Bolthole Index

Bates County, Missouri

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Deepwater Township, Missouri

For Deepwater Township in Bates County, Missouri, we could not confirm a township building-permit procedure, building inspector or zoning ordinance. Bates County appears not to require residential building permits or county zoning in unincorporated areas, but that countywide finding does not establish the township's own rules.12 Bates County Health Center handles onsite sewage permits.3

At a glance

Building permit
Township requirement and issuing office not confirmed; ask Deepwater Township before work1
Zoning
No official township zoning ordinance or no-zoning statement was confirmed2
Septic permit
Bates County Health Center administers the local program; permits apply to specified projects34
RV or tiny home
Township occupancy and siting rules were not confirmed; ask the township before relying on either as a dwelling5
Private well
Contractor work generally requires state permits; a landowner installing their own well or pump has a limited exception6
Floodplain
Development in a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area requires approval before work7

Who to call

Septic permits

Bates County Health Center - Environmental Health

Onsite sewage permits in Bates County through the Environmental Public Health Specialist

660-679-6108

P.O. Box 178, 501 N. Orange, Butler, MO 64730

Floodplain permits

Bates County Surveyor's Office

Floodplain management, county road engineering and surveys in Bates County

(660) 386-7776 Opt 6

103 West Dakota St Rm 6, Butler, MO 64730

Roads & driveways

Deepwater Township

Grading, gravel and maintenance of Deepwater Township roads

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Deepwater Township, Missouri?

We could not confirm a Deepwater Township building-permit ordinance, application procedure, inspection schedule or certificate-of-occupancy rule. Bates County appears not to require a residential building permit in unincorporated areas, but that countywide finding does not prove that Deepwater Township has no separate requirement.1 Missouri building and fire codes are adopted locally rather than through one uniform statewide building code.8

Before ordering plans or materials, ask the Deepwater Township clerk for a written answer identifying the building official, if any, with jurisdiction over the parcel. Also ask whether the proposed work needs a building permit, electrical or fire review, inspections, or occupancy approval. A farm-structure exemption in Missouri concerns county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinances; it is not a blanket exemption from septic, floodplain or other land rules.9

Who handles building and road questions in Deepwater Township?

We could not confirm a building department or contracted building inspector for Deepwater Township. Start with the township clerk for building-code and land-use jurisdiction. Bates County's official township page says each township grades, gravels and maintains its own township roads, so contact Deepwater Township before planning work that affects a township road.10

Road ownership changes the access process. A new or modified driveway within Missouri Department of Transportation right-of-way requires a MoDOT permit and an initial request for the planned activity.11 For a county floodplain or county-road engineering question, the Bates County Surveyor's Office serves as Flood Plain Manager and County Road Engineer.12 Ask the road owner in writing whether a driveway, entrance, culvert or right-of-way permit is required for the specific frontage.

Does Deepwater Township have zoning?

We could not confirm an official Deepwater Township zoning ordinance, zoning map or statement that the township has no zoning. Bates County appears not to apply county zoning in unincorporated areas, but a countywide finding should not be treated as a township-specific no-zoning determination.2 Missouri law authorizes zoning districts in qualifying unincorporated county territory, but the statute does not create actual districts or maps for Deepwater Township.13

Ask the township clerk to identify any governing ordinance before buying or dividing land. Request written answers for allowed residential use, minimum lot size, setbacks, building height, dwelling size, manufactured homes, accessory dwellings, short-term rentals and lot coverage. If the parcel is inside an incorporated municipality rather than the township's unincorporated territory, obtain the municipality's rules instead.

How do septic permits work inside Deepwater Township?

Bates County Health Center's Environmental Public Health Specialist handles onsite sewage permits for property in Deepwater Township.3 A permit is required for a single-family home on a parcel under 3 acres and for new systems or major repair or modification in the other categories listed by the county rules.4 A single-family residence over 3 acres may qualify for the county's permit exception, but the system must still meet county standards.4

Submit the application, site drawing, certified percolation test or soil morphology, and applicable fee before construction; work starts only after the Environmental Public Health Specialist issues the construction permit.4 Call the Health Center before relying on an exception.14 Bates County's mapped soils have no reported share rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, making early soil evaluation especially important.15

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Deepwater Township?

We could not confirm a Deepwater Township rule that allows or prohibits long-term RV living, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy, manufactured-home placement or accessory dwellings. Ask the township clerk for the rule that applies to the parcel and intended use before buying or moving a unit. The absence of a zoning page is not permission.

Off-grid living does not eliminate wastewater rules. Missouri recognizes onsite wastewater systems where central sewer service is unavailable, but wastewater cannot be discharged onto the ground or into a road ditch, and local permit requirements still apply.5 For most onsite system installations and repairs, obtain the permit or have the applicable authority confirm an exemption before work begins.16 A subdivision, mobile-home park or campground planning onsite wastewater also needs Missouri Department of Natural Resources review.17

Building a home in Deepwater Township: what are the steps?

  1. Ask the Deepwater Township clerk to identify the zoning and building authority for the parcel; township-specific building and zoning procedures could not be confirmed.
  2. Identify the road owner. Deepwater Township maintains township roads, while work affecting MoDOT right-of-way follows the state permit process.1011
  3. Check the flood map before siting the home. Development in a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area requires a floodplain development permit before work.7
  4. Contact Bates County Health Center, complete the soil work and obtain a septic permit or written confirmation of an exception before installing the system.4
  5. For a contractor-installed well or pump, obtain the applicable Missouri permits; a landowner's own installation has a limited exception but remains subject to state standards.6
  6. Obtain every confirmed approval before construction and keep the septic system uncovered until the required approval inspection is complete.18

What should you check before buying land in Deepwater Township?

Get written answers from Deepwater Township on zoning, building permits, RV occupancy, tiny homes, manufactured homes, setbacks, minimum lot size and subdivision rules before closing; those township-specific answers could not be confirmed. Confirm that the legal parcel is actually in Deepwater Township and outside any incorporated municipality before relying on township or county guidance.

Have the Bates County Health Center review the wastewater plan early.14 County soil mapping reports no share without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so the usable house site may depend on soil evaluation and system design.15 Confirm driveway jurisdiction with the township, county or MoDOT, and check the flood map with the Bates County Surveyor's Office.1012 Bates County's effective property-tax rate is about 0.6%, and the median annual property-tax bill is about $962.1920

Watch-outs

  • Do not read the lack of a published Deepwater Township zoning page as proof that the parcel is unrestricted; ask the township for a written jurisdiction and land-use answer.2
  • A single-family parcel over 3 acres may qualify for a county septic-permit exception, but the system must still meet Bates County standards.4
  • Mapped Bates County soils report no share without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so evaluate wastewater feasibility before choosing the house site.15
  • A mapped Special Flood Hazard Area requires a floodplain development permit before construction or placement of a manufactured home.7

Sources

  1. Bates County Courthouse - Official County Website (department directory) (2026 county census)
  2. Bates County Courthouse - Official County Website (department directory) (2026 county census)
  3. Environmental Health – Bates County Health Center (Deepwater Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. BATES COUNTY ON-SITE SEWAGE RULES AND REGULATIONS, quoted and re-checked
  5. Onsite Wastewater Treatment (Deepwater Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Water Wells - PUB2945 (Deepwater Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Bates County Surveyor’s Office – Bates County Courthouse, quoted and re-checked
  8. RSMo Section 64.170 (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. RSMo Section 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Deepwater Township (batescounty.net)
  11. Permits – Missouri Department of Transportation, quoted and re-checked
  12. Bates County Surveyor's Office (batescounty.net)
  13. RSMo Section 64.261 — Zoning districts, creation, regulations (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Bates County Health Center - Environmental Health (batescountyhealthcenter.org)
  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. OWTS Construction Permit Process (Deepwater Township), quoted and re-checked
  17. OWTS Construction Permit Process (Deepwater Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. Bates County On-Site Sewage Rules and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 9, 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 Deepwater Township

Rules another office applies inside Deepwater Township

Deepwater Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Onsite sewage systems inside Deepwater township, administered through the Bates County Health Center as the local environmental-health authority.

    • The Bates County Health Center states that sewage permits are handled by its Environmental Public Health Specialist.
    • The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services administers the statewide framework and exceptions; larger-flow and certain discharge systems fall under the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
    “Agency: Bates County Health Center Authority Type: Ordinance”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • County — On-site sewage permits inside Deepwater township are handled by the Bates County Health Center's Environmental Public Health Specialist.
      “Sewage permists are also handled by the Environmental Public Health Specialist.”
  • Septic permitLimited

    Residential onsite wastewater systems inside Deepwater township, subject to any more restrictive local authority.

    • A construction permit is required for an onsite system on a residential property less than three acres.
    • The stated exemption does not apply in some counties; the county authority must be checked.
    • Regardless of property size, a permit is necessary for onsite systems serving non-residential structures.
    • The applicable permitting authority must be determined before work begins.
    • The source states that local ordinances may impose more restrictive requirements.

    residential property threshold: < 3 acres (The source states the exemption does not apply in some counties.)

    “A construction permit is required to install or repair an onsite system on any residential property less than three acres. (This exemption does not apply in some counties; check with the county authority.) Regardless of the size of the property, a permit is necessary for all other onsite systems that serve non-residential structures.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Most onsite wastewater treatment system installations and repairs inside Deepwater township, subject to the applicable local administrative authority.
      “Unless the property is exempt based on its size, a construction permit is required before system installation can begin.”
    • Required — Installation or repair of most onsite wastewater treatment systems inside Deepwater township.
      “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, repairing, or majorly modifying an onsite wastewater treatment system inside Deepwater township.
      “Except as otherwise provided in section 701.031, no person may, on or after September 1, 1995, construct or make a major modification or major repair”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Construction, major modification, or major repair of an onsite wastewater treatment system inside Deepwater township when the state permit-and-notice regime applies.

    • Notice and opportunity for inspection are required before completion.
    • Registered contractors must notify before 9:00 a.m. on the preceding day; unregistered persons must notify before 9:00 a.m. on the second preceding day.
    • The system must remain available for inspection until 3:00 p.m. on the completion day unless earlier approval is confirmed.
    • The system may not be closed or completed if inspection determines it fails the state standard.
    • Written inspection results or confirmation of no inspection must be provided within three working days.
    “No person required to provide notice and apply to the city, county or department under section 701.046 may complete the construction, major modification or major repair”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Not required (with conditions) — Inspection or evaluation of onsite wastewater systems in Deepwater township before a real-estate transaction.
      “No. However, if a lender or buyer requests an inspection/evaluation, it must be conducted by a licensed individual. Some counties may require an onsite system inspection/evaluation for every real estate transaction. Check with the local permitting authority.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Off-grid sanitation and onsite wastewater disposal inside Deepwater township.

    • Missouri recognizes onsite wastewater systems where central sewer service is unavailable.
    • An onsite system must not create a threat to public health or the environment.
    • Wastewater may not be discharged into a road ditch or onto the ground.
    • Permit and local-authority requirements may apply.
    “In Missouri, where central sewer service is not available, homeowners and small business owners use various types of onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). An OWTS is a system that uses natural processes and mechanical components to collect, treat and disperse wastewater from single dwellings or other buildings or structures.”
  • Well permitLimited

    Water-well construction, repair, pump installation, and related plumbing inside Deepwater township.

    • A non-restricted water-well installation permit is required to construct or repair a water well.
    • A non-restricted pump installation permit is required to install or replace a pump and for plumbing/electrical lines from the well to the point of entry.
    • A restricted permit is required when someone contracts or directs the regulated work.
    • Landowners may install their own well or pump without a permit under the cited law and rules.
    “A non-restricted water well installation permit is required to construct or repair a water well in Missouri.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision or development inside Deepwater township.

    • DNR residential development regulations and Missouri onsite sewage law may both apply.
    • The official source does not identify a Deepwater township-specific subdivision approval procedure.
    “Anyone subdividing or developing property must comply with DNR residential development regulations as well as the onsite sewage law.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Residential subdivision or development inside Deepwater township when onsite wastewater treatment systems are planned.
      “DNR must approve subdivisions, mobile home parks and campgrounds if the use of OWTS is planned. Developers as well as property owners in unapproved developments should contact DNR regarding their residential housing unit requirements.”
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision or development of property inside Deepwater township.
      “Anyone subdividing or developing property must comply with DNR residential development regulations as well as the onsite sewage law.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    The Missouri onsite wastewater permit process for work inside Deepwater township.

    • The permitting process varies by authority type.
    • The appropriate permitting authority must confirm any exemption before work begins.
    • Effective August 28, 2026, application fees for onsite sewage disposal system construction, modifications, and repairs were temporarily suspended under the page's stated RSMo 701.046 update.
    “Effective August 28, 2026 [...] The application process varies by permitting authority.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Deepwater Township or Bates County directly.

  • Building permit — New construction and building work inside Deepwater township.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Deepwater township.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Deepwater township.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Deepwater township.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Deepwater township.
18 more unanswered
  • Local zoning
  • 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
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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 Deepwater Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bates County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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