The Land Use Plan is one part of a Comprehensive Plan for Greene County. A Comprehensive Plan is a guide adopted by the County to use in making decisions on zoning and subdivision issues, to help insure the County develops in the manner described therein. A Comprehensive Plan is made of several parts in addition to a Land Use Plan, including a Transportation Plan, Parks and Open Space Plan, Economic Plan, and other Plans as needed.

The Land Use Plan portion of the Comprehensive Plan suggests what the future land uses in unincorporated Greene County could be. The Plan serves as a guide towards the future.

A Comprehensive Plan helps guide decisions impacting growth and development in the unincorporated portions of Greene County. The Plan helps the County to grow while coordinating with other cities and state agencies, making efficient use of tax-funded resources. Also, state law requires any jurisdiction with Planning & Zoning authority to have a comprehensive plan. The 1981 Comprehensive Plan was developed because of Greene County’s change to a first class county.

Yes, Greene County adopted Planning & Zoning in 1971. When Greene County became a first class county in 1978, new regulations were adopted and are still in use. Planning & Zoning law is detailed in Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 64.

Greene County's last comprehensive plan was approved in 1981 and, since then, has been in constant use with additions and amendments to keep it current. The 1981 Comprehensive Plan has been an important and valuable tool, although much has changed in Greene County since its adoption. An updated Land Use Plan was needed to address issues related to the unprecedented growth the County has experienced since the 1990s, as well as today's emerging issues, like water protection, advancing technology, and new land uses.

One of the most important issues addressed in the new Land Use Plan is population growth. Greene County's diverse economy, low cost of living, temperate seasons, and beautiful setting help make it a very attractive place to live. As a result, the County's population has skyrocketed in the last two decades. From 2010 to 2017 alone, the County, including the cities within it, grew from 275,178 to 289,805 residents, which is approximately 14,627 new County residents.

No. The plan does not change any existing zoning. The plan is intended only as a guide for future zoning requests. To change your property's zoning, an application must be made to the Greene County Planning & Zoning Office, and the Greene County Planning & Zoning Board and Greene County Commission must hold public hearings before rendering a decision.

All property in unincorporated Greene County is zoned. Zoning maps are available at the Greene County Planning & Zoning Office, located at the Greene County Historic Courthouse, 940 N. Boonville Ave, Room 306, Springfield. The County encourages residents with questions to call the Planning & Zoning Office at (417) 868-4005 or to come in and visit with a staff member. Please note: Greene County zoning applies only to properties in the unincorporated portions of the county, not properties located within the city limits of any municipality. For zoning information inside city limits, contact your city hall.

To change a property’s zoning, you must submit an application to the Greene County Planning & Zoning Office with applicable documentation and fees. Applications for rezoning are reviewed by County planning staff for appropriateness based upon availability of water, wastewater, and other utility services. Compatibility with surrounding land use and environmental factors, such as sinkholes and floodplains, must also be confirmed.

Planning staff makes a recommendation for approval or denial and prepares a report for review by the Greene County Planning & Zoning Board. The Board holds public hearings on the third Tuesday of each month to review current zoning proposals and allow public testimony on each proposal. After considering the report and public testimony, the Board makes a recommendation to the Greene County Commission. On the first Monday of the following month, the Commission holds a second public hearing where citizens are again allowed to give their input. Final decisions on rezoning cases are made by the Greene County Commission.

A public hearing is an opportunity for citizens to speak on record in support of or concerning any issue before the Greene County Planning & Zoning Board, the Greene County Board of Zoning Adjustment, or the Greene County Commission.

Subdivision of property in the unincorporated portions of the County is governed by the Greene County Subdivision Regulations, copies of which are available at the Greene County Planning & Zoning Office or online at: https://www.greenecountymo.org/resource_management/planning_and_zoning.

The manner in which land can be subdivided depends largely on its zoning. If you are subdividing property into more than three lots, a subdivision plat must be prepared by a registered surveyor and submitted to the Greene County Planning & Zoning Office for review. Planning staff determines if the proposed subdivision conforms to the zoning for the property and to the Subdivision Regulations. The plat is then forwarded to the Greene County Planning & Zoning Board for a single public hearing. Plat proposals are not reviewed by the Greene County Commission.

No matter how many lots, state statute allows property owners to subdivide land into parcels of 10 acres or larger without preparing a subdivision plat or making a rezoning request.

Based on the County's current Zoning and Subdivision Regulations, several options are already available:

No matter how many new lots are created, state statute allows property owners to subdivide land into parcels of 10 acres or larger without making a rezoning request or submitting a subdivision plat map, unless a new public road is dedicated in the process. Deeds, however, must always be prepared and recorded by the Greene County Recorder of Deeds.

Subdivision specifics include:

• If you own 20 acres or more, you may subdivide the parcel into two 5-acre tracts and a 10-acre tract without rezoning, on a one-time basis. You may do this by submitting an Administrative Subdivision Request to the Planning & Zoning Office for review. Administrative Subdivisions are recorded by the Planning & Zoning Office. Further subdivision of the tracts created will not be allowed, even if the property is sold.
• You may apply to rezone all or a portion of your property to A-R, Agriculture-Residential, which allows subdividing of property into 5-acre tracts or larger. The Greene County Commission's final rezoning decision takes into account sinkholes, floodplains, soils, wastewater disposal suitability, and other factors.
• You may apply to rezone all or a portion of your property to RR-1, Rural-Residential, which allows subdivision of property into 3-acre tracts or larger. Again, the Greene County Commission's final rezoning decision takes into account sinkholes, floodplains, soils, wastewater disposal suitability, and other factors.
• If public water and sewer are already available on your property, you may apply to rezone for various levels of higher-density residential development.

The white, green, and yellow areas correspond to details outlined in the Land Use Plan. The following provides a description of these areas:

The white areas' (agricultural areas) lack of municipal water and sewer is likely to impact zoning and subdivision plat development in a manner that would allow property to remain only in large lots for agriculture or open space. Property in the white area may still be divided as A-1, Argicultural using an Administrative Subdivision.

The green areas (rural residential areas) are where most of the County's 3- and 5-acre lots are currently located. It seems logical in these areas to continue that style of residential use. Zoning requests would be processed accordingly. Because municipal water and sewer are not planned for these areas, higher-density development would not be encouraged.

The yellow areas (urban residential areas) are where most of the County's urban subdivisions are currently located. The availability of urban services makes these areas likely to continue their existing style of residential use, and zoning requests would be processed accordingly.

The map is to be used as a general guide only. Again, zoning changes and development depend upon the landowner. Your current zoning and land use will not change unless you request it.

Greene County currently requires all urban-style development to be on public water and sewer. This includes lots that are 10,000-square-foot and smaller, along with urban commercial and industrial development.

Sewers are owned by municipalities. If sewers are installed for new development, they are generally paid for by developers. Each city has a maximum sewage treatment capacity regulated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. When land is developed, part of the developer's cost is extension and installation of municipal sewer and water supply. Sewer and water availability depends upon a municipality's plan for large water mains and sewage trunk lines, as well as the rate of development in a particular area.

Currently, property in unincorporated Greene County is valued for its residential development potential. This plan is designed to maintain those property values by encouraging efficient development now, while ensuring sufficient land is available for residential development in the future.

This plan, on its own, will have no impact upon property tax assessments. Property tax assessment in Missouri is based upon property use, not zoning. Only a change in land use would impact property tax assessments.

This plan is still in draft form. Comments made or written on comment cards at public meetings, or otherwise submitted to county officials, will be taken into consideration before a final draft is completed. Then formal public hearings will be held when the final draft goes to the Greene County Planning Board and the Greene County Commission. This is anticipated some time in 2009.

A copy of the Land Use Plan is posted on the Greene County website, and copies are also available by contacting the Planning & Zoning Office. Staff members and county officials are also happy to discuss your concerns with you. Call (417) 868-4005 or visit the office in the Greene County Historic Courthouse, 940 N. Boonville Ave, Room 306, Springfield, MO 65802.

On July 1, 2018, Animal Control Services were restored to the unicorporated urban service areas of Greene County. Click here to see updated map.