Off-grid site report

St. Francois County, MO

37.6891, -90.6186 · 1,050 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Unclear - verifyNo official countywide zoning ordinance or planning department was found for St. Francois County; zoning appears to be handled at the municipal level (e.g., Farmington), and unincorporated land status is not confirmed. Ask the County Clerk's office. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official county rule on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV residency was found. Not confirmed; check with the County Clerk or the relevant city planning office.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedThe St. Francois County Clerk's office issues building permits and maintains ordinance records, but the adopted building code edition and its reach into unincorporated areas are not confirmed officially. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedThe St. Francois County Health Center's Environmental Health Department runs its own OWTS construction permit program locally, operating within Missouri DHSS's statewide baseline rules. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo official St. Francois County or Missouri state page specifically addresses residential greywater reuse; ask the county Environmental Health Department directly.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county-specific restriction on rainwater collection was found, so the general state-level allowance is presumed to apply unmodified.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedNo county-specific well permitting authority was found; well construction is governed by Missouri DNR's statewide Water Well Drillers Act program.

Living disconnected from utilities

Generally allowedNo official county ordinance was found that bans off-grid living or requires utility hookups; septic and well compliance are the operative local restrictions. 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): 3.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,380 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 45 in/yr
Snowfall: 11 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,791 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 14 to Oct 17

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Iron County Medical Center: 4.8 mi
Fire station Doe Run Fire: 8.1 mi
Hardware store Dickey Bub Farm and Home: 5.3 mi
Grocery Save A Lot: 5.4 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 63624).

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.