Off-grid site report

Ste. Genevieve County, MO

37.9735, -90.0416 · 390 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Ste. Genevieve 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 rulesSte. Genevieve County, MO

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo official Ste. Genevieve County zoning ordinance or planning office was found; Missouri law (Chapter 89 RSMo) requires many counties to get voter approval before adopting zoning, and this county appears not to have done so. The City of Ste. Genevieve has its own zoning code, but only within city limits. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyThe City of Ste. Genevieve has a Tiny Home Overlay district permitting smaller dwellings on smaller lots inside city limits. No county-level rule on tiny homes, minimum dwelling size, or RV living was found, so that's unconfirmed for unincorporated land. source
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyCity of Ste. Genevieve has adopted an IRC-based building code and requires permits and occupancy inspections before city water/sewer connects. Missouri has no statewide building code, and no county-level building code adoption was found for unincorporated areas, so that status is unconfirmed there. source
Septic & composting toilets
Unclear - verifyNo official Ste. Genevieve County health department page on septic or composting toilet permitting was found. Missouri's DHSS or a local health agency oversees onsite sewage in roughly half the state's counties, but it's not confirmed which applies here, so ask the County Commission who the permitting authority is. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo county or city ordinance addressing greywater reuse was found in official sources, so this is unconfirmed and falls back to Missouri's general state-level ambiguity on the topic.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county or city ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found, and Missouri's state-level approach is generally permissive absent a local rule saying otherwise.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedNo county-specific well ordinance was found; well construction statewide is regulated by Missouri DNR under the Water Well Drillers Act and its rules, which apply here absent evidence of an added county layer.
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo rule was found requiring unincorporated county residents to connect to utilities. Inside City of Ste. Genevieve limits, water and sewer service can't be established without an occupancy permit on file with the city, which is a documented city-level linkage, not a county one. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
5.1 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
3.4 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,432 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
43 in/yr
Snowfall
5 in/yr
Heating degree days
4,612 (moderate)
Frost-free season
Apr 8 to Oct 28

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Sainte Genevieve County Memorial Hospital
0.8 mi
Fire station
none within range
Hardware store
Cotton's Ace Hardware
0.5 mi
Grocery
IGA
16.1 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 62261).

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.