City of St. Louis demolition permits and asbestos notices: who files, what it costs

Who handles asbestos and demolition in the City of St. Louis?

Two City offices share the job. The Building Division issues the demolition permit. The Air Pollution Control Program, part of the Department of Health, takes asbestos notices and runs asbestos and demolition inspections. You deal with both on most demolitions. Details are current as of November 2026.

The Department of Health is the delegated authority for asbestos and demolition notifications and inspections. It acts under an agreement with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Projects are reported on the STL City Permits website, where you log in or create an account.

This guide covers the City only. For the state rules that sit under all of this, read our Missouri asbestos rules guide. For the job itself, see demolition from survey to debris.

Do I need a permit to demolish a house, garage or shed in the City?

Yes. The City says demolition permits are required for wrecking or demolishing work. That covers a house, a garage and a shed. The difference is who may apply and how much paperwork the job brings. A shed is a short form and a $25 fee. A multistory building is a contractor job.

If you wonder “do I need a permit to demo a house,” the answer in the city is yes, without exception. Partial demolition has its own rules. The City tells owners planning a partial tear-down to call the Permit Section for the requirements.

Can I pull the permit myself, or must a contractor do it?

An owner may pull the permit only for a small building. The building must be no more than 1 1/2 stories or 15 feet tall. It must hold less than 10,000 cubic feet and 1,000 square feet of floor area. It cannot have a basement. An owner may also get a permit for a garage or shed.

Anything bigger needs a certified contractor. The City says demolition permits must be obtained by a Demolition Contractor certified by the City of Saint Louis. To earn that certification, a contractor appears before the Demolition Contractors’ Certification Board. The City’s demolition handbook explains the steps.

Here is the quick test:

1. Does the building have a basement? If yes, you need a certified contractor.
2. Is it taller than 1 1/2 stories or 15 feet? If yes, you need a certified contractor.
3. Is it over 1,000 square feet of floor area or 10,000 cubic feet? If yes, you need a certified contractor.
4. If all three answers are no, you may apply as the owner.

What paperwork does the Building Division want?

The Building Division wants the application, proof you may demolish, and photos. An owner files in person. A representative of the owner brings a notarized owner letter. Every application needs photos of the structure. A contractor also needs a bond before the permit issues.

The City lists these items:

• Owner letter. If you are not the owner, bring a notarized letter from the building owner. The City says it should include the owner’s contact information, the name of the person or company doing the demolition, and the cost.
• Photos. Show all four sides of the structure, the neighboring structures or lots on all sides, and any visible damage on neighboring structures. The City says this helps protect against damage claims.
• In-person filing. Submit the application at Building Division, Permit Section, City Hall, Room 425, 1200 Market, St. Louis, MO 63103. The Permit Section is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
• Bond. The City’s 2018 handbook sets a bond equal to the cost of the demolition project, never less than $5,000, before any demolition permit is issued.

The handbook is the 2018 edition. Its fee tables cite old ordinances, so use it for process and not for current prices.

What does the City asbestos notification cost?

City notification fees run from $100 to $200 depending on the type of project. A demolition notification is $100. An abatement notification is $100 for work above the City trigger and below the federal NESHAP level, and $200 at the NESHAP level. Fees can change, so confirm them with Air Pollution Control at (314) 657-1479.

Payment has a catch. The Air Pollution Control page says credit card payments are not available at this time, and it names a business check or money order at 1520 Market St., Room 4051. The same page tells filers to report on the STL City Permits website. Ask Air Pollution Control which one collects the fee for your project before you file.

When does the asbestos inspection come first?

Before any wrecking starts. The City’s 2018 handbook says all structures to be demolished must undergo an asbestos inspection by a licensed contractor before any wrecking activities begin. The contractor then gives Air Pollution Control the inspection report and the NESHAP notice. The Air Pollution Control Board approves or denies the permits after that.

This differs from the state, where most single-family homes are exempt. Read the handbook line closely: it says “all structures.” In practice, a City demolition of a house still starts with an inspection. See our asbestos survey page for how that inspection works, and the glossary entries for NESHAP and asbestos survey.

Do not skip the notice wait. Missouri DNR requires notification at least 10 working days before crews begin a regulated project. The City pages I reviewed do not list a separate wait for a single project, so build your schedule around the state’s 10 working days. Our post on the 10 working day notice explains how to count them.

How do the City’s thresholds differ from the state’s?

The City starts regulating at a much smaller amount. The City’s abatement ordinance applies at more than 10 square feet, 16 linear feet or 3 cubic feet of asbestos-containing material. The state’s removal threshold is 160 square feet, 260 linear feet or 35 cubic feet. The two numbers answer different questions.

A small job can sit well below the state line and still need a City notice. A 30 square foot patch of asbestos-containing material is far under the state’s 160 square feet. It is over the City’s 10 square feet. Treat the City number as the one that matters inside city limits. Read the full state picture in our Missouri asbestos rules guide.

Does a historic district change the answer?

It can add a review. The Cultural Resources Office works with the Building Division on buildings that have cultural or historic significance. A building is flagged if it sits in a Local Historic District, which covers about 10% of the city, in a Preservation Review District, or is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

When a building is flagged, the office runs a review. The City says that review weighs architectural quality, structure condition, neighborhood effect, reuse potential and proposed new construction. The City adds that the aim is to avoid damaging or demolishing significant structures without reasonable cause. Ask the Permit Section whether your address is flagged before you hire anyone.

What about a vacant building the City or LRA owns?

If you are buying one, you are not demolishing it first. The City’s Prop NS program stabilizes vacant, residential buildings of six units or fewer owned by the Land Reutilization Authority. It sells them to the highest bidder who can finish a rehab to City occupancy standards within 24 months.

Rehab in an older building often disturbs paint, plaster and old flooring. Plan an asbestos survey before the first wall comes down. Our asbestos survey page and the asbestos removal process guide show what to expect.

What happens if work starts without the permit?

This guide quotes no penalty amounts, because the City pages it relies on do not list current ones. The City says demolition permits are required. The 2018 handbook mentions fees and fines, but its tables cite old ordinances. Ask the Permit Section at (314) 622-3313 for the current penalty.

Timing matters too. A permit is good for 30 days, so have the photos, the owner letter, the bond and the asbestos paperwork ready before you apply.

How does AES handle the asbestos and demolition steps?

AES does asbestos abatement and demolition in the St. Louis area and works with the regulators in this guide. Its own site says it has “developed a good working relationship with all regulatory agencies including St. Louis City Air Pollution Control, St. Louis County Department of Health, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.”

AES is a Missouri DNR registered asbestos contractor, registration 27-06-0640. Its site lists AHERA Certified Building Inspectors, and Mr. Ruckman is “trained and certified as an Asbestos Inspector & Supervisor.” AES has 30 years of experience (Dennis Ruckman, November 2, 2026).

Read about asbestos abatement and demolition on the AES site. For terms in this guide, see regulated asbestos-containing material in the glossary.

Next step

Planning a demolition or asbestos job inside the City? Read the asbestos abatement and demolition pages, then call AES at (314) 865-2662 or send the quote form at /contact with the address and the type of building.