Shelby County, MO Building Permits, Zoning & Septic

Unincorporated Shelby County, Missouri does not require a residential building permit¹. Countywide zoning could not be confirmed, so ask the Shelby County Commission about parcel-specific setbacks, size limits and land uses before relying on an absence of zoning²³. Missouri DHSS is the regulatory authority when an onsite wastewater construction or modification permit is required⁴⁵.

At a glance

Building permit: Not required for a home in unincorporated Shelby County¹
Zoning: Countywide zoning could not be confirmed; ask the County Commission before relying on no zoning²³
Septic permits: Missouri DHSS regulates construction or modification permits when required⁴⁵
RV living: Not confirmed; ask the County Commission about the specific parcel and use²³
Tiny homes: Not confirmed; placement and occupancy rules may depend on location²
Owner-builder exemption: No formal county exemption confirmed⁶
State-highway driveway: MoDOT permit required for an entrance in state right-of-way⁷

Who to call

Also useful

Shelby County Commission

General county-government questions, including confirmation of current county land-use rules

573-633-2181

Shelby County Courthouse, 100 E Main St, Shelbyville, MO 63469

Also useful

Shelby County Clerk

County records and general administrative questions

573-633-2181

[email protected]

P.O. Box 186, Shelbyville, MO 63469

Septic permits

Shelby County Health Department, Environmental Services

Consultation for owners, buyers and sellers; OWTS complaints and deficiency assessments

573-633-2353

700 E. Main Street, Shelbyville, MO 63469

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 Shelby County, Missouri?

Unincorporated Shelby County does not require a residential building permit¹. Missouri leaves building-code adoption to local governments rather than imposing one uniform statewide code, and county authority is limited by county classification and voter-approval rules⁸⁹. The building-permit answer applies to county-controlled land, not property inside an incorporated city, where municipal requirements may differ¹.

No formal owner-builder exemption could be confirmed for Shelby County⁶. That is a separate question from whether the unincorporated county requires the residential permit in the first place. Farm structures also have a narrow protection: a county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinance cannot require permits for the erection, maintenance, repair, alteration or extension of farm buildings, but that protection does not erase unrelated septic, floodplain or municipal requirements¹⁰.

Who handles building and land-use questions in Shelby County?

For current building or land-use questions, start with the Shelby County Commission. The Commission is at the Shelby County Courthouse, 100 E Main St, Shelbyville, MO 63469, and its phone number is 573-633-2181³. The Shelby County Clerk is another county-government contact for records and administrative questions at P.O. Box 186, Shelbyville, MO 63469, by phone at 573-633-2181 or by email at [email protected]¹¹.

Ask whether the parcel is inside a municipality, whether a recorded county order affects construction, and whether any floodplain or road approval applies. Unincorporated Shelby County does not require a residential building permit, but we could not confirm a county permit application, inspection schedule or fee table¹³.

Does Shelby County, Missouri have zoning?

Countywide zoning in Shelby County could not be confirmed from an adopted ordinance or an explicit county statement². Missouri law allows qualifying counties to establish zoning for unincorporated territory only after the zoning question goes to voters and a majority favors it, but that statewide authority does not show whether Shelby County completed that process¹².

Treat minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage, building height, subdivision controls and minimum dwelling size as unanswered parcel questions, not as proof that no limits exist. Ask the Shelby County Commission for the current rule and any recorded order before designing or buying³. Property inside an incorporated municipality can face municipal rules even when the surrounding unincorporated county does not require a residential building permit¹.

How do septic permits work in Shelby County?

The Shelby County Health Department consults owners, prospective buyers and sellers about onsite wastewater treatment systems and related standards, while Missouri DHSS is the regulatory authority when a construction or modification permit is required⁵⁴. For residential property smaller than 3 acres, Missouri requires a construction permit to install or repair an onsite system; the acreage exemption does not apply everywhere, so confirm eligibility before work begins¹³. Nonresidential onsite systems require a permit regardless of property size¹³.

Site conditions deserve early attention. None of Shelby County's mapped soils rate as free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field¹⁴. When a permit is required, the county health department says an accredited soil scientist's morphology report is required to help the contractor select the proper system⁵. Contact Environmental Services at 700 E. Main Street, Shelbyville, MO 63469, or 573-633-2353⁵.

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

Shelby County's rules for long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping and tiny-home occupancy could not be confirmed. The unresolved countywide zoning question does not establish that an RV or tiny home is unrestricted on unincorporated land². Before buying, give the Shelby County Commission the parcel location and describe whether the unit will be temporary, occupied during construction or used as a permanent dwelling³.

Wastewater rules still matter even if no residential building permit is required. Missouri's onsite-wastewater framework covers septic tanks, aerobic treatment units, lagoons, holding tanks and privies, and construction or repair generally needs approval unless a residential exemption applies¹⁵. Ask the health department about the proposed sanitation system and site before placing or occupying the unit⁵. Manufactured-home placement, accessory dwellings and utility-connection requirements also remain unconfirmed for unincorporated Shelby County².

Building a home in Shelby County: what are the steps?

Confirm that the parcel is in unincorporated Shelby County, because the county's no-permit answer does not establish the rules inside a municipality¹.
Give the Shelby County Commission the parcel location and ask about zoning, setbacks, subdivision, floodplain and county-road access before finalizing a site plan³².
Contact the Shelby County Health Department before choosing an onsite wastewater system; Missouri DHSS regulates the permit when one is required⁵⁴.
Obtain the required soil morphology report when the onsite-wastewater project needs a permit⁵.
If the entrance will be built or modified in MoDOT right-of-way, obtain a MoDOT permit before doing that work⁷.
For work in MoDOT right-of-way, contact the Traffic Specialist at least 48 hours before work begins and for necessary inspections¹⁶.

What should you check before buying land in Shelby County?

Shelby County has about 11.8 people per square mile and about 5,900 residents, while the nearest city of 100,000 or more is roughly 61 miles from the county center¹⁷¹⁸¹⁹. The county is mostly gentle terrain, with about 93% of land at a slope of 15% or less, but mapped soils give conventional septic drain fields a severe-limitation rating throughout the county²⁰¹⁴.

Before closing, verify the boundary, legal access, road authority, flood exposure, water source and a workable wastewater site. A driveway in MoDOT right-of-way needs a state permit, while we could not confirm a county-road driveway rule⁷. The typical effective property-tax rate is about 0.9%, and the median annual property-tax bill is about $772²¹²². Confirm the actual assessment and tax treatment for the parcel rather than applying countywide figures to one property.

Watch-outs

Countywide zoning, RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy, setbacks and minimum dwelling size remain unconfirmed; ask the Shelby County Commission about the parcel before relying on an absence of rules²³.
Mapped soils across Shelby County carry severe limitations for conventional septic drain fields, and a permitted system requires a soil morphology report from an accredited soil scientist¹⁴⁵.
A residential entrance in MoDOT right-of-way requires a state permit, but that fact does not establish the rule for a county road or private road⁷.

Sources

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.

How Shelby County scores

Seclusion76100% ev.

Self-Sufficiency61100% ev.

Admin Boringness8390% ev.

Durability49100% ev.

Property Autonomy47100% ev.

Carry Cost76100% 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 →

$199kTypical home

0.9%Property tax

$6,127Land / acre

41.3"Annual rain

6.2% of yrsSevere drought

9.1 / yr (+7.8)Mid-century 100°F days

17.1 daysMid-century dry spell

2.06" (+5.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain

1.85×Wildfire change factor

100%Forward climate coverage

$1,745Home insurance / yr

2.8% / yrInsurance growth

2.33%Nonrenewal rate

county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis

7,002People within 30 min

739,160People within 2 hr

8,790Radius comparison (15 mi)

11.8People / sq mi

0.9%Federal land

92.6%Land at 15% slope or less

0%Septic soil without severe limits

0 acWorkable land screen

22.6%Wooded land

43 tonsBiomass / forest ac

52.7°FAvg temp

Answers from the rulebook for Shelby County

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

Shelby County rules

Building permitNot required
Missouri has no statewide residential building code and Shelby County (a rural non-charter county) has adopted no county-wide building code; building permits apply only within incorporated cities, not the unincorporated county. Corroborated by the state County Building Codes dataset (data.mo.gov iq7s-izvt, 2021): no county residential building code adopted.
State of Missouri Data Portal, County Building Codes for Missouri ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked
County-wide zoningAbsent
No county-wide zoning was identified for Shelby County; as a rural non-charter Missouri county with no adopted county codes, zoning applies only within incorporated cities (inferred).
State of Missouri Data Portal, County Building Codes for Missouri ↗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”
RSMo Section 64.170 ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
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.”
On-site Septic Systems and Subdivisions ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Septic permitRequired
Installation or repair of an onsite wastewater treatment system where Missouri's state onsite-wastewater permitting rules apply, including residential property in Shelby County unless a locally applicable rule or exemption changes the result.
- A construction permit is required for residential property less than three acres.
- The stated acreage exemption does not apply in some counties; the county authority must be checked.
- A permit is necessary regardless of property size for onsite systems serving non-residential structures.
- Single-family residential lots may be exempt from permitting.
- Work should not begin until a permit has been issued or an exemption has been confirmed by the appropriate permitting authority.
- Effective August 28, 2026, application fees for on-site sewage disposal system construction, modifications, and repairs are temporarily suspended; the former $90 permit fee was removed and current fees are on hold until new standards take effect.
residential-property permit threshold: < 3 acres (The exemption does not apply in some counties; check with the county authority.) · prior state permit fee: 90 USD (Removed by changes to RSMo 701.046; fees are temporarily suspended effective August 28, 2026.)
“A construction permit is required to install or repair an onsite system on any residential property less than three acres. (This exemption does not apply in some counties; check with the county authority.) Regardless of the size of the property, a permit is necessary for all other onsite systems that serve non-residential structures.”
OWTS Construction Permit Process ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- 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.”
  OWTS Construction Permit Process ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
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.”
Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Inspections Versus Evaluations ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Not required — Inspection or evaluation of an existing onsite wastewater treatment system before a real-estate transaction, including in Shelby County unless a local requirement applies.
  “No. However, if a lender or buyer requests an inspection/evaluation, it must be conducted by a licensed individual. Some counties may require an onsite system inspection/evaluation for every real estate transaction. Check with the local permitting authority.”
  Frequently Asked Questions ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
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.”
Frequently Asked Questions ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Limited — Onsite sanitation systems, including basic components such as privies, where central sewer service is unavailable in Shelby County and elsewhere in Missouri under the state onsite-wastewater framework.
  “Basic systems and components consist of sewer lines, septic tanks and aerobic treatments units (ATUs), gravity distribution, gravity laterals, dosed gravity systems, shallow placed gravity systems, lagoons, holding tanks and privies.”
  Onsite Wastewater Treatment ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
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.”
RSMo Section 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Available (with conditions) — Farm buildings and farm structures in Missouri, including Shelby County, where a county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinance would otherwise apply.
  “no fire protection or fire prevention ordinance adopted by any county [...] erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures.”
  Missouri Revised Statutes § 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
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”
Permits | Missouri Department of Transportation ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Required — Residential driveway and other entrance construction in MoDOT right of way in Shelby County.
  “Types of Entrances Requiring Permits Typical entrance details Type I: Residential Driveway”
  Types of Entrances Requiring Permits ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
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.”
Laws and Regulations That Might Affect You if You Mine Sand or Gravel From Missouri Streams ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
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.”
Air Construction Permits ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
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.”
Permit Process | Missouri Department of Transportation ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Published (with conditions) — MoDOT right-of-way permit applications in Shelby County, which MoDOT lists in its Northeast District.
  “there are three ways to submit a permit application for processing.”
  Permit Process ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
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”
RSMo § 64.090 — Planning and zoning powers of county commission ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
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”
RSMo § 64.170 — County commissions control construction and issue building permits ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026

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 building-permit, licensing, or inspection requirements in Shelby County.
Inspections — Building inspections for residential construction in Shelby County, including unincorporated areas.
Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in Shelby County, including unincorporated areas.
Local zoning — Local zoning within Shelby County, including incorporated municipalities and unincorporated areas.
Zoning districts — Zoning districts applicable in Shelby County, including unincorporated areas and incorporated municipalities.

13 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
Mandatory utility hookup
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 Shelby County, Missouri

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

Shelby County scores 76/100 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 Shelby County, Missouri?

Shelby 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 Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (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 Shelby County, Missouri?

Land in Shelby County runs about $6,127 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Shelby County?

Shelby County gets about 41.3" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 6.2% of years.

How remote is Shelby County?

A representative private-land location has about 7,002 people within a 30-minute drive and 739,160 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.

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Shelby County, Missouri

At a glance

Who to call

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

Who handles building and land-use questions in Shelby County?

Does Shelby County, Missouri have zoning?

How do septic permits work in Shelby County?

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

Building a home in Shelby County: what are the steps?

What should you check before buying land in Shelby County?

Watch-outs

Sources

Shelby County in Missouri

How Shelby County scores

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Parcel due diligence

Answers from the rulebook for Shelby County

Shelby County rules

Missouri rules that apply here

Still unanswered

Living off-grid in Shelby County, Missouri

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

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

How much does land cost in Shelby County, Missouri?

What is the water situation in Shelby County?

How remote is Shelby County?

How Shelby compares in Missouri