Roof Replacement Permit in St. Louis, Missouri
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before an entire new roof that changes the roof covering material, and before any reroof that removes and replaces more than 25 percent of the roof sheathing.
Issued byCity of St. Louis Building Division, Permit Section (Department of Public Safety)
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
A straight like-for-like reroof is exempt in the City of St. Louis. A permit is required for "an entire new roof, when roof work is not replacement of like material, and/or when more than 25% of the roof sheathing is removed and replaced", and the matching exemption is roof replacement done with like material that replaces 25 percent or less of the sheathing. Title 25 adds a layer cap the web page leaves out: recovering or replacing a roof covering with the same type is exempt only "to a maximum of two layers of roofing", and low slope roofs between 1/4:12 and 4:12 must provide positive drainage. Roofs on property in a City Historic District or at a City Landmark can still need Cultural Resources Office approval.
Typical threshold: percent of roof sheathing removed and replaced during a like-material roof covering replacement.
Who is pulling this permit?
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When a permit is usually needed
Before an entire new roof that changes the roof covering material, and before any reroof that removes and replaces more than 25 percent of the roof sheathing.
What a roof replacement permit costs in St. Louis
How to apply in St. Louis
In St. Louis, a residential reroof permit application is lighter than for structural work: you state whether the scope is a full tear-off (roof replacement) or an overlay (roof recover), describe the covering material and its manufacturer instructions, and note the condition of the existing deck, since those facts determine which code path applies.
What most roof replacement permit applications include:
- State on the application whether the job is a roof replacement, which strips all existing layers down to the bare deck, or a roof recover, which leaves the old covering in place under specific conditions, since the two scopes are governed differently (IRC R908.3).
- For St. Louis, a recover is only an option where the new covering follows the roof covering manufacturer's approved instructions or is a self-supporting system, such as standing-seam metal, that does not rely on the existing roof for support (IRC R908.3.1).
- Full tear-off must be scoped on the application instead of a recover when the existing roof is water soaked or deteriorated, is slate, clay, cement, or asbestos-cement tile, or already carries two or more layers of roof covering (IRC R908.3.1.1).
- For St. Louis, the materials and installation methods described on the application must comply with the reroofing requirements of the roof-assemblies chapter (IRC R908.1).
- If the scope reuses existing slate, clay, or cement tile, damaged or broken pieces cannot be listed for reinstallation, and any rusted or deteriorated flashings, edgings, outlets, or vents uncovered during tear-off must be scoped for replacement (IRC R908.5).
General submittal guidance from IRC Section R908 Reroofing (text as adopted in the 2020 Residential Code of New York State, based on the 2018 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
Roof Replacement Permit in St. Louis compared with nearby Missouri localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Missouri schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | It depends | percent of roof sheathing removed and replaced during a like-material roof covering replacement | ...building permit for alterations and repairs on estimated construction cost: $25.00... | |
| Kansas City | It depends | Not needed to strip and re-cover a one- or two-family roof with a light roof covering | ...priced from the one- and two-family valuation table in Sec. 18-20(b)(2): $52.00 up... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In St. Louis, most residential reroofs get two to three field inspections keyed to the scope of work: a deck or nailing check when sheathing is exposed or replaced, a final on the completed covering and flashings, and in some high-wind regions a dedicated check of mitigation measures added during tear-off.
- In St. Louis: where the covering is fully removed and the sheathing is exposed, replaced, or added, inspectors check the deck and its nailing before any new roofing goes down, since the structural framework must be able to carry the new covering's loads (IRC R908.2).
- In St. Louis: an overlay is only approved where it meets one of the code's listed recover conditions, such as installation in accordance with the covering manufacturer's approved instructions (IRC R908.3.1).
- In St. Louis: flashings disturbed or replaced during the job are checked against the approved manufacturer's installation instructions, and metal flashing that will receive bituminous material must be primed before installation (IRC R908.6).
- In St. Louis: a final inspection confirms the completed roof covering and its fasteners were installed as required for that material and per manufacturer instructions before the permit is closed (IRC R905).
- In St. Louis: in some regions with strengthened wind provisions, reroofing an older single-family home also triggers inspection of supplemental deck-nailing and a secondary water barrier added during tear-off, on top of the base reroofing requirements (Florida Building Code, Residential R908.7 Mitigation).
- In St. Louis: reinstalled existing slate, clay, or cement tile is checked against reuse limits at inspection, and any rusted, damaged, or deteriorated flashings, edgings, outlets, or vents found during tear-off must be replaced rather than reinstalled (IRC R908.5).
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 Section R908 Reroofing and Section R905 Roof Coverings (2021 International Residential Code). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Roof Replacement Permit checklist for St. Louis
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: percent of roof sheathing removed and replaced during a like-material roof covering replacement. Usually needed: Before an entire new roof that changes the roof covering material, and before any reroof that removes and replaces more than 25 percent of the roof sheathing.
- Budget the fee. Charged as a building permit for alterations and repairs 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. In St. Louis, a residential reroof permit application is lighter than for structural work: you state whether the scope is a full tear-off (roof replacement) or an overlay (roof recover), describe the covering material and its manufacturer instructions, and note the condition of the existing deck, since those facts determine which code path applies. 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. In St. Louis, most residential reroofs get two to three field inspections keyed to the scope of work: a deck or nailing check when sheathing is exposed or replaced, a final on the completed covering and flashings, and in some high-wind regions a dedicated check of mitigation measures added during tear-off.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a roof replacement permit in St. Louis?
- A straight like-for-like reroof is exempt in the City of St. Louis. A permit is required for "an entire new roof, when roof work is not replacement of like material, and/or when more than 25% of the roof sheathing is removed and replaced", and the matching exemption is roof replacement done with like material that replaces 25 percent or less of the sheathing. Title 25 adds a layer cap the web page leaves out: recovering or replacing a roof covering with the same type is exempt only "to a maximum of two layers of roofing", and low slope roofs between 1/4:12 and 4:12 must provide positive drainage. Roofs on property in a City Historic District or at a City Landmark can still need Cultural Resources Office approval. Percent of roof sheathing removed and replaced during a like-material roof covering replacement. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a roof replacement permit cost in St. Louis?
- Charged as a building permit for alterations and repairs 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 roof replacement 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 roof replacement 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Before starting any electrical work other than the code's listed minor repairs, and... | The application fee for all electrical permits is $25.00 |
| Fence Permit | It depends | Before building any new fence | The Building Division's published building permit schedule charges a $25.00 application... |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | Before installing or replacing a furnace, condensing unit, combination system, boiler... | There is a $25.00 application fee for each permit |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Not needed for a flat, open, at-grade paved patio on the same lot as the house | A patio cover is charged as a building permit on estimated construction cost: $25.00... |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Before any plumbing, drainlaying or process drainage work, any connection to a sewer... | The application fee for all plumbing permits is $30.00 |
| 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... |
| 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 | Any size | Charged as a building permit on estimated construction cost: $25.00 application fee plus... |
Roof Replacement 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.
How this roof replacement permit page for St. Louis was verified. 2 official sources: stlouis-mo.gov, stlouis-mo.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, 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
Compare Roof Replacement Permit requirements across Missouri localities