Bolthole Index

Scotland County, Missouri

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Memphis, Missouri

Memphis, Missouri requires a city building permit before construction and compliance with city zoning and subdivision ordinances.1 Memphis has its own zoning districts; the single-family districts require public water and sewer.23 Where private sewage disposal is allowed, Memphis requires a written permit from the Superintendent, and state or county health requirements still apply.4

At a glance

Building permit
Required before construction inside Memphis city limits1
Residential building code
2012 IRC, with city modifications and supplements5
Zoning
City districts govern land use; confirm the parcel district before designing2
Water and sewer
Public water and sewer required in R-1a, R-1b and R-1c districts3
Private sewage disposal
City Superintendent’s written permit required where public sewer is unavailable; health requirements also apply64
Lot coverage
In R-1b, main and accessory buildings may cover no more than 30% of lot area7
Floodplain development
Floodplain development permit required in applicable areas8

Who to call

Building permits

Memphis City Hall

Starting contact for city building-permit applications, zoning questions, and referral to the Building Inspector or floodplain administrator

660-465-7285

[email protected]

125 W Jefferson, Memphis, MO 63555

Septic permits

Memphis Water and Sewer

Public sewer availability and referral to the Superintendent for city private sewage disposal approval

660-465-2013

Septic permits

Missouri DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program

State onsite wastewater permitting questions for Scotland County; coordinate with Memphis for private sewage disposal inside city limits

(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 October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Memphis, MO?

Memphis requires an application filed with the city and a building permit obtained before construction begins.1 The Memphis application needs the city form, a sketch or drawing, and an estimated construction cost; proposed work must meet the city zoning and subdivision ordinances and be likely to comply with city building codes.1 Residential construction follows the 2012 IRC as modified and supplemented by Memphis.5 We could not confirm an owner-builder exemption: ask City Hall to have the Building Inspector identify the requirements for your proposed work before you commit to building it yourself.9

Who handles building permits and inspections in Memphis?

Start with Memphis City Hall at 660-465-7285 or [email protected] for the city application and a referral to the Building Inspector.9 The Memphis permit holder must notify the Building Inspector before construction, and construction requires at least 2 inspections; additional inspections may be required, or an inspection may be waived with written reasons.10 Defects can lead to a stop-construction order.10 At completion, the Memphis building permit serves as the certificate of occupancy only with the Building Inspector’s verification that the required inspections were completed satisfactorily.11

Does Memphis have zoning, and can you live in an RV or tiny home?

Memphis zoning includes agricultural, single-family, multifamily, commercial, industrial and mobile-home districts.2 In the Memphis R-1b district, main and accessory buildings together may cover no more than 30% of the lot.7 Memphis R-1a, R-1b and R-1c lots must have public water and public sewer, so a plan for independent sanitation cannot simply bypass the district’s utility requirements.3 We could not confirm general permission for RV living, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy or an accessory dwelling in Memphis; ask City Hall for a zoning determination describing the exact proposed use.9 Ask for the parcel’s residential setbacks, minimum lot area, minimum dwelling size and height limits before drawing a site plan.9

How do septic permits and sewer connections work in Memphis?

Where Memphis public sewer is unavailable, private sewage disposal must comply with the city sewer chapter, and the owner must obtain a written permit signed by the Superintendent before system construction.126 A Memphis subsurface soil absorption system requires at least 15,000 square feet of lot area; that sanitation threshold is not a general residential minimum lot size.6 State or county health requirements remain applicable alongside the city approval.4 Missouri DHSS lists Scotland County for state onsite wastewater permitting; contact DHSS and the city Superintendent to establish the approvals for a Memphis address.1314 Call Memphis Water and Sewer at 660-465-2013 to ask about public sewer availability.15

Building a home in Memphis: what are the steps in order?

  1. Ask City Hall to confirm the Memphis parcel’s zoning district and the standards for the proposed home.92
  2. Establish public water and sewer service requirements; Memphis single-family districts require both, while private disposal needs city approval where sewer is unavailable.36
  3. Check whether the Memphis site needs a floodplain development permit before arranging site work.8
  4. Submit the city building-permit form, sketch or drawing and construction-cost estimate, and obtain the building permit before starting construction.1
  5. Notify the Memphis Building Inspector before construction, arrange the required inspections and obtain satisfactory inspection verification on the permit for occupancy.1011

What should you check before buying land in Memphis?

For a Memphis lot, check sewer availability before pricing a private wastewater system: public sewer within 100 feet of the property line triggers connection within 90 days after official notice, and private facilities must be abandoned when public sewer becomes available.3 If private disposal is allowed, Missouri requires a construction permit for most onsite system installations or repairs, with some residential exemptions; confirm any exemption rather than starting work on that assumption.16 Memphis also requires its own written private sewage disposal permit.6 Ask City Hall about private-well approval and driveway access, which we could not confirm.9 For land outside Memphis city limits, use the Scotland County guide for the county building-permit answer rather than applying Memphis requirements.17

Watch-outs

  • Memphis building approval does not replace the city’s private sewage disposal approval or applicable state and county health requirements.14
  • Memphis floodplain development requires a floodplain development permit in applicable areas; ask City Hall for the floodplain administrator before planning site work.89
  • Missouri DHSS temporarily suspended onsite sewage application fees effective August 28, 2026; ask Memphis separately about city building and sewage approval fees.189

Sources

  1. Article II: Building Permits And Code Enforcement (Memphis), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 405: Zoning Regulations (Memphis), quoted and re-checked
  3. Article III: Zoning Districts — Use And Regulations (Memphis), quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 710: Sewers and Sewage Disposal (Memphis), quoted and re-checked
  5. Article I: Adoption Of Building Codes (Memphis), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 710: Sewers and Sewage Disposal (Memphis), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article III: Zoning Districts — Use And Regulations (Memphis), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 415 Floodplain Management (Memphis), quoted and re-checked
  9. Memphis City Hall (cityofmemphismo.com)
  10. Article II: Building Permits And Code Enforcement (Memphis), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article II: Building Permits And Code Enforcement (Memphis), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chapter 710: Sewers and Sewage Disposal (Memphis), quoted and re-checked
  13. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  14. Missouri DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program (health.mo.gov)
  15. Memphis Water and Sewer (cityofmemphismo.com)
  16. OWTS Construction Permit Process (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Missouri Division of Fire Safety / data.mo.gov – County Building Codes for Missouri (dated 07/01/2026) (2026 county census)
  18. OWTS Construction Permit Process (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 Memphis

Memphis’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction inside Memphis city limits.

    • The application must include a city form, sketch or drawing, and construction-cost estimate.
    • The proposed construction must meet the Memphis Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances and be likely to comply with City Building Codes.
    “Prior to any construction, an application for a building permit shall be filed with the City and a permit obtained.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Residential construction inside Memphis city limits.

    • The 2012 IRC is modified and supplemented by Article I.

    residential code edition: 2012 IRC (modified and supplemented by Article I)

    “The provisions, appendixes, and amendments of the 2012 IRC [...] are hereby adopted as the official Residential Building Code of the City of Memphis”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Memphis city limits.

    • At least two inspections are required before completion.
    • The permit holder must notify the Building Inspector before construction.
    • Additional inspections may be required or an inspection may be waived with a written statement of reasons.
    • Defects may result in a stop-construction order.

    minimum inspections: >= 2 times

    “The construction work shall be inspected at a minimum of two (2) times.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Completed construction inside Memphis city limits.

    • The building permit serves as the certificate of occupancy only with the Building Inspector's verification that two inspections were completed satisfactorily.
    “When the construction is concluded, the building permit [with the Building Inspector's verification that two (2) inspections have been completed satisfactorily] shall serve as a certificate of occupancy.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Land inside Memphis city limits.

    • The code identifies A-1, R-1a, R-1b, R-1c, R-2, R-3, commercial, industrial, and mobile-home districts.
    “Section 405.110 "A-1" General Agricultural District. Section 405.120 "R-1a" Single-Family Estate District. Section 405.130 "R-1b" Single-Family Zoning District. Section 405.140 "R-1c" Single-Family Zoning District.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private sewage disposal inside Memphis city limits.

    • The city code requires private systems to comply with Missouri Department of Public Health recommendations.
    • The code also preserves additional requirements imposed by the State or County Health Officer.
    “Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the Superintendent. [...] No statement contained in this Chapter shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the Health Officer of the State or County.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Private sewage disposal systems inside Memphis city limits where public sewer is unavailable.

    • Subsurface soil absorption systems require a lot of at least 15,000 square feet.
    • The system must comply with Missouri Department of Public Health recommendations.
    • No septic tank or cesspool may discharge to a natural outlet.

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

    “Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the Superintendent.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private or off-grid sewage disposal inside Memphis city limits.

    • Private sewage disposal is available where public sanitary or combined sewer is not available.
    • Private systems must comply with Chapter 710 and Missouri Department of Public Health recommendations.
    • Connection to public sewer is required when available.
    “Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under the provisions of Section 710.040, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this Chapter.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Residential lots in Memphis city zoning districts and properties abutting a public sewer.

    • R-1a, R-1b, and R-1c lots must be served by public water and public sewer.
    • For properties with a public sewer within 100 feet of the property line, connection is required within 90 days after official notice.
    • Where public sewer is unavailable, private sewage disposal may be used subject to Chapter 710.
    • When public sewer becomes available, direct connection is required and private facilities must be abandoned.

    public sewer distance threshold: <= 100 feet from property line · connection deadline after official notice: 90 days

    “Each lot within a "R-1b" Zoning District shall be served by a public water supply and a public sewer system.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in applicable floodplain areas inside Memphis city limits.

    • The floodplain chapter identifies the lands to which the ordinance applies and provides application procedures, standards, manufactured-home rules, floodway rules, and variance procedures.
    “Section 415.110 Floodplain Development Permit (Required).”

Rules another office applies inside Memphis

Memphis does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Main and accessory buildings in the R-1b Single-Family Zoning District inside Memphis city limits.

    • The rule applies to main and accessory buildings.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent

    “Coverage. Main and accessory buildings shall not cover more than thirty percent (30%) of the lot area.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Memphis or Scotland County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Memphis city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside Memphis city limits, including A-1 and R-1 districts.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential districts inside Memphis city limits, including A-1 and R-1 districts.
  • Setbacks — Residential districts inside Memphis city limits.
  • Building height — Residential districts inside Memphis city limits.
9 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Memphis publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Scotland County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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