Off-grid site report

Clay County, MO

39.3416, -94.3168 · 791 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedThe Clay County Planning & Zoning Commission (authorized under RSMo 64.0100) administers a countywide Land Development Code for unincorporated areas; living on raw land without an approved dwelling and permits is not allowed. Land inside incorporated cities follows that city's own code instead. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedClay County prohibits living in an RV, mobile home, accessory building, or temporary structure on a construction site before, during, or after building; a temporary 180-day exception exists only after fire or natural disaster, via County Commission hearing. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedClay County adopted the 2012 family of building codes and requires permits/inspections for nearly all construction, per the Planning and Zoning Department. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedClay County Public Health Center's Environmental Health section permits and inspects onsite sewage systems under 3,000 gallons, requires connection to municipal sewer where reasonable, and requires design plans and setbacks before permitting. Composting toilets are not separately addressed; confirm directly. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Clay County-specific greywater ordinance or policy was found; this is not confirmed and should be checked directly with the Clay County Public Health Center Environmental Health office.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Clay County ordinance restricting rainwater harvesting was found, so it follows Missouri's general allowance for landowners to collect rainwater.

Private wells & water rights

Varies locallyMuch of unincorporated Clay County is served by DNR-permitted Public Water Supply Districts; private wells outside those service areas fall under Missouri's statewide Well Construction Rules (10 CSR 23) administered by DNR, with no county-specific well ordinance found. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo county ordinance bans off-grid power or water outright, but any dwelling must still pass Planning & Zoning and Building Code review regardless of utility hookups. source

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): 3.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,438 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 41 in/yr
Snowfall: 20 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,441 (moderate)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Saint Luke's North Hospital - Smithville: 14.3 mi
Fire station Fire Station Number 3: 7.0 mi
Hardware store Westlake Ace Hardware: 3.6 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 2.9 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 64073).

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.