Where our answers come from

Every requirement on HomeCleared traces back to a primary source — a government body, a regulator, or the mortgage program that sets the rule. Here is the order we rely on them in, and how we keep them current.

Source order

1. Current federal, state, county, municipal, utility, or program-owner source — the rule itself.
2. Adopted ordinance, statute, regulation, official form, or fee schedule from the body with jurisdiction.
3. A recognised professional body or accredited institution explaining its own rules.
4. A contractor's own statement of its price, service area, or credentials.
5. Reputable secondary sources — used only to find questions or to corroborate, never as the last word.
6. Forums, social posts, and directories — used only to learn what people are asking, never as a source of fact unless independently verified.

Primary sources behind the launch service

For septic and well requirements at a property transfer, the controlling sources are:

• USDA — Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program, Handbook HB-1-3555, Chapter 12 (water and wastewater).
• HUD / FHA — Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1, and the HUD Homeownership Center reference guide for individual water and sewage systems.
• VA — Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), minimum property requirements for private water and sewage.
• Missouri — sections 701.025–701.059 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri; and rule 19 CSR 20-3.070, which governs who may inspect or evaluate an existing on-site wastewater system for a real-estate transaction.
• Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services — the On-site Wastewater Treatment program, its county-authority map, and its published lists of licensed inspectors/evaluators and registered installers.
• Each county's local public health agency, sewer district, or building department — for the county-specific rule at transfer.

How we keep them current

• Active notices, approved-contractor lists, and current fees: re-checked every 30–90 days.
• County operational requirements: every 90–180 days.
• Statutes and regulations: at least every 180 days, plus whenever we detect a change.
• A contractor's licence status: before we ever point someone to them, and at least monthly while they are listed.

Every published answer shows the date it was last verified.

When sources disagree

If two authoritative sources conflict on a material point, we do not average them or pick a side. We mark the answer as unresolved, hold it back from any page where it matters, and work to reach the responsible authority for clarification. When we correct a published answer, the change is dated and logged.