--- title: "Asbestos and Lead Help in University City, MO | Advanced Environmental Services" description: "University City, Missouri has historic districts and 6,797 homes built in 1939 or earlier. See its demolition permit rule, historic review and AES services." url: https://www.aes-stl.com/service-areas/university-city-mo publisher: Advanced Environmental Services phone: +1-314-865-2662 quote: https://www.aes-stl.com/contact --- # Asbestos, lead and demolition work in University City, Missouri In University City, Missouri, 79.5% of homes were built before 1970 and 84.9% before 1980, and 6,797 date from 1939 or earlier. The city generally requires a permit to demolish a structure, and its Historic Preservation Commission reviews demolitions in local historic districts. City hall is about 8.7 miles from the AES office. [Request a Quote](https://www.aes-stl.com/contact)[(314) 865-2662](tel:+1-314-865-2662) ![Underground storage tank exposed in an excavation during an AES tank removal](https://www.aes-stl.com/_astro/tank-removal-2025-09-30-10.27.14.Cb_y1_7s_Z12VFYq.webp) ![Commercial space sealed with plastic containment and air machines during AES mold remediation](https://www.aes-stl.com/_astro/Commercial-Mold-Remed-1.Ba4cYySF_Z9NqLo.webp) ![Building wrapped in white containment sheeting during an AES lead abatement project](https://www.aes-stl.com/_astro/127.BqgpMQY__7ReD8.webp) ## Prewar housing 6,797 University City homes were built in 1939 or earlier, and 79.5% of the city's homes date before 1970. ## Demolition needs a permit The city says you generally need a permit to demolish a structure or to repair fire, tornado, flood or earthquake damage. ## Historic review The Historic Preservation Commission reviews applications to demolish buildings within local historic districts. ## County survey rule St. Louis County requires a Missouri licensed asbestos inspector to survey each structure before demolition. ## University City at a glance Office to University City city hall About 8.7 miles, 16 minutes without traffic [router.project-osrm.org](https://router.project-osrm.org/route/v1/driving/-90.233935,38.599770;-90.310003,38.656516?overview=false) City homes built before 1970 79.5% [api.censusreporter.org](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034&geo_ids=16000US2975220,05000US29189) City homes built before 1980 84.9% [api.censusreporter.org](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034&geo_ids=16000US2975220,05000US29189) Homes built in 1939 or earlier 6,797 of 17,841 housing units [api.censusreporter.org](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034&geo_ids=16000US2975220,05000US29189) County homes built before 1980 68.6% [api.censusreporter.org](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034&geo_ids=16000US2975220,05000US29189) Permit to demolish a structure Generally required by the city [ucitymo.org](https://www.ucitymo.org/FAQ.asp?TID=24) Demolition review in local historic districts Historic Preservation Commission reviews applications [ucitymo.org](https://www.ucitymo.org/265/Historic-Preservation-Commission) Local historic districts and landmarks 8 local, plus 14 national [ucitymo.org](https://www.ucitymo.org/834/Historic-Districts-and-Landmarks-Map) County lead inspection eligibility Free if a child under six lives in or visits the home [stlouiscountymo.gov](https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/public-health/environmental-services/healthy-homes/healthy-homes-faq/2-i-would-like-my-home-tested-for-lead-may-i-request-an-environmental-lead-inspection/) Home baseAreas we serveSelect an area for its page. Map data: US Census Bureau. ## What makes University City homes different from the rest of the county? Their age. University City has 17,841 housing units, and 6,797 of them, about 38%, were built in 1939 or earlier. Another 2,259 date from the 1940s. Across St. Louis County, 68.6% of homes were built before 1980. In University City the figure is 84.9%. That prewar stock matters because early twentieth century houses can carry lead-based paint under many layers of newer coats, plaster and old heating pipe insulation. We do not claim a given house has them. We say the odds justify a test before work starts. Measure University City St. Louis County Housing units counted 17,841 446,192 Built before 1970 79.5% 52.6% Built before 1980 84.9% 68.6% Built 1939 or earlier 38.1% 9.7% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year, table B25034. The city shares are on the published counts; the county shares are our arithmetic on the county counts. ## Do I need a permit to demolish in University City, Missouri? Generally yes. The city’s permit FAQ lists “Constructing, enlarging, moving, removing, or demolishing a structure” among the jobs that need a permit. It also lists repairing fire, tornado, flood or earthquake damage. That second item matters after a fire or storm. Burned and storm-damaged buildings are still old buildings. If the house predates 1980, test for asbestos and lead before crews open the damaged walls. Our [fire and water restoration](https://www.aes-stl.com/fire-and-water-restoration) page covers that work. Then comes the county. St. Louis County requires a Demolition Waste Application and Release Authorization and a survey of each structure by a Missouri licensed asbestos inspector. Read the county side at [St. Louis County, MO](https://www.aes-stl.com/service-areas/st-louis-county-mo) and the state rules in our [Missouri demolition and renovation asbestos rules](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/missouri-demolition-and-renovation-asbestos-rules) guide. ## How does historic review change a University City teardown? It adds a step in local historic districts. The city’s Historic Preservation Commission reviews applications for permission to demolish buildings within local historic districts. It also reviews proposed changes inside those districts and applications to designate landmarks. The city lists 14 national and 8 local historic districts and landmarks. The local ones include Clifford Row, Linden-Kingsbury, Parkview and Olive Boulevard. The national list includes Delmar Loop and Parkview Gardens. Check your street against the city’s map, since national listing and local review are not the same thing. For a property in a local district, ask the city who must approve before you book abatement or demolition. We did not find a review timeline on the pages we read, so we do not state one. ## Which parts of an older University City house hold asbestos or lead? Start with materials that are common in prewar and midcentury houses: pipe and boiler insulation, floor tile and its adhesive, plaster, roofing and siding, and paint on trim, doors and windows. Handle these in order. Test first. Then plan containment and removal. An [asbestos survey](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/asbestos-survey) names what is there, and our [guide to asbestos in older St. Louis homes](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/asbestos-in-older-st-louis-homes) lists usual locations. For paint, see [lead paint in pre-1978 homes](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/lead-paint-in-pre-1978-homes) and the definition of [lead-based paint](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/lead-based-paint). Do not scrape, sand or burn old paint yourself, and do not disturb suspect insulation. AES lists [lead abatement](https://www.aes-stl.com/lead-abatement), [asbestos abatement](https://www.aes-stl.com/asbestos-abatement) and [asbestos testing](https://www.aes-stl.com/asbestos-testing) as services. Ask about [containment](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/containment) on any job that opens walls in an occupied house. ## Can St. Louis County test a University City home for lead? Only in narrow cases. The County’s Healthy Homes Program offers free in-home lead inspections to county residents. A child under six must live in the home or visit regularly, and that child needs a recent venous blood lead test. For anyone else, the county points to licensed lead inspectors for hire. Call the county first. If you are renting or buying and no child lives there, a paid test from a licensed inspector is the practical route. ## What do vacant property and occupancy rules mean for owners? They mean more paperwork around an old building. University City issues residential occupancy permits, for renter and owner occupied homes, and runs a vacant property registration. Both appear on the city’s Planning and Zoning page. We did not read the requirements for either, so check them with the city. If you plan to rehab and reoccupy a vacant house, test for asbestos and lead before the rehab budget is final. A positive result can change the order of work. [Interior demolition](https://www.aes-stl.com/interior-demolition) and [mold remediation](https://www.aes-stl.com/mold-remediation) often come after abatement, not before. ## How should you sequence work on a prewar University City house? Test, then permit, then abate, then build. Skipping the first step is the costly mistake, because a surprise inside a wall stops the whole job. 1. **Test suspect materials.** Order an [asbestos survey](https://www.aes-stl.com/asbestos-survey) and a lead test for paint that work will disturb. 2. **Ask the city about the permit.** Demolition and repair of fire or storm damage both generally need one. Ask about historic review if the address is in a local district. 3. **Complete the county form for any demolition.** The survey goes in with it. 4. **Abate before you demolish.** Regulated material comes out first. 5. **Dry the building, then rebuild.** If water was part of the damage, see [mold remediation](https://www.aes-stl.com/mold-remediation). Each step can change the next, so keep the survey report with your permit papers. ## How far is University City from the AES office? About 8.7 miles, about 16 minutes without traffic, from 3100 Gravois Ave to University City hall. That is an OSRM free-flow estimate, so allow more at rush hour. AES lists St. Louis and projects within 300 miles of St. Louis as its service area. For related areas, see [Maplewood, MO](https://www.aes-stl.com/service-areas/maplewood-mo), [St. Louis, MO](https://www.aes-stl.com/service-areas/st-louis-mo) and the full list of [service areas](https://www.aes-stl.com/service-areas). ## Next step Call (314) 865-2662 or send our [quote form](https://www.aes-stl.com/contact) with your University City, Missouri address and the work you plan. See the [lead abatement](https://www.aes-stl.com/lead-abatement) page to learn the process first. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I need a permit to demolish a building in University City, Missouri? Generally yes. The City of University City says you generally need a permit if you are demolishing a structure, and also if you are repairing fire, tornado, flood or earthquake damage. St. Louis County adds its own demolition form and asbestos survey. Call the city before you hire crews. ### What if my University City house is in a historic district? The Historic Preservation Commission reviews applications for permission to demolish buildings within local historic districts. The city lists eight local districts and landmarks, including Clifford Row, Linden-Kingsbury, Parkview and Olive Boulevard. Check your address with the city before you plan a teardown. ### Are University City homes likely to have asbestos or lead paint? Many could. About 79.5% of homes were built before 1970 and 84.9% before 1980, and 6,797 were built in 1939 or earlier. The Census counts decades, so it cannot show 1978 exactly. Check your build year, then test suspect materials before you renovate. ### Can the county test my University City home for lead? Sometimes. St. Louis County's Healthy Homes Program offers free in-home lead inspections, but only if a child under six lives in the home or visits regularly and has a recent venous blood lead test. Otherwise, the county points you to licensed lead inspectors for hire. ### Does AES serve University City, Missouri? Yes. AES serves St. Louis and projects within 300 miles of St. Louis. University City is about 8.7 miles from the office at 3100 Gravois Ave, about 16 minutes without traffic. Call (314) 865-2662 to confirm your address and scope. ### How do I get a quote? Call (314) 865-2662 or send the quote form at /contact with your University City address, the year the building was built and the work you plan. AES will review the scope with you and tell you the next step. ## Terms on this page - [Interior demolition](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/interior-demolition) - [Lead-based paint](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/lead-based-paint) - [Mold remediation](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/mold-remediation) - [Asbestos survey](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/asbestos-survey) - [Lead abatement](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/lead-abatement) - [Containment](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/containment) ## Sources 1. [U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 2024 5-year, table B25034 (University City)](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034&geo_ids=16000US2975220,05000US29189) 2. [U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 2024 5-year, table B25034 (St. Louis County)](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034&geo_ids=16000US2975220,05000US29189) 3. [OSRM route estimate: office to University City city hall](https://router.project-osrm.org/route/v1/driving/-90.233935,38.599770;-90.310003,38.656516?overview=false) 4. [City of University City: Why and When Do I Need a Permit?](https://www.ucitymo.org/FAQ.asp?TID=24) 5. [City of University City: Why and When Do I Need a Permit? (damage repair)](https://www.ucitymo.org/FAQ.asp?TID=24) 6. [City of University City: Historic Preservation Commission](https://www.ucitymo.org/265/Historic-Preservation-Commission) 7. [City of University City: Historic Districts and Landmarks Map](https://www.ucitymo.org/834/Historic-Districts-and-Landmarks-Map) 8. [City of University City: Planning and Zoning](https://www.ucitymo.org/354/Planning-Zoning) 9. [St. Louis County: Demolition Inspections (asbestos survey)](https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/public-health/environmental-services/air-pollution-control/asbestos/asbestos-neshap-notification-form-instructions/) 10. [St. Louis County: Healthy Homes lead inspections](https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/public-health/environmental-services/healthy-homes/healthy-homes-faq/2-i-would-like-my-home-tested-for-lead-may-i-request-an-environmental-lead-inspection/) Checked against the sources above on November 6, 2026. Rules and fees change, so check the linked page before you act. ## 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)