Setting up a home in Greene & Christian County
Buying land, building, or moving into a rural home near Springfield? Work through these six steps before you arrange service. This site can't confirm service from a ZIP code. The exact property location matters, and each step links to an official lookup or agency resource.
Print the checklist and keep your answers with the property records. No email is required. This is an information page, with no request form. We don't take power or internet requests. For well or septic help, follow the links to those service pages.
Find out where your water comes from
Confirm public water service or a private well, then gather records and testing information before you buy or move in.
- Ask the seller whether the property uses public water or a private well; request the latest bill or well records.
- Use the PSC's county utility list for public water leads, then confirm service and connection requirements with the utility for your exact address.
- Search an existing well in DNR's WIMS Well Search; compare the record with the seller's documents before relying on it.
- Arrange well testing through Springfield-Greene County Health: bacteria testing is $13 for Greene residents, $48 outside Greene; listed chemical tests are $8 each.
- Use our calculated DNR domestic-well medians, 505 ft in Greene and 572 ft in Christian, as background only; ask a permitted driller about your property.
Source: Missouri Public Service Commission; MO DNR WIMS 2.0; Springfield-Greene County Health Dept.; Our calculation from MO DNR water well records; Revised Statutes of Missouri 256.607. Checked Nov 2026.
Confirm sewer service or septic requirements
Ask the town about public sewer, or check the county's onsite wastewater requirements before planning a septic installation or renovation.
- Call the city or town utility with the exact property location; ask whether sewer service is available and what connection requires.
- Request existing septic permits, system plans and service records from the seller; ask a qualified professional about an inspection before buying.
- Contact Greene County Building Regulations for unincorporated property: any onsite system construction or renovation requires a permit, regardless of daily wasteflow.
- Contact Christian County Health Department about its county-wide wastewater ordinance, permit steps and installer requirements before committing to a system.
- Review the conditional three-acre exemption in RSMo 701.031 with your county; lot size alone does not remove local requirements.
Source: Greene County Building Regulations; Christian County Health Department; RSMo 701.031. Checked Nov 2026.
Confirm the electric utility for your property
Your location determines the electric supplier, so identify the utility and ask what starting service at this property will require.
- Start with the PSC Utility Locator's county list; confirm the provider directly for your exact address before arranging service.
- Check with City Utilities in Springfield; ask about Ozark Electric Cooperative, White River Valley Electric Cooperative or Liberty in rural areas, depending on location.
- Ask the serving utility about an account transfer for an existing home, or line extensions and connection requirements for undeveloped land.
- Plan around Missouri's lack of retail electric choice: the Missouri PSC says the property's location determines its electric utility, and state law lets the supplier already serving a home keep serving it.
- Ask the seller whether the home uses propane or natural gas, and identify whom to contact before arranging heat.
Source: Missouri Public Service Commission; City Utilities of Springfield; Ozark Electric Cooperative; White River Valley Electric Cooperative; Liberty Utilities. Checked Nov 2026.
Check internet at the actual address
Look up the property on the FCC map, compare Missouri's mapping information, and confirm service directly with each provider listed.
- Enter the property's address in the FCC National Broadband Map and review the providers and service types shown there.
- Check Missouri's broadband mapping page for the state map and guidance; don't treat a map listing as a service guarantee.
- Confirm availability with the provider for the exact address; ask about installation, equipment, data limits and the plan's full monthly cost.
- Ask about installation timing before choosing a move date, especially if you need internet for work or school immediately.
Source: Federal Communications Commission; Missouri DED Office of Broadband Development. Checked Nov 2026.
Check the local trash and recycling rules
Confirm whether city rules apply to your property, then arrange pickup through the city contract or a hauler serving your address.
- Confirm whether the property is inside city limits; don't assume its mailing address tells you which trash rules apply.
- Choose a city-licensed private hauler in Springfield's open market; ask the hauler to confirm service for your address.
- Use Nixa's city trash information if you're inside Nixa; the city contracts with Republic Services for residential collection.
- Choose a hauler in Ozark, or ask about its optional Republic Services billing partnership; the city billing option isn't exclusive.
- For rural property, confirm the hauler's route, pickup point, cart delivery and recycling options before you set a start date.
Source: City of Springfield, Chapter 94 review; City of Springfield, Curbside Trash & Recycling; City of Nixa; City of Ozark, Trash Billing Information. Checked Nov 2026.
Plan for move-in cleanup or building debris
List what needs to leave the property, then confirm disposal options and any dumpster requirements before scheduling delivery or cleanup.
- Walk the property with the seller and agree on what will be removed before closing and what will remain.
- Check official trash and recycling guidance where applicable; ask the hauler which bulky items and materials need separate disposal.
- Tell the dumpster provider what you're removing; ask about size, accepted materials, weight allowance, rental period and extra charges.
- Agree on a delivery spot and access with the provider; identify the well, septic system and other areas to avoid.
- Get the rental terms and total charges in writing before booking a dumpster for a cleanout, remodel or new build.
Source: City of Springfield, Curbside Trash & Recycling. Checked Nov 2026.
Questions to ask before you buy rural property
- Is the property inside city limits, and which county or city offices handle its utility and wastewater questions?
- Does it use public water or a private well, and can I see the bills, well record and latest test results?
- Is public sewer available, or can I see the septic permit, system plan and maintenance records?
- For undeveloped land, have the water utility, electric utility and county confirmed connection and wastewater requirements?
- Which electric utility has confirmed service for the exact property location?
- Does the home use propane or natural gas, and who supplies it?
- Has an internet provider confirmed installation at this address?
- Who collects trash here, and who is responsible for removing leftover debris before closing?
Common questions
Can I choose my electric company in Missouri?
Generally, no. The Missouri PSC says your property's exact location determines which electric utility serves your home. Under state law (RSMo 393.106, linked above), the supplier already serving a home keeps the right to serve it; the PSC can order a change only for public-interest reasons other than a lower rate. Start with the PSC's county list, then ask the utility to confirm your exact address. City Utilities serves Springfield; rural providers may include Ozark Electric Cooperative, White River Valley Electric Cooperative or Liberty, depending on location.
How do I know if a property is on public sewer?
Call the city or town utility with the exact property location. Ask whether the home is connected, whether a sewer main is available and what a new connection would require. This guide has no public address-based sewer lookup to offer. Ask the seller for sewer bills or septic records, then confirm with the utility.
Does a larger lot mean I can skip septic permits?
Don't assume that. The state acreage exemption in RSMo 701.031, linked above, is conditional on the residence and lot size, system setbacks and effluent protections, with exceptions for certain lake-adjacent lots. Counties may be stricter. Unincorporated Greene County requires a permit for onsite construction or renovation. Christian County's standards require a permit for any wastewater system construction or renovation; ask its Health Department which steps and fees apply to your property.
Can Christian County residents use Springfield-Greene County's well testing service?
Yes. Springfield-Greene County Health Department lists standard bacteria testing at $48 for residents outside Greene County, including Christian County. Greene County residents pay $13. Listed chemical tests cost $8 each. Source: Springfield-Greene County Health Department, linked in the water step. Checked Nov 2026. Prices vary; get written quotes. Ask the department about sample collection and which tests fit your needs.
Can you confirm all my services from my ZIP code?
No. A ZIP code doesn't establish service availability. The PSC Utility Locator lists utilities by county, and the exact property location decides the provider. Internet maps need address checks and provider confirmation too. This page is free information, with no form or email requirement. We don't take requests for power or internet.