Do You Need a Permit to Tear Down a Shed in St. Louis?

Do you need a permit to tear down a shed in the City of St. Louis?

Yes. The City’s Building Division says demolition permits are required for wrecking or demolishing work in the City. Its page lists no size exemption for small outbuildings. It does say an owner may pull the permit for a garage or shed, and it lists a $25.00 fee for that case.

Many pages that rank for this question are national. PermitFlow, for one, says a permit might not be required for “small accessory structures (like a shed or detached storage) under a certain size threshold, typically 200 square feet or less.” That depends on the city. The City of St. Louis page states no such exemption, so plan on a permit. This post covers City limits only. See the last sections for the County.

What does the permit cost and how long does it last?

The fee is $25.00 for a garage or shed, and the permit is good for 30 days. For any other building, the City says the fee depends on the size of the building. That is why a house costs more than a shed.

The 30-day clock matters. A permit that expires before you start is wasted money and a second trip downtown. Book your dumpster, helper and utility shutoff first. Then pick up the permit.

Who can pull the permit for a shed?

You can, if you own the shed and it fits the owner limits. The City says an owner may be issued a permit when the building is no more than 1 1/2 stories or 15 feet high, holds less than 10,000 cubic feet and less than 1,000 square feet of floor area, and has no basement. Most backyard sheds fit. A large two-story garage with a basement may not.

Two other cases change the process:

• You rent or manage the property. The City says that if you are not the owner, you must get a notarized letter from the building owner. The letter should include the owner’s contact information, the name of the person or company doing the work, and the cost of the demolition.
• A contractor does the work. The City says demolition permits must be obtained by a demolition contractor certified by the City of St. Louis. Ask any hired crew to show that certification.

The owner must submit the application in person during business hours. The Permit Section lists Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call (314) 622-3313 to confirm before you drive down.

What do you bring to the Permit Section?

Bring photos, and bring the owner letter if someone else is applying. The City requires photos with every demolition application. Use this checklist.

1. Photos of all four sides of the shed.
2. Photos that show the neighbors. Capture the structures or lots on every side of the shed.
3. Photos of any visible damage to neighboring structures. The City says this helps protect you from damage claims later.
4. Proof you own the shed, or the notarized owner letter if you do not.
5. Utility status. Know whether the shed has electric service. If it does, have the power shut off by the utility first. The City’s 2018 handbook tells contractors to get written proof of electric and gas disconnection, and it names Ameren for electric and Spire for gas.

Photos are the item most people forget. Take them before you leave the house, in daylight, with a neighbor’s fence in frame.

Do you need another permit for the dumpster?

Possibly. If the dumpster sits in the street or blocks any part of the sidewalk, the City says you need a Blocking Right of Way permit. That permit is separate from the demolition permit. A dumpster in your own driveway does not block the right of way, but ask the Permit Section if you are unsure. Many homeowners learn this after the permit is already running its 30 days.

Does a shed need an asbestos check first?

Possibly. The City’s 2018 demolition handbook says all structures to be demolished must undergo an asbestos inspection by a licensed contractor before wrecking starts. The handbook is written for contractors, and it does not say how the rule applies to a backyard shed. Ask the Permit Section before you assume either way.

Here is why it matters. Older sheds can have asbestos-containing material in cement-board siding, roofing felt, shingles, floor tile or sealants. The City’s Air Pollution Control office handles asbestos notices, and its abatement rule starts at greater than 10 square feet, 16 linear feet or 3 cubic feet of asbestos-containing material. A single wall of old siding can cross that line.

The state rule has its own limits. Missouri DNR says an exception to its rule is “a single residential structure that contains four or fewer dwelling units.” That exception does not cover two or more residential structures or a building converted from another use. Whether a detached shed counts as that kind of structure is a question for DNR or the City. Our guides explain both sets of rules: St. Louis City demolition permits and asbestos notices and the state’s 10 working day notice.

If you are unsure what your shed is made of, a lab test settles it. See our asbestos survey page and the glossary entry for an asbestos survey. Do not break up suspect material to see what is inside.

Does a historic district change the answer?

It can. The City’s Cultural Resources Office reviews demolitions of structures in Local Historic Districts, which cover about 10% of the city, in Preservation Review Districts, or that are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. If your lot is flagged, the office runs a review before the permit moves ahead.

The City page does not say how long a review takes. A shed on a lot in Soulard, Lafayette Square or another historic area deserves a phone call before you buy a dumpster. Ask the Permit Section whether your address is flagged.

What if the shed is in St. Louis County or another city?

Do not rely on the City rules. The City of St. Louis and St. Louis County are separate governments with separate permit offices. The cities inside the County can also have their own rules for small structures, so check with your city hall first.

Start with our St. Louis County permits guide. Then call your city or the County and ask three things: is a permit required for a shed, what does it cost, and does any asbestos notice apply.

What if the shed is attached to a house or garage?

Then the project may be partial demolition, not a simple shed teardown. The City says that if you are only engaging in partial demolition, you should call the Permit Section about the permit requirements. A wall shared with a house, a roof tied into a garage, or a slab that serves two buildings can turn a $25.00 job into a larger one. Describe the structure to the clerk before you pay.

If the work is bigger than you expected, our glossary entry on interior demolition explains the terms, and our building demolition page covers larger jobs. If you are weighing a whole house, read can you demolish your own house in St. Louis.

What should you ask before you tear it down?

Ask these questions. They take ten minutes and save a return trip.

• Is a demolition permit required for my shed, and what is the fee today?
• Does my shed meet the owner limits on height, volume, floor area and basement?
• Does my address fall in a historic or preservation district?
• Does the shed need an asbestos inspection first, given what it is made of?
• Who must disconnect electric service, and how long does that take?
• Will the dumpster sit in the street, and do I need a Blocking Right of Way permit?
• If a contractor does the job, can they show their City demolition certification?

Next step

Tearing down a clean shed with a permit is simple. Tearing down a building with unknown material, or a whole garage or house, is not. Read our demolition page, then call Advanced Environmental Services at (314) 865-2662 or send the quote form at /contact with the address and what the building is made of.