Deck Permit in St. Louis, Missouri
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before building a raised deck or a porch, before any deck attached to the house or set on a permanent foundation, and before any deck that will be roofed or canopied.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Title 25 exempts only a ground-hugging deck: uncovered, resting directly on the ground or a rock base, on no permanent foundation, and no more than twelve inches above adjacent grade. Anything raised above that, attached to the house, or covered needs a building permit, and the Building Division's own summary of residential work lists "porches, decks, and retaining walls" flatly as requiring one. Ordinary repairs are separately exempt, meaning patching treads, risers and platform surfaces or swapping handrails and balusters like for like, as long as the structural components are untouched. The Division's Sun-Deck guideline expects five sets of plans covering site, foundation or pier, floor and framing, elevations and a typical deck section.
Typical threshold: inches above adjacent grade for an uncovered wood deck or patio resting directly on the ground or a rock base with no permanent foundation.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
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?
When a permit is usually needed
Before building a raised deck or a porch, before any deck attached to the house or set on a permanent foundation, and before any deck that will be roofed or canopied.
What a deck permit costs in St. Louis
How St. Louis compares in Missouri
Closest deck permit thresholds outside Missouri
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest St. Louis's 12 inches above adjacent grade.
- Alameda County, California, Height of a raised deck above adjacent grade at which the building permit exemption stops, and only where the deck is not over a basement or story below and is not part of an accessible route
- Eugene, Oregon, height of the deck or porch floor above adjacent grade, measured at any point within 3 feet horizontally of the floor, with a covered porch also needing to stay at least 3 feet from property lines
- Portland, Oregon, height of the deck walking surface above adjacent grade, taken 36 inches out from the edge of the deck
- San Diego County, California, A deck needs a building permit when it is more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, or sits over a basement or story below, or forms part of an accessible route.
How to apply in St. Louis
A residential deck permit application is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the IRC deck provisions. In practice that means a scaled site plan locating the deck and its setbacks, plus deck plans and structural details covering the footings, posts, beams, joists, ledger, guards, and stairs.
What most deck permit applications include:
- A permit application identifying the work, the deck's size (square footage), and whether electrical work such as lights or receptacles is included, submitted for plan review before construction begins (IRC R106).
- A scaled site plan (for example 1/4 inch to 1 foot) showing the new deck's location relative to the house, its overall length and width, and dimensioned distances from the deck to all property lines and other structures so required setbacks can be verified (IRC R106.1.1).
- A deck plan drawn to scale showing overall dimensions and the framing layout: joist size, spacing, span, and species; beam size and span; post size and height; and footing or pier size and depth (IRC R507.4 posts, R507.5 beams, R507.6 joists, R507.3 footings).
- A section or side elevation with connection details showing the ledger attachment to the house band joist with flashing, the fastener or bolt schedule, joist hangers, post-to-beam and post-to-footing connections, and the required lateral load connection (IRC R507.9 ledger connection, R507.9.2 lateral connection, R507.2.4 flashing).
- Footing sizing derived from tributary area, the soil bearing value, and design loads per IRC Table R507.3.1, with footings shown bearing on undisturbed soil at the frost depth required by the jurisdiction (IRC R507.3).
- Details for the guards required where the walking surface is more than 30 inches above grade, and for the stairs and handrails, showing guard height and opening limits, stair riser and tread dimensions, and handrail location (IRC R312 guards, R311.7 stairs and handrails).
- For designs that fall outside the prescriptive R507 tables (for example multi-story or stacked decks, or a ledger attached to a cantilever), engineered and stamped structural plans are submitted in place of the prescriptive details (IRC R507.1 and R301).
General submittal guidance from IRC R106.1.1 (construction documents) and IRC R507 (exterior decks), 2021 IRC. Source. City of St. Louis Building Division, Permit Section (Department of Public Safety) sets the exact checklist for St. Louis.
Where to apply 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
Inspections and closing out your permit
Deck work is inspected in sequence as it is built: the footings before concrete is placed, the framing before the decking boards go down, and a final inspection once the deck is complete. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if missed.
- Footing or pier inspection: after the holes are dug and any forms or reinforcing are set but before concrete is placed, the inspector checks footing depth and diameter, a flat undisturbed bearing surface, and that the holes are free of water (IRC R109.1.1 foundation inspection; R507.3 footings).
- Framing inspection: after the deck is framed but before the decking conceals it, the inspector verifies the ledger attachment and its flashing, the fastener and bolt schedule, joist hangers and metal connectors, post-to-beam and post-to-footing connections, and the lateral load connection; call it before decking is installed (IRC R109.1.4 frame inspection; R507.9 ledger and flashing).
- Final inspection: after the deck is complete and before it is used, the inspector confirms guard height and opening limits (a 4 inch sphere must not pass, 4 3/8 inch at stairs), stair riser and tread dimensions, handrail height and graspability where there are 4 or more risers, stair landings, and required stair lighting (IRC R109.1.6 final inspection; R312 guards, R311.7 stairs and handrails).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the St. Louis permit portal or by phone at (314) 622-3313.
Inspection sequence from IRC R109 (inspections: R109.1.1 footing before concrete, R109.1.4 frame, R109.1.6 final), 2021 IRC. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Deck Permit checklist for St. Louis
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: inches above adjacent grade for an uncovered wood deck or patio resting directly on the ground or a rock base with no permanent foundation. Usually needed: Before building a raised deck or a porch, before any deck attached to the house or set on a permanent foundation, and before any deck that will be roofed or canopied.
- Budget the fee. Charged as a building permit on estimated construction cost: $25.00 application fee plus $19.00 for $0 to $1,000.00 (total $44.00), $23.00 for $1,001 to $2,000.00, $30.00 for $2,001 to $3,000.00, and "$10.00 per thousand estimated construction cost or fraction thereof" above $3,000.00. Fees are non-refundable. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. A residential deck permit application is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the IRC deck provisions. In practice that means a scaled site plan locating the deck and its setbacks, plus deck plans and structural details covering the footings, posts, beams, joists, ledger, guards, and stairs. Start at the St. Louis permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. City of St. Louis Building Division, Permit Section (Department of Public Safety). Phone: (314) 622-3313. Address: Building Division Permit Section, City Hall, 1200 Market Street, Room 425, St. Louis, MO 63103.
- Plan for inspections. Deck work is inspected in sequence as it is built: the footings before concrete is placed, the framing before the decking boards go down, and a final inspection once the deck is complete. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if missed.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a deck permit in St. Louis?
- Title 25 exempts only a ground-hugging deck: uncovered, resting directly on the ground or a rock base, on no permanent foundation, and no more than twelve inches above adjacent grade. Anything raised above that, attached to the house, or covered needs a building permit, and the Building Division's own summary of residential work lists "porches, decks, and retaining walls" flatly as requiring one. Ordinary repairs are separately exempt, meaning patching treads, risers and platform surfaces or swapping handrails and balusters like for like, as long as the structural components are untouched. The Division's Sun-Deck guideline expects five sets of plans covering site, foundation or pier, floor and framing, elevations and a typical deck section. Inches above adjacent grade for an uncovered wood deck or patio resting directly on the ground or a rock base with no permanent foundation. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a deck permit cost in St. Louis?
- Charged as a building permit on estimated construction cost: $25.00 application fee plus $19.00 for $0 to $1,000.00 (total $44.00), $23.00 for $1,001 to $2,000.00, $30.00 for $2,001 to $3,000.00, and "$10.00 per thousand estimated construction cost or fraction thereof" above $3,000.00. Fees are non-refundable. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a deck permit in St. Louis?
- You can apply through the St. Louis permit portal or contact the City of St. Louis Building Division, Permit Section (Department of Public Safety) directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a deck permit themselves in St. Louis?
- Under Missouri law (RSMo 701.055.1 and 701.055.2; RSMo 327.101.2(5)(a); RSMo 327.191.2(5)(a); RSMo 700.656.5): Missouri does not license general contractors at the state level and has no statewide owner-builder permit statute, disclosure affidavit, or resale restriction comparable to Florida's one year rule. Whether a homeowner may pull the permit and do the work is decided by the city or county that issues the permit. Where state law does speak, it is permissive: RSMo 327.101.2(5)(a) and RSMo 327.191.2(5)(a) let an unlicensed person render architectural and engineering services for the construction, remodeling or repair of a privately owned dwelling house, provided the drawings say the person is not licensed, so plans for a house do not have to be sealed by an architect or engineer. RSMo 701.055.1 expressly preserves a property owner's right to install, modify or repair their own on-site sewage disposal system as long as the state standard is met, and RSMo 701.055.2 adds that no permit or contractor registration is required simply to clean it. RSMo 700.656.5 exempts a person who installs a manufactured home on his or her own property for his or her own occupancy from the otherwise mandatory state installer license. None of these exemptions excuses a local permit where the local jurisdiction requires one. Confirm how St. Louis applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in St. Louis
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
Deck Permit in other Missouri localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not St. Louis documents; the office above sets the local rules.
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with City of St. Louis Building Division, Permit Section (Department of Public Safety). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Permit office
City of St. Louis Building Division, Permit Section (Department of Public Safety)
(314) 622-3313Permit portalCompare
Deck Permit across Missouri