What's Required in St. Louis
- No permit to recover or replace the roof covering with the same type, up to two layers, with 25% or less of the sheathing replaced (Ord. 70795 Sec. 105.2 item 3)
- Building permit for a new roof of a different material, for replacing more than 25% of the sheathing, and for any rafter, truss or bearing-support work
- Fee when required: $25 application plus $19 to $30 for work up to $3,000, then $10 per $1,000 of estimated cost or fraction thereof
- Maximum two layers of roofing; low-slope roofs (1/4:12 to under 4:12) must provide positive drainage
- Gutters and above-grade downspouts are exempt from permit
- Cultural Resources Office approval for exterior work on property in a City Historic District or on a City Landmark
- Owner, lessee or agent may apply; an owner-occupant may prepare the drawings; structural repairs usually need sealed drawings
- Floodway Development Permit for any project in a FEMA flood area even where no building permit is needed
Do You Need a Permit to Replace a Roof in St. Louis?
Usually not. Section 105.2 item 3 of the city's 2018 Residential Code ordinance (70795) exempts recovering or replacing the roof covering with the same type of roof covering, to a maximum of two layers, and replacement of 25 percent or less of the roof sheathing. The Building Division's web page says the same: no permit for a roof replacement done with like material and 25 percent or less of the sheathing. A low-slope roof (pitch of 1/4:12 up to 4:12) must still be built to drain. A permit is required for an entire new roof when the work is not a like-material replacement or when more than 25 percent of the sheathing is removed and replaced, and for any work on rafters, trusses or other structural members.
Gutters and above-grade downspouts are exempt too (item 2). If the house is in a City Historic District or is a City Landmark, the Cultural Resources Office reviews exterior work such as gutters and painting even when the Building Code needs no permit, so call 314-657-3865 before a visible roof change.
St. Louis Roof Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Tear-off and replace asphalt shingles with asphalt shingles, 25% or less of sheathing replaced | None | Ord. 70795 Sec. 105.2 item 3 |
| Second layer of shingles over the existing layer | None (two layers maximum) | Item 3 |
| Third layer | Not allowed; tear off first | Item 3: maximum of two layers |
| Replacing more than 25% of the sheathing, $10,000 job | Building permit, $125 ($25 + $100) | Criteria page; fee table |
| Changing the roofing type (shingle to metal or tile), $18,000 | Building permit, $205 ($25 + $180) | Criteria page: not replacement of like material |
| Repairing or replacing rafters, trusses or bearing supports | Building permit | R105.1; criteria page structural work line |
| New gutters and downspouts | None | Item 2 |
How Much Does a Roof Permit Cost in St. Louis?
When a permit is needed, the fee follows the estimated cost of the job. The Building Division's table charges a $25 application fee plus $19 (total $44) for work up to $1,000, $23 ($48) up to $2,000, $30 ($55) up to $3,000, then $10 per $1,000 or fraction above that. A $10,000 reroof that replaces most of the sheathing pays $25 + $100 = $125; an $18,000 switch to standing-seam metal pays $205. The $25 application fee is paid at filing and the permit fee when the permit is ready to issue; nothing is refundable. Starting before the permit adds a surcharge under Table R109.4 ($90 on a permit fee of $51 to $200, $240 on $201 to $500). The 2018 ordinance printed a lower rate, but the figures above are what the Building Division's page and online estimator charge now.
Who Can Do the Work?
The Building Division's pages describe city licenses for electrical, plumbing and mechanical contractors; they do not list a roofing or general contractor license, and the ordinance lets the owner, a lessee or an agent apply for a building permit. For a like-for-like reroof there is nothing to file, so the practical checks are the two-layer limit, drainage on a low-slope roof, and the Cultural Resources Office in a historic district. If a permit is needed, an owner-occupant may draw the plans; a structural repair to rafters or trusses is the kind of change the Plan Exam page says usually needs an architect's or engineer's seal.
How Do You Apply When a Permit Is Needed?
File online at stlcitypermits.com or at the Permit Section in Room 425, City Hall, with the $25 application fee and plans showing the roof framing, sheathing and covering. Small residential projects can be approved at the Hot Spot desk between 9 AM and 3 PM, and the portal says 70 percent of permits issue the same day; routed reviews typically take 2 to 4 weeks. The permit issues in the owner of record's name for six months. Request inspections at least one working day ahead and do not cover new structural framing before it is approved.
How to Get a Roof Replacement Permit in St. Louis
Check the three exemption conditions
Same type of covering, two layers or fewer after the job, and 25% or less of the sheathing replaced: no permit. Miss any one and you file a building permit.
Check the district
In a City Historic District or at a City Landmark, call the Cultural Resources Office (314-657-3865) before changing the visible roof, gutters or trim.
Apply if needed
Online at stlcitypermits.com or in Room 425 with the $25 application fee and plans of the framing, sheathing and covering; structural repairs usually need sealed drawings.
Pay the permit fee
When approved, pay $10 per $1,000 of cost ($125 on a $10,000 job) and post the permit on site. Work started early carries a surcharge.
Inspect before you close up
Request inspections at least one working day ahead; new structural framing must be approved before sheathing covers it, then the final closes the permit.