Off-grid site report
St. Louis County, MO
38.5018, -90.5444 · 581 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for St. Louis 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 rulesSt. Louis County, MO
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedSt. Louis County has adopted a comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (Title X, Ch. 1003) that assigns every parcel to a zoning district with defined permitted uses; raw land occupancy without an approved use isn't permitted. In incorporated cities within the county, that city's own zoning controls instead. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedTiny homes go through the county's standard residential building/zoning process (the county publishes a Tiny House Checklist); full-time RV living as a residence is generally not permitted under residential zoning, though specific exceptions aren't confirmed. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe county has adopted the 2015 International Residential/Building Codes and requires permits for most construction, explicitly including solar arrays and wind turbines, per St. Louis County Transportation and Public Works. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSt. Louis County Plumbing Inspections directly permits individual sewage disposal systems, requires a licensed drainlayer with Missouri DHSS certification, and requires a Missouri-registered engineer to complete a percolation/soil test. Composting toilets are not addressed on official county pages; ask Plumbing Inspections directly. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found on official St. Louis County or Missouri DHSS/DNR pages; not confirmed, so check with St. Louis County Public Works/Plumbing Inspections directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo St. Louis County ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found; this appears to follow Missouri's general state-level allowance, though it's not separately confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedSt. Louis County defers well construction and permitting to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' statewide Well Construction Rules; county permit site plans must show and label any existing well. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo county ordinance bans living off municipal utilities; the county's own building guides treat solar panel arrays, wind turbines, and residential generators as permittable parts of a home, provided they go through the standard permit process. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.3 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,367 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 42 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,776 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 13 to Oct 24
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Progress West Hospital - 17.0 mi
- Fire station
High Ridge City Fire Department Number 3 - 7.1 mi
- Hardware store
Farm & Home - 2.4 mi
- Grocery
Schnucks - 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 63049).
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.