Old homes, creek flooding and permits in Brentwood, Missouri

Has Deer Creek flooded Brentwood, and what does that mean for my building?

Yes. The City of Brentwood says Deer Creek between Hanley Road and South Brentwood Boulevard has had 26 floods since 1957, causing significant property damage. A flood project had its groundbreaking in December 2019. The city does not say which buildings had water inside, so check your own.

Water that gets into a building does not always show. Wet drywall, carpet and framing can grow mold if they stay damp, and an old flood can leave hidden damage. If you own near the creek, ask for the flood history before you buy and look for stains, musty smells and soft wood. Our guide to mold after water damage explains what to check. AES lists mold inspection, mold remediation and fire and water restoration.

How old are the homes in Brentwood, Missouri?

Old. About 73.7% of Brentwood’s 4,442 housing units were built before 1970 and 77.6% before 1980, in the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey. The 1950s are the biggest decade, with 1,612 homes, or about 36% of all housing units in the city.

These are estimates, and the margin of error is wide for a city this small. The Census cannot show 1978, the lead paint cutoff, so use the year built on your deed.

Only 176 homes date from the 1970s, which means Brentwood has few ranch-era homes and many from the decades before. That is why survey results here often matter before a remodel. Newer infill, about 22.4% of units, is the exception.

A 1950s house often has vinyl floor tile, adhesive, pipe wrap and layers of paint. Do not disturb them to find out. An asbestos survey samples the materials first. Our guide to asbestos in older St. Louis homes lists the usual places. AES lists asbestos abatement, asbestos testing and lead abatement. Read about lead paint in pre-1978 homes before any sanding.

Who permits and inspects work in Brentwood?

The City of Brentwood does. It says it conducts residential and commercial permitting and inspections for construction and occupancy, and that St. Louis County does not perform these inspections. So Brentwood is a different path from unincorporated county land, and your first call goes to city hall.

Three rules from the city’s pages shape your schedule.

• License first. A Contractor License is required for any kind of work. You need it before you apply for a building permit or ask for an inspection.
• Review time. The city says review takes up to 10 business days.
• Demolition notice. The permits page links a step called Notify Nearby Residents Regarding Demolition. We did not open it, so ask the city what it requires.

The city also lists construction hours of Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Does a Brentwood demolition also need county approval?

Yes, for the asbestos side. St. Louis County Public Health says each structure to be demolished needs a survey by a Missouri licensed asbestos inspector, and the survey goes in with the Demolition Waste Application and Release Authorization form. The city permit and the county review are separate steps.

County inspectors also visit residential and commercial demolitions to keep dust from leaving the property. Missouri DNR requires notice at least 10 working days before crews begin a project on a regulated structure. Most single-family homes are exempt from the state rule, but commercial buildings are not. Learn the NESHAP rule and what containment does. Our guide to Missouri demolition and renovation asbestos rules shows the order. AES lists demolition and interior demolition.

What about floors and small commercial buildings in Brentwood?

The city calls itself a business and employment center on about two square miles of land. That makes floors and interior work common in its small commercial buildings. Damp concrete can hurt a coating, so moisture comes first, and a slab near the creek deserves a closer look.

AES says its moisture barrier is a liquid applied before flooring to keep moisture from coming through. Read the moisture barriers page. For shop or warehouse floors, see epoxy floor coatings and concrete polishing. Our guide to concrete floor prep explains why. We do not claim past work in Brentwood on this page.

Which AES service should Brentwood owners start with?

Start with whatever you can see. Damp walls or a musty smell point to a mold inspection. Old tile or pipe wrap points to a survey. Paint on a pre-1978 house points to lead testing. A building with flood damage points to restoration.

• Stains, musty smell or soft wood: start with mold inspection.
• Old floor tile, pipe wrap or ceilings: start with asbestos testing.
• Peeling paint in a pre-1978 house: start with lead abatement.
• Water or fire damage: start with fire and water restoration.
• A planned teardown: start with demolition.

Next step

Call (314) 865-2662 or send our quote form with your Brentwood address and what you found. For a wider view of the county, see St. Louis County, MO.