Bolthole Index

Worth County, Missouri

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

73Index Score / 100
#45 of 115 in Missouri

Unincorporated Worth County, Missouri does not require a county residential building permit, and the state inventory lists no residential building code adopted by the county1. County zoning could not be confirmed, so ask the Worth County Commission or County Clerk before relying on a parcel for an RV, tiny home, or particular setback234. Missouri DHSS is the onsite-wastewater permitting authority for Worth County56.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required for a residence in unincorporated Worth County1
Zoning
Unconfirmed; ask the County Commission or County Clerk before relying on a proposed use234
Septic authority
Missouri DHSS handles Worth County onsite-wastewater permits56
Septic permit
Required for most installations and repairs; residential property under 3 acres requires one7
RV or tiny-home living
No Worth County occupancy rule was confirmed; ask the County Commission or County Clerk234
Owner-builder exemption
No county-specific exemption was confirmed8
Septic soil difficulty
Only 2.2% of county soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field9

Who to call

Also useful

Worth County Presiding Commissioner

Starting point for county building, zoning, floodplain, and county-road questions when no dedicated office is listed

660-564-2219

PO BOX 450, GRANT CITY MO 64456-0450

Also useful

Worth County Clerk

County records and general county administration; a contact for confirming whether a local land-use rule or permit office applies

660-564-2219

PO BOX 450, GRANT CITY MO 64456

Septic permits

Missouri DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program

Onsite wastewater treatment system construction permits for Worth County

(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 September 28, 2026.

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

Unincorporated Worth County does not require a county residential building permit, and Missouri's county-code inventory lists no residential, energy, or commercial building code adopted by Worth County1. Missouri law authorizes local adoption rather than imposing one uniform statewide building code, and county building authority is limited by county classification and, in some cases, voter approval1011. No Worth County building-inspection or certificate-of-occupancy requirement could be confirmed, so ask the County Commission or County Clerk if your project is unusual or the parcel may lie inside an incorporated community34. Missouri separately protects farm buildings and farm structures from permits imposed through county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinances, but that protection is not a blanket exemption from septic, floodplain, zoning, or other land-use requirements12.

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

Worth County has no confirmed county building department or building inspector, consistent with the county's lack of a residential building-permit program1. For an unincorporated parcel, start with the Worth County Commission or County Clerk to confirm whether a newer county action, floodplain concern, or county-road issue affects the site34. Septic is the clear exception: the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program is the named permitting authority for Worth County56. DHSS directs Worth County applicants to submit project information through its online request form to obtain an application number6. A driveway connecting to a state highway is also outside county building review; MoDOT requires a permit for construction or modification of a driveway within its right-of-way13.

Does Worth County have zoning?

Countywide zoning in unincorporated Worth County could not be confirmed, and no authoritative county source establishes zoning districts or a zoning ordinance2. Missouri law allows a county of the relevant classification to establish zoning for unincorporated territory only after the question is submitted to voters and a majority approves it14. That legal pathway does not prove Worth County adopted zoning. Before buying or laying out a project, ask the Worth County Commission or County Clerk whether any current rule controls setbacks, minimum lot size, minimum dwelling size, building height, lot coverage, or subdivision of the parcel34. An incorporated city, town, or village may have its own rules even when the county answer differs, because Missouri's framework treats incorporated municipalities separately10.

How do septic permits work in Worth County?

Missouri DHSS directly administers onsite-wastewater permitting for Worth County and tells applicants to use the state's request form to obtain an application number56. A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most onsite systems, including on residential property under 3 acres; permits are required for nonresidential onsite systems regardless of property size7. Work should wait until DHSS issues the permit or confirms an exemption7. DHSS covers qualifying domestic systems at or below 3,000 gallons per day, while Missouri DNR handles larger flows and other specified systems5. Site evaluation matters here because only 2.2% of Worth County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field9. For an existing home, a private licensed inspector can assess the system because local public-health agencies generally no longer perform transfer inspections15.

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

Worth County's rules for long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping, and tiny-home occupancy could not be confirmed. County zoning itself is also unconfirmed, so a buyer should not treat the lack of a published answer as permission2. Ask the Worth County Commission or County Clerk about the exact parcel, the intended duration of occupancy, utility connections, setbacks, and whether a city limit changes the answer34. A tiny home used as a dwelling may avoid a county residential building permit in unincorporated Worth County, but that does not settle sewage disposal or occupancy questions1. Any onsite system must follow the state permit rules, and wastewater may not be discharged into a road ditch or onto the ground16.

Building a home in Worth County: the steps, in order

  1. Verify that the parcel is in unincorporated Worth County, where a county residential building permit is not required1.
  1. Ask the Worth County Commission or County Clerk whether any zoning, floodplain, subdivision, setback, or county-road requirement applies to the parcel34.
  1. Arrange the septic site evaluation early because only 2.2% of county soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field9.
  1. Request an application number from Missouri DHSS and obtain the required construction permit before installing or repairing the onsite system76.
  1. If the driveway enters a state highway, obtain MoDOT's right-of-way permit before construction13.
  1. Confirm private-well requirements with the appropriate Missouri water authority because no Worth County-specific well-permit answer could be confirmed.

What should you check before buying land in Worth County?

Start with wastewater feasibility: only 2.2% of Worth County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field, even though 90.6% of county land has a slope of 15% or less917. Check flood maps and ask the County Commission whether the parcel is subject to a local floodplain process, because Missouri's floodplain requirements depend on both a designated hazard area and a participating jurisdiction183. Confirm legal road access, and obtain a state permit if a new or modified driveway enters MoDOT right-of-way13. Worth County is very rural, with 7.2 people per square mile, and the nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 84 miles from the county center1920. The effective property-tax rate is about 0.8%, with a median annual property-tax bill of $7582122.

Watch-outs

  • County zoning, RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy, setbacks, and minimum dwelling size remain unconfirmed; ask the Worth County Commission or County Clerk before committing to a use or site plan234.
  • Only 2.2% of Worth County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so a site evaluation can change the build budget substantially9.
  • Missouri's onsite-sewage application-fee suspension took effect in 2026 and is temporary, so confirm the current charge with DHSS when requesting an application number76.

Sources

  1. State of Missouri Data Portal - County Building Codes for Missouri (2026 county census)
  2. (2026 county census)
  3. Worth County Presiding Commissioner (mocounties.com)
  4. Worth County Clerk (mocounties.com)
  5. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  6. Missouri DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program (health.mo.gov)
  7. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  8. (2026 county census)
  9. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  10. RSMo Section 64.170 (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. RSMo § 64.170 — County commissions control construction and issue building permits (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. RSMo Section 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Permits | Missouri Department of Transportation (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. RSMo § 64.090 — Planning and zoning powers of county commission (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Inspections Versus Evaluations (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Frequently Asked Questions (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Laws and Regulations That Might Affect You if You Mine Sand or Gravel From Missouri Streams (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

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.

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County locator

Worth County in Missouri

73
County map
Worth County highlighted among the Missouri counties · colored by Index score

How Worth County scores

Seclusion81100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency57100% ev.
Admin Boringness7868% ev.
Durability43100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost8294% ev.

Evidence strength: 94%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$95kTypical home
0.8%Property tax
$3,888Land / acre
37.6"Annual rain
6.5% of yrsSevere drought
10.4 / yr (+8.6)Mid-century 100°F days
19.6 daysMid-century dry spell
1.94" (+7.3%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.76×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
state median fallbackInsurance basis
3,494People within 30 min
747,381People within 2 hr
6,287Radius comparison (15 mi)
7.2People / sq mi
0%Federal land
90.6%Land at 15% slope or less
2.2%Septic soil without severe limits
3,793 acWorkable land screen
22.3%Wooded land
35.1 tonsBiomass / forest ac
51.4°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Worth County

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

Worth County rules

  • Building permitNot required

    The State of Missouri Data Portal's County Building Codes inventory lists no residential, energy, or commercial building code for Worth County, and Missouri non-charter rural counties generally lack authority to require residential building permits. 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

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”
  • Who permits septicState (with conditions)

    Onsite wastewater permitting authority for Worth County.

    • The DHSS page identifies Worth County's agency as DHSS with authority type DHSS.
    • DHSS regulations cover single-family residential systems, including lagoons, and onsite or cluster systems with domestic wastewater flows of 3,000 gallons per day or less dispersed through soil treatment or absorption systems.
    • DNR regulates other wastewater systems, including non-single-family lagoons, surface-water discharges, systems over 3,000 gallons per day, and industrial wastewater.
    • DNR must approve subdivisions, mobile home parks, and campgrounds when onsite wastewater is planned.
    • For incorporated areas, the local permitting authority may defer the permit process back to DHSS.

    domestic wastewater flow threshold: <= 3000 gallons per day (Systems above this threshold may fall under DNR jurisdiction.)

    “Agency: DHSS Authority Type: DHSS Address: 930 Wildwood Dr, Jefferson City, MO 65102 County: Worth Phone: (573) 751-6095 ext. 5 Website: N/A”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Mixed — Missouri wastewater treatment systems, including domestic onsite systems, larger-flow systems, direct discharges, lagoons, subdivisions, and industrial wastewater.
      “In Missouri, different state and local agencies are responsible for regulating wastewater treatment systems.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installing or repairing onsite wastewater treatment systems in Worth County under DHSS authority.

    • A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems.
    • A residential property under three acres requires a permit; the exemption for some single-family residential lots does not apply in some counties, so the county authority must be checked.
    • Regardless of property size, a permit is required for other onsite systems serving non-residential structures.
    • Work should not begin until a permit is issued or an exemption is confirmed.
    • Effective August 28, 2026, application fees for onsite sewage disposal system construction, modifications, and repairs were temporarily suspended due to changes to RSMo 701.046; the former $90 fee was removed pending new standards.
    • DNR jurisdiction applies to specified wastewater systems, including non-single-family lagoons and systems over 3,000 gallons per day.

    residential lot threshold: < 3 acres (The exemption does not apply in some counties.) · domestic wastewater flow threshold: <= 3000 gallons per day (Other systems may be regulated by DNR.) · permit fee suspension effective date: 2026-08-28 (Temporary suspension; new standards may change fees.)

    “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.”
    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.”
  • 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.”
  • 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.”
  • 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.”
  • 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”
  • 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.”
  • 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.”
  • 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.”
  • 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”
  • 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”

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 requirements in Worth County.
  • Inspections — Building inspections in Worth County.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy in Worth County.
  • County-wide zoning — Countywide zoning in Worth County, including unincorporated areas.
  • Local zoning — Aggregate local zoning in Worth County; municipal zoning may differ from unincorporated areas.
15 more unanswered
  • Zoning districts
  • 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
  • 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 Worth County, Missouri

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

Worth County scores 73/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and sparse surroundings — about 3,494 people within a 30-minute drive.

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

Worth County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas. Onsite septic is permitted by Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Worth County, Missouri?

Land in Worth County runs about $3,888 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Worth County?

Worth County gets about 37.6" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 6.5% of years.

How remote is Worth County?

A representative private-land location has about 3,494 people within a 30-minute drive and 747,381 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.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Worth compares in Missouri

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