  8. RSMo Section 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Barry County Health Department, Environmental Services (barrycountyhealth.com)
  10. Environmental Services, quoted and re-checked
  11. RSMo § 64.090 — Planning and zoning powers of county commission (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  13. On-site Wastewater Treatment (Septic) in a Subdivision, quoted and re-checked
  14. Barry County Wastewater Treatment Systems Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  15. Permits | Missouri Department of Transportation (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. RSMo 701.031 — Disposal of sewage, who, how, exception, quoted and re-checked
  17. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 29, 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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County locator

Barry County in Missouri

70
County map
Barry County highlighted among the Missouri counties · colored by Index score

How Barry County scores

Seclusion56100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency63100% ev.
Admin Boringness7868% ev.
Durability47100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost79100% ev.

Evidence strength: 95%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$249kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$4,384Land / acre
46.7"Annual rain
8.2% of yrsSevere drought
11.4 / yr (+9.8)Mid-century 100°F days
17.1 daysMid-century dry spell
2.08" (+4.6%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.58×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,974Home insurance / yr
3.5% / yrInsurance growth
0.99%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
25,604People within 30 min
1,709,429People within 2 hr
37,426Radius comparison (15 mi)
45.3People / sq mi
13.2%Federal land
68.8%Land at 15% slope or less
15.3%Septic soil without severe limits
75,135 acWorkable land screen
46.8%Wooded land
45.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
57°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Barry County

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

Barry County rules

  • Who permits septicCounty

    On-site wastewater treatment systems administered by the Barry County Health Department.

    • The county wastewater ordinance states that regulated systems operated by or on behalf of an incorporated municipality are exempt from that ordinance.
    • Systems regulated by Missouri DNR or another state or federal agency remain subject to those requirements.
    “These regulations apply to all wastewater treatment systems in the county. Regulated wastewater treatment systems operated by or on behalf on an incorporated municipality are exempt from this ordinance.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, installation, renovation, repair, or modification of wastewater treatment systems in Barry County, except regulated wastewater treatment systems operated by or on behalf of an incorporated municipality.

    • Barry County's ordinance applies to all wastewater treatment systems in the county.
    • Regulated wastewater treatment systems operated by or on behalf of an incorporated municipality are exempt from the county ordinance.
    • A permit from the Barry County Health Department is required before construction, installation, renovation, or repair proceeds.
    • The system type, design, and capacity must be approved by the Health Department before issuance of the Permit to Install.
    • The permit has two parts: Part One authorizes construction, installation, or modification; Part Two authorizes operation/use.
    • A site evaluation by a registered soil scientist or professional engineer is required for every installation; a percolation test alone is not acceptable.
    • A 911 address and parcel identification number are required before applying.
    • The application must include a detailed system drawing, site evaluation, and the applicable permit fee.
    • Plans are reviewed by the Health Department and a site visit is made; the procedure states this process might take up to 5 days, with approval or denial at that time.
    • Final inspection is required before backfilling, with 24-hour advance notice required when possible.
    • Construction must be performed by a Health Department-registered installer, except as specified in Section 7.03; a homeowner may install a system serving the homeowner's residence after demonstrating proper knowledge and passing the required written test.
    • The ordinance states it was adopted April 19, 1999, effective May 10, 1999, and amended April 11, 2008, effective May 15, 2008.

    single-family dwelling permit fee: 200 USD · non-single-family dwelling permit fee: 300 USD · repair permit fee: 75 USD · permit review process: up to 5 days (The procedure says approval or denial is made after the Health Department review and site visit.) · final inspection notice: >= 24 hours (Advance notice is required when possible.)

    “SECTION 2. APPLICABILITY. These regulations apply to all wastewater treatment systems in the county. Regulated wastewater treatment systems operated by or on behalf on an incorporated municipality are exempt from this ordinance. [...] 5.01 Any person engaged in construction, installation, renovation or repair of any wastewater treatment system or part of a wastewater treatment system shall obtain a permit from the Barry County Health Department.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Construction, installation, renovation, repair, or modification of wastewater treatment systems in Barry County, subject to the ordinance's municipal exemption.
      “Any person engaged in construction, installation, renovation or repair of any wastewater treatment system or part of a wastewater treatment system shall obtain a permit from the Barry County Health Department.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    County-regulated wastewater treatment systems in Barry County.

    • Final inspection occurs before trench backfilling.
    • Twenty-four-hour advance notice is required when possible.
    • Incorporated municipal systems operated by or on behalf of the municipality are exempt from the county ordinance.
    “Final inspection is made before back-filling the trenches in accordance with the current ordinance. A 24-hour advance notice is required, when possible.”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Living, working, or assembling in a building, or assembling at a public gathering of six or more hours, without sanitary disposal of wastewater and human excreta approved by the Barry County Health Department.

    • The prohibition applies to the circumstances stated in Section 4.05.
    • The property owner is responsible for compliance.
    • The ordinance exempts regulated systems operated by or on behalf of an incorporated municipality.
    • Other Missouri DNR, federal, or state permit requirements may also apply.

    public gathering duration: >= 6 hours

    “Live, work or assemble in any building or assemble at any public gathering six (6) or more hours in duration where sanitary disposal of all wastewater and human excreta is not provided by methods or devices approved by the Health Department. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to comply with this section.”
  • Building permitNot required

    Missouri has no statewide residential building code and the state's County Building Codes dataset lists no adopted residential/commercial/energy code for Barry County; as a non-charter rural county it generally cannot 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.

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

Missouri rules that apply here

  • Building code adoptedPartial

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

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

    Construction or alteration of a public water-system well serving Barry County projects.

    • Private domestic wells are treated differently from public water-system wells.
    • Public water systems must receive written approval before construction or alteration unless the charitable and benevolent organization exemption applies.
    • A well-site survey and estimated casing-depth letter are required steps.

    public-system threshold: >= 15 service connections (A system also qualifies if it regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily for at least 60 days per calendar year.)

    “Public water systems must receive written approval from the PDWB before constructing or altering a public well, unless the system meets the charitable and benevolent organization exemptions in section 640.116, RSMo.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures as against county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinances.

    • The exemption applies to fire protection or fire prevention ordinances adopted by counties in Missouri.
    • The statutory text addresses farm buildings and farm structures; it does not establish a general exemption from every zoning, building-code, floodplain, septic, or other land-use requirement.
    • Effective August 28, 2025.

    effective date: 2025-08-28

    “Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no fire protection or fire prevention ordinance adopted by any county in this state shall be exercised so as to impose regulations or to require permits with respect to the erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures.”
  • Subdividing landLimited

    New residential subdivisions and expansions in Barry County that use individual onsite wastewater systems.

    • MoDNR written approval is required before sale, lease, or commencement of construction when seven or more new lots are each less than five acres and use individual onsite systems.
    • The rule also applies to expansions of existing subdivisions by three or more lots meeting the same lot-size and wastewater conditions.
    • Approval of the wastewater method does not itself guarantee approval of an individual onsite system on every lot.

    new lots threshold: >= 7 lots (Each lot must be less than 5 acres and use an individual onsite system.) · existing subdivision expansion threshold: >= 3 lots (Each lot must be less than 5 acres and use an individual onsite system.)

    “As described in the Residential Housing Development Rule, new subdivisions need to receive written approval from MoDNR for the method of wastewater treatment when a developer proposes seven or more lots, each less than five acres and use individual on-site wastewater treatment systems on the individual lots.”
  • 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.”
  • 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.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Permit applications for work on Missouri Department of Transportation right-of-way statewide.

    • The process applies to MoDOT right-of-way work.
    • Applicants may apply online, contact the area Traffic Specialist, or submit a hard-copy application by mail.
    • Additional documentation may be required depending on the work, including site plans, performance bond, certificate of liability, traffic studies, or a meeting with MoDOT personnel.
    • After issuance, Missouri One Call, a Notice of Intent, permit and approved-plan retention, and Traffic Specialist contact requirements apply.
    • Lane closures require a request at least two working days in advance and authorization before closing lanes.
    • The Traffic Specialist must be contacted at least 48 hours before beginning work and for necessary inspections.

    lane-closure advance request: >= 2 working days (authorization from MoDOT is also required) · Traffic Specialist pre-work contact: >= 48 hours (before beginning work)

    “Contact the Traffic Specialist a minimum of 48 hours prior to beginning work and for all necessary inspections.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Missouri counties adopting zoning regulations for unincorporated territory.

    • First-class charter counties are empowered under RSMo § 64.090; that section excludes first-class counties without a charter form of government.
    • A first-class noncharter county or a county of the second, third, or fourth class may establish county zoning under RSMo §§ 64.845 to 64.880 only after the zoning question is submitted to county voters and a majority of votes cast favors county zoning.
    • The authority applies to unincorporated portions or territory and does not apply to incorporated portions under § 64.090.
    • Section 64.090 excludes specified agricultural activities and certain farm structures, underground mining, and protects existing lawful uses subject to gradual elimination of nonconforming uses.
    “If a majority of the votes cast is in favor of county zoning, the county commission shall proceed with a program of county zoning”
  • county building authorityLimited

    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.

    • RSMo § 64.170 grants the authority to counties of the first and second classification only.
    • The authority is subject to subsections 2 and 3.
    • A county that had not adopted a building code before August 28, 2001, under §§ 64.170 to 64.200, lacks authority to adopt one under those sections unless voters approve it.
    • The building-code authority vote is limited to voters in the affected area; a code affecting a county may not be voted on by citizens of incorporated territory.
    • The statute authorizes building regulations, building permits, inspections, licensing rules, and permit, license, and inspection fees.
    “the county commission in all counties of the first and second classification [...] is for this purpose empowered [...] to adopt [...] regulations to control the construction”

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 building requirements in unincorporated Barry County.
  • Inspections — Building inspections in unincorporated Barry County.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in unincorporated Barry County.
  • County-wide zoning — Whether Barry County adopted county zoning under RSMo 64.845 and whether a county zoning ordinance or zoning plan remains effective in unincorporated Barry County.
  • Local zoning — Local zoning within Barry County, including incorporated municipalities and any other local jurisdictions, where the applicable ordinance and administering authority were not established from official sources during this search.
13 more unanswered
  • Zoning districts
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Short-term rentals

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

Living off-grid in Barry County, Missouri

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

Barry County scores 70/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property.

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

Barry County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas. Onsite septic is permitted by Barry County Health Department, Environmental Services. 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 Barry County, Missouri?

Land in Barry County runs about $4,384 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Barry County?

Barry County gets about 46.7" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 8.2% of years.

How remote is Barry County?

A representative private-land location has about 25,604 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,709,429 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.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Barry compares in Missouri

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