Off-grid site report

Butler County, MO

36.7745, -90.4190 · 427 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Unclear - verifyNo official Butler County ordinance establishing countywide zoning for unincorporated land was found. Poplar Bluff has its own zoning code and Planning & Zoning Commission, but that only covers land inside city limits. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo confirmed Butler County standard for tiny homes or RV residency on unincorporated land. Poplar Bluff's municipal code sets manufactured home standards inside city limits only. source

Building permits & codes

Varies locallyPoplar Bluff (the city) requires building permits reviewed by its Building Inspector for construction, alteration, repair, or demolition. No official Butler County building code or permit office was identified for unincorporated land. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedThe Butler County Health Department administers Missouri's DHSS onsite sewage permitting program locally; a permit and a DHSS-registered soil evaluator's report are required before building or majorly repairing a septic system on lots under three acres. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Missouri statute, DNR/DHSS rule, or Butler County ordinance specific to greywater reuse was found. Missouri's onsite sewage law is defined by flow volume, not water type, so ask the Butler County Health Department how greywater fits their process.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Butler County ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found, so the general state allowance appears to apply, though this hasn't been independently confirmed at the county level.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedWells are regulated entirely by Missouri DNR statewide under the Water Well Drillers Act and Well Construction Rules (10 CSR 23); Butler County has no separate county well-drilling permit. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Generally allowedNo official Butler County ordinance requiring connection to public water, sewer, or electric utilities was found, so off-grid living with a private well and permitted septic appears legally workable in unincorporated areas, pending confirmation.

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): 3.4 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,346 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 48 in/yr
Snowfall: 5 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,111 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Mar 31 to Nov 2

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital John J. Pershing VA Medical Center: 0.2 mi
Fire station Williamsville Volunteer Fire Department: 15.8 mi
Hardware store Pack's Do-It Center: 1.8 mi
Grocery Aldi: 0.9 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 63901).

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.