Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri Building Permit Guide

In Bellefontaine Neighbors the city Building Department issues building, concrete, HVAC, roofing, siding, fence and occupancy permits, while St. Louis County issues electrical and plumbing permits under a contract with the city. A construction permit costs $100 for the first $1,000 of project cost plus $5 for each additional $1,000, and a home offered for sale or rent needs a $125 occupancy inspection.

What needs a permit in Bellefontaine Neighbors?

The city’s list of home repairs that require a permit is broad, and every concrete job is on it.

Conditional use permits, Board of Adjustment requests and zoning map copies are also handled by the Building Department.

Bellefontaine Neighbors building department: who handles permitting

The city runs its own Building Department, which works with the Public Works Department at City Hall. St. Louis County’s list of municipal code contracts (revised August 3, 2026) shows the city contracts with the county only for the electrical and plumbing codes and for residential occupancy permits for first-time home buyers; the building, residential, existing building and mechanical codes and property maintenance stay with the city. The county links those first-time-buyer inspections to buyer-assistance programs that require a safety and lead inspection ($95.50).

How to file: iWorQ, mail or City Hall

Three applications can be filed online in the city’s iWorQ portal: Construction / Concrete, Excavation and HVAC / Roofing / Siding. The portal needs a matching property and a contractor already on file, and contractors with expired licences cannot submit. A permit is issued only after payment is received.

The same forms can be downloaded, printed and returned to City Hall by mail or through the drop box to the left of the front door, or filed in person. Paper applications should be left with payment, except construction permits. In person the city takes cash, check or a credit or debit card; mailed payments must be by check, and payments are not taken by phone.

Bellefontaine Neighbors permit fees

Fees are set by Section 5-7 of the city code, last amended by Ordinance 2662 (May 16, 2024).

For example, a $20,000 room addition costs $100 for the first $1,000 plus 19 × $5 for the rest, or $195. The fee sheet linked from the city’s FAQ page matches these building fees, but it lists the annual rental registration licence at $300, while Section 5-7 of the code sets the rental licence at $150.

Electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits

Electrical and plumbing permits are obtained from St. Louis County, which enforces those codes in Bellefontaine Neighbors by contract; contractors apply through the county’s Permitting Portal, and the county’s electrical office for contracted municipalities is 314-615-7162. Furnace, air-conditioning and other mechanical work is permitted by the city ($75), under the 2009 International Mechanical Code as amended by St. Louis County.

Alliance handles electrical permit applications for contractors here. More on this: who pulls the electrical permit.

How to get a permit in Bellefontaine Neighbors

Inspections and occupancy permits

An occupancy inspection is required when a property is offered for sale or for rent. Under the city’s Property Maintenance Code, owners and their real estate agents must apply within three calendar days of offering the property, must give prospective buyers or tenants a copy of the certificate or inspection report, and face a fine of $250 to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both if they do not. A certificate or report is valid for 180 days. The inspection is a property maintenance check, not a performance inspection.

Occupancy inspections are by appointment on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with all utilities on. The fee is paid before the inspection is scheduled, and no “For Sale”, “For Rent” or realtor sign may go up before the initial inspection. After the home passes, each new resident household gets an occupancy permit at City Hall, bringing a driver’s licence or state ID for every adult and birth certificates for children.

Inspections more than 90 days old must be redone at the same fees.

Local rules worth knowing

Adopted codes: the 2009 International Building, Residential and Existing Building Codes and the 2009 International Mechanical Code, each as amended by St. Louis County in 2010, the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code, and a property maintenance code based on the 2003 International Property Maintenance Code.

Roof replacements: since February 3, 2011 the city enforces the 2009 IBC asphalt-shingle rules on re-roofs, including drip edge at eaves and gables and an ice barrier reaching at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line.

Fence upkeep: Ordinance 2730, enacted in August 2026, requires fence lines to be kept free of overgrowth and chain-link fences to be kept in good repair; chain-link may be galvanized or painted gray or black.

Floodplain: Chapter 11 of the code names the City Engineer as floodplain administrator, requires a floodplain development permit for work in mapped flood zones and sets the lowest floor of new or substantially improved homes at least 1 foot above base flood elevation. FEMA lists the city as a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Grading: grading permits are approved by the city engineer and expire one year after issue.

Missouri building code

Missouri has no mandatory statewide building code for private construction: a county, fire protection district or municipality may adopt one (usually by reference under RSMo 67.280), and in parts of the state none has. Building codes in Missouri

Bellefontaine Neighbors permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Bellefontaine Neighbors?

The city’s Building Department at City Hall, 9641 Bellefontaine Road (314-867-0076). Electrical and plumbing permits come from St. Louis County.

How much is a building permit in Bellefontaine Neighbors?

$100 for the first $1,000 of project cost plus $5 for each additional $1,000 or part, so a $20,000 addition is $195. Roof, siding and HVAC permits are $75 each.

Do I need a permit to replace my roof?

Yes. A roof permit costs $75, and the city enforces drip-edge and ice-barrier rules from the 2009 International Building Code.

Do I need a permit for a patio or driveway?

Yes. All concrete work needs a permit; patios, sidewalks and driveways are $70 each.

What do I need to sell or rent my house?

Apply for an occupancy inspection within three days of putting the property on the market. It costs $125 for the inspection and one re-inspection, and buyers or tenants must get a copy of the result.

Can I apply online?

Yes, for construction and concrete, excavation, and HVAC, roofing and siding permits, through the city’s iWorQ portal.

Bellefontaine Neighbors permit search and official resources

• Bellefontaine Neighbors Building Department
• Bellefontaine Neighbors permits and fees
• Building Department FAQ and occupancy inspection application
• Bellefontaine Neighbors iWorQ permit portal
• City Code Sec. 5-7, Building Department fees
• Bellefontaine Neighbors Code of Ordinances
• St. Louis County municipal code contracts list
• St. Louis County permit procedures (electrical and plumbing)

Simplify Bellefontaine Neighbors permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Missouri. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Bellefontaine Neighbors permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.