Off-grid site report

Benton County, MO

38.3909, -93.3347 · 971 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Benton 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 rulesBenton County, MO

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Unclear - verifyNo official Benton County zoning ordinance or commission was found; Missouri counties only get zoning power after voter approval and Benton County appears not to have adopted it countywide. Warsaw, the county seat, has its own Planning and Zoning Commission for inside city limits only. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo countywide rule on dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV living was found; Warsaw's Unified Development Code covers development inside city limits but not unincorporated land. Confirm with the county or Warsaw depending on where the land sits. source

Building permits & codes

Varies locallyMissouri state data shows no adopted building code for unincorporated Benton County, but Warsaw has adopted building, electrical, plumbing, and fire codes enforced by the city with its own permits and fees. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedBenton County adopted its own Wastewater Treatment Systems Ordinance in 1991, enforced by the Benton County Health Department on top of Missouri DHSS statewide standards; composting toilets aren't separately addressed so ask the Health Department directly. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo specific Benton County or Missouri DHSS/DNR greywater rule was found; check with the Benton County Health Department, the same office that handles septic permitting. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Benton County ordinance restricts rainwater collection; this follows the Missouri state baseline allowing landowners to collect and use rainwater on their property.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedWell construction statewide, including in Benton County, is regulated by Missouri DNR under the Water Well Drillers Act and Well Construction Rules, requiring state-permitted drillers; a claim of separate county well fees could not be verified officially. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Generally allowedNo Benton County ordinance was found prohibiting off-grid power or private water systems in place of public utilities, consistent with the Missouri state baseline, though local building/zoning rules may still apply inside Warsaw.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.0 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.3 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,403 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 45 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,039 (moderate)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Bothwell Regional Health Center: 22.2 mi
Fire station: none within range
Hardware store Southerlands: 20.3 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 9.1 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 65338).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.