The City of Jennings issues its own permits: the Building Department at 2120 Hord Avenue handles building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits, inspects new and existing structures and issues residential and commercial occupancy permits. Applications and plans are emailed to BuildingDepartment@cityofjennings.org, and contractors must hold St. Louis County licences. A home that is sold or rented needs a $50 inspection and the new household a $50 occupancy permit.
What requires a permit in Jennings?
The city code makes it unlawful to build, enlarge, alter or demolish a structure, change its occupancy or use, or install regulated equipment without a permit. The city publishes separate applications for each type of work.
Construction
- New buildings, additions and alterations (Building Permit Application)
- Electrical work
- Plumbing work
- Mechanical and HVAC work
- Fences, driveways and sidewalks
- Demolition
- Signs
Occupancy
- Inspection before any home is sold or rented
- Occupancy permit for each new resident household
- Commercial occupancy certificate before a business opens
- Conditional use permits
Jennings building department: who handles permitting
Jennings enforces its own building, residential, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and property maintenance codes. St. Louis County’s list of municipal code contracts (revised August 3, 2026) shows the city uses the county only for the explosives ordinance, elevators and conveying systems, amusement rides, and residential occupancy permits for first-time home buyers in buyer-assistance programs.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Building Department | Jennings City Hall, 2120 Hord Avenue, Jennings, MO 63136 |
| Phone / fax | 314-388-1164 / 314-867-6458 |
| Applications | BuildingDepartment@cityofjennings.org |
| Occupancy permits | City Hall, Room 106 |
| Payment | Business checks, money orders, credit or debit cards; personal checks are not accepted |
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Get a free quote →Applications and what to submit
All applications and supporting documents go to the Building Department by email. The forms the city publishes are:
- Building Permit Application: three sets of drawings, the contractor’s St. Louis County licence number and the inspections the job needs (footings or piers, foundation, framing and final). The permit lapses if work does not start within six months.
- Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Permit Applications: estimated cost, fixture, equipment or service details and the contractor’s St. Louis County licence number.
- Occupancy Permit Application (Property Registration and Inspection Request) for a sale or rental.
- Commercial Inspection Application for a commercial occupancy certificate.
- Tenant Authorization Form, signed by the owner or designated agent and brought to City Hall by the head of household.
A building permit is not issued until an acceptable method of sewage disposal has been approved, and the city’s code asks for three copies of scaled plans unless the work is minor.
Jennings permit fees
On June 22, 2026 the City Council passed Ordinance 2727, which replaces Section PM 301.3 of the code with construction-cost fee tables, raising the city’s fees “to match that of St. Louis County”. The fee covers permit processing, plan review and inspections. The figures below come from the ordinance text in the council committee packet of June 9, 2026; the ordinance is not yet in the online code.
| Construction cost up to | Residential | Commercial, industrial or multi-family |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $86 | $86 |
| $10,000 | $181 | $260 |
| $20,000 | $208 | $284 |
| $50,000 | $316 | $467 |
| $100,000 | $532 | $797 |
| $200,000 | $928 | $1,408 |
| $680,000 | $2,662 | $4,014 |
| $1,000,000 | – | $5,602 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →The residential table covers one- and two-family homes, townhouses, pools and other residential work and ends at $680,000; multi-family buildings use the commercial table, which runs to $50 million ($190,810). For example, a $20,000 room addition falls in the “up to $20,000” band and costs $208.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plan review (PM 301.7, May 2026) | $50 |
| Fence | $50 |
| Driveways and sidewalks | $50 |
| Demolition | $100 |
| Mechanical permit (Sec. 7-32) | $10 per unit, $16 per plan reviewed, $25 inspection per unit |
| Sign | $1 per sq ft plus two inspections at $25 each |
Fees double when work starts before a permit is issued. Section 7-17 of the building code still prints an older schedule (a $20 minimum for work up to $10,000 and $2.80 per $1,000 for smaller commercial buildings), and Section 7-62 still lists a $12 fence permit, while the May 2026 schedule in PM 301.7 sets the fence fee at $50.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits
Trade permits are issued by the city, not by St. Louis County, but the city relies on county licensing.
- Electrical: permits go only to contractors licensed and bonded under St. Louis County’s Board of Electrical Examiners. An owner-occupant of a single-family home may take out a permit for work in their own home. Applications need three sets of plans sealed by a Missouri-registered engineer, which the code official may waive for minor work.
- Plumbing: installers must be licensed, bonded and insured under the St. Louis County Plumbing Code. An owner living in a detached single-family home may get a homeowner permit and do the work personally; the code official may ask for proof of the knowledge and ability to do it.
- Mechanical: HVAC work uses the city’s mechanical permit and the contractor’s county licence number.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Alliance handles electrical permit filing for contractors here. More on this: who pulls the electrical permit.
How to get a permit in Jennings
Building, electrical, plumbing or mechanical; each trade has its own form.
Three sets of scaled plans; electrical plans carry a Missouri engineer’s seal unless the code official waives it for minor work.
Send the form, drawings and contractor licence details to BuildingDepartment@cityofjennings.org.
Use a business check, money order or card.
Phone 314-388-1164 at least 24 hours ahead for each inspection.
Pass the final inspection before the building is used or occupied.
Inspections, sales and rentals
Inspections are requested by phone at 314-388-1164 at least 24 hours in advance. The final inspection is made when the work is complete and ready for use.
Before any change of ownership or occupancy, the owner, landlord or agent must register the property and have it inspected; the fee is paid first. An inspection is good for 120 days, and a certificate of compliance for 90 days. A buyer may take on the repairs by affidavit, with a deadline of no more than 120 days, and the rule does not apply when the buyer swears the building will be demolished within 90 days. The owner must also show fire insurance and that state and local taxes are current. Short-term rentals are prohibited by the property maintenance code.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Sale or rental inspection, any dwelling (with one re-inspection) | $50 |
| Sale or rental inspection, commercial | $100 |
| Occupancy certificate, residential / commercial | $50 / $100 |
| Occupancy certificate, applicant 65 or older | No charge |
| Transfer or revision (under 65) | $25 |
| Copy of a certificate | $5 per page |
The head of household brings the owner-signed Tenant Authorization Form to City Hall, Room 106, with photo ID and the documents listed on the form, and signs a notarized statement about the household. The permit fee doubles to $100 if anyone moves in before it is issued. A business license cannot be obtained until the commercial occupancy permit is issued.
Local rules worth knowing
Adopted codes: the 2018 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas and Energy Conservation Codes and the 2017 National Electrical Code, adopted in January and February 2020.
Rental housing program: since February 2026 the code sets up a Residential Rental Housing Program; owners, landlords and managing agents must be in Missouri within 50 miles of the property, and a renter must show a paid trash bill and an occupancy permit before moving in.
Fences: no fences in front yards; in the R-1, R-2, R-3 and C-1 districts side-yard fences are woven wire no higher than 4 feet, other fences are capped at 6 feet, and wood picket or board fences must be at least 30% open.
Floodplain: Chapter 13.5 of the code covers floodplain management, and FEMA lists Jennings as a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program.
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
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Jennings permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in Jennings?
The City of Jennings Building Department at 2120 Hord Avenue (314-388-1164). St. Louis County does not enforce Jennings’s building or trade codes.
How do I apply for a permit in Jennings?
Email the application and drawings to BuildingDepartment@cityofjennings.org. Contractors give their St. Louis County licence number on the form.
Do electricians need a St. Louis County licence?
Yes. Jennings issues electrical permits only to contractors licensed and bonded under St. Louis County’s Board of Electrical Examiners, except owner-occupants doing work in their own single-family home.
How much is a building permit in Jennings?
Under Ordinance 2727 (June 2026) the fee follows a construction-cost table that includes plan review and inspections: $86 for residential work up to $1,000 and $208 up to $20,000.
How much is an occupancy permit in Jennings?
$50 for a residence and $100 for a business, free for applicants 65 or older; the inspection is a further $50 for a home.
Do I need a permit for a fence?
Yes. The 2026 schedule sets the fence permit at $50, and front-yard fences are not allowed.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Call 314-388-1164 at least 24 hours before you need it.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Jennings permit search and official resources
- Jennings building permit applications
- Jennings Building Department
- Jennings Building Permit Application
- Jennings occupancy inspection request
- Jennings commercial occupancy certificate application
- Jennings tenant authorization form
- Jennings Code Chapter 17, Article III fees and permits
- Jennings Code Chapter 7, Building
- St. Louis County municipal code contracts list
Simplify Jennings 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.
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Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Jennings permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Missouri permitting guides
St. Louis County
Read guide →Ballwin
Read guide →Bellefontaine Neighbors
Read guide →Johnson County Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Joplin Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Kansas City Building Permit Guide
Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Jennings permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.