Missouri County Coverage
Single-Level Homes & Barndominiums in Andrew County, Missouri
Andrew County starts where St. Joseph ends. Savannah is the county seat, and most of the county is rolling farmland. It's our backyard: close enough to St. Joseph's hospital and shopping that a one-level home out here doesn't mean giving up anything you'll need as you get older.
Building a Home on Rural Land in Andrew County: The Rules
Last verified October 2026 from Andrew County's official documents. Rules apply to unincorporated land outside city limits. Always confirm with the county before you build.
Andrew County has no county zoning and no county building permit. Septic is regulated by the Andrew County Health Department, which requires a permit and a soil morphology evaluation unless your lot qualifies for the acreage exemption.
- Zoning: “Andrew County has no zoning ordinances in the county. There may be some zoning issues in the incorporated areas (cities) of the county but none in the county.”
- Building permit: “Thus the lack of zoning in Andrew County also dictates that the County has no authority to issue building permits or occupancy permits.”
- Septic permit: “Prior to commencing construction, major modification or major repair of an on-site wastewater system, an on-site wastewater construction permit (hereinafter “permit”) must be obtained from the Andrew County Health Department.” (Order No. 14-1, §3.3)
- Soil test: “Any person desiring to construct, make major repairs or major modifications to an on-site wastewater treatment system within jurisdiction of this Order shall first obtain a soil morphology evaluation on the property.” (Order No. 14-1, §3.2)
- Septic fee: $90 for a conventional single-family system permit (county fee schedule effective October 16, 2014).
- Acreage exemption: “Residential lots 3 acres or larger are generally exempt from the permitting process, except in certain situations. ... If there are two or more sewage systems on a property, there must be 10 acres available for each system and at least 360 feet between systems to remain exempt.”
- Frost footing depth: Andrew County has no adopted building code, so no county frost depth applies. Every DreamStart plan puts footings 36 in. below grade (our standard, not a county rule).
Who to call: Andrew County Commission, P.O. Box 206, Savannah, MO 64485 · 816-324-5716 Ext 4, Option 2 · Septic: Andrew County Health Department, 106 N. 5th St., Savannah, MO 64485 · (816) 324-3139 · info@andrewcountyhealth.com
Official source: Andrew County Commission · Andrew County Health Department: Sewage Inspection & Permitting · Andrew County On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems Order (2014)
Note: Missouri suspended state septic application fees on August 28, 2026; ask the health department whether that changes Andrew County's own fee.
No building code doesn't mean anything goes. Your plan should still meet a real standard, because your lender, your insurer and your family will care even if the county doesn't. Every DreamStart plan is designed to one.
New Build — Not a Barn Conversion. DreamStart homestead shells are purpose-built, single-level homes using Solid-Core SIP panels, designed from the start as a permanent residence rather than a converted farm building. Your home starts as a home.
Andrew County at a Glance
Official contacts and public data for Andrew County, with the source for each.
📋 Who to call first
Andrew County answered our records request in writing. Its verified rules are above. For anything parcel-specific, call the County Clerk.
Andrew County Clerk
P.O. Box 206, Savannah, MO 64485
(816) 324-3624Source: Missouri State Tax Commission county clerk list, August 2025
📐 Building code
According to the state's county building-code table, Andrew County has not adopted a residential building code. Cities inside the county may have their own codes, and permits, zoning and septic rules can still apply. Andrew County answered our records request in writing; its verified rules are on this page.
Source: Missouri Department of Economic Development, County Building Codes for Missouri (data.mo.gov), updated August 2021
🗺️ People and land
County seat
Savannah
Population (2020)
18,135
Land area
433 sq mi
People per sq mi
42
Homes (2020)
7,551
From St. Joseph
15 miles
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census. Distance is straight-line.
🏥 Nearest emergency room
Andrew County has no hospital emergency room of its own. The closest are in nearby Buchanan County: Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph in St. Joseph.
Source: CMS Hospital General Information (hospitals with emergency services)
Aging in Place in Andrew County
At about 42 people per square mile, Andrew County is country living with towns close by. Andrew County has no hospital emergency room of its own. The closest are in nearby Buchanan County: Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph in St. Joseph. Every DreamStart design is one level on a slab with no stairs: a zero-step entry, wide doorways and a curbless shower, so the home still works if a knee, a hip or a wheelchair changes how you get around.
What DreamStart provides for Andrew County projects
Custom documentation
Structural plans, foundation anchor-bolt layout, and energy compliance documents are prepared when the permit office or lender requires them.
EPS panel order
Your GC secures third-party certified EPS panels directly from EPS at DreamStart's quoted pricing, with quality documentation for appraisers, lenders, and insurance carriers.
Local builder handoff
You select, contract, and pay your local GC; that builder separately quotes and performs shell erection, then you finish the interior on your timeline.
Why SIP Construction Works in Andrew County
Six reasons rural Missouri builds choose Solid-Core SIP over stick-frame.
Weather-Tight in 3–5 Days
SIP panels arrive factory-cut to your exact floor plan dimensions — secured directly from EPS by your GC at DreamStart's quoted pricing. Your local builder separately contracts to assemble the shell in 3–5 days — not months — giving you a closed envelope before you coordinate finish subcontractors on your Andrew County acreage.
R-26+ Walls, R-40 Roof
Missouri's four-season climate demands serious insulation. Solid-Core SIP panels eliminate thermal bridging and reach R-values stick-frame can't match — translating to lower heating and cooling costs year-round on rural Andrew County parcels, especially those without natural gas service.
Permit-Ready Drawings
DreamStart coordinates engineering documentation — including stamped drawings when required by the county or lender — plus foundation anchor-bolt specs and energy compliance documentation. A complete drawing package eliminates back-and-forth with the county office and positions your project for faster approval, or satisfies lender and insurance requirements when no permit is needed.
USDA Loan Eligible
Many rural parcels in Andrew County may qualify for USDA Rural Development financing; eligibility depends on the parcel's location and on you, so check USDA's eligibility map early.DreamStart coordinates the full documentation package — drawings, specs, credentials, and draw schedule — that USDA-approved lenders require.
Owner-Builder Friendly
Missouri allows owner-builders to self-contract interior finish work. On rural land in Andrew County you can finish your homestead shell on your own timeline— your GC secures EPS panels directly from EPS at DreamStart's quoted pricing, then a local builder you hire separately contracts to erect the weather-tight, code-compliant envelope that gives you that foundation.
EPS Authorized Dealer
DreamStart is an EPS Authorized Dealer. Our panels meet third-party certified foam density and quality standards — the documentation your lender, appraiser, and insurance carrier will ask for on a rural Andrew County build.
Planning to stay for good? Every DreamStart design is one level on a slab, with no stairs. See what goes into an aging-in-place home in Andrew County: a zero-step entry, wide doors and a curbless shower.
Andrew County — Frequently Asked Questions
Building codes, hospitals, timelines and financing for Andrew County, Missouri.
Does Andrew County, Missouri have a building code?+
Where is the nearest hospital emergency room in Andrew County?+
How long does it take to build a homestead shell in Andrew County?+
Can I finance a barndominium in Andrew County MO?+
Does DreamStart serve Andrew County, Missouri?+
Serving Andrew County, Missouri
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