Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Agency, Missouri

Village of Agency’s own rules

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Village building-permit applications inside Agency village limits.

  • The published calculation is based on total square footage of new construction.

  building permit fee multiplier: per 0.1 per square foot

  “Total Building Permit Fee is figured by the total Square Footage Multiplied by 0.10.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Village building-permit applications inside Agency village limits.

  • Applicants are directed to upload building plans and property placement images.
  • The clerk contacts the applicant for payment after application review.

  “When the application has been reviewed the clerk will contact you for payment.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Agency

Village of Agency 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 wastewater permitting inside Agency village limits; Missouri identifies Buchanan County Commission as the authority for Buchanan County except the City of St. Joseph.

  • The state page cautions that some incorporated cities may not fall under the local permitting authority.
  • The listed exception is the City of St. Joseph, not Agency village.

  “Buchanan County Commission (everything except City of St. Joseph)”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, major modification, or major repair of an onsite sewage disposal system inside Agency village limits.

  • Except as otherwise provided in RSMo 701.031.
  • The applicant must notify the city, county, or department; complete the department form; submit the fee set by that authority; and obtain a construction permit.

  “Except as otherwise provided in section 701.031, no person may [...] construct [...] an on-site sewage disposal system without [...] obtaining a construction permit.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Sanitary disposal for occupied buildings inside Agency village limits.

  • The statute provides exceptions elsewhere in RSMo 701.031.
  • Disposal must be through a chapter 644-regulated sewer system or an onsite system operated under rules promulgated under RSMo 701.025 to 701.059.

  “Property owners of all buildings where people live, work or assemble shall provide for the sanitary disposal of all domestic sewage.”

• Well permitLimited

  Water-well construction or repair inside Agency village limits.

  • A landowner may install the landowner's own well or pump without a permit under the referenced law and rules.
  • Permits are required for the described well and pump installation activities, including contracted or directed installation.

  “A non-restricted water well installation permit is required to construct or repair a water well in Missouri.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Agency or Buchanan County directly.

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Agency village limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Agency village limits.
• Building code adopted — Building work inside Agency village limits.
• Inspections — Buildings inside Agency village limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered buildings inside Agency village limits.

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.