Bolthole Index

Texas County, Missouri

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Houston, Missouri

Houston, Missouri requires a city building permit before construction or remodeling of a primary structure, and Houston administers its own zoning.12 Houston City Hall supplies the building-permit application; these are city rules for Houston in Texas County.3 Septic construction permits follow Missouri onsite-wastewater requirements, but we could not confirm which agency administers them inside Houston; ask the Texas County Health Department before planning a system.45

At a glance

Building permit
City approval required before new construction or primary-structure remodeling1
Zoning
Houston administers its own zoning2
RV living
Outside approved RV parks, temporary visits only; 15 days per continuous 60-day period unless specially authorized6
Septic construction
Most installations and repairs need a construction permit; confirm the agency for the Houston address4
Occupancy
A new building needs a certificate of occupancy before move-in7
Residential lot coverage
40% maximum in residential R zones, with specified exceptions8

Who to call

Building permits

Houston City Hall / Administration

City Hall contact for the building official, zoning questions, application forms and utility-connection questions

417-967-3348

601 S Grand Ave.

Building permits

Houston Building Official / Building Inspections

Building-permit application, site and floor plans, and inspection contact

417-967-3348

Septic permits

Texas County Health Department

Onsite sewage questions and a starting contact to confirm the permitting agency for a Houston address

417-967-4131

950 N. Hwy 63 Houston, MO, 65483

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Houston, MO?

Houston requires a written application to the building official and a granted building permit before the construction, alteration, enlargement, moving or other listed work on a building or structure begins.1 Houston expressly requires a completed, approved application for all new construction and construction or remodeling of a primary structure.3 A Houston building permit expires if work has not commenced within 6 months or has not been completed within 2 years.1 Do not plan move-in around the building permit alone: Houston requires a certificate of occupancy before a new building is occupied.7

Who issues Houston building permits, and where do you apply?

Houston’s building official receives the written building-permit application, and application forms are available at City Hall.13 Houston City Hall’s administration office is at 601 S Grand Ave.; call 417-967-3348 to reach the city office.9 The application and plans go to the code official, and the city clerk keeps building-permit records.3 Houston’s application requires a site plan and, where applicable, a floor plan showing room dimensions and the structure’s location on the lot.10 Houston bases building-permit fees on applicable International Codes; ask City Hall for the current fee schedule and the inspection sequence for your project.11

Does Houston have zoning, and what limits the building site?

Houston administers its own zoning, so establish the parcel’s zoning district with the city before choosing a building layout.2 Houston’s residential R zones generally limit buildings and paved surfaces to 40% of lot area; qualifying detached rear-yard garages and front porches may increase coverage, and multifamily dwellings are exempt from the coverage requirement.8 Houston residential driveways must be at least 9 feet wide, and driveway or ramp slope may not exceed 15%.12 Ask the Houston building official for the parcel’s district-specific setbacks and lot-size requirements, along with confirmation of whether your proposed dwelling fits the district.29

How do septic construction permits work inside Houston?

Most onsite wastewater installations and repairs in Houston require a construction permit, although some single-family residential lots may be exempt.4 Missouri requires the applicant to determine the permitting agency for the work location and wait for a permit or confirmed exemption before starting.13 We could not confirm the Houston-specific septic authority; start with the Texas County Health Department and ask who handles the exact city address.5 The health department describes a soils morphology report as the first step toward designing an onsite system.5 Missouri DHSS application fees are temporarily suspended effective August 28, 2026, but local permitting processes may vary; confirm local charges with the administering office.14

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Houston?

Houston allows RV occupancy outside an approved RV park only while temporarily visiting the property’s owner or occupant.6 Houston limits that occupancy to 15 days during a continuous 60-day period unless the city administrator issues a special written permit authorized by a majority of the board of aldermen.6 The visitor provision does not authorize ordinary full-time RV living while building a home; ask the city administrator about special authorization before relying on an RV for housing.6 We could not confirm a separate Houston tiny-home occupancy rule, minimum dwelling floor area or owner-builder exemption; ask the building official to review the proposed home under Houston’s zoning and building-permit requirements.21

Building a home in Houston: what should happen first?

Start at Houston City Hall with the parcel’s zoning district and proposed use, then prepare the building-permit application and required site and floor plans.2310 Before arranging onsite wastewater work, establish which agency has authority and obtain a septic construction permit or confirmed exemption.4 Submit the certificate-of-occupancy application for approval before the excavation or building permit is issued, as Houston’s enforcement provisions require.7 Wait for building-permit approval before construction begins, and obtain the certificate of occupancy before occupying the new building.37 Ask City Hall to confirm water and sewer connection requirements for the address; we could not confirm a general Houston connection threshold.9

What should you check before buying land in Houston?

For a Houston site in a special-flood-hazard area, new residential construction or substantial improvement must place the lowest floor, including the basement, at or above base-flood elevation where base-flood data is provided.15 Houston’s floodplain rules also impose anchoring and elevation conditions on manufactured homes; those provisions do not establish a citywide placement entitlement.16 Ask City Hall to identify the applicable floodplain contact before committing to a layout.9 For land outside Houston city limits, consult the Texas County guide for the unincorporated-area building-permit answer; the county’s no-building-permit answer is not Houston’s rule.171

Watch-outs

  • Houston’s limited RV visitor allowance should not be treated as permission to live in an RV throughout home construction.6
  • We could not confirm who administers septic construction permits inside Houston; ask the Texas County Health Department about the exact address before starting work.45
  • Missouri’s county agricultural building-and-land-use exemption does not apply within incorporated portions of counties; do not assume a Houston farm building is exempt from city requirements.18

Sources

  1. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 25-23.10. Enforcement (Houston), quoted and re-checked
  2. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 25-12.10. Definitions (Houston), quoted and re-checked
  3. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 25-23.10. Enforcement (Houston), quoted and re-checked
  4. OWTS Construction Permit Process (Houston), quoted and re-checked
  5. Texas County Health Department (texascountyhealth.org)
  6. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 21-121. Parking of recreational vehicles outside of recreational vehicle parks (Houston), quoted and re-checked
  7. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 25-23.10. Enforcement (Houston), quoted and re-checked
  8. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 25-15.10. Residential zones defined (Houston), quoted and re-checked
  9. Houston City Hall / Administration (houstonmo.org)
  10. Houston Building Official / Building Inspections (houstonmo.org)
  11. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 25-23.10. Enforcement (Houston), quoted and re-checked
  12. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 25-18.10. Off-street parking (Houston), quoted and re-checked
  13. OWTS Construction Permit Process (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. OWTS Construction Permit Process (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. library.municode.com (Houston), quoted and re-checked
  16. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 14-82. Specific standards (Houston), quoted and re-checked
  17. State of Missouri - County Building Codes for Missouri (data.mo.gov) (2026 county census)
  18. RSMo Section 64.890 — Building and land use restrictions; exemptions (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 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 Houston

Houston’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, enlargement, extension, raising, moving, or other listed work on buildings or structures inside Houston city limits.

    • Written application to the building official is required before work.
    • The permit must be granted before work proceeds.
    • The application must be completed in full and approved before construction begins.
    • The rule expressly applies to all new construction or construction/remodeling of a primary structure.
    • A permit expires if work has not commenced within six months or has not been completed within two years.
    • One extension of up to six months may be granted upon payment of the stated fee.

    permit commencement deadline: 6 months (permit expires if construction has not commenced) · permit completion deadline: 2 years (permit expires if construction has not been completed) · permit extension fee: per 0.1 USD per month per USD 1000 construction cost (not less than USD 1.00 per month) · permit extension duration: <= 6 months (may be granted once)

    “It is unlawful to commence or proceed with the erection, construction, reconstruction, conversion, alteration, enlargement, extension, raising or moving of any building or structure, or of any portion thereof, without first having applied in writing to the building official for a building permit, and until a building permit has been granted therefor.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New buildings and changes in land/building use or occupancy inside Houston city limits.

    • No change in land use or occupancy, and no change in use or occupancy of an existing building other than for single-family dwelling purposes, may occur until a certificate states compliance.
    • No new building may be occupied until the certificate is issued.
    • No excavation or building permit may be issued before the certificate application is made and approved.
    • No building or premises may be occupied until the certificate and a permit are issued.
    “After the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived, no change in the use or occupancy of land, nor any change of use or occupancy in an existing building other than for single-family dwelling purposes, shall be made, nor shall any new building be occupied until a certificate of occupancy shall state that the new occupancy complies with all provisions of this ordinance.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Houston city limits; Houston adopts and administers Chapter 25, Zoning.

    “R-1 zone. The purpose of the R-1 single-family residential zone is to provide areas primarily for single-family housing with relatively larger lot sizes and relatively more open space, with other allowed uses designed primarily to serve residential areas.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Residential R zones inside Houston city limits.

    • Maximum lot coverage is 40 percent of lot area.
    • Detached rear-yard garages and qualifying front porches may increase maximum coverage.
    • Existing nonconforming structures may be rebuilt within their existing footprint after specified calamities if construction begins within two years.
    • Multi-family dwellings are exempt from lot-coverage requirements.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 40 percent (qualifying garages or porches may increase coverage; multi-family dwellings exempt)

    “The maximum amount of lot covered by buildings and/or paved surfaces in residential zones shall not exceed forty (40) percent of the lot area.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Parking or occupying recreational vehicles on land inside Houston city limits outside approved recreational-vehicle parks.

    • Parking an RV is generally unlawful on streets, alleys, highways, public places, or private land, except an owner may park on premises owned or occupied as the owner's residence or as otherwise provided.
    • Emergency temporary stopping or parking on a street, alley, or highway is limited to two hours and remains subject to other restrictions.
    • Occupancy outside an approved RV park is allowed only while temporarily visiting the owner or occupant.
    • Occupancy may not exceed 15 days during any continuous 60-day period unless a special written permit is issued by the city administrator under authority of a majority of the board of aldermen.

    emergency stopping or parking: <= 2 hours (subject to other applicable restrictions) · temporary RV occupancy: <= 15 days per continuous 60-day period (special written permit may authorize otherwise)

    “In no event shall such recreational vehicle remain on such premises for a period of time in excess of a total of fifteen (15) days during any continuous sixty-day period, except on authority of a special written permit as issued by the city administrator acting under the authority of a majority of the board of aldermen that have by motion authorized such permit.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes placed in flood-hazard areas inside Houston city limits.

    • Manufactured homes must be anchored to resist flotation, collapse, or lateral movement.
    • In zones A1-30, AH, and AE, the home must be elevated on a permanent foundation with its lowest floor at or above base-flood elevation and securely anchored.
    • The opened provisions are floodplain-specific and do not establish a citywide manufactured-home placement rule.
    “All manufactured homes shall be anchored to resist flotation, collapse, or lateral movement. Manufactured homes must be anchored in accordance with state and local building codes and FEMA guidelines.”
  • Subdividing landLimited

    Subdivision proposals and other new development in Houston special-flood-hazard areas.

    • Proposals must minimize flood damage.
    • Utilities and facilities must be located and constructed to minimize flood damage.
    • Adequate drainage is required.
    • Base-flood-elevation data is required for proposals greater than either 50 lots or five acres.
    • The code cross-references Chapter 19 subdivision regulations.

    base-flood-elevation threshold: 50 lots or 5 acres (data required when development is greater than either threshold)

    “All subdivision proposals and other proposed new developments, including manufactured home parks or subdivisions, shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Residential and commercial parking facilities inside Houston city limits.

    • Every parking facility must have one or more access driveways.
    • Residential driveways must be at least nine feet wide.
    • Commercial driveways must be 12 feet wide for one-way traffic or 24 feet wide for two-way traffic.
    • Driveway or ramp slope may not exceed 15 percent; parking stalls are not allowed on side slopes exceeding 8 percent.

    residential driveway width: >= 9 feet · commercial one-way driveway width: 12 feet · commercial two-way driveway width: 24 feet · maximum driveway or ramp slope: <= 15 percent (parking stalls not allowed on side slopes exceeding 8 percent)

    “Every parking facility shall be provided with one (1) or more access driveways, the width of which shall be the following: a. Residential driveways shall be at least nine (9) feet in width.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    New construction, substantial improvements, subdivision proposals, and other development in Houston special-flood-hazard areas.

    • Residential structures must have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above base-flood elevation where base-flood data is provided.
    • Nonresidential structures must be elevated or floodproofed and professionally certified.
    • Flood-prone enclosed areas require qualifying openings.
    • Manufactured homes must satisfy anchoring and elevation rules.
    • Subdivision proposals must minimize flood damage, protect utilities, provide drainage, and provide base-flood-elevation data above the stated threshold.

    flood-opening area: >= 1 square inch per square foot (at least two openings; bottoms no higher than one foot above grade)

    “New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Houston city building permits.

    • Fees are based on applicable International Codes; the specific fee schedule was not identified.
    • A permit may be extended once for up to six months upon payment of the stated fee.

    permit-extension fee: per 0.1 USD per month per USD 1000 construction cost (minimum USD 1.00 per month)

    “The fees to be charged for building permits from and after the passage of this chapter shall be based on the applicable International Codes.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Houston city building-permit process.

    • Application forms are available at city hall.
    • The application must be completed in full and approved before construction begins.
    • The application and plans are delivered to the code official.
    • One plan set is retained and one is returned.
    • The city clerk keeps permit records.
    “A building permit application form, available at the city hall, must be completed in full and approved before any construction can begin. The building permit application is required for all new construction or construction/remodeling of a primary structure and shall be completed and delivered to the code official.”

Rules another office applies inside Houston

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

  • Septic permitLimited

    Onsite wastewater systems serving property inside Houston city limits, subject to the applicable local or state permitting authority.

    • A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most OWTS.
    • Some single-family residential lots may be exempt.
    • The appropriate permitting authority must be determined before work begins.
    • Work should not begin until a permit has been issued or an exemption has been confirmed.
    • Permit fees were temporarily suspended effective August 28, 2026, under the DHSS page's stated update.

    fee suspension effective date: 2026-08-28 (application fees temporarily suspended under the cited DHSS update)

    “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.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from Houston city building-permit requirements.
  • Inspections — Building inspection requirements inside Houston city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Houston R-1 residential zoning.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Houston city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Houston city limits.
6 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic inspection
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Houston publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Texas County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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