--- title: "How Long Does It Take to Demolish a House? A Missouri Timeline" description: "AES says a house with all paperwork in place can often come down in 3 to 5 days. The permits, notices and utility shutoffs before that take longer." url: https://www.aes-stl.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-demolish-a-house publisher: Advanced Environmental Services phone: +1-314-865-2662 quote: https://www.aes-stl.com/contact --- Practical: 6 min read, published August 21, 2026 # How Long Does It Take to Demolish a House? A Missouri Timeline AES says that if all the paperwork is present, a house can often be demolished in as little as 3 to 5 days. AES also says a small to medium building takes 5 to 10 days without extra work such as asbestos removal. Permits and notices can take a minimum of 10 working days first. [Request a Quote](https://www.aes-stl.com/contact)[(314) 865-2662](tel:+1-314-865-2662) ![AES lift and equipment parked between brick buildings on a job site](https://www.aes-stl.com/_astro/lead-abatement-2025-12-03-11.52.58.B1pmqNuI_2tzsob.webp) ![Worker in an orange lift working on the upper floor of a brick building](https://www.aes-stl.com/_astro/Lead-2.9LKWOFtB_1gAHyw.webp) ![Large interior hall stripped to the floor during an AES abatement and demolition job](https://www.aes-stl.com/_astro/lead-abatement-2025-12-03-11.52.45._J8XFnrR_ZErVBy.webp) ## How long does it take to demolish a house? AES says that if all the paperwork is present, a house can often be demolished in as little as 3 to 5 days. AES also says a small to medium building takes 5 to 10 days without additional work such as asbestos removal. Larger projects can run for months. The wrecking is the short part. The paperwork around it is the long part. Most websites that rank for this question give one national number and a list of “factors.” This post splits the job into phases, shows which ones Missouri rules lengthen, and gives you a schedule you can hold a contractor to. ## What does the full timeline look like? A house demolition runs in phases, and the phase before the machine arrives often takes longer than the teardown. The table puts each phase and its time source in one place. Phase What happens Time stated by a source 1\. Survey Licensed inspector samples suspect materials and a lab reports Not published. Ask for a lab turnaround in writing. 2\. Notice and permit State notice if the structure is regulated; City or local permit Permits and notice: minimum of 10 working days (AES). City review: under 30 days (2018 handbook) 3\. Utilities Electric, gas, water and sewer shut off and verified Not published 4\. Abatement, if needed Registered contractor removes asbestos or other hazards Not published. Depends on the amount found. 5\. Teardown Machine, crew, dust control, debris loading 3 to 5 days for a house with paperwork in place (AES) 6\. Backfill and grading Fill the basement, grade the lot, final inspection Not published Add up the phases and the house is on the ground in a few days, but the project spans weeks. A calendar that shows only the teardown is a calendar that will slip. ## How long does the paperwork take before the machine arrives? AES says obtaining all the correct permits and giving notification can take a minimum of 10 working days, especially if you have asbestos on site. That matches the state rule. Missouri DNR says demolition notifications must reach the department at least 10 working days before the demolition of any regulated structure. Here is the part that confuses owners. DNR exempts a single residential structure with four or fewer dwelling units. Two or more residential structures are not exempt. A building once used for another purpose, such as a house converted to commercial use, is not exempt. If you own a typical single-family house, the state notice may not apply to you. That does not make the house paperwork-free. Inside the City of St. Louis, the 2018 demolition handbook says all structures to be demolished must undergo an asbestos inspection by a licensed contractor before wrecking starts. The City says its Building Division will process an application in under 30 days. A City permit is good for 30 days. See our [St. Louis City permits guide](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/st-louis-city-asbestos-and-demolition-permits), our [County permits guide](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/st-louis-county-asbestos-and-demolition-permits), and the post on the [10 working day rule](https://www.aes-stl.com/blog/missouri-asbestos-notification-10-working-days). ## How many days does the teardown itself take? Three to five days for a house, per AES, when the paperwork is in place. For a small to medium building, AES says 5 to 10 days without additional work such as asbestos removal. A bigger structure takes longer, and AES says large projects can run for months. Method changes the number. Junk South says mechanical demolition takes about one week in most cases, while deconstruction can take two weeks or more. Pittsburgh Demolition and Wrecking, a Pennsylvania contractor, says multi-story homes or properties with extensive basements can take two to four weeks. These sources use different starting points and different cities, so treat the ranges as a spread, not a conflict. A single-story house with no basement and clear access sits at the fast end. A two-story house in a tight lot with a full basement sits at the slow end. If you want to save lumber, flooring or brick, ask for a deconstruction quote and a mechanical quote. Compare days and dollars side by side. ## What makes a house demolition run longer? Five things add days. Check each one against your house. - **Asbestos or lead.** Older houses can hold both. Our [asbestos survey](https://www.aes-stl.com/asbestos-survey) page explains how the inspection works, and the glossary has an entry for [asbestos-containing material](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/asbestos-containing-material-acm). - **A basement.** Foundation removal, backfill and grading add work. The City’s 2018 handbook lists basement and grading inspections as called inspections with 24-hour notice. - **Tight access.** Narrow lots, alleys and shared walls slow the machine and the trucks. - **Attached or party walls.** Shared walls need extra care. The City handbook has a section on party walls. - **A historic district.** The City says buildings in Local Historic Districts, Preservation Review Districts, or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places may be flagged for a review before the permit. ## How does demolition type change the schedule? A full teardown clears the whole lot. [Interior demolition](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/interior-demolition) strips a building’s insides and leaves the shell, so it runs on a different clock. AES lists both complete demolition and partial interior demolition among its services. If your project is a gut job instead of a teardown, see the [interior demolition](https://www.aes-stl.com/interior-demolition) page and ask for a separate schedule. Hazardous removal also changes the order. Abatement comes first, because the crew must not wreck material that holds asbestos. That is why a survey belongs at the top of every timeline. The glossary entry for an [asbestos survey](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/asbestos-survey) explains what the inspector does, and the [NESHAP](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/neshap) entry explains the federal rule behind the notice. ## What inspections happen during and after demolition? The City of St. Louis 2018 handbook says the Building Division will conduct four to five inspections on each permitted demolition. Three of them are called inspections with 24-hour notice: basement, grading and final. Plan your crew’s days so no one waits for an inspector with an open hole in the lot. ## How long will my house take? A quick sorting table Use this table to place your house on the spread. The days come from the sources named above. None of them is an AES quote. Your house Faster end Slower end Source for the range Paperwork done, plain structure 3 to 5 days Longer if hidden problems appear AES Small to medium building, no asbestos work 5 days 10 days AES Mechanical demolition, typical house About one week Longer with a basement or tight lot Junk South Deconstruction to save materials Two weeks More than two weeks Junk South Multi-story or extensive basement Two weeks Four weeks Pittsburgh Demolition and Wrecking Large project Weeks Months AES These ranges cover the teardown only. The survey, the notice and the permit sit before them, and the final inspection sits after. ## What should you ask a contractor to put in writing? A schedule beats a promise. Ask for these in your quote. 1. A start date for each phase, not only the teardown. 2. Who files the permit and any asbestos notice, and who pays the fees. 3. The survey and lab turnaround time. 4. What happens to the schedule if the survey finds asbestos. 5. How utility shutoffs are handled. 6. The date of the last City inspection and the day the lot is graded. For a Missouri job, add one more question: does the contractor hold the right registration for asbestos work? AES holds Missouri DNR asbestos contractor registration 27-06-0640. Ask any contractor for the same. ## Next step Read the [house demolition](https://www.aes-stl.com/house-demolition) page. Not sure how long the permit step takes first? See [how long a demolition permit takes in St. Louis](https://www.aes-stl.com/blog/how-long-to-get-a-demolition-permit-in-st-louis). Then call Advanced Environmental Services at (314) 865-2662 or send the quote form at [/contact](https://www.aes-stl.com/contact). Tell us the address, the size, whether there is a basement, and your target date. AES quotes each job. ## Frequently asked questions ### How many days does the teardown itself take? AES says a house with all paperwork in place can often be demolished in as little as 3 to 5 days. AES also says a small to medium building can take 5 to 10 days, without any additional work such as asbestos removal. Larger projects can run for months. ### How long does the paperwork take before demolition? AES says obtaining all the correct permits and giving notification can take a minimum of 10 working days, especially if asbestos is on site. For a regulated structure, Missouri DNR requires notice at least 10 working days before crews begin. Add your own time for the survey and utility shutoffs. ### Does asbestos add time? Yes. AES's 5 to 10 day estimate is for work without additional work such as asbestos removal. Asbestos found in the survey must be handled by a registered abatement contractor, which adds its own days. DNR also asks for notice at least 10 working days before a regulated project starts. ### Is deconstruction slower than knocking a house down? Usually. Junk South says mechanical demolition takes about one week in most cases, while deconstruction can take two weeks or more. Deconstruction saves reusable materials by hand, which takes more labor. Ask your contractor to price and schedule both. ### Do I need a survey before demolishing a house in Missouri? Plan on one. DNR requires a demolition notice for a regulated structure even if no asbestos is found, and the inspection report goes with it. A single residential structure with four or fewer dwelling units is exempt from the state notice, but the City of St. Louis handbook still calls for an asbestos inspection of all structures. ### What do the City inspections add? The City of St. Louis 2018 handbook says the Building Division conducts four to five inspections of each permitted demolition. Basement, grading and final inspections are called inspections with 24-hour notice. Fit those visits into the schedule so the site is not left open. ## Terms on this page - [Asbestos-containing material (ACM)](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/asbestos-containing-material-acm) - [Interior demolition](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/interior-demolition) - [Asbestos survey](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/asbestos-survey) - [NESHAP](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/neshap) ## Sources 1. [Advanced Environmental Services: Ask a Demolition Expert in Missouri](https://www.aes-stl.com/demolition-expert/) 2. [Advanced Environmental Services: Ask a Demolition Expert in Missouri (house)](https://www.aes-stl.com/demolition-expert/) 3. [Advanced Environmental Services: Building Demolition Costs in Missouri](https://www.aes-stl.com/building-demolition-costs/) 4. [Missouri DNR: Asbestos Requirements for Demolition and Renovation Projects (PUB2157), notice](https://dnr.mo.gov/document-search/asbestos-requirements-demolition-renovation-projects-pub2157/pub2157) 5. [Missouri DNR: Asbestos Requirements for Demolition and Renovation Projects (PUB2157), exemption](https://dnr.mo.gov/document-search/asbestos-requirements-demolition-renovation-projects-pub2157/pub2157) 6. [Missouri DNR: Asbestos Requirements for Demolition and Renovation Projects (PUB2157), no asbestos](https://dnr.mo.gov/document-search/asbestos-requirements-demolition-renovation-projects-pub2157/pub2157) 7. [City of St. Louis Demolition Handbook, 2018 edition (asbestos inspection)](https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-safety/building/documents/upload/Demo-Handbook-2018.pdf) 8. [City of St. Louis Demolition Handbook, 2018 edition (processing time)](https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-safety/building/documents/upload/Demo-Handbook-2018.pdf) 9. [City of St. Louis Demolition Handbook, 2018 edition (inspections)](https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-safety/building/documents/upload/Demo-Handbook-2018.pdf) 10. [City of St. Louis Building Division: Apply for a Demolition Permit (validity)](https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-safety/building/permits/demolition-permits.cfm) 11. [Missouri DNR: Asbestos Requirements for Demolition and Renovation Projects (PUB2157), converted buildings](https://dnr.mo.gov/document-search/asbestos-requirements-demolition-renovation-projects-pub2157/pub2157) 12. [Pittsburgh Demolition and Wrecking: Guide to Demolition Timelines for Property Owners](https://www.pittsburghdemolitionandwrecking.com/guide-to-demolition-timelines-for-property-owners) 13. [Junk South: How Long Does It Take to Demolish a House](https://junksouth.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-demolish-a-house/) Written by Advanced Environmental Services and checked against the sources above on August 21, 2026. Rules change, so check the linked page before you act. ## Keep reading - [How Long Does a Demolition Permit Take in St. Louis?The City of St. Louis 2018 demolition handbook says the Building Division will process a complete application in less than 30 days. The permit then lasts 30 days. The longer wait is usually the paperwork first: utility disconnects, the asbestos inspection and notices, and a historic review if the building is flagged.](https://www.aes-stl.com/blog/how-long-to-get-a-demolition-permit-in-st-louis) - [City of St. Louis demolition permits and asbestos notices: who files, what it costsIn the City of St. Louis, two offices work side by side. The Building Division issues the demolition permit. Air Pollution Control takes the asbestos notices. An owner may pull a permit only for a small building. Larger jobs need a City-certified demolition contractor. The City's asbestos trigger is 10 square feet, lower than the state's.](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/st-louis-city-asbestos-and-demolition-permits) - [St. Louis County demolition permits and asbestos rules: who issues what, and what it costsIn St. Louis County, Public Works issues demolition permits for unincorporated areas and for cities that contract with the County. Air Pollution Control must clear asbestos first. The base permit fee is $126. Twelve named cities also require a letter from the municipality. Utilities, septic tanks, wells and propane tanks must be handled before the permit issues.](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/st-louis-county-asbestos-and-demolition-permits) - [How Long Does Mold Remediation Take? 1 to 5 Days, and WhyAdvanced Environmental Services says 1 to 5 days is the normal timeframe expected to complete most average mold jobs. Larger areas, hidden mold, and an unfixed water source add time. Removal is not the finish line: EPA says the water problem must be fixed and the area must show no mold or moldy odor.](https://www.aes-stl.com/blog/how-long-does-mold-remediation-take) - [Mold remediation cost and timeline: what AES publishes and what drives the priceAES says prices typically range between $1500 to $10,000 for a home showing visible signs of mold, and 1 to 5 days is the normal timeframe for most average jobs. Severity, affected materials and the size of the contaminated area move both numbers. AES quotes each job after an evaluation.](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/mold-remediation-cost-and-timeline) - [Can You Demolish Your Own House in St. Louis City?Rarely. In St. Louis City an owner can get a demolition permit only if the building is no more than 1 1/2 stories or 15 feet tall, under 10,000 cubic feet and 1,000 square feet of floor area, with no basement. Many houses are bigger, so a City-certified demolition contractor must pull the permit.](https://www.aes-stl.com/blog/can-you-demolish-your-own-house-in-st-louis) ## Request your custom environmental remediation estimate Contact us for a free environmental remediation or restoration estimate and a personalized solution to your problems. [Or call (314) 865-2662](tel:+1-314-865-2662)