Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Seymour, Missouri

Seymour’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, residential, property-maintenance, fuel-gas, existing-building, and fire-code regulation inside Seymour city limits.

  • The 2006 International Building Code is an acceptable temporary substitute during any period when the 2012 code is unavailable to the City Clerk for a reason not under the City's control.
  • The electrical fee schedule is on file in the City Clerk's office.

  International Building Code edition: 2012 (2006 edition may be used temporarily if the 2012 edition is unavailable to the City Clerk for a reason not under City control) · International One- and Two-Family Residential Code edition: 2012 · International Plumbing Code edition: 2012 · International Mechanical Code edition: 2012 · National Electrical Code edition: 1996

  “be and is hereby adopted as the Building Code of the City of Seymour”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Seymour city limits; the City adopts and administers zoning regulations through Chapter 405.

  • The zoning district map is on file in the office of the City Clerk.
  • Nine districts are identified: R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, B-1, B-2, I-1, I-2, and A-1.

  “the City is hereby divided into districts”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Residence District inside Seymour city limits.

  • The minimum living area is subject to recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Board and approval by the Board of Aldermen.
  • Nothing in the subsection prohibits convents within a subdivision from requiring larger lot sizes or living areas.

  minimum living area: >= 750 square feet (subject to Planning and Zoning Board recommendation and Board of Aldermen approval)

  “The minimum living area of a housing unit shall be seven hundred fifty (750) square feet with the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Board and Board of Aldermen approval. Nothing in this Subsection shall be interpreted to prohibit convents within a subdivision from requiring larger lot sizes and/or living areas.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  A-1 Agriculture District inside Seymour city limits.

  • Single-family dwellings are permitted only on parcels of at least four acres.
  • A parcel under ten acres may not be offered for sale or used for purposes other than specifically permitted uses unless legally subdivided and appropriately zoned.
  • The under-ten-acre exception applies to parcels under ten acres existing when the chapter was approved if sold and used for permitted agricultural purposes.

  single-family dwelling parcel size: >= 4 acres · general agriculture parcel threshold: >= 10 acres (unless legally subdivided and appropriately zoned; does not apply to a parcel under ten acres existing at chapter approval and sold and used for permitted agricultural purposes)

  “Single-family dwellings on parcels of not less than four (4) acres.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 Single-Family Residence District inside Seymour city limits.

    “The minimum lot area in this "R-1" Single-Family District shall be six thousand (6,000) square feet for single-family dwelling structures.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  A-1 Agriculture District inside Seymour city limits.

  • The code states that no yards are required in this district.
  • Other use-specific review conditions may apply to uses permitted upon review.

  yard size: 0 feet (no yards are required in the A-1 district)

  “Yard size. No yards are required in this district.”

• Building heightSpecified

  A-1 Agriculture District inside Seymour city limits.

  • The limit applies to buildings occupied by people.

  maximum height: <= 45 feet (three stories)

  “No building which is to be occupied by people shall be more than three (3) stories or forty-five (45) feet in height.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 Single-Family Residence District inside Seymour city limits.

    “No building erected or structurally altered after May 10, 1979, shall exceed three (3) stories or forty-five (45) feet, except public or semi-public buildings, hospitals or schools may be erected to a height not exceeding seventy-five (75) feet when each of its front, side and rear yards are increased an additional foot for each foot such buildings exceed forty-five (45) feet in height.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles, campers, equipment, pick-up campers, or trailers in R residential districts inside Seymour city limits.

  • They may not have fixed connections to electricity, water, gas, or sanitary sewer facilities.
  • They may not be used for residential living or housekeeping purposes.
  • Residential living on occupant-owned property may be allowed while active construction of a new permanent residence is completed, initially limited to six months, and residents must have a current building permit on file at City Hall.
  • Open storage of unlicensed recreational equipment, campers, vehicles, or trailers is prohibited longer than 72 hours.
  • Utility connections for seasonal preparation may not exceed two days.
  • Utility connections for visiting a residence may not exceed 14 days within a six-month period.

  construction-period residential occupancy: <= 6 months (only while active construction of a new permanent residence is being completed and with a current building permit on file at City Hall) · unlicensed open storage: <= 72 hours · visiting-residence utility connection: <= 14 days per 6 months

  “initially limited to a six (6) month period.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary occupancy of recreational vehicles or campers in R residential districts inside Seymour city limits.

  • Temporary residential occupancy is allowed only during active construction of a new permanent residence, initially for six months, with a current building permit on file at City Hall.

  maximum initial period: <= 6 months (active construction of a new permanent residence and current building permit required)

  “At no time shall recreational equipment, campers, vehicles or trailers be used for residential living or housekeeping purposes. Residential living on property owned by the occupant(s) may be allowed while active construction of a new permanent residence is being completed, initially limited to a six (6) month period. Resident(s) must have a current building permit for the aforementioned new permanent residence on file at City Hall.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building-permit process inside Seymour city limits.

  • The municipal code establishes adopted codes and provides for issuance of permits and collection of fees.
  • Detailed application, review, inspection, and issuance steps were not reproduced in the reviewed online code.

  “providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefore; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said Building Code on file in the office of the City of Seymour are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this Section”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Seymour city limits.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Seymour city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Seymour city limits.
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Seymour city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Seymour city limits.

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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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