Ferguson, Missouri Building Permit Guide

The City of Ferguson runs its own permit office. Code Compliance issues a single integrated construction permit that covers building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire-prevention work, and applications go through the city’s OpenGov portal. St. Louis County does not enforce Ferguson’s building or trade codes, and an occupancy permit is required whenever a home or business changes owner, occupant or use.

What requires a permit in Ferguson?

The Construction Permit is needed for residential and commercial construction and alterations, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire-prevention work, decks, fences and accessory structures. For a renovation, room addition, accessory building or repair of structural damage, the city asks for professionally sealed plans, a structural engineer’s report, a property survey or a materials list, as the job requires.

Sign permits, zoning applications and zoning verification letters are also filed in OpenGov. A land disturbance of one acre or more needs the city permit, a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan and financial security, and also a Missouri Department of Natural Resources land disturbance permit before site work begins.

Ferguson building department: who handles permitting

Ferguson enforces its own codes. St. Louis County’s list of municipal code contracts (revised August 3, 2026) shows that Ferguson is not contracted with the county for the building, residential, existing building, mechanical, electrical or plumbing codes, property maintenance, fire suppression systems or land disturbance. The one county service listed for Ferguson is residential occupancy permits for first-time home buyers, which the county ties to buyer-assistance programs that require a safety inspection and a lead inspection ($95.50).

Applying through OpenGov

Every applicant needs an OpenGov account: open the portal, choose Sign Up, pick the department and permit, then select Apply Online. Answers and attachments can be saved as a draft. When a payment is due, the portal sends an email; fees can be paid online or in person at City Hall by cash or check. The same account is used to track the review timeline, message the reviewer, schedule inspections and print the permit.

Permits are integrated, so every contractor working on a project must be listed on the same building permit, and contractor information must be on file with the city. Code Compliance publishes three drawing checklists:

• Decks: lot plan at 1” = 20’ showing the distance to the rear property line, plus floor, foundation and framing plans, elevations, details of the ledger, posts, piers, rails and steps, and notes on loads, lumber, hangers and the zoning district.
• Fences: a boundary and improvement survey or real property report sealed by a Missouri land surveyor showing the fence and required setbacks, an elevation of a typical panel and a detail of post-hole diameter and depth.
• EV chargers: the main panel, a correctly sized two-pole breaker, wire and conduit sizes, charger make and rating, grounding, a residential load calculation, the manufacturer’s specification sheet and a site sketch.

Ferguson permit fees

Permit fees are set in Appendix A to Chapter 7 of the city code, last revised by Ordinance 2021-3706 (November 9, 2021). All fees are paid before a permit is issued.

Plan review where no other fee applies is $50 an hour. If the city hires an outside engineer or consultant to review plans, the applicant and owner pay that cost to the extent it exceeds the construction fee. The schedule does not set out how the project-cost building fee and the $3 per $1,000 construction fee combine, so the city calculates the total on the application.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work

Trade work is part of the integrated construction permit and is inspected by the city, not by St. Louis County. Ferguson’s code adopts the 2017 National Electrical Code and the 2018 International Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes.

• Electricians and plumbers must hold St. Louis County licences.
• A homeowner may do electrical work in an owner-occupied single-family home without a licence, subject to the same inspections and fees.
• An electrical application is due at least 24 hours before work starts; in an emergency, work can begin with the code official’s permission if the application follows without delay.
• Water service connections and sewer laterals are permitted separately by Public Works.

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

How to get a Ferguson permit

Inspections and occupancy permits

Title companies use the city’s Specials Request form, filed in OpenGov, to check a property for liens and violations before a sale.

Inspections are scheduled through OpenGov, and inspection reports and permits can be printed there. Electrical work must not be covered or concealed until it is inspected, and the permit holder notifies the code official when an installation is complete so the final inspection can be made.

An occupancy permit is required before anyone moves into or occupies a home, apartment or business, and again every time the owner, occupant or use changes. Buyers who will live in the home get an exterior-only inspection; rental properties need interior and exterior inspections. A rental owner must also hold an annual Residential Rental Real Estate License from the Finance Department, which expires on November 30 each year, and must submit a signed lease, proof of trash service in the owner’s name and photo ID.

The code allows a conditional occupancy permit for up to 30 days when defects do not seriously endanger health or safety; the public works director may extend it in 90-day periods. It is backed by the occupant’s affidavit and, where the director requires it, an escrow or completion bond of at least $250; for minor defects the affidavit alone may be accepted. It is not available for rental units or newly built homes. An owner who has received a violation notice may sell before the repairs are made only after giving the buyer a copy and filing the buyer’s notarized acceptance of the repairs.

Local rules worth knowing

Adopted codes: the 2018 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation and Property Maintenance Codes, with the 2017 National Electrical Code (Ordinance 2021-3706). Ferguson’s residential amendments set a 30-inch frost depth, delete the IRC sprinkler requirement for homes, require building sewers at least 30 inches below grade and do not permit private septic tanks.

Floodplain: Chapter 18 of the city code governs floodplain management, and floodplain development permits come from Public Works. FEMA’s Community Status Book lists Ferguson as a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Grading and storm water: grading permits come from Public Works under Chapter 7, Article X, and Article XI sets storm water best management practices.

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

Ferguson permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Ferguson?

The City of Ferguson’s Code Compliance department, at 110 Church Street, (314) 521-7721. St. Louis County does not enforce Ferguson’s building or trade codes.

Do I need separate electrical and plumbing permits?

No. Ferguson uses one integrated construction permit, and every contractor on the job is listed on it. Electricians and plumbers must be licensed by St. Louis County.

Do I need a permit for a deck or fence in Ferguson?

Yes. Both fall under the Construction Permit, and the city publishes drawing checklists for each; a fence application needs a survey sealed by a Missouri land surveyor.

How much does an electrical permit cost?

At least $50, with $7 per circuit and $50 to $90 for a new switchboard depending on its size, under Appendix A of the city code.

Can a homeowner do their own electrical work?

Yes, in an owner-occupied single-family home, without a licence, as long as the work is permitted and passes inspection.

Do I need an occupancy permit when I buy a house in Ferguson?

Yes. Every change of owner, occupant or use needs one. A buyer who will live in the home gets an exterior-only inspection, which costs $40.

How do I schedule an inspection?

Through the OpenGov portal, using the same account you applied with.

Ferguson permit search and official resources

• Ferguson Code Compliance
• Ferguson Construction Permits
• Ferguson Occupancy Permits and Inspections
• Ferguson list of permits and licenses
• Ferguson Public Works
• Ferguson OpenGov permit portal
• How to use OpenGov (city instructions)
• Ferguson Code Chapter 7, Appendix A fee table
• St. Louis County municipal code contracts list

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