Bolthole Index

New Madrid County, Missouri

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in New Madrid County, Missouri

52Index Score / 100
#110 of 115 in Missouri

Unincorporated New Madrid County, Missouri does not require a county building permit for a home, but cities may have their own rules1. Countywide zoning could not be confirmed, so ask the County Commission about a parcel23. Missouri DHSS is the listed septic-permitting authority4.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required by the county for a home in an unincorporated area1
County zoning
Unconfirmed; ask the County Commission about the parcel23
Septic permit
Missouri DHSS is the listed authority; most installations and repairs require a permit45
RV or tiny-home living
Not confirmed; ask the County Commission before buying23
Owner-builder exemption
No county-specific exemption was confirmed6
Septic soil suitability
About 1% of soils avoid severe limits for a conventional drain field7
Property tax
About 0.7% effective rate and a $746 yearly median bill89

Who to call

Also useful

New Madrid County Commission

General county-government and unincorporated land-use questions

(573) 748-2524

[email protected]

450 Main Street, New Madrid, MO 63869

Septic permits

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program

Onsite wastewater construction permits for New Madrid County

(573) 751-6095 ext.5

[email protected]

930 Wildwood Dr. Jefferson City, MO 65102

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in New Madrid County, Missouri?

Unincorporated New Madrid County does not require a county building permit for a home1. Missouri leaves building-code adoption to local governments instead of imposing one uniform statewide code10. Incorporated cities can set their own requirements1. Missouri also prevents county fire ordinances from requiring permits for farm buildings, but that narrow protection does not waive septic, floodplain or land-use rules11.

Who handles New Madrid County building and land questions?

New Madrid County has no identified building or planning department, so begin a general unincorporated land-use question with the County Commission13. The Commission is the governing body and makes decisions about infrastructure, services and local ordinances3. Call (573) 748-2524, email [email protected], or visit 450 Main Street, New Madrid, MO 638693. Ask whether the parcel is outside municipal limits and whether zoning, setbacks, driveway or floodplain requirements apply. Missouri DNR must approve a subdivision that plans to use onsite wastewater systems, but that requirement does not establish a general county subdivision process12. Contact Missouri DHSS directly for septic construction413.

Does New Madrid County have zoning?

Countywide zoning in unincorporated New Madrid County could not be confirmed; the zoning material located belongs to the incorporated City of New Madrid2. Missouri allows certain non-charter counties to establish zoning only after voters approve the question, but that authority does not prove New Madrid County adopted it14. Available county-specific information does not establish setbacks, lot coverage, building-height limits, minimum home size or minimum lot size2. Ask the County Commission for a parcel-specific answer before placing a home, dividing land or treating property as unrestricted3.

How do septic permits work in New Madrid County?

Missouri DHSS lists itself as the onsite-wastewater permitting authority for New Madrid County15. A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most systems, and work should wait until DHSS issues a permit or confirms an exemption5. Residential property under 3 acres generally requires a permit, but the state says the exemption rule differs in some counties and the New Madrid listing does not resolve that exception; ask DHSS to confirm the parcel5. Nonresidential systems require a permit regardless of parcel size5. Request an application number online, call (573) 751-6095 ext.5, or email [email protected]13. Application fees have been temporarily suspended since August 28, 202616. Only about 1% of county soils avoid severe limitations for a conventional drain field7.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in New Madrid County?

We could not confirm a countywide rule allowing or prohibiting long-term RV living, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy in unincorporated New Madrid County2. The lack of an identified county building-permit program does not itself authorize occupancy in an RV or tiny home1. Before buying, ask the County Commission whether the parcel is subject to a county rule, subdivision restriction or other local requirement3. Establish a lawful wastewater plan with Missouri DHSS because most new onsite systems require approval17. A tiny home inside a city may face municipal rules2.

How do you build a home in New Madrid County, step by step?

  1. Verify that the parcel is in unincorporated New Madrid County; the county answer does not control inside a city1.
  1. Ask the County Commission about zoning, subdivision, setbacks, floodplain and county-road access23.
  1. Test wastewater suitability because only about 1% of county soils avoid severe drain-field limits7.
  1. Request a septic application number, and do not start system work until DHSS confirms a permit or exemption1813.
  1. If the driveway enters a state highway, obtain a MoDOT right-of-way permit19.
  1. Use qualified plans and inspections despite the reported absence of a county home-building permit1.

What should you check before buying land in New Madrid County?

Make wastewater feasibility a purchase contingency because only about 1% of county soils avoid severe conventional drain-field limits7. A proposed subdivision using onsite wastewater also needs Missouri DNR approval12. About 100% of the county has slopes of 15% or less, while about 6.1% is wooded2021. Typical farmland value is about $6,704 per acre and typical home value is about $104,7682223. The effective property-tax rate is about 0.7%, with a $746 median annual bill89. Confirm water, legal access and flood exposure for the parcel, and ask the County Commission for a parcel-specific zoning answer before closing23.

Watch-outs

  • Countywide zoning, setbacks, minimum dwelling size and RV occupancy remain unconfirmed; ask the County Commission about the parcel23.
  • The state dataset supports the no-county-permit answer, but its blank entries are not an express county statement; confirm unusual projects with the County Commission13.
  • Only about 1% of county soils avoid severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so evaluate the site before choosing a house location7.

Sources

  1. State of Missouri - County Building Codes dataset (data.mo.gov) (2026 county census)
  2. (2026 county census)
  3. New Madrid County Commission (newmadridcountymo.gov)
  4. Missouri DHSS - OWTS permitting authority by county (New Madrid) (2026 county census)
  5. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  6. (2026 county census)
  7. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  8. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  9. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  10. RSMo Section 64.170 (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. RSMo Section 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  13. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program (health.mo.gov)
  14. RSMo § 64.090 — Planning and zoning powers of county commission (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. OWTS Construction Permit Process — New Madrid County authority listing, quoted and re-checked
  16. OWTS Construction Permit Process fee update, quoted and re-checked
  17. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  18. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  19. Permits | Missouri Department of Transportation (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  23. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written September 29, 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

New Madrid County in Missouri

52
County map
New Madrid County highlighted among the Missouri counties · colored by Index score

How New Madrid County scores

Seclusion59100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency24100% ev.
Admin Boringness7868% ev.
Durability48100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost76100% ev.

Evidence strength: 95%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$105kTypical home
0.7%Property tax
$6,704Land / acre
49.8"Annual rain
7.7% of yrsSevere drought
16.4 / yr (+14.4)Mid-century 100°F days
16.9 daysMid-century dry spell
2.46" (+6.4%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.7×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,828Home insurance / yr
-1.4% / yrInsurance growth
1.8%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
21,482People within 30 min
1,159,404People within 2 hr
24,632Radius comparison (15 mi)
22.9People / sq mi
2.8%Federal land
100%Land at 15% slope or less
1%Septic soil without severe limits
3,940 acWorkable land screen
6.1%Wooded land
35.4 tonsBiomass / forest ac
59.1°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for New Madrid County

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

New Madrid County rules

  • Building permitNot required

    The State of Missouri county building-codes dataset lists New Madrid County with no adopted residential/commercial/energy building code, and this rural non-charter county has no county building department (the Chapter 62 zoning code found is the City of New Madrid, not the county). Corroborated by the state County Building Codes dataset (data.mo.gov iq7s-izvt, 2021): no county residential building code adopted.

    State of Missouri - County Building Codes dataset (data.mo.gov) ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Missouri rules that apply here

  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Missouri statewide legal framework for building-code adoption by counties and other communities; the statutes authorize local adoption rather than establishing one uniformly adopted statewide building code.

    • County authority under RSMo 64.170 applies to counties of the first and second classification.
    • A county that had not adopted a building code before August 28, 2001 must obtain voter approval before adopting under RSMo 64.170 to 64.200.
    • The adoption vote is limited to voters in the affected area; a code affecting a county is not voted on by citizens of incorporated territory.
    • A county adopting under RSMo 64.180 must use a current nationally recognized building code edition from calendar year 1999 or later, as amended.
    • A county building ordinance may not conflict with liquefied petroleum gas installation requirements governed by RSMo 323.020.
    • A community may incorporate a code by reference only if it otherwise has legal power to adopt the ordinance.
    • A code incorporated by reference must be filed with the community clerk and available for public inspection for 90 days before adoption.
    • An ordinance adopting a code by reference must state the penalty separately rather than incorporate the penalty by reference.
    • RSMo 67.280 defines community to include any county, fire protection district, or municipality, and municipality to include an incorporated city, town, or village.
    “Because fire and building codes are adopted at the local level in Missouri”
  • Who permits septicMixed

    Missouri wastewater treatment systems, including domestic onsite systems, larger-flow systems, direct discharges, lagoons, subdivisions, and industrial wastewater.

    • DNR regulates direct point-discharge or surface-land-application systems, non-individual lagoons, facilities exceeding 3,000 gallons per day, and industrial process waste.
    • DHSS or a local agency, typically the county health department, regulates single-family subsurface onsite systems, individual single-family lagoons, and qualifying systems at or below 3,000 gallons per day.
    • Local agencies may administer qualifying systems under local authority or ordinance.

    domestic wastewater flow threshold: <= 3000 gallons per day (DNR regulates facilities with domestic wastewater flow greater than 3,000 gallons per day)

    “In Missouri, different state and local agencies are responsible for regulating wastewater treatment systems.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • State (with conditions) — Onsite wastewater permitting authority for New Madrid County.
      “Agency: DHSS Authority Type: DHSS Address: 930 Wildwood Dr. Jefferson City, MO 65102 County: New Madrid Phone: (573) 751-6095 ext.5 Website: N/A Alert: Submit the information at https://stateofmissouri.wufoo.com/forms/q1l2xmqk0yjvaut/ to request an application number.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Most onsite wastewater treatment system installations and repairs in New Madrid County, where the official Missouri DHSS county lookup identifies DHSS as the agency and authority type.

    • A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems.
    • 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.
    • The New Madrid County lookup directs applicants to request an application number from DHSS at the listed state form.
    • Effective August 28, 2026, application fees for onsite sewage disposal system construction, modifications, and repairs are temporarily suspended due to changes to RSMo 701.046.
    • DHSS regulations cover single-family residential systems, including lagoons, and onsite or cluster systems treating domestic wastewater flows of 3,000 gallons per day or less and dispersing wastewater through soil treatment or absorption systems.
    • The Missouri Department of Natural Resources regulates lagoons serving anything other than single-family residences, systems discharging into surface waters, systems treating flows greater than 3,000 gallons per day and dispersing through soil treatment or absorption systems, and industrial non-domestic wastewater systems.
    • DNR must approve subdivisions, mobile home parks, and campgrounds if onsite wastewater treatment system use is planned.

    domestic wastewater flow threshold: <= 3000 gallons per day (DHSS coverage described for onsite or cluster systems; DNR regulates systems treating flows greater than 3,000 gallons per day and dispersing through soil treatment or absorption systems.) · application-fee suspension effective date: 2026-08-28 (Temporary suspension stated by DHSS due to changes to RSMo 701.046.)

    “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. [...] Agency: DHSS Authority Type: DHSS [...] County: New Madrid”
    5 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Onsite wastewater treatment systems in New Madrid County administered by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).
      “A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). [...] Agency: DHSS Authority Type: DHSS [...] County: New Madrid”
    • Required — Installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems in Missouri, including individual septic systems serving single-family residences, subject to stated exemptions and jurisdictional limits.
      “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. The first step of the permitting process is to determine the agency that has permitting authority where the work is being done.”
    • Required — Onsite wastewater installation or repair in New Madrid County under DHSS authority.
      “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 or repairing an onsite wastewater treatment system on a residential property of less than three acres in New Madrid County, where Missouri DHSS is the listed permitting authority.
      “A construction permit is required to install or repair an onsite system on any residential property less than three acres.”
    • Required — Installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems in Missouri, including residential systems subject to state permitting.
      “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.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Inspection or evaluation of existing onsite wastewater systems in connection with Missouri real-estate transfers.

    • Local public health agencies generally no longer inspect existing systems for real-estate transfers.
    • A private licensed inspector may perform an inspection or evaluation.
    • A lender, buyer, or other transaction participant may require an assessment.
    • Some local standards may be more stringent than state regulations.
    • Inspections and evaluations are distinct; an inspection includes a hydraulic test, while an evaluation does not.
    “For the most part, local public health agencies no longer inspect existing systems related to real estate transfer. The help of a licensed inspector can be obtained to check the condition of the system.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Off-grid domestic wastewater treatment using onsite wastewater treatment systems where central sewer service is unavailable.

    • Onsite systems treat and dispose of domestic sewage on the property where generated.
    • A construction permit is generally required, including for residential property less than three acres, subject to county-specific exceptions.
    • Wastewater may not be discharged into a road ditch or onto the ground.
    • Local permitting authorities may impose additional requirements.

    residential lot threshold: < 3 acres (The exemption does not apply in some counties.)

    “Onsite wastewater treatment systems are sometimes referred to as "septic systems." These systems treat and dispose of domestic sewage on the property where it is generated.”
  • 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.”
  • Subdividing landLimited

    Subdivisions in New Madrid County where onsite wastewater treatment systems are planned.

    • Missouri DNR approval is required when the subdivision plans to use OWTS.
    • The source does not establish a general county subdivision ordinance or approval process.
    “DNR must approve subdivisions, mobile home parks and campgrounds if the use of OWTS is planned.”
  • 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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Variable (with conditions) — DHSS onsite-wastewater permit fees applicable to New Madrid County.
      “Effective August 28, 2026, due to changes to RSMo 701.046, the application fees associated with on-site sewage disposal system construction, modifications, and repairs will be temporarily suspended. 701.046 was changed to take out the $90 permit fee and authorizes the Department of Health and Senior Services to set reasonable fees—effectively placing current fees on hold until the new standards take effect.”
  • 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
    • Published (with conditions) — DHSS onsite-wastewater permit process applicable to New Madrid County.
      “The first step of the permitting process is to determine the agency that has permitting authority where the work is being done.”
  • 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 county building requirements.
  • Inspections — Building inspections in unincorporated New Madrid County.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy in unincorporated New Madrid County.
  • County-wide zoning — Adopted county zoning ordinance for New Madrid County, including unincorporated areas.
  • Local zoning — Aggregate of municipal and other local zoning within New Madrid County.
14 more unanswered
  • 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
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • 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 New Madrid County, Missouri

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

New Madrid County scores 52/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: strong self-sufficiency basics: 49.8″/yr rainfall with little drought.

Do you need a building permit in New Madrid County, Missouri?

New Madrid County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas. Onsite septic is permitted by Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program. 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 New Madrid County, Missouri?

Land in New Madrid County runs about $6,704 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in New Madrid County?

New Madrid County gets about 49.8" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 7.7% of years.

How remote is New Madrid County?

A representative private-land location has about 21,482 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,159,404 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 New Madrid County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How New Madrid compares in Missouri

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