Off-grid site report
Daviess County, MO
39.9102, -93.9635 · 925 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Daviess 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 rulesDaviess County, MO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyI couldn't find an official Daviess County zoning ordinance or planning commission page. Missouri counties with township government, like Daviess, leave zoning to individual townships, and any of the eight incorporated cities (Gallatin, Jamesport, etc.) may have their own rules too. Best move is to call the County Clerk's office and ask which township you're in and whether that township has adopted zoning. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-level rule on tiny homes, minimum dwelling size, or RV living turned up in official Daviess County sources. Since land-use control here sits with townships and cities rather than the county, you'll need to ask the relevant township trustees or city hall directly.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyMissouri has no statewide building code, and I found no evidence Daviess County itself has adopted one. Whether a permit or code applies likely depends on which township or incorporated city (like Gallatin) you're building in, so check with the County Clerk and the city hall in question. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSeptic systems and likely composting toilets fall under Missouri DHSS's statewide onsite wastewater treatment (OWTS) rules, which generally require a permit before construction or major repair. In Daviess County you'll need to confirm with the Daviess County Health Department or DHSS's jurisdiction lookup whether the county health department or DHSS directly handles permitting, since this varies by county and even by city. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyI found no Daviess County or DHSS/DNR rule specifically addressing greywater reuse. Check with the Daviess County Health Department for any local policy before setting up a greywater system.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Daviess County ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found, so the general Missouri state allowance appears to apply. If you're inside one of the eight incorporated cities, it's still worth confirming there's no local ordinance that narrows this.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedPrivate wells in Missouri, including in Daviess County, fall under DNR's statewide Well Construction Rules, which require a licensed well installer. I found no separate Daviess County well ordinance, but DNR's involvement with the county's Public Water Supply Districts confirms its regulatory reach here. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo Daviess County ordinance requiring hookup to public water or sewer utilities was found, so living off private water and septic appears allowed under the state baseline, subject to DNR well rules and DHSS septic permitting.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,431 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 40 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 20 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,678 (cold)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Cameron Regional Medical Center - 18.3 mi
- Fire station
Jamesport Fire & Rescue - 9.6 mi
- Hardware store
Sutherlands - 18.2 mi
- Grocery
Hy Klas - 11.6 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 64640).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Daviess County, MO?The rules above are the jurisdiction. The land check runs the parcel itself: flood zone, soils and septic suitability, wetlands, slope, access, climate, and these verdicts, from a parcel number or coordinates.
Check a parcel →Share or save this report:New report
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.