Building permits in St. Louis, Missouri
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in St. Louis, 1 need a permit outright and 9 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 10
- in St. Louis
City of St. Louis Building Division, Permit Section (Department of Public Safety)
- Building Division Permit Section, City Hall, 1200 Market Street, Room 425, St. Louis, MO 63103
- Phone: (314) 622-3313
- Email: stlcitypermits@stlouis-mo.gov
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
- Official fee schedule
Look up a permit in St. Louis
St. Louis runs an online permit portal. Many local portals let you check application status, search permit records, and view inspection results without calling the office.
What needs a permit in St. Louis
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in St. Louis, 1 need a permit outright and 9 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | inches above adjacent grade for an uncovered wood deck or patio resting directly on the ground or a rock base with no permanent foundation | Charged as a building permit on estimated construction cost: $25.00 application fee plus... |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Not specified | Electrical permit fees are established by City Ordinance 70802. |
| Fence Permit | It depends | Not specified | A fence is permitted as a Miscellaneous Structures Permit under Section 109.2.3 of the... |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | Not specified | Mechanical permit fees are established by City Ordinance 70800. |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Not specified | A patio cover is charged as a building permit on estimated construction cost: $25.00... |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Not specified | Plumbing permit fees are established by City Ordinance 71644. |
| Pool Permit | It depends | inches of water depth, applied together with a 250 square foot surface area test | Charged as a building permit on estimated construction cost: $25.00 application fee plus... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | percent of roof sheathing removed and replaced during a like-material roof covering replacement | Charged as a building permit for alterations and repairs on estimated construction cost:... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | square feet of floor area for a detached accessory building, which must also keep the setbacks required by the Zoning Ordinance | Charged as a building permit on estimated construction cost: $25.00 application fee plus... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Charged as a building permit on estimated construction cost: $25.00 application fee plus... |
Planning a project in St. Louis?
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
Planning several things at once? Check your whole project