St. Louis County demolition permits and asbestos rules: who issues what, and what it costs

Who issues demolition permits in St. Louis County?

St. Louis County Public Works issues them for unincorporated St. Louis County and for the municipalities that contract with the County for building code enforcement. Cities that run their own building offices issue their own. Rules and fees are current as of November 2026.

The County’s instructions say a permit is required to demolish a structure. They define “structure” widely: buildings, detached accessory structures, towers, large above-ground tanks, pavilions and in-ground pools. A backyard pool removal counts.

The County page does not list which municipalities contract with the County. This guide does not guess. If your property is inside a city, call that city hall and ask who issues the permit. The City of St. Louis has its own offices. Read our City of St. Louis permit post.

Does my city run its own permit office?

Some do. The County page I reviewed does not list which municipalities contract with it. It names only 12 cities that also need a letter. For everything else, call your city hall before you plan the job.

For the service areas AES covers around the County, see St. Louis County, MO and St. Louis, MO.

Which 12 cities need a letter from the municipality?

The County requires a letter from the municipality if the property is in one of 12 places. Get the letter before you submit the application, because the County lists it as a requirement to issue the permit.

1. City of Black Jack
2. City of Chesterfield
3. City of Sunset Hills
4. City of Fenton
5. Village of Twin Oaks
6. City of Glendale
7. City of Green Park
8. City of Warson Woods
9. City of Manchester
10. Village of Westwood
11. City of Wildwood
12. City of Woodson Terrace

The County instructions do not say what the letter must contain. Ask the city hall what it needs. The application form also has a line for municipal zoning approval, which suggests the city reviews zoning, but the County does not spell that out.

What does the County demolition permit cost?

The base fee is $126.00 for one structure under 5,000 gross square feet. Gross square feet counts all levels, including basements. A larger structure costs $126.00 plus $10 per 1,000 square feet. Each detached accessory structure removed at the same time adds $47.00.

The County requires a separate application for structures on different parcels. It also requires one for each structure over 5,000 gross square feet and for each structure that gets its own electric, gas, water or sewer service.

Pay by check to “Treasurer - St. Louis County” or, if you email the application, by credit card over the phone. Mail goes to 41 South Central Avenue, 6th floor, Clayton, MO 63015, Attention: Demolition Permits. Fees change, so confirm with Building Inspections at (314) 615-3724.

Does asbestos get checked before the permit?

Yes. The County says all municipalities and County Public Works rely on the Department of Public Health’s Air Pollution Control Program to make sure asbestos and other environmental hazards are addressed before demolition permits issue. The permit packet lists Air Pollution Control approval when required.

Air Pollution Control’s asbestos program issues permits, inspects asbestos removal sites and investigates reports of illegal removal. Its office is at 6121 N. Hanley Road, Berkeley, MO 63134, phone 314.615.8924, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Start with an asbestos survey. It tells you what is in the building and how much, which decides the fee tier and whether a registered contractor must remove it first. Our asbestos survey service covers the work. The state’s 10 working day notice still applies to regulated projects: Missouri DNR requires notification at least 10 working days before crews begin. See the Missouri asbestos rules guide.

What fees does County Air Pollution Control charge?

County asbestos fees went up in 2026. Abatement permits are $240 for projects at or above the County thresholds; ask the County about smaller projects. An asbestos inspection is $230. The NESHAP demolition notification is $120. The County lists the old and new amounts together, so check which date applies to your project.

The City’s fees look different. The City charges $100 or $200 notifications and uses its own trigger. We list them side by side in the next section.

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

The County sorts permits by 160 square feet, 260 linear feet and 35 cubic feet, the same numbers the state uses for removal. The City of St. Louis starts lower, at more than 10 square feet, 16 linear feet or 3 cubic feet. Always check which office has your address.

The columns measure different things. County tiers set a fee. The City number sets when its ordinance applies. The state number sets when a registered contractor must remove the material. Do not treat a County fee tier as proof that smaller amounts are unregulated. For the City side, read our City of St. Louis permit post. For the state rules, see the Missouri asbestos rules guide.

The regulated asbestos-containing material definition drives which category your project falls in. The NESHAP glossary entry explains the federal rule behind the notice.

Do I need utility disconnect letters first?

Yes. The County says utility connections must be properly disconnected, and copies certifying the disconnection of water, sewer, gas and electricity must be provided before it will issue a permit. The County also says it must be notified in writing by the utilities when disconnects are made.

The packet spells out each step:

• Water and sewer. A plumber and drainlayer licensed in St. Louis County secures the “tap destroy” permits. A County plumbing inspector must inspect the work. Missouri American Water Company must witness and certify the water tap destroy.
• Gas. Get a disconnect letter from Laclede Gas.
• Electric. Get a disconnect letter from AmerenMO.
• Right-of-way. Work in the right-of-way, such as utility excavation or removing driveway entrances, needs a Special Use Permit from the right-of-way owner: city, County or state.

Plan these early. Utility work often sets the schedule more than the permit does. Our demolition from survey to debris guide shows where utilities sit in the sequence.

What do I do with a septic tank, well or propane tank?

Handle all three before the permit issues. The County requires septic tanks pumped, wells located and reported, and propane tanks removed by the propane company. Each has its own proof. The demolition contractor is responsible for locating wells and for calling the propane company.

• Septic tank. Disconnect it from the building, pump it out and break out the tank bottom. Backfill with crushed limestone, gravel or clean compacted dirt. Before the permit issues, you provide written verification from the licensed waste hauler that the tank has been pumped.
• Well. The demolition contractor must locate it, mark it clearly and report it to St. Louis County. Missouri DNR requires abandoned well plugging to be registered.
• Propane tank. The tank belongs to the propane company named on it. The demolition contractor must have that company disconnect and remove it.

If the building holds a heating oil or fuel tank, see our tank removal page and the tank removal guide.

How long is the process, and who do I call?

The County pages do not state a processing time, so this guide does not give one. Plan around the longest items: the asbestos survey, the notice period, the utility work and any municipal letter. Missouri DNR requires notification at least 10 working days before a regulated project starts.

Use this call list:

You can submit the application by mail, at the drop-off bin inside the east entrance of the Lawrence K Roos Building at 41 S. Central Avenue in Clayton, or by email. The County says the email route leads to credit card payment instructions by phone.

How does AES handle the permit and notice steps?

AES does asbestos abatement and demolition and 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,” according to its own site. AES is a Missouri DNR registered asbestos contractor, registration 27-06-0640.

AES describes itself as “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. The interior demolition glossary entry explains a common first phase before a full tear-down.

Next step

Planning a demolition or asbestos job in St. Louis County? Start with the demolition page, then call AES at (314) 865-2662 or send the quote form at /contact with the address and the type of building.