St. Louis Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

The City of St. Louis is an independent city and has its own Building Division. It enforces the city building code, issues building and trade permits, conducts inspections, administers occupancy permits, and enforces zoning ordinances within the City of St. Louis. St. Louis County is a separate jurisdiction; a property with a county address outside the city must use its municipality or the applicable county authority.

St. Louis City building permits and online portal

The Building Division issues building, demolition, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, tent, and occupancy-related permits. The city’s STL City Permits portal allows eligible applicants to submit applications, upload plans, pay fees, request inspections, and track permit activity online. Confirm the correct permit type and any licensing requirements with the Permit Section before submitting a commercial or change-of-use project.

Inspections, code compliance, and occupancy permits

Building inspections are required as work progresses and before a project can be approved for occupancy. Commercial and multifamily projects may require a commercial occupancy permit, while residential properties in the city’s Housing Conservation District require a residential occupancy inspection and certificate of inspection. The Building Division explains that occupancy permits confirm compliance with local codes and suitability for occupancy; do not occupy a new or changed-use space until the required city approval is issued.

Zoning and plan review

The Zoning Section reviews commercial occupancy and building permits for compliance with Title 26 of the St. Louis City Zoning Code. It also handles zoning verification letters, rezonings, variances, conditional-use matters, subdivisions, and overlay districts. Check zoning and building requirements together because zoning approval does not replace building-plan review or an occupancy permit.

Official contact information

The Building Division lists 1200 Market Street, City Hall, Room 426, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2826, with phone (314) 622-3313. Use the official address-search page for historic permit research and STL City Permits for online applications and inspection activity.