Bolthole Index

Hickory County, Missouri

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Hickory County, Missouri

74Index Score / 100
#31 of 115 in Missouri

Hickory County, Missouri has no county building codes, so an ordinary rural home does not go through county building-code review12. Septic is different: covered wastewater construction, installation or renovation requires a Hickory County Health Department permit34. Countywide zoning and rules for RV or tiny-home occupancy could not be confirmed, so ask the County Clerk about land-use limits and the Health Department about wastewater before committing to a parcel5.

At a glance

Building codes
Hickory County has not adopted county building codes12
Building permit
No general county residential building-permit program is documented1
Zoning
Countywide zoning could not be confirmed; ask the County Clerk about the parcel5
Septic permit
Required for covered wastewater work below 3,000 gallons per day4
Septic fee
The county posts $200, but a state fee suspension took effect in 2026; confirm before paying46
RV and tiny home
Occupancy rules could not be confirmed; wastewater requirements still apply57
Private well
A landowner may install a personal well or pump without a permit, while contractors need state permits8
State-highway driveway
Construction or modification within MoDOT right-of-way requires a permit9

Who to call

Septic permits

Hickory County Health Department

On-site wastewater permits, inspections and installer registration; private drinking-water testing and well inspections

(417) 745-2138

24885 Hwy 254, Hermitage, Missouri 65668

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

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

Hickory County has no adopted county building codes and does not require a general residential building permit12. That means an ordinary rural house, cabin, barn or shop does not face a county building-code plan review, but it does not erase septic, highway-access or other agency approvals149. Missouri gives building-code authority only to specified counties, and voter approval is required under that framework when an eligible county had not adopted a code before the statutory cutoff10. Hickory County's official FAQ specifically flags its sewer ordinance as the exception readers should not overlook2. General building inspections and certificates of occupancy could not be confirmed, so ask the County Clerk whether a parcel inside a city or another special jurisdiction faces separate requirements1.

Who handles building and permit questions in Hickory County?

Hickory County does not document a general county building department because it has no adopted county building codes12. The Hickory County Health Department is the practical first stop for rural construction because it handles on-site wastewater permitting and inspections, private drinking-water testing and well inspections11. The office is at 24885 Hwy 254 in Hermitage and can be reached at (417) 745-213811. For a state-route entrance, MoDOT—not the county health office—issues the right-of-way permit for constructing or changing a driveway9. For zoning, subdivision, floodplain or certificate-of-occupancy questions, no applicable county office or adopted rule could be confirmed; ask the County Clerk to identify the authority for the exact parcel5. A property inside an incorporated municipality may have rules that do not apply to unincorporated Hickory County12.

Does Hickory County have zoning?

Countywide zoning in Hickory County could not be confirmed from official county material5. Missouri law allows eligible counties to begin county zoning only after a majority of votes cast favors it, and that county authority concerns unincorporated territory12. The safe parcel-level answer is therefore to ask the County Clerk whether the land is unincorporated and whether any county, municipal or special-jurisdiction rule applies512. Minimum dwelling size, building setbacks, lot coverage, height limits and subdivision standards also could not be confirmed for unincorporated Hickory County5. Missouri separately protects farm buildings from county fire-protection or fire-prevention permit requirements, but that protection does not create a blanket exemption from septic, floodplain, subdivision or other land-use rules13.

How do septic permits work in Hickory County?

The Hickory County Health Department requires a construction permit before covered wastewater facilities below 3,000 gallons per day are constructed, installed or renovated4. The application must include a site evaluation and system sketch, and the department approves an individual system's type and capacity before issuing the permit4. A qualifying single-family lot of at least 3 acres is exempt only when every system point stays at least 10 feet from a property line, effluent does not enter adjoining land, and the system creates neither contamination nor a nuisance7. No acreage exemption applies beside a lake operated by the Corps of Engineers or a public utility7. The county posts a $200 construction-permit fee, while the state says application fees for onsite-system construction, modification and repair were temporarily suspended effective August 28, 2026; confirm the amount currently collected before applying46. Only 3.8% of county soils avoid severe limits for conventional drain fields, so arrange the site evaluation before choosing a house location14.

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

Hickory County's rules for living full-time in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home on private rural land could not be confirmed5. The absence of county building codes does not by itself establish permission to occupy any of those units15. Wastewater rules still matter: the county ordinance covers subsurface systems, privies, chemical toilets and single-family lagoons, and covered work needs a permit unless a stated exemption applies7. Wastewater may not simply discharge onto the ground or into a road ditch15. Before buying for RV or tiny-home use, ask the County Clerk about occupancy and land-use rules for the exact parcel, then describe the proposed unit and wastewater method to the Hickory County Health Department511. A municipal parcel may be subject to local rules distinct from unincorporated Hickory County12.

Building a home in Hickory County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is unincorporated and ask the County Clerk about zoning, subdivision, floodplain and occupancy requirements that could not be confirmed countywide5.
  1. Have the homesite and wastewater area evaluated early because only 3.8% of Hickory County soils avoid severe limitations for a conventional drain field14.
  1. Apply to the Hickory County Health Department before covered septic construction, installation or renovation begins, and confirm whether the posted $200 fee is currently collected46.
  1. Decide who will handle the well: a landowner may install a personal well or pump without a permit, while a contractor must hold the applicable state permit8.
  1. Obtain a MoDOT permit before constructing or modifying a driveway within state right-of-way9.
  1. Keep each approval with the project even though Hickory County has no general building-code review1.

What should you check before buying land in Hickory County?

Start with wastewater feasibility: only 3.8% of Hickory County soils avoid severe limits for a conventional drain field, making the soil evaluation central to both the site plan and budget14. Check whether the tract borders a Corps of Engineers or public-utility lake because the county's acreage-based septic exemption does not apply there7. Verify legal access and identify whether the driveway meets a county road or state right-of-way, since MoDOT requires a permit only for work in its right-of-way9. Ask the County Clerk whether a recent split required a subdivision plat and whether floodplain administration applies, because neither rule could be confirmed for unincorporated Hickory County516. Typical property tax is about 0.5%, and the median annual bill is about $5811718. Hickory County is 53.1% wooded, while 58.9% of its land is at a slope of 15% or less, so inspect clearing, drainage and driveway grades on the ground1920.

Watch-outs

  • The county posts a $200 septic construction-permit fee, but Missouri temporarily suspended onsite-system application fees effective August 28, 2026; confirm the amount currently due with the Health Department46.
  • An acreage-based septic exemption never applies to land adjacent to a Corps of Engineers or public-utility lake7.
  • RV, tiny-home, manufactured-home, subdivision and county floodplain rules could not be confirmed; ask the County Clerk which authority governs the parcel before buying516.

Sources

  1. Hickory County, Missouri - FAQ (2026 county census)
  2. FAQ – Hickory County, Missouri, quoted and re-checked
  3. Hickory County Wastewater Ordinance (2026 county census)
  4. Hickory County Wastewater Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  5. Hickory County, Missouri - FAQ (2026 county census)
  6. OWTS Construction Permit Process (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Hickory County Wastewater Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  8. Water Wells - PUB2945, quoted and re-checked
  9. Permits | Missouri Department of Transportation (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. RSMo § 64.170 — County commissions control construction and issue building permits (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Hickory County Health Department (hickorycountyhealth.org)
  12. RSMo § 64.090 — Planning and zoning powers of county commission (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. RSMo Section 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  15. Frequently Asked Questions (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Laws and Regulations That Might Affect You if You Mine Sand or Gravel From Missouri Streams (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 28, 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

Hickory County in Missouri

74
County map
Hickory County highlighted among the Missouri counties · colored by Index score

How Hickory County scores

Seclusion65100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency59100% ev.
Admin Boringness8790% ev.
Durability52100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost83100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$207kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$3,566Land / acre
43.8"Annual rain
7% of yrsSevere drought
16.6 / yr (+13.3)Mid-century 100°F days
17.6 daysMid-century dry spell
2.2" (+4%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.71×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,766Home insurance / yr
1.1% / yrInsurance growth
1.35%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
13,908People within 30 min
2,053,262People within 2 hr
14,910Radius comparison (15 mi)
21.9People / sq mi
6.1%Federal land
58.9%Land at 15% slope or less
3.8%Septic soil without severe limits
9,390 acWorkable land screen
53.1%Wooded land
38.3 tonsBiomass / forest ac
56°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Hickory County

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

Hickory County rules

  • Building code adoptedNot adopted

    Building codes in Hickory County, Missouri.

    • The county FAQ states an exception for a sewer ordinance applying to parcels of 3 acres or less.
    • The sewer-ordinance exception is administered through the Hickory County Health Department and is not identified as a building code.

    sewer ordinance parcel threshold: <= 3 acres

    “There are no building codes in Hickory County. Exception – Sewer Ordinance for 3 acres or less – contact the Hickory County Health Department – 417-745-2138.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    On-site disposal systems and wastewater treatment facilities within Hickory County, subject to the ordinance's applicability exceptions.

    • The ordinance is enacted under Section 192.300 RSMo and Sections 701.025 through 701.059 RSMo.
    • The ordinance may not conflict with Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services or Department of Social Services rules.
    • Facilities with maximum daily flow of 3,000 gallons or more and facilities connected to an incorporated municipality or incorporated public sewer district are excluded.
    • Single-family residence lots of three acres or more are exempt only if all system points are 10 feet from every property line and no effluent enters adjoining property, contaminates surface or groundwater, or creates a nuisance.
    • There is no acreage exemption for property adjacent to a Corps of Engineers or public-utility lake.
    “Any person engaged in the construction, installation or renovation of any wastewater treatment facilities of less than 3000 GPD shall obtain a construction permit from the Hickory County Health Department.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • County — On-site disposal systems and wastewater treatment facilities regulated under Hickory County Ordinance 96-01, generally facilities treating less than 3,000 gallons per day in Hickory County.
      “3.02 Department: The Hickory County Health Department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, installation, or renovation of wastewater treatment facilities under 3,000 gallons per day in Hickory County, including ordinary onsite systems.

    • A construction permit is required before covered work begins.
    • The ordinance excludes facilities with a maximum daily flow of 3,000 gallons or more and facilities connected to an incorporated municipality or incorporated public sewer district.
    • A qualifying single-family residence lot of three acres or more is exempt only if all system points are ten feet from property lines, no effluent enters adjoining property, no surface or groundwater is contaminated, and no nuisance is created.
    • There is no lot-size exemption adjacent to a Corps of Engineers or public-utility lake.
    • Individual systems must be approved as to type and capacity before permit issuance.
    • The current Hickory County Health Department webpage lists a $200 construction permit fee for single-family and commercial/non-single-family systems and says the posted prices reflect changes made from July 15, 2025. The DHSS page separately states that application fees were temporarily suspended effective August 28, 2026; confirm the currently collectible fee with the permitting authority.

    maximum daily flow: < 3000 gallons per day (Facilities at or above 3,000 gallons per day are excluded from the county ordinance.) · minimum separation from property line for qualifying three-acre single-family exemption: >= 10 feet (The exemption also requires no off-property effluent, groundwater or surface-water contamination, and no nuisance.) · posted single-family construction permit fee: 200 USD (County webpage says current prices reflect changes made from July 15, 2025; DHSS states application fees were temporarily suspended effective August 28, 2026.)

    “Any person engaged in the construction, installation or renovation of any wastewater treatment facilities of less than 3000 GPD shall obtain a construction permit from the Hickory County Health Department.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    On-site wastewater inspections in Hickory County, including inspection or evaluation of existing systems when requested by a lending institution.

    • The county health officer may inspect applicable properties for inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, and testing.
    • The ordinance specifically provides for inspection of existing onsite sewage systems pursuant to a lending institution's request.
    • The lender-requested inspection fee is $50 and the inspection report is not provided until the fee is paid.
    • The cited sources do not establish a universal inspection requirement for every property transfer.

    lender-requested existing-system inspection fee: 50 USD (Report is withheld until the fee is paid.)

    “Inspection of existing on-site sewage systems may be conducted by the County Health Officer. Fifty Dollars ($50.00) is hereby established for an inspection of an existing on-site sewage system conducted pursuant to a request from a lending institution. Such fee is to be paid at time of request and inspection report will not be provided until fee is paid.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private onsite sanitation systems, including subsurface systems, privies, chemical toilets, and single-family lagoons, in Hickory County.

    • The ordinance defines onsite systems to include subsurface soil absorption systems, privies, chemical toilets, single-family lagoons, and similar systems.
    • Covered construction, installation, modification, or renovation requires a county construction permit unless a stated exemption applies.
    • Qualifying single-family residence lots of three acres or more may be exempt only subject to the ordinance's ten-foot property-line separation and no-contamination/no-nuisance conditions.
    • There is no exemption adjacent to a Corps of Engineers or public-utility lake.
    • Discharge that contaminates surface or groundwater or creates a nuisance is not protected by the exemption.

    minimum lot size for conditional single-family exemption: >= 3 acres (All listed conditions in Section 2.03 must also be met; no exemption applies adjacent to specified lakes.)

    “Single family residence lots of three (03) acres or more, (does not exempt any other occupancy or use) provided all points of the system are ten (10) feet from any property line and no effluent enters an adjoining property, contaminates surface or groundwater, or creates a nuisance. 2.04 There shall be no exemption, regardless of lot size if adjacent to a lake operated by Corps of Engineers or by a public utility. [...] Included within the scope of this definition are: sewage tank absorption systems, privies, chemical toilets, single-family lagoons and other similar systems”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Properties whose wastewater facility is connected to an incorporated municipality's sewage system or an incorporated public sewer district within Hickory County.

    • The ordinance excludes wastewater treatment facilities connected to an incorporated municipality or incorporated public sewer district from its onsite-system regulations.
    • The source does not establish that a sewer connection is mandatory for any particular parcel or development.
    “Wastewater treatment facilities connected to the sewage system operated by or on behalf of an incorporated municipality or incorporated public sewer district within the County.”
  • Building permitNot required

    The county FAQ states plainly "There are no building codes in Hickory County," and this non-charter rural county issues no county building permits. Corroborated by the state County Building Codes dataset (data.mo.gov iq7s-izvt, 2021): no county residential building code adopted.

    Hickory County, Missouri - FAQ ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    No county building codes exist and the county lists no zoning ordinance or planning/zoning office, consistent with MO non-charter rural counties without countywide zoning.

    Hickory County, Missouri - FAQ ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Missouri rules that apply here

  • Well permitLimited

    Water wells and pumps in Hickory County under Missouri statewide well-construction rules.

    • 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, including plumbing and electrical lines from the well to the structure's point of entry.
    • A restricted water-well or pump-installation permit is required for a person contracting or directing the work.
    • Landowners may install their own well or pump without a permit, subject to the cited law and rules.
    • Public water wells require construction authorization before drilling; the cited water-well source distinguishes private and public wells.

    public-water-system threshold: >= 15 service connections (A public system can also be one that regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days per calendar year.) · public-water-system alternative threshold: >= 25 individuals daily (Must occur at least 60 days per calendar year.)

    “A non-restricted water well installation permit is required to construct or repair a water well in Missouri. A non-restricted pump installation permit is required to install or replace a pump in a water well. [...] 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.”
  • 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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — Erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures in Hickory County, to the extent a county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinance would otherwise impose regulations or require permits.
      “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.”
  • 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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Partial — Driveway and related work within MoDOT right-of-way in Hickory County.
      “For EACH planned activity listed above - please submit an initial on-line request to obtain a permit.”
  • 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 general building permit or inspection requirements in Hickory County
  • Inspections — Building inspections in Hickory County, including unincorporated areas
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in Hickory County, including unincorporated areas
  • Local zoning — Local zoning within Hickory County, including incorporated municipalities and unincorporated areas.
  • Zoning districts — Publication of county zoning districts, zoning maps, or district regulations in Hickory County.
12 more unanswered
  • 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
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 Hickory County, Missouri

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

Hickory County scores 74/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and manageable long-term carry cost.

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

Hickory County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Hickory County Health Department. 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 Hickory County, Missouri?

Land in Hickory County runs about $3,566 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Hickory County?

Hickory County gets about 43.8" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 7% of years.

How remote is Hickory County?

A representative private-land location has about 13,908 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,053,262 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 Hickory County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Hickory compares in Missouri

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