Solar Permit in St. Louis, Missouri
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before installing any active or photovoltaic solar panel system on a building. In a City Historic District or at a City Landmark, the Cultural Resources Office reviews the same permit.
Issued byCity of St. Louis Building Division, Permit Section (Department of Public Safety)
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Solar is unambiguous in St. Louis: the City's own applicant guidance states that installing active and photovoltaic solar panels on buildings requires a building permit, with no size or capacity carve-out. A separate electrical permit from the Building Division's Electrical Section is required for the wiring. If the property sits in a City Historic District or is a City Landmark, the Cultural Resources Office reviews the same permit against that district's adopted standards, which take either a No Visibility Required or a Visual Compatibility Required approach under the Preservation Board's Solar Panel Installation Policy. A denial by the Preservation Board is the final denial unless the Building Commissioner or the Planning and Urban Design Commission overrules it.
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?
Missouri's owner-builder rule (RSMo 701.055.1 and 701.055.2; RSMo 327.101.2(5)(a); RSMo 327.191.2(5)(a); RSMo 700.656.5) sets what you may do on your own home without hiring anyone. Read the statute.
When a permit is usually needed
Before installing any active or photovoltaic solar panel system on a building. In a City Historic District or at a City Landmark, the Cultural Resources Office reviews the same permit.
What a solar permit costs in St. Louis
How to apply in St. Louis
In St. Louis, a rooftop solar PV permit application is a combined structural and electrical plan set: a site plan and roof framing details proving the array's mounting can carry its added loads, plus a one line electrical diagram covering listed modules and inverters, disconnects, and the rapid shutdown design. Utility interconnection is a separate approval that runs in parallel with the permit.
What most solar permit applications include:
- Both a building permit and a separate electrical permit are required, since the array must be designed and installed to the residential code's solar provisions and to the National Electrical Code (IRC R324.3).
- For St. Louis, the plan set identifies listed equipment: PV modules listed to UL 1703 (or both UL 61730-1 and UL 61730-2), and inverters listed to UL 1741, with grid-tied inverters listed for utility interaction (IRC R324.3.1).
- Structural drawings show that the roof framing is designed to structurally support the array and withstand the gravity loads it adds (IRC R324.4.1).
- For St. Louis, the site plan lays out roof access pathways at least 36 inches wide, plus a ridge setback sized to how much of the roof the array covers, so firefighters retain pathways and ventilation access (IRC R324.6.1, IRC R324.6.2).
- For St. Louis, the one line electrical diagram shows the rapid shutdown method and the location of its single initiation device, since one control point must bring all system conductors down to safe levels (NEC 690.12, NEC 690.56(C)).
- Interconnecting the array to the utility grid at a defined point of connection is a separate application process from the local building or electrical permit and must be approved before the system can operate (NEC 705.12).
- Some permitting offices route applications through SolarAPP+, an automated review platform that checks the plan set against code requirements and issues eligible permits instantly (DOE SolarAPP+).
General submittal guidance from IRC 2021 R324 (Solar Energy Systems) and NEC 2020 Article 690 (Solar Photovoltaic Systems) and Article 705 (Interconnected Power Production Sources). 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
Solar Permit in St. Louis compared with nearby Missouri localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Missouri schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | Permit required | Any size | Charged as a building permit on estimated construction cost: $25.00 application fee plus... | |
| Kansas City | Permit required | Any size | ...which covers building, mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits alike: $52.00 up... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In St. Louis, inspectors verify the installed array against the approved plans, and some agencies run a rough check of roof attachments and penetrations while they are still exposed before the wiring and roofing close them in. The final inspection confirms rapid shutdown, disconnects, grounding, and required labels are installed correctly, and the system cannot be energized until the utility separately approves interconnection.
- In St. Louis: where an agency runs a rough or pre-inspection, it checks the array's roof penetrations while they are still exposed, confirming they are flashed and sealed (IRC R324.4.3).
- In St. Louis: the inspector confirms whether rapid shutdown is required, how it is accomplished, and that it is properly identified (NEC 690.12, NEC 690.56(C)).
- In St. Louis: pV disconnecting means must be permanently marked and installed where they are readily accessible, which the inspector confirms in the field (NEC 690.13).
- In St. Louis: bonding and grounding of the array, including every exposed non current carrying metal part and the grounding electrode system, is checked before sign off (NEC 690.43, NEC 690.47).
- In St. Louis: at the service equipment, the inspector looks for the required rapid shutdown placard, a labeled diagram showing the initiation device's location in the specified colors and letter sizes (NEC 690.56(C)).
- In St. Louis: utility interconnection is inspected and approved separately from the local building department's sign off, and the system cannot be energized until both approvals are in hand (NEC 705.12).
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 NEC 2020 Article 690 (690.12 rapid shutdown, 690.13 disconnects, 690.43/690.47 grounding, 690.56 labeling) and IRC 2021 R324.4.3 (roof penetrations). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Solar Permit checklist for St. Louis
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before installing any active or photovoltaic solar panel system on a building. In a City Historic District or at a City Landmark, the Cultural Resources Office reviews the same permit.
- 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, $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, which is the tier a typical residential array lands in. A separate electrical permit is charged on the electrical schedule (Ordinance 70802), where the application fee is $25.00 and residential repair or modification work is $60.00 for the first unit. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In St. Louis, a rooftop solar PV permit application is a combined structural and electrical plan set: a site plan and roof framing details proving the array's mounting can carry its added loads, plus a one line electrical diagram covering listed modules and inverters, disconnects, and the rapid shutdown design. Utility interconnection is a separate approval that runs in parallel with the permit. 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, inspectors verify the installed array against the approved plans, and some agencies run a rough check of roof attachments and penetrations while they are still exposed before the wiring and roofing close them in. The final inspection confirms rapid shutdown, disconnects, grounding, and required labels are installed correctly, and the system cannot be energized until the utility separately approves interconnection.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a solar permit in St. Louis?
- Solar is unambiguous in St. Louis: the City's own applicant guidance states that installing active and photovoltaic solar panels on buildings requires a building permit, with no size or capacity carve-out. A separate electrical permit from the Building Division's Electrical Section is required for the wiring. If the property sits in a City Historic District or is a City Landmark, the Cultural Resources Office reviews the same permit against that district's adopted standards, which take either a No Visibility Required or a Visual Compatibility Required approach under the Preservation Board's Solar Panel Installation Policy. A denial by the Preservation Board is the final denial unless the Building Commissioner or the Planning and Urban Design Commission overrules it. Always confirm with the City of St. Louis Building Division, Permit Section (Department of Public Safety) before starting.
- How much does a solar 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, $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, which is the tier a typical residential array lands in. A separate electrical permit is charged on the electrical schedule (Ordinance 70802), where the application fee is $25.00 and residential repair or modification work is $60.00 for the first unit. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a solar 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 solar 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... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | 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... |
| 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 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 solar 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 Solar Permit requirements across Missouri localities