Off-grid site report

Ralls County, MO

39.6837, -91.4015 · 551 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Ralls County, MO, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.

The local rulesRalls County, MO

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyRalls County adopted its first countywide Planning & Zoning Ordinance effective January 1, 2025 (amended May 12, 2025), administered by the county's Planning & Zoning office. Specific district rules for raw unincorporated land (lot sizes, allowed uses) are not confirmed from the ordinance text itself, so confirm directly with the county. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo confirmed county-level minimum dwelling size, tiny-home, or RV-residency rule for unincorporated Ralls County. The City of New London (a town, not the county) sets a minimum lot area for single-family and mobile homes under its own municipal code. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo statewide building code mandate exists in Missouri, and a specific building code adoption for unincorporated Ralls County was not confirmed. The county's 2025 zoning ordinance references permits but cites RSMo 67.5094 as its enabling statute, not a building code; ask the county Planning & Zoning office directly. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe Ralls County Health Department issues onsite sewage permits under a statewide 1996 law setting minimum construction standards, and the county explicitly recognizes lagoon systems (a shallow earthen pond) as an accepted alternative to conventional septic tanks. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Ralls County ordinance or health department policy specific to greywater reuse was found; this inherits the general statewide uncertainty, so check with the Ralls County Health Department directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found, so it follows the general Missouri landowner allowance for rainwater harvesting.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedMissouri DNR requires permits statewide to construct or repair a water well and to install or replace a pump, and Ralls County also has an active public water supply district; no additional county-specific well ordinance was found. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo Ralls County ordinance was found requiring mandatory utility hookups, and the county health department's own permitting process already accommodates private wells and septic/lagoon systems for full-time residences. Whether the 2025 zoning ordinance changes this is not confirmed. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.9 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
3.2 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,405 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
41 in/yr
Heating degree days
5,587 (cold)
Frost-free season
Apr 11 to Oct 25

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Hannibal Regional Hospital
3.1 mi
Fire station
Hannibal Fire Station 2
0.9 mi
Hardware store
Lowe's
2.6 mi
Grocery
County Market
2.0 mi

From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.

Plan this spot

These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 63401).

Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt

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Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Public data retrieved Aug 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.