St. Louis building department

The City of St. Louis is an independent city. It is not part of St. Louis County, so a St. Louis County address outside the city limits goes to that municipality or to the county, not here. Inside the city, the Building Division under the Department of Public Safety handles building permits, trade inspections, occupancy permits and zoning enforcement. Every project, from a deck to a high-rise, goes through the same Permit Section, which is in Room 425 of City Hall, 1200 Market Street, and open 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Getting a building permit

Apply online through STL City Permits or in person at Room 425. A licensed engineer or architect reviews every application. For most homeowner permits, you can get review on the spot at the Hot Spot Desk, which is open 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Many permits are issued over the counter, and the city reports that 70 percent are issued the same day.

The portal includes a permit cost estimator based on project cost. The plan examiner sets the final fee. Online card payments carry a 2.55% processing fee ($1.55 minimum), and e-checks cost a flat $1.50. The vendor keeps these fees, not the city.

Portal accounts

You need an account before you start an application, and the account is what lets you request inspections and message the inspector. Registration creates a master account for the company’s license holder, and that holder can add sub-users once the account is approved. You choose a contractor type at sign-up:

• general contractor
• design professional
• electrical, mechanical or plumbing contractor
• sprinkler contractor or fire suppression systems tester
• demolition contractor
• asbestos abatement contractor
• resident/homeowner

Occupancy permits

Housing Conservation District (residential)

In a Housing Conservation District, a residential unit needs an inspection and a Certificate of Inspection, which you request on the portal. The inspector checks the exterior, the interior and any common areas, and sets an occupant load. If the inspection finds major violations, or the certificate is issued with minor ones, the owner has 30 days to make repairs. Occupied units always get an interior inspection. Carbon monoxide alarms are required outside each sleeping area in units with fuel-fired appliances or an attached garage.

You book the inspection at the end of the online application. The earliest date is 3 business days out and the latest is 15 days out. If you enter an address outside a district, the portal tells you no certificate is required.

Housing Conservation fee	Amount
Vacant or lawfully occupied unit	$120
Unlawfully occupied unit	$200
Each additional vacant unit at the same address	$65
Refunds	25% processing charge

Commercial occupancy

Businesses apply for a commercial occupancy permit online. If you don’t own the property, upload a signed lease or a signed and notarized Letter of Authorization as a PDF. The application asks a different set of questions for each business type, and you can print them ahead of time.

Inspections outside a permit

STL City Permits also takes requests for these inspections, which aren’t tied to a permit:

Inspection	Fee	Phone
General plumbing inspection of property you own	$40	(314) 622-4356
General mechanical inspection	$40	(314) 622-3375
Ameren safety (hook-up) inspection for service off 6+ months	$30	(314) 622-3325

The plumbing request can’t be used for work that is, or should be, under a permit. For an Ameren safety inspection, you need the premise number Ameren assigned to the service. Ameren gives it out at (314) 992-6619. Permit inspections are requested from your portal account. The portal’s contact page lists building inspectors and supervisors by ward and has an address lookup to find yours.

Zoning

The Zoning Section reviews building and commercial occupancy permits against Title 26, the city’s Zoning Code. It also handles rezonings, variances, conditional uses, subdivisions and overlay districts. For a formal zoning verification letter, which lenders and insurers often ask for, order one online for $25. One letter can cover up to 20 addresses, and you need a separate request for each additional letter.

Permit history

To look up past permits, use the city’s search building permits by address page. Current applications are on the portal’s Public Permits page.