What's Required in St. Louis
- Building permit for every new fence; exempt only when replacing an existing fence at the same height, material and location in a rear or side yard (not pool enclosures)
- Fee: $25 application plus $19 to $30 for work up to $3,000, then $10 per $1,000 of estimated cost or fraction thereof
- No fence over 48 in in front of the building line in residential zones; up to 8 ft along side or rear lines; 10 ft in commercial zones (Building Code Sec. 430)
- No barbed wire, razor ribbon or similar on any residential-zone fence; corner-lot fences must stay out of the sight-distance triangle
- Site plan showing the lot, alley, house, and the fence's location, length, height and type with distances to each property line, plus a fence section with the footing
- Handout footing depth: 30 in below grade for fences up to 6 ft, 36 in for fences up to 10 ft, with 2 in of concrete cover on post sides and 4 in below
- Cultural Resources Office approval for all fences at properties in a City Historic District or on a City Landmark; photographs when within 300 ft of a park, historic district or landmark
- The owner is responsible for locating property lines; a $25 building line survey from Zoning fixes the front line
Do You Need a Permit to Build a Fence in St. Louis?
Yes, for any new fence. The Building Division lists all new fences of any type as permit work; the only exemption in the city's 2018 Residential Code ordinance (Section 105.2 item 6) is replacing an existing fence at the same height, material and location, and even that exemption falls away when the fence encloses a swimming pool, hot tub or spa. The city's web page adds that the replacement exemption applies in the rear or side yard. A fence in one of the City Historic Districts or at a City Landmark also needs Cultural Resources Office approval, replacement or not.
How Tall Can a Fence Be in St. Louis?
Section 430 of the city's Building Code (added by Ordinance 70794 and still in the codified Revised Code) sets the limits for residential zones: no fence over 48 inches in front of the building line, and up to 8 feet along side or rear property lines behind it. Commercial zones allow 10 feet. Barbed wire and razor ribbon are banned on residential fences, a corner-lot fence may not sit inside the sight-distance triangle, and the owner is responsible for locating the property lines. The Plan Exam fence handout, dated 2001, still prints 42 inches for the front cap; the 2018 code text is the current rule, so expect 48 inches at the counter but do not plan on the extra 6 inches without asking. Where your building line sits is a zoning question: match the adjacent house or order a $25 building line survey from Zoning.
St. Louis Fence Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New 6 ft privacy fence along the side and rear lines, $4,000 installed | Building permit, $65 ($25 + $40) | Permit criteria page; fee table |
| Replacing an existing fence at the same height, material and location in a rear or side yard | None | Ord. 70795 Sec. 105.2 item 6 |
| Replacing the fence around a pool, hot tub or spa | Building permit | Item 6 exception for pool enclosures; Section 3109 |
| Fence taller than 48 in in front of the building line | Not allowed without a Board of Adjustment variance ($200 appeal) | Building Code Sec. 430.1(1); zoning fee schedule |
| Fence over 8 ft along a side or rear line in a residential zone | Not allowed | Sec. 430.1(2) |
| Any new fence at a house in a City Historic District or on a City Landmark | Building permit plus Cultural Resources Office approval | Permit criteria page |
| Fence with barbed wire or razor ribbon at a home | Not allowed | Sec. 430.1(4) |
How Much Does a Fence Permit Cost in St. Louis?
The fee is based on the estimated cost of the fence. The Building Division's table charges a $25 application fee plus $19 (total $44) for a job up to $1,000, $23 ($48) up to $2,000, $30 ($55) up to $3,000, and $10 per $1,000 or fraction above that. So a $4,000 fence pays $65 and an $8,000 fence pays $105. The application fee is paid when you file; the permit fee is collected when the permit is ready to issue, and fees are not refundable. The online Permit Cost Estimator gives the same arithmetic, and the plan examiner sets the final figure. If the fence goes up before the permit, Table R109.4 adds a surcharge: $30 on a fee up to $50, $90 on a fee of $51 to $200.
How Do You Apply for a Fence Permit in St. Louis?
Apply online at stlcitypermits.com or at the Permit Section in Room 425, City Hall, with the $25 application fee and plans. The fence handout asks for a site plan showing the lot, the alley, the house, and the location, length, height and type of fence with its distance to each property line, plus a typical fence section with the post footing. Its 2001 general notes put post footings 30 inches below grade for fences up to 6 feet and 36 inches for fences up to 10 feet. Bring one set of photographs if the property is in a historic district or within 300 feet of a park, a historic district or a landmark. The owner, a lessee or an agent may apply and an owner-occupant may draw the plans. The portal says 70 percent of permits issue the same day; a plan examiner is at the Hot Spot desk from 9 AM to 3 PM. The permit is good for six months and can be extended in writing.
Fences may be built across lot lines, but ask the neighbor in writing if you plan to share one. In a FEMA flood area a Floodway Development Permit is still required.
St. Louis is one of five cities that permit every new fence. For other cities' fence fees side by side, see How Much Does a Fence Permit Cost? 30 Cities Compared.
How to Get a Fence Permit in St. Louis
Decide whether it is new or like-for-like
Same height, material and location in the side or rear yard: no permit (unless it encloses a pool). Anything else, including any front-yard fence, needs a building permit.
Check height and the building line
48 in maximum in front of the building line, 8 ft behind it. Match the neighbor's setback or order a $25 building line survey from Zoning in Room 400.
Draw the site plan and fence section
Lot, alley, house, fence location and length, height and type, distance to each lot line, and the post footing. Add photographs in or near a historic district.
Apply and pay the $25 application fee
Online at stlcitypermits.com or in Room 425 with five sets of plans. Small residential projects are often approved at the Hot Spot desk the same day.
Pay the permit fee and build
Pay the balance when the permit is approved, post it on site, keep the fence inside the lines and heights, and call for the final inspection listed on the permit.