The Building Division was established by Article XIII, Section 15 of the St. Louis City Charter as a Division within the Department of Public Safety. The Building Division is responsible for the enforcement of all codes and ordinances regulating the protection of the public health, safety and welfare as related to existing buildings and new construction.

The construction codes adopted by the City of St. Louis provide for minimum standards to insure the public health, safety and welfare relative to new construction, the maintenance of existing buildings, and to safely secure life and property from the hazards incident to the occupancy of buildings.

The Building Division enforces the following codes:

  1. 2003 International Building Code
  2. 2003 International Existing Building Code
  3. 2003 International Residential Code
  4. 2003 International Energy Conservation Code w/2004 Supplement
  5. 2003 International Property Maintenance Code
  6. 1999 BOCA National Fire Prevention Code
  7. 2003 Uniform Plumbing Code
  8. 2000 International Mechanical Code, as amended
  9. 2000 International Fuel Gas Code
  10. 1999 National Electrical Code
In addition to the above codes, the Building Division enforces a Zoning Ordinance as well as a number of other separate stand-alone ordinances, including those governing hotels, rooming houses, bed and breakfasts, arcades and junk yards.

The Building Division and Fire Department has established a Fire Safety Unit to enforce certain provisions of the BOCA Fire Prevention Codes, as amended, on both a recurring inspection basis and in the inspection of occupancy permits. The enforcement of this code by a section within the Building Division will have a positive effect in streamlining the occupancy permit process.

The Building Division has separate Plumbing, Mechanical Equipment, and Electrical Sections that inspect the installation, repair and/or replacement of equipment and systems within their jurisdictions.

Issuing building permits for new construction and for additions or alterations to existing buildings is one of the key functions of the Building Division. This Information Guide has been prepared to assist in the permitting process and provide answers to many of the questions concerning permits. However, it is not intended to address every possible permit application, and there may be situations that have requirements or approvals which exceed the general guidelines present in this Information Guide.

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This Page Last Modified: Monday, 19-Nov-2007 16:42:42 CST