House Demolition Cost in St. Louis: Price Ranges and Permits

How much does it cost to demolish a house?

LawnMasters reports that the national average to demolish a house is roughly $14,000, though most homeowners spend between $6,000 and $25,500 for a standard 2,000-square-foot property. Most contractors price the job at $4 to $17 per square foot, depending on complexity and location. These are national figures, not a St. Louis quote and not an AES price.

AES quotes each job; call (314) 865-2662 or use our contact page.

What changes the price of a house demolition?

Size, method, basement, hazardous material, permits and utilities. LawnMasters says square footage is the single biggest factor. Mechanical demolition costs $4 to $10 per square foot, and deconstruction costs $8 to $16. A basement, an attached neighbor or hidden hazards each add work.

For a St. Louis house, these questions decide the price.

1. How big is it, and does it have a basement? More volume means more hauling. LawnMasters puts full basement removal at $5,000 to $15,000 beyond the standard demolition price.
2. Is it attached to neighbors? Row houses and tight lots need careful, slower work. The City asks for photos of all four sides and of neighboring structures before it issues a permit.
3. What is inside? Old homes can hold asbestos in floor tile, pipe insulation or siding, and lead in paint.
4. Which method fits? LawnMasters says mechanical demolition is the most common and least expensive method. Deconstruction salvages flooring, fixtures, doors and windows but costs roughly double.
5. What do utilities need? LawnMasters says gas, electric, water, sewer and telecommunications must be disconnected before demolition proceeds, and that some providers need several weeks’ notice. Ask who arranges it.

LawnMasters says permit fees typically cost $200 to $1,000 or more depending on the city and project scope. That is a national figure. The City of St. Louis bases its fee on the size of the building, so ask the Permit Section for your address.

The sources also differ on hazards. LawnMasters gives asbestos a wide range, $2,000 to $20,000 or more, and says it depends on how extensively the material was used. A survey tells you which end applies. Do not rely on any single average.

Does asbestos change the cost of demolition?

Yes, in two ways. LawnMasters says asbestos removal alone can cost $2,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on how extensively it was used. The survey and the notice also come before any teardown, so they affect the schedule. Hazardous material comes out first.

St. Louis County puts the survey first. The County says all municipalities and County Public Works rely on its Air Pollution Control Program to ensure that all asbestos and other environmental hazards are addressed before issuing their demolition permits. Phone 314.615.8924 for that office.

Plan on this order.

1. A licensed inspector surveys the structure for asbestos.
2. Any regulated asbestos comes out before demolition.
3. The notice and permit paperwork are filed.
4. The teardown begins.

Our asbestos survey page and the glossary entry on asbestos survey explain the first step. The Missouri demolition and renovation asbestos rules guide covers the notice rules, including the NESHAP notice. Our post on the Missouri asbestos notification, 10 working days explains the timing, and our post on asbestos testing cost covers the survey price. Do not skip the survey to save money. A missed hazard can stop the job and cost more.

Who can pull a demolition permit in the City of St. Louis?

A demolition contractor certified by the City must obtain demolition permits. An owner may be issued one only for a small building: no more than 1 1/2 stories or 15 feet high, less than 10,000 cubic feet, and less than 1,000 square feet of floor area, with no basement. All of those conditions apply. A typical house with a basement does not meet the test.

The City says the cost of the demolition permit is based on the size of the building. If the applicant is not the owner, the City requires a notarized letter from the building owner. Every application needs photographs of the structure. Our St. Louis City asbestos and demolition permits guide and the St. Louis County version cover the paperwork. Our posts on demolishing your own house in St. Louis and how long a demolition permit takes answer the next two questions. Our post on the City asbestos abatement permit explains the abatement side.

AES holds a City of St. Louis Demolition Contractors’ Certificate, Class II, for the period 02/28/2026 to 02/28/2027. The certificate does not define Class II, so ask the City what a Class II certificate covers for your building.

Does a historic district change the plan in St. Louis?

It can. The City says structures within Local Historic Districts (about 10% of the city), within Preservation Review Districts, or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places may be flagged through its Cultural Resources Office. That office reviews whether the structure should be demolished.

Check this before you sign a contract. A review adds time and can change the answer. Ask the contractor whether your address sits in a historic or preservation district, and ask the Permit Section at (314) 622-3313.

What should a demolition quote include?

A clear quote names the structure, the hazards, the permits, the utilities, the hauling and the site condition when the crew leaves. Ask for it itemized. LawnMasters says to request at least three written estimates that itemize labor, equipment, permits, disposal and any hazardous material abatement.

• Survey. Is the asbestos survey in the price, or separate?
• Abatement. Who removes any asbestos, and is that priced?
• Permits and notices. Who files them, and who pays?
• Utilities. Who coordinates shut-off and capping?
• Debris. Who hauls it, and is hauling in the price?
• Basement. Are the walls, floor and backfill in the price?
• Site. Is the lot graded, filled or left rough?

Compare scopes, not totals. A low price that leaves out the survey, permits or hauling comes back as change orders.

Can only part of the building come down?

Yes. Demolition can mean full building removal, interior demolition, or removal of one wing of a building. AES lists these on its demolition page. LawnMasters says partial demolition targets specific areas or features, such as a garage, deck, pool or chimney, and that these jobs cost considerably less than a full teardown. The same survey and hazard rules apply to the part you disturb.

Interior work follows the same logic. The glossary explains interior demolition, and AES covers it on its interior demolition page. See the demolition from survey to debris guide for the full order of steps, and our post on how long it takes to demolish a house for the schedule.

Next step

AES removes debris and dangerous materials such as mold, asbestos and lead as part of its demolition work. Send AES the address, a few photos and the size of the building. AES quotes each job; call (314) 865-2662 or use our contact page. See the house demolition page for scope.