Bolthole Index

Bates County, Missouri

Building permits, zoning and land rules in New Home Township, Missouri

For New Home Township in Bates County, Missouri, we could not confirm a residential building-permit requirement, building department or township zoning ordinance. Missouri leaves building-code adoption to local governments under a conditional statutory framework.1 Bates County Health Center handles onsite sewage permits throughout the county.2

At a glance

Building permit
Requirement and issuing office not confirmed; ask New Home Township and Bates County before work1
Zoning
No New Home Township zoning ordinance or no-zoning statement was confirmed3
Septic permit
Bates County requires one for specified new systems, major modifications and repairs4
RV living
Long-term occupancy and temporary-camping rules not confirmed; ask the township before using an RV as a dwelling5
Tiny home
Siting, minimum-size and occupancy rules not confirmed; septic requirements still apply4
Private well
Contractor-performed well work requires state permits; a landowner's own installation has a limited exception67

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

County surveying, county road engineering and floodplain management

(660) 386-7776 Opt 6

103 West Dakota St Rm 6, Butler, MO 64730

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 New Home 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 New Home Township, Missouri?

We could not confirm a New Home Township residential building-permit rule, adopted building code, inspection authority or certificate-of-occupancy requirement. Do not treat that gap as a permit exemption. Missouri authorizes local building-code adoption under a conditional framework rather than imposing one uniformly adopted statewide building code.1

Before ordering materials or beginning site work, ask the New Home Township clerk and Bates County Commission to identify the office with jurisdiction over the parcel and provide the controlling rule in writing. Ask separately about a building permit, trade approvals, inspections and occupancy approval. Missouri's farm-structure protection is limited to county fire-protection and fire-prevention ordinances and does not remove septic, floodplain or other applicable requirements.8

Who issues building permits in New Home Township?

We could not confirm a New Home Township building department, contracted building inspector or Bates County office that issues residential building permits there. Start with the township clerk and Bates County Commission, and request the name of the enforcing official before filing an application or paying a fee.

Keep the building question separate from septic approval. Bates County Health Center's Environmental Public Health Specialist handles sewage permits, so an answer about building permits does not settle the wastewater requirements.9 Missouri's statutory authority for county building regulation is conditional.10 Ask any identified building official for the application, fee schedule, required plans, inspection stages and occupancy rules.

Does New Home Township have zoning?

We could not confirm a New Home Township zoning ordinance, zoning map or statement that the township has no zoning. Missouri law allows qualifying counties to regulate land uses in unincorporated territory after voter approval, but that authority does not prove that Bates County or New Home Township adopted zoning.3

Before buying, ask the township clerk and Bates County Commission for a written parcel-specific answer on residential use, setbacks, minimum lot size, dwelling size, building height, accessory dwellings, manufactured homes and the number of homes allowed. A claimed agricultural exemption should be checked against flood-hazard mapping and its precise scope because Missouri's protections do not remove every land-use, health or floodplain requirement.11

How do septic permits work inside New Home Township?

Bates County Health Center handles onsite sewage permitting inside New Home Township through its Environmental Public Health Specialist.2 A permit is required for a single-family homeowner on land under 3 acres and for commercial facilities, schools, churches, renters, new systems and specified major modifications or repairs.4 A single-family residence on more than 3 acres may qualify for the county's permit exception, but the system still must meet county standards and a second system has separate conditions.4

Submit the county application with the required site drawing, certified percolation test or soil morphology, and applicable fee; construction starts only after the specialist issues the green construction permit.4 Arrange inspection and approval before covering the system.12 Bates County soil mapping shows 0% of soils without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so early site evaluation is especially important.13

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in New Home Township?

We could not confirm a New Home Township rule that allows or prohibits long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy, manufactured homes or accessory dwellings. Ask the township clerk and Bates County Commission for the rule governing the specific parcel before buying a unit or using one as a residence. Missouri's requirement for DNR approval of campgrounds planning onsite wastewater does not answer whether one household may occupy an RV on private land.5

A tiny home or RV still needs a lawful wastewater solution. Missouri allows onsite wastewater where central sewer is unavailable, subject to the applicable local or state approval and standards.14 Bates County's permit process applies to covered new systems and major repairs or modifications.4

Building a home in New Home Township: what are the steps?

  1. Ask the New Home Township clerk and Bates County Commission to identify the building and zoning authority, then get parcel-specific use, setback and building-permit answers in writing.
  2. Check flood mapping with the Bates County Surveyor's Office, which serves as Flood Plain Manager.15 Development in a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area requires a floodplain development permit before work proceeds.16
  3. Confirm the road owner. A driveway built or modified within MoDOT right-of-way requires a MoDOT permit.17
  4. Contact Bates County Health Center, complete the site evaluation and obtain the required green septic construction permit before starting covered work.4
  5. Confirm the applicable state well rules; contractor-installed wells require a permit, while a landowner's own installation has a limited exception.67
  6. Obtain every confirmed approval and keep the septic system uncovered until county inspection.12

What should you check before buying land in New Home Township?

Get written answers on zoning, building permits, setbacks, minimum lot size, legal dwelling types, RV occupancy and road access before closing; those township-specific rules could not be confirmed. Bates County soil mapping shows 0% of soils without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field.13 Budget for a certified soil or percolation evaluation before fixing the house site.4

Check the flood map and consult the Bates County Flood Plain Manager before placing a house, manufactured home, fill or other development in a mapped hazard area.16 Verify whether the access point meets a township, county or MoDOT road; MoDOT right-of-way work has its own permit.17 Bates County's effective property-tax rate is about 0.6%, and its median annual property-tax bill is about $962.1819

Watch-outs

  • Do not assume that the absence of a published New Home Township zoning or building rule means the parcel is unrestricted; ask the township and Bates County for the controlling rules.3
  • Bates County's septic permit exception for some larger single-family tracts does not waive county installation standards.4
  • Missouri temporarily suspended state onsite-sewage application fees effective August 28, 2026, but local permitting processes may vary; ask Bates County Health Center what is currently collected.20

Sources

  1. RSMo Section 64.170 (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  2. OWTS Construction Permit Process (New Home Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. RSMo § 64.850 — County commission may prescribe zoning regulations (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. BATES COUNTY ON-SITE SEWAGE RULES AND REGULATIONS, quoted and re-checked
  5. OWTS Construction Permit Process (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. Water Wells - PUB2945, quoted and re-checked
  7. Water Wells - PUB2945, quoted and re-checked
  8. RSMo Section 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Bates County Health Center - Environmental Health (batescountyhealthcenter.org)
  10. RSMo Section 64.170 — County commissions control construction; issue building permits (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. RSMo § 64.620 — Building restrictions — limitations on regulations, quoted and re-checked
  12. Bates County On-Site Sewage Rules and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  13. 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
  14. Onsite Wastewater Treatment (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Bates County Surveyor's Office (batescounty.net)
  16. Bates County Surveyor’s Office – Bates County Courthouse, quoted and re-checked
  17. Permits – Missouri Department of Transportation, quoted and re-checked
  18. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  20. OWTS Construction Permit Process (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

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 New Home Township

Rules another office applies inside New Home Township

New Home 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

    Onsite wastewater permitting inside New Home township, Bates County.

    • The official state page identifies Bates County Health Center as the authority and lists the authority type as Ordinance.
    • The county ordinance may impose requirements beyond state minimum standards.
    “Agency: Bates County Health Center Authority Type: Ordinance Address: 501 N. Orange PO Box 178 Butler, MO 64730 County: Bates Phone: (660) 679-6108 Website: www.batescountyhealthcenter.org Alert: Contact the agency above for onsite wastewater permitting instructions. This county has their own Onsite Wastewater Ordinance and may have additional requirements beyond the state minimum construction standards.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems inside New Home township.

    • Some single-family residential lots may be exempt from permitting.
    • Work should not begin until a permit has been issued or an exemption to permitting has been confirmed by the appropriate permitting authority.
    • Bates County has its own Onsite Wastewater Ordinance and may have additional requirements beyond state minimum construction standards.
    • Effective August 28, 2026, application fees for onsite sewage disposal system construction, modifications, and repairs are temporarily suspended.
    “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.”
  • Well permitLimited

    Water wells serving land inside New Home 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 for pump work and certain plumbing/electrical work.
    • Landowners may install their own well or pump without a permit under the cited law and rules.
    • Public water systems require department construction authorization before constructing or altering a public well.
    “Landowners may install their own well or pump without a permit pursuant to the above mentioned law and rules.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Construction or repair of a water well inside New Home township.
      “A restricted water well or pump installation permit is required for someone to contract these activities or to direct the installation. Landowners may install their own well or pump without a permit pursuant to the above mentioned law and rules.”
    • Limited — Water-well construction and repair inside New Home township under Missouri well rules.
      “Landowners may install their own well or pump without a permit pursuant to the above mentioned law and rules.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision or residential development inside New Home township when on-site wastewater treatment systems are planned.

    • DNR approval applies when the subdivision or development plans to use OWTS.
    • The subdivision must also comply with Missouri onsite sewage law.
    “DNR must approve subdivisions, mobile home parks and campgrounds if the use of OWTS is planned.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision or residential development inside New Home township when onsite wastewater treatment systems are planned.
      “DNR must approve subdivisions, mobile home parks and campgrounds if the use of OWTS is planned.”
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision, mobile-home-park, and campground development inside New Home 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.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building construction inside New Home township.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside New Home township.
  • Building code adopted — Building construction inside New Home township.
  • Inspections — Building construction inside New Home township.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside New Home township.
21 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
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 New Home 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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