Bolthole Index

Ralls County, Missouri

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in New London, Missouri

New London, Missouri has city zoning, but we could not confirm the operative building-permit requirements; ask New London City Hall before construction.1 Private sewage systems inside the city require a written permit from the city Inspector, and state or county health officers may impose additional requirements.2 Ralls County Health Department also requires septic construction permits regardless of lot size.3

At a glance

Building permits
City requirements unconfirmed; ask New London City Hall before construction.4
Zoning
City zoning applies inside New London; standards depend on the district.1
Private sewage approval
City Inspector issues the written permit; state or county health requirements also apply.2
Septic construction permit
Health department requires a permit for new systems regardless of lot size, and for repair, replacement or upgrade.3
Septic lot area
Subsurface absorption requires at least 15,000 square feet; this is a sewage-system threshold.5
Sewer permit fees
City code lists $10 for private sewage permit and inspection; $35 for residential or commercial building-sewer permit and inspection.6

Who to call

Planning & zoning

New London City Hall

Ask City Hall for the municipal building-permit and zoning contact; linked page is the city zoning code.

Septic permits

Ralls County Health Department

Domestic onsite sewage permits and environmental health questions

573-985-7121

16369 Business 61

Septic permits

Ralls County Health Department — onsite wastewater permit procedures

Septic construction applications, site evaluation and installation inspections.

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in New London 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 London, MO?

We could not confirm which projects require a building permit in New London or the applicable building code; ask New London City Hall for the current requirements before starting work. The city zoning code lists building-permit application and occupancy-permit provisions, so request the application, inspection schedule and occupancy requirements for your proposed home.4 Ralls County’s zoning order applies to unincorporated land; use the Ralls County guide when the property is outside New London city limits.7

Does New London have zoning, and what about RVs and tiny homes?

New London administers city zoning, with permitted uses and dimensional standards determined by the applicable district.1 The city code lists single-family and two-family residential, multiple-family residential, mobile-home, commercial and industrial districts.8 Ask City Hall to identify the parcel’s district and provide the applicable lot-size, setback, height and dwelling-size rules.1 We could not confirm permission for RV living, temporary camping, tiny homes or accessory dwellings inside New London; ask City Hall about the exact dwelling and proposed duration before buying. Do not treat the mobile-home district listing as approval for a particular manufactured home: the district’s operative use standards remain unconfirmed.8

How do septic permits work inside New London?

New London allows a private sewage-disposal system where public sewer is unavailable under the city sewer provisions; a subsurface absorption system requires at least 15,000 square feet of lot area.5 Before private-system construction, obtain the city Inspector’s written permit and resolve any additional state or county health requirements.2 Ralls County Health Department’s procedures require a septic permit for new systems regardless of lot size and for repair, replacement or upgrade.3 Call the health department at 573-985-7121 to coordinate the county application with the city approval.9 The city code lists a $10 private sewage-disposal permit and inspection fee and a $35 residential or commercial building-sewer permit and inspection fee; ask each office for its current charges.6

What are the steps for building a home in New London?

Start by asking City Hall to identify the zoning district and confirm your proposed residential use and dimensional requirements.1 Request the city building-permit application and occupancy requirements before committing to construction plans.4 Resolve public-sewer availability with the city Inspector before designing a private sewage system.5 For septic, the health department’s procedures call for a registered soil scientist’s evaluation, a registered installer and an application for review; construction must wait until the permit is issued.3 Notify the city Inspector for final private-sewage inspection before covering underground portions, and complete installation to the Inspector’s satisfaction.10

What should you check before buying land in New London?

Ask City Hall about subdivision approval if you intend to split the parcel: New London publishes subdivision regulations, but the specific plat and improvement requirements remain unconfirmed.11 For a septic proposal, a sufficient lot area does not replace a soil evaluation; the health department requires soil testing and engineered plans for non-conventional systems.3 Ralls County’s soils rated not limited for conventional drain fields account for only 1.7% of county land; this county-wide rating calls for site evaluation and does not mean septic is impossible on a New London lot.12 Missouri requires a permit for all floodplain development; ask City Hall to identify the applicable community floodplain administrator before grading or building.13 We could not confirm New London’s private-well or driveway-access requirements; request those answers from City Hall before closing.

Watch-outs

  • A larger lot does not remove the health department’s septic-permit requirement: its procedures require permits regardless of lot size.3
  • The city’s private-sewage permit and health department septic construction permit need separate attention; coordinate both offices before installation.23
  • We could not confirm RV or tiny-home occupancy inside New London; ask City Hall before using either as a residence.4

Sources

  1. Chapter 405: Zoning Regulations - City of New London, MO (New London), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 705 Public and Private Sewers - City of New London, MO (New London), quoted and re-checked
  3. Ralls County Health Department — onsite wastewater permit procedures (rallscountyhealth.org)
  4. New London City Hall (ecode360.com)
  5. Chapter 705 Public and Private Sewers - City of New London, MO (New London), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 705 Public and Private Sewers - City of New London, MO (New London), quoted and re-checked
  7. Planning & Zoning – Ralls County Missouri, quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 405: Zoning Regulations - City of New London, MO (New London), quoted and re-checked
  9. Ralls County Health Department (rallscountyhealth.org)
  10. Chapter 705 Public and Private Sewers - City of New London, MO (New London), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 410: Subdivision Regulations - City of New London, MO (New London), quoted and re-checked
  12. 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
  13. Floodplain Forms (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 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 London

New London’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside New London city limits; the city publishes and administers Chapter 405 Zoning Regulations.

    • District-specific standards and permitted uses must be determined from the applicable zoning district and section.
    “Chapter 405: Zoning Regulations - City of New London, MO”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside New London city limits.

    • The official code lists R-1 Single-Family and Two-Family Residential, R-2 Multiple-Family Residential, R-3 Mobile Home, C-1 Commercial, and I-1 Industrial districts.
    • District dimensional and use details were not retrieved.
    “Section 405.080 "R-1" Single-Family and Two-Family Residential District. Section 405.090 "R-2" Multiple-Family Residential District. Section 405.100 "R-3" Mobile Home District.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private sewage-disposal systems inside New London city limits when public sewer is unavailable.

    • The city Inspector issues the written permit and performs inspections.
    • The system must comply with recommendations of the Department of Public Health of the State of Missouri.
    • Additional requirements may be imposed by the Health Officer of the State or County.
    “Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the Inspector. [...] additional requirements that may be imposed by the Health Officer of the State or County.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private sewage-disposal systems inside New London city limits.

    • The Inspector may inspect at any stage.
    • The applicant must notify the Inspector for final inspection before underground portions are covered.
    • The permit does not become effective until installation is completed to the Inspector's satisfaction.
    • Inspection is to occur within four hours for a forenoon notice and within eighteen hours for an afternoon notice.
    “A permit for a private sewage disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the Inspector.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private sewage disposal, including septic systems, inside New London city limits when public sewer is unavailable.

    • A private system is allowed only where public sewer is unavailable under Section 705.060.
    • A city written permit and inspection are required.
    • The system must comply with Missouri Department of Public Health recommendations.
    • Subsurface absorption systems require a lot of at least 15,000 square feet.
    • Septic tanks and cesspools may not discharge to a natural outlet.
    • State or county health officers may impose additional requirements.

    minimum lot area for subsurface soil absorption: >= 15000 square feet

    “Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under the provisions of Section 705.060 , the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside New London city limits.

    • Specific plat, improvement, review, and approval requirements were not retrieved.
    “Chapter 410: Subdivision Regulations - City of New London, MO”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Permits associated with private sewage disposal and building-sewer connections inside New London city limits.

    • A private sewage-disposal permit and inspection fee is $10.
    • A residential or commercial building-sewer permit and inspection fee is $35.
    • Other building-permit fees were not retrieved.

    private sewage-disposal permit and inspection fee: 10 USD · residential or commercial building-sewer permit and inspection fee: 35 USD

    “A permit and inspection fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be paid to the City at the time the application is filed.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Private sewage-disposal and building-sewer permits inside New London city limits.

    • Applications use special or city-furnished forms.
    • Plans, specifications, and other information may be required by the Inspector.
    • The applicant pays the applicable permit and inspection fee when filing.
    • Unauthorized persons may not connect to or disturb a public sewer without a written permit.
    “No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the Inspector.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits inside New London city limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside New London city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption inside New London city limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside New London city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy permits or certificates inside New London city limits.
15 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
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that New London publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Ralls County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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