Ellisville, Missouri Building Permit Guide

Inside Ellisville, building and plumbing permits are issued by the City’s Engineering Division at 1 Weis Avenue, which also inspects the work; electrical and mechanical permits go through St. Louis County. The building permit costs $3 per $1,000 of estimated construction cost (minimum $15) plus $55 for each inspection, and every house needs a City occupancy inspection before it changes hands.

What needs a permit in Ellisville?

Ellisville enforces the 2015 International Building and Residential Codes with its own amendments, and publishes application forms for these permits:

Accessory buildings used to store vehicles, or built with garage-style doors or a vehicle slab, must have a driveway built to City standards unless the City Council grants a waiver, a rule added by Ordinance 3634 in April 2026. Bill 3875, on the City Council’s July 15, 2026 agenda, would extend the driveway requirement to existing garages and carports; its vote is not yet in posted minutes.

Ellisville building department: who handles permitting

Ellisville runs its own building inspection program in the Engineering Division of Public Works. The Division reviews construction documents for renovations, additions and new buildings, issues permits, and performs building, plumbing, excavation, sewer and demolition inspections within the city limits. The City contracts with St. Louis County, which reviews and issues all electrical and mechanical permits and helps with electrical and mechanical inspections on new buildings. The City has also instituted annual mechanical inspections of all commercial buildings, including their elevators.

Ellisville application requirements

Building permit applications need two hard copies and a digital copy of the plans, signed by the contractor or authorized agent; incomplete or unsigned applications are not processed. Plans must be signed and sealed by a licensed architect or engineer for commercial renovations, new buildings, additions and accessory buildings of 400 sq ft or more, and for decks with a roof, two-story decks or decks of unusual size. All exterior work needs a site or plot plan with the new work highlighted.

Plumbing permits are taken out by licensed plumbers. Ellisville requires its own plumber or drain layer licence ($30, renewed by July 31 each year) in addition to a St. Louis County licence and bond, and a certificate of liability insurance naming the City.

When a plan review is sent to an outside engineer or other professional, the applicant pays that cost through a plan review escrow agreement. Valuations follow ICC building valuation data, or the actual contract when the stated value is well below market.

Ellisville permit fees

Building fees are set in the City’s amendment to Section 109.2 of the building code (City Code Section 500.020); the plumbing figures are printed on the City’s plumbing permit form.

For example, an addition with an estimated cost of $40,000 carries a $120 building permit fee (40 × $3) plus $55 for each inspection the Building Official requires. A bathroom plumbing job with three fixtures and rough and final inspections costs $129.50 ($12 + 2 × $55 + 3 × $2.50). Electrical and mechanical permit fees are charged by St. Louis County.

Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work

Plumbing: Ellisville permits and inspects plumbing itself under the 2015 International Plumbing Code (with the International Private Sewage Disposal Code). The permit form records the Ellisville and St. Louis County licence numbers and the County bond expiry date, and lists the inspections: water service, ground rough, rough, final and repair or alteration.

Electrical and mechanical: all electrical and mechanical work in Ellisville is reviewed and permitted through St. Louis County. The City has adopted the 2014 National Electrical Code and the 2015 International Mechanical Code, and the City Code notes that electrical fees, inspections and applications are handled by the County.

Fire code: the City’s building code chapter also adopts the 2015 International Fire Code.

How to get an Ellisville building permit

Inspections in Ellisville

The Engineering Division performs building and plumbing inspections on all permitted work in the city; contact the Building Inspector at 636-227-9660, ext. 3038. Each building inspection is billed at $55, and extra inspections requested by the owner or contractor, or needed because work failed, carry additional fees. Plumbing inspections are listed on the plumbing permit at $55 each. Electrical and mechanical inspections are arranged through St. Louis County.

Occupancy inspections on sale or rental, and other Ellisville rules

Selling or renting a home: before any change of occupancy or ownership, the property must pass an occupancy inspection by the City’s Building Inspector, and a seller must have the home inspected before the buyer takes possession. The City’s occupancy page prices the inspection at $60 for the first 1,500 sq ft of living area on the main floor plus $4 for each additional 100 sq ft on a second floor or finished lower level, covering the first inspection and one follow-up; Section 500.020 states the same fee as $4 per 100 gross sq ft with a $60 minimum. Payment and scheduling are done in person at City Hall, and the City recommends booking five to six weeks before the new owner moves in. If the home is occupied before the inspection, the fee doubles.

Once the house passes, the Building Official signs a Certificate of Compliance kept on file. The new occupant then obtains a Residential (or Commercial) Occupancy Permit before closing; the permit fee is $25 for up to 2,500 sq ft.

Site work: grading and land disturbance need a Site Improvement / Land Disturbance Permit, and the City also issues Sewer and Excavation Permits and Right-of-Way Use Permits. A roof repair letter form is published for roofing work.

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

Ellisville permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Ellisville?

The City of Ellisville Engineering Division, 1 Weis Avenue (636-227-9660). It also issues plumbing permits; St. Louis County issues electrical and mechanical permits.

How much is a building permit in Ellisville?

$3 per $1,000 of estimated construction cost with a $15 minimum, plus $55 per inspection. A $40,000 addition has a $120 permit fee before inspections.

Do I need an inspection to sell my house in Ellisville?

Yes. Every property needs a City occupancy inspection before a change of ownership or occupancy, starting at $60, and the new occupant needs an occupancy permit before closing.

Do I need a permit for a shed?

Sheds and playhouses of 100 sq ft or less are exempt from a building permit; larger accessory buildings need one, and sealed plans are required at 400 sq ft or more.

Which codes does Ellisville enforce?

The 2015 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fire, Property Maintenance and Swimming Pool and Spa Codes and the 2014 National Electrical Code, with City amendments.

Can any plumber work in Ellisville?

Only plumbers holding a St. Louis County licence and bond plus a $30 Ellisville licence, renewed each July 31.

Ellisville permit search and official resources

• Ellisville permits and inspections
• Ellisville Engineering Division
• Ellisville occupancy inspections
• Ellisville building permit application
• Ellisville plumbing permit and fees
• Ellisville plumber and drain layer licence application
• Ellisville City Code Chapter 500, building codes and fee schedule
• St. Louis County municipality contract list (codes the County enforces in each city)

Simplify Ellisville 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 Ellisville permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.