--- title: "Old Home Abatement in Webster Groves, MO | Advanced Environmental Services" description: "Webster Groves, Missouri requires a permit to demolish a structure or cut away a wall covering, and has four local historic districts. See rules and AES services." url: https://www.aes-stl.com/service-areas/webster-groves-mo publisher: Advanced Environmental Services phone: +1-314-865-2662 quote: https://www.aes-stl.com/contact --- # Asbestos, lead and demolition work in Webster Groves, Missouri In Webster Groves, Missouri, a building permit is required for demolition or moving of a structure, and for cutting away any wall or wall covering. The city has four local historic districts. About 80.5% of homes were built before 1980. City hall is about 10 miles from the AES office. [Request a Quote](https://www.aes-stl.com/contact)[(314) 865-2662](tel:+1-314-865-2662) ![Large warehouse floor polished to a high gloss by AES](https://www.aes-stl.com/_astro/concrete-polishing-6.D75US3SZ_1H2Hka.webp) ![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) ## Wall work needs a permit Webster Groves requires a building permit to cut away any wall or wall covering, not only to demolish. ## Four historic districts Central Webster, Webster Park, Marshall Place and Old Webster each have design guidelines. ## Century-old houses 3,479 of 9,921 housing units were built in 1939 or earlier, and 80.5% of homes date before 1980. ## A short drive City hall is about 10.0 miles, 16 minutes, from the AES office at 3100 Gravois Ave. ## Webster Groves at a glance Office to Webster Groves city hall About 10.0 miles, 16 minutes without traffic [router.project-osrm.org](https://router.project-osrm.org/route/v1/driving/-90.233935,38.599770;-90.356683,38.592652?overview=false) City homes built before 1970 75.2% [api.censusreporter.org](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034&geo_ids=16000US2978154,05000US29189) City homes built before 1980 80.5% [api.censusreporter.org](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034&geo_ids=16000US2978154,05000US29189) Homes built in 1939 or earlier 3,479 of 9,921 housing units [api.censusreporter.org](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034&geo_ids=16000US2978154,05000US29189) County homes built before 1980 68.6% [api.censusreporter.org](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034&geo_ids=16000US2978154,05000US29189) Building permit for demolition Required for demolition or moving of a structure [webstergrovesmo.gov](https://www.webstergrovesmo.gov/211/Building-Permits) Local historic districts with guidelines Four [webstergrovesmo.gov](https://www.webstergrovesmo.gov/76/Historic-Preservation-Commission) Historic Preservation Commission Nine members [webstergrovesmo.gov](https://www.webstergrovesmo.gov/76/Historic-Preservation-Commission) City-designated landmark buildings Over 50 [wgpl.org](https://www.wgpl.org/webster-groves-homes/) County demolition survey rule Missouri licensed asbestos inspector for each structure [stlouiscountymo.gov](https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/public-health/environmental-services/air-pollution-control/demolition-inspections/) Home baseAreas we serveSelect an area for its page. Map data: US Census Bureau. ## What does Webster Groves require before you demolish or cut into a wall? A building permit, in both cases. The City of Webster Groves lists “Demolition or moving of a structure” among the work that needs a permit application. It also lists cutting away any wall or wall covering. City hall is at 4 E. Lockwood Ave. That second rule is the one owners miss. A bathroom gut, a kitchen opening or a plaster repair can all cut into a wall covering. In a house this old, that is also the moment hidden materials show up. Test before the saw comes out. Work in Webster Groves City permit rule Where AES fits Demolition or moving of a structure Building permit application required [Demolition](https://www.aes-stl.com/demolition) and [building demolition](https://www.aes-stl.com/building-demolition) Cutting away any wall or wall covering Building permit required [Asbestos survey](https://www.aes-stl.com/asbestos-survey), then [asbestos abatement](https://www.aes-stl.com/asbestos-abatement) if needed Interior alterations Building permit required [Interior demolition](https://www.aes-stl.com/interior-demolition) Source: City of Webster Groves, Building Permits. The permit column is the city’s wording. The last column is our service match. ## What does the county add to a Webster Groves demolition? An asbestos survey and a county form. St. Louis County requires a Demolition Waste Application and Release Authorization for demolition projects. Each structure must be inspected for asbestos by a Missouri licensed asbestos inspector, and the survey goes in with the form. The county also sends its inspectors to residential and commercial demolitions to check that dust does not leave the property. County pages tie this to lead too, since older homes are more likely to contain lead. See [St. Louis County, MO](https://www.aes-stl.com/service-areas/st-louis-county-mo) for the county office, and the [Missouri demolition and renovation asbestos rules](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/missouri-demolition-and-renovation-asbestos-rules) for the state notice period. ## How old is the housing in Webster Groves, Missouri? Older than most of the county. Of 9,921 housing units, 75.2% were built before 1970 and 80.5% before 1980. In St. Louis County overall, 68.6% date before 1980. The figures come from the 2024 American Community Survey, 5-year estimates. The prewar share stands out. A total of 3,479 units, about 35%, date from 1939 or earlier, and another 1,126 from the 1940s. Across the county, only about 9.7% are from 1939 or earlier. The Webster Groves Public Library says the town is known for “houses that have stood for a hundred years and more.” So plan for old plaster, old wiring, old paint and old floors. Our guide to [asbestos in older St. Louis homes](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/asbestos-in-older-st-louis-homes) lists where asbestos hides, and [lead paint in pre-1978 homes](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/lead-paint-in-pre-1978-homes) covers paint. Learn the terms [lead-based paint](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/lead-based-paint) and [asbestos survey](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/asbestos-survey). ## Which Webster Groves neighborhoods have historic design guidelines? Four: Central Webster, Webster Park, Marshall Place and Old Webster. The city publishes design guidelines for each local historic district, and a nine-member Historic Preservation Commission handles them. It meets monthly at City Hall. The library adds context from outside the city: over a dozen districts and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, and over 50 city-designated landmark buildings. Local districts and National Register listings are different programs, so ask the city which one covers your house. We did not read the guidelines, so we do not describe what they allow. If your house sits in a district, check the guidelines before you plan window, siding or exterior work, and before you plan a teardown. Siding is a common asbestos question; see [asbestos siding removal](https://www.aes-stl.com/asbestos-siding-removal). ## What projects do Webster Groves owners hire AES for? Projects that follow the age of the housing. We list what AES offers and match it to the work. - [Asbestos testing](https://www.aes-stl.com/asbestos-testing) and [asbestos abatement](https://www.aes-stl.com/asbestos-abatement) before remodels. - [Lead abatement](https://www.aes-stl.com/lead-abatement) on paint in older trim, windows and doors. - [Mold remediation](https://www.aes-stl.com/mold-remediation) and [mold inspection](https://www.aes-stl.com/mold-inspection) after basement leaks. - [Moisture barriers](https://www.aes-stl.com/moisture-barriers) for crawl spaces and basements. - [Demolition](https://www.aes-stl.com/demolition) for garages, additions and full teardowns, after the survey. AES lists residential, commercial, industrial, governmental and healthcare customers. Webster Groves has all of these building types, so the same survey-first order applies. ## How do you plan a Webster Groves project from survey to teardown? Work in order: date the building, survey it, check permits, remove regulated material, then demolish or remodel. The order matters because the city permit, the county form and the state notice each run on their own clock. 1. **Confirm the build year.** Use the deed or county record. Pre-1980 buildings need a survey. 2. **Order an asbestos survey.** A Missouri licensed inspector samples suspect materials. The county needs that survey for a demolition. 3. **Ask the city about permits.** Demolition and wall work both need a building permit application. Ask about historic district review if your address is in one. 4. **Check the state notice.** Regulated projects fall under [NESHAP](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/neshap) rules. Our [Missouri rules guide](https://www.aes-stl.com/guides/missouri-demolition-and-renovation-asbestos-rules) explains the notice. 5. **Set up [containment](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/containment) and remove regulated material.** Abatement comes before demolition. 6. **Demolish or remodel.** The county may inspect for dust control while work runs. Confirm your case with the city and county before you set a date. ## How far is Webster Groves from the AES office? About 10.0 miles, about 16 minutes without traffic, from 3100 Gravois Ave to Webster Groves city hall. That is an OSRM free-flow estimate, so allow more at rush hour. It is one of the shorter trips among the St. Louis County suburbs we checked. AES lists St. Louis and projects within 300 miles of St. Louis as its service area. For nearby places, see [Maplewood, MO](https://www.aes-stl.com/service-areas/maplewood-mo), [St. Louis County, MO](https://www.aes-stl.com/service-areas/st-louis-county-mo) and [St. Louis, MO](https://www.aes-stl.com/service-areas/st-louis-mo). ## Next step Call (314) 865-2662 or send our [quote form](https://www.aes-stl.com/contact) with your Webster Groves, Missouri address and the work you plan. Start with the [demolition](https://www.aes-stl.com/demolition) page to see how a job runs. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I need a permit to demolish a house in Webster Groves, Missouri? Yes. The City of Webster Groves requires a building permit application for demolition or moving of a structure. The city also requires one for cutting away any wall or wall covering. St. Louis County adds its own demolition form and asbestos survey. Ask the city if your property is in a historic district. ### Does Webster Groves have historic districts that affect remodeling? Yes. The city lists four local historic districts with design guidelines: Central Webster, Webster Park, Marshall Place and Old Webster. A nine-member Historic Preservation Commission oversees them. Check your address with the city before you plan exterior changes or a teardown. ### Are Webster Groves houses old enough to have asbestos or lead paint? Many are. About 75.2% of homes were built before 1970 and 80.5% before 1980, and 3,479 date from 1939 or earlier. The Census counts decades, so it cannot show 1978 exactly. Check the build year of your house and test suspect materials before you renovate. ### Do I need a permit just to open a wall in Webster Groves? Often, yes. The city lists cutting away any wall or wall covering among repairs and alterations that require a building permit. Opening a wall in an old house can also expose plaster, insulation or pipe wrap, so test those materials first. ### Does AES serve Webster Groves, Missouri? Yes. AES serves St. Louis and projects within 300 miles of St. Louis. Webster Groves city hall is about 10.0 miles from the office at 3100 Gravois Ave, about 16 minutes without traffic. Call (314) 865-2662 to confirm your address. ### How do I get a quote? Call (314) 865-2662 or send the quote form at /contact with your Webster Groves 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) - [Mold inspection](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/mold-inspection) - [Lead abatement](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/lead-abatement) - [Containment](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/containment) - [NESHAP](https://www.aes-stl.com/glossary/neshap) ## Sources 1. [U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 2024 5-year, table B25034 (Webster Groves)](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034&geo_ids=16000US2978154,05000US29189) 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=16000US2978154,05000US29189) 3. [OSRM route estimate: office to Webster Groves city hall](https://router.project-osrm.org/route/v1/driving/-90.233935,38.599770;-90.356683,38.592652?overview=false) 4. [City of Webster Groves: Building Permits (demolition)](https://www.webstergrovesmo.gov/211/Building-Permits) 5. [City of Webster Groves: Building Permits (wall work)](https://www.webstergrovesmo.gov/211/Building-Permits) 6. [City of Webster Groves: Historic Preservation Commission (districts)](https://www.webstergrovesmo.gov/76/Historic-Preservation-Commission) 7. [City of Webster Groves: Historic Preservation Commission (members)](https://www.webstergrovesmo.gov/76/Historic-Preservation-Commission) 8. [Webster Groves Public Library: Webster Groves Homes](https://www.wgpl.org/webster-groves-homes/) 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/) 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)