Bolthole Index

Howell County, Missouri

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Willow Springs, Missouri

Willow Springs, Missouri requires a city building permit before any building is erected, added to or structurally altered, and the building and zoning officer issues it1. The city also zones land inside its limits under Chapter 4052. Septic permits are handled by the Howell County Health Department, which is the county's septic permitting authority3; we could not confirm how that applies to lots inside the city.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside city limits; issued by the building and zoning officer1
Zoning
Yes, city zoning under Chapter 405 (R-1, R-2, R-3, business, industrial and special districts)24
Building code
International Building Code, 2006 edition, as adopted by the city5
R-1 minimum lot
15,000 square feet and 100 feet wide at the building line6
Septic
Howell County Health Department is the county's contract permitting authority3
Driveways onto state roads
MoDOT permit required for driveways in MoDOT right-of-way7
Wells
Missouri water-well installation permit; landowners may install their own8

Who to call

Building permits

City of Willow Springs City Hall

City contact for building permits and zoning questions inside Willow Springs; the building and zoning officer issues building permits under the city code

417-469-2107

900 W. Main, PO Box 190 Willow Springs, MO 65793

Septic permits

Howell County Health Department (Environmental Public Health)

Septic (on-site wastewater) permits, sewage-treatment complaints and other environmental public health services for Howell County

(417) 256-7078

180 Kentucky St. West Plains, MO 65775

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Willow Springs, Missouri?

Yes. Inside Willow Springs city limits, no building, land or structure may be erected, added to or structurally altered until the building and zoning officer has issued a permit1. Each application needs two copies of a scaled plot plan showing the lot dimensions and the locations of the building and any accessory buildings9. A permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 30 days of issuance, and work must be finished within six months of starting unless the building official gives a written extension9.

Willow Springs has adopted the International Building Code, 2006 edition, with the city's own revisions to a few sections5. A completed building also needs a certificate of occupancy from the building and zoning officer, applied for together with the building permit10. We could not confirm the city's building permit fees or whether an owner-builder exemption exists, so ask City Hall before you budget.

Who issues building permits in Willow Springs, and how do you reach them?

The city's building and zoning officer, appointed by the board of aldermen, enforces the zoning chapter and issues building permits2. Start at City Hall, 900 W. Main, PO Box 190, Willow Springs, MO 65793, phone 417-469-210711.

Howell County does not run a building department that covers land inside the city. Missouri law lets only first- and second-class counties adopt a building code, and the county's own site lists no building department12. For land outside city limits, see the Howell County page.

Does Willow Springs have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Chapter 405 of the city code zones all land inside Willow Springs city limits2. The districts are R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2, I-1, plus S-1 flood plain, S-2 slope and S-3 historic building overlays, and no agricultural or rural-residential district is listed4. That matters if you want livestock or acreage-style use: inside the city, you are in a residential, business or industrial district.

In the R-1 one-family district, a detached dwelling needs a lot of at least 15,000 square feet and at least 100 feet wide at the building line, subject to exceptions in section 405.2006. The R-1 rear yard must be at least 35 feet13. All buildings together, accessory buildings included, may cover no more than 30 percent of an R-1 lot14. A one-family dwelling in R-1 is limited to 35 feet and 2.5 stories15.

We could not confirm the front and side yard rules, or the rules for RVs, tiny homes, manufactured homes and accessory dwellings, so ask the building and zoning officer about your specific lot and district13.

How do septic permits work in Willow Springs?

Septic permits in Howell County are handled by the Howell County Health Department, which the state lists as the county's contract authority for onsite wastewater permitting3. Missouri requires a construction permit before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater systems16.

The county health department says a single-family residence property of 3 or more acres does not require a septic installation permit, while single-family properties under 3 acres, businesses and major repairs do17. We could not confirm whether city sewer serves your address or how the septic rules apply inside city limits18. Call the Howell County Health Department at (417) 256-707819, and ask City Hall about sewer connection.

Building a home in Willow Springs: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district and lot rules for your parcel with the building and zoning officer at City Hall11.
  2. Settle water and sewer: ask the city about connection, and ask the Howell County Health Department about a septic permit if no sewer is available3.
  3. If the driveway enters a state highway, request a MoDOT right-of-way permit7.
  4. Submit two copies of a scaled plot plan with your building permit application9.
  5. Start work within 30 days of the permit and finish within six months9.
  6. Get a certificate of occupancy once the building meets city codes10.

What stays with Howell County (and what to check before you buy)

Septic permitting stays with the Howell County Health Department3. Water wells follow Missouri's statewide rules: a non-restricted installation permit is required to construct or repair a well, and landowners may install their own well or pump without a permit8. Ask the city whether public water is available before you plan a well, since we could not confirm the city's water rules.

Subdivision of land inside the city is regulated by Chapter 410 of the city code20. Mapped flood areas are an S-1 flood plain district in the zoning code4. Howell County's effective property tax rate is 0.6 percent and its median property tax bill is $892 a year2122. Land outside the city follows different rules; see the Howell County page.

Watch-outs

  • Rules in this guide apply inside Willow Springs city limits; the same parcel outside the limits is unincorporated Howell County land with different rules2.
  • Construction that disturbs one or more acres needs a Missouri land-disturbance stormwater permit, with a published fee of $500 for 1 to under 5 acres23.
  • The Howell County page states a $90 septic permit fee, but the state says application fees were temporarily suspended from August 28, 2026, so confirm the current fee with the health department17.
  • We could not confirm city building permit fees, driveway rules, floodplain permit requirements or short-term rental rules; ask City Hall before you buy9.

Sources

  1. Article VIII: Administration, Building Permits, Amendments and Changes, Enforcement - City of Willow Springs, MO (Willow Springs), quoted and re-checked
  2. Article VIII: Administration, Building Permits, Amendments and Changes, Enforcement - City of Willow Springs, MO (Willow Springs), quoted and re-checked
  3. OWTS Construction Permit Process – County Authority Listing, quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 405: Zoning Regulations - City of Willow Springs, MO (Willow Springs), quoted and re-checked
  5. Article II: Building Code (Chapter 500) - City of Willow Springs, MO (Willow Springs), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article III: District Regulations - City of Willow Springs, MO (Willow Springs), quoted and re-checked
  7. Permits, quoted and re-checked
  8. Water Wells - PUB2945, quoted and re-checked
  9. Article VIII: Administration, Building Permits, Amendments and Changes, Enforcement - City of Willow Springs, MO (Willow Springs), quoted and re-checked
  10. Article VIII: Administration, Building Permits, Amendments and Changes, Enforcement - City of Willow Springs, MO (Willow Springs), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Willow Springs City Hall (willowspringsmo.com)
  12. Howell County Missouri (official county website) (2026 county census)
  13. Article III: District Regulations - City of Willow Springs, MO (Willow Springs), quoted and re-checked
  14. Article III: District Regulations - City of Willow Springs, MO (Willow Springs), quoted and re-checked
  15. Article III: District Regulations - City of Willow Springs, MO (Willow Springs), quoted and re-checked
  16. OWTS Construction Permit Process (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Environmental Public Health – Howell County Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  18. Environmental Public Health – Howell County Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  19. Howell County Health Department (Environmental Public Health) (howellcountyhealth.com)
  20. City of Willow Springs, MO eCode360 table of contents (Willow Springs), quoted and re-checked
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Construction Land Disturbance Permits, quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 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 Willow Springs

Willow Springs’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, addition, or structural alteration of any building or structure inside Willow Springs city limits

    • Work may proceed only after a permit is issued by the building and zoning officer.
    • Applications require two copies of a scaled layout or plot plan showing lot dimensions and the building and accessory building locations (section 405.280).
    • A permit becomes invalid if work is not started within 30 days of issuance; all work must be completed within six months after commencing unless a written extension is issued.
    “no building, land or structure shall be erected, added to or structurally altered until a permit has been issued by the building and zoning officer.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction inside Willow Springs city limits under Chapter 500 Article II Building Code

    • The adopted code is the International Building Code, 2006 edition, with appendix chapters a, b, c, e, f, h, i.
    • Listed sections are revised by the city: section 101.1, section 1612.3 and section 3410.2 are changed as stated in the ordinance.
    • Violations are punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 or confinement not exceeding 90 days, or both (section 500.020(c)).

    adopted building code edition: International Building Code 2006

    “a certain document, three (3) copies of which are on file in the office of the city clerk of the city of willow springs, being marked and designated as the international building code, 2006 edition, including appendix chapters a, b, c, e, f, h, i, as published by the international code council”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Completed buildings and any change to a non-conforming use inside Willow Springs city limits

    • Applied for together with the building permit application (section 405.290(a)(3)).
    • No non-conforming use may be maintained, renewed or changed without a certificate of occupancy first being issued (section 405.290(a)(2)).
    • Issued within ten days after the erection or alteration is approved as complying with the zoning code.
    “a. certificates of occupancy shall be required as follows: 1. after completion of a building or structure for which a building permit has been issued and all requirements of all codes and ordinances of the city of willow springs have been met, a certificate of occupancy shall be issued by the building and zoning officer”
  • Local zoningPresent

    All land inside Willow Springs city limits, under Chapter 405 Zoning Regulations of the City of Willow Springs, MO

    • Chapter 405 governs land inside the city only; it does not govern the unincorporated area of Howell County.
    • The zoning chapter is enforced by a building and zoning officer appointed by the board of aldermen (section 405.280).
    “section 405.080 "r-1" one-family dwelling district. section 405.090 "r-2" one-family dwelling district.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts established for land inside Willow Springs city limits

    • Districts: R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2, I-1, S-1 flood plain, S-2 slope and S-3 historic building; no agricultural or rural-residential district is listed.
    • Section 405.040 provides a zoning district map; the map itself was not opened.
    “section 405.080 "r-1" one-family dwelling district. section 405.090 "r-2" one-family dwelling district. section 405.100 "r-3" multi-family dwelling district.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 one-family dwelling district (main single-family district, section 405.080) inside Willow Springs city limits

    • Applies to one-family detached dwellings, convents, monasteries, rectories or parish houses; the R-1 lot width at the established building line must be at least 100 feet.
    • Subject to exceptions in section 405.200 (Additional height, area and yard regulations).
    • No agricultural or rural-residential district was found in the Chapter 405 table of contents; R-2 two-family and R-3 multi-family lot sizes are separate and not claimed here.

    minimum lot area: >= 15000 square feet (except as provided in section 405.200) · minimum lot width at established building line: >= 100 feet (except as provided in section 405.200)

    “every one-family detached dwelling, convent, monastery, rectory or parish house hereafter erected shall be on a lot having an area of not less than fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet and a width at the established building line of not less than one hundred (100) feet, except as provided in section 405.200.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 one-family dwelling district (main single-family district) inside Willow Springs city limits, rear yard only

    • Front and side yard requirements for R-1 are in the same subsection (e.1 and e.2) but were not captured and are not claimed here.
    • Church and similar place of worship yard requirements are separate and not claimed.

    minimum rear yard: >= 35 feet

    “3. rear yard. every lot or parcel of land upon which a building is constructed shall have a rear yard of not less than thirty-five (35) feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 one-family dwelling district inside Willow Springs city limits

    • The limit counts accessory buildings together with the principal building.

    maximum lot coverage, all buildings: <= 30 percent of lot area

    “f. percentage of lot coverage. all buildings, including accessory buildings, shall not cover more than thirty percent (30%) of the area of the lot.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 one-family dwelling district: one-family detached dwellings inside Willow Springs city limits

    • Subject to the exception in section 405.200 (Additional height, area and yard regulations), which was not opened.
    • Churches and similar places of worship have a separate limit (seventy-five feet for towers or steeples; forty-five feet for the principal building).

    maximum height, one-family detached dwelling: <= 35 feet (except as provided in section 405.200) · maximum stories, one-family detached dwelling: <= 2.5 stories (except as provided in section 405.200)

    “1. one-family detached dwellings thirty-five (35) feet and not over two and one-half (2½) stories, except as provided in section 405.200 of this chapter.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of land into lots inside Willow Springs city limits

    • Governed by the city subdivision regulations in Chapter 410 (section 410.010 to 410.300); the requirements in those sections were not reviewed.
    “chapter 410 subdivision regulations (section 410.010 &ndash; section 410.300)”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building permit application process for construction inside Willow Springs city limits

    • Each application requires two copies of a scaled plot plan, and one copy is returned with the permit when approved.
    • A permit becomes invalid if work is not commenced within 30 days after issuance.
    • All work must be completed within six months after commencing unless a written extension is issued by the building official.
    “2. there shall be submitted with all applications for building permits two (2) copies of a layout or plot drawn to scale showing actual dimensions of the lot to be built upon”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Willow Springs or Howell County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permit requirements inside Willow Springs city limits
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a single-family dwelling inside Willow Springs city limits
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private residential land inside Willow Springs city limits
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Willow Springs city limits
  • Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy inside Willow Springs city limits
13 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • 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 Willow Springs publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Howell County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Howell County: county rules, score and offices