University City, Missouri Building Permit Guide

University City issues its own permits: the Department of Planning & Zoning, on the 4th floor of City Hall at 6801 Delmar Boulevard, handles building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits and residential occupancy permits, and St. Louis County does not enforce the city’s building or trade codes. Building permits are filed by email or in person with four paper plan sets, while most other permits can be filed in the MyGov portal. A $20,000 project pays a $260 building permit fee.

What requires a permit in University City?

New buildings, additions, structural alterations, demolition and any change to plumbing, electrical or mechanical systems need permits. The city’s building code amendments list both the work that needs a permit and the minor work that does not; a few examples:

University City building department: who handles permitting

The city 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 University City contracts with the county only for the explosives ordinance and for major land disturbances, plus residential occupancy permits for first-time home buyers in buyer-assistance programs.

How to apply: MyGov, email or in person

Most permits can be applied for, tracked and paid in MyGov, including electrical, mechanical, plumbing, sewer and drainlaying, water heater replacement, fence, pool enclosure, solar panel, excavation, hood suppression, street use, right-of-way fiber or antenna work, residential and commercial occupancy, sewer lateral repair and vacant property registration.

Residential and non-residential building permits are not available in MyGov. Email the application and supporting documents (plans, owner authorization, photos) to inspections@ucitymo.org, or bring them to the 4th floor, and deliver four paper copies of the plans. Staff will print plans for you if they are 11 by 17 inches or smaller and no more than five pages. Email applications take up to 48 hours to process, after which staff call to take card payment.

University City permit fees

Building permit fees are set in Section 500.020 of the city code (Ordinance 7139, January 25, 2021). The table below includes the $35 application fee.

For example, a $20,000 project costs 20 × $6 plus $140, or $260. Other fees in the same section:

• Fence, new or replacement over 10 linear feet: $35.
• Demolition: $70 for a private garage, $140 per dwelling unit, $35 per 10,000 cubic feet for other structures.
• Extra inspections and re-inspections: $35 per hour; permit amendments: $40 per hour.
• Partial permit (such as foundation only): 10% of the scheduled fee, at least $70.
• Temporary certificate of occupancy: $70; permit extension $20; reinstating an expired permit $35.
• Work started without a permit: a surcharge equal to the permit fee, between $35 and $1,000.

Projects over $50,000 may pay 25% of the fee at application and the rest before the permit is issued; smaller projects pay in full when they apply. Card payments carry a 3% fee.

Electrical and plumbing permits

Electrical: permits are issued to electrical contractors licensed by St. Louis County, and commercial applications need two sets of electrical plans sealed by a Missouri-registered design professional. A homeowner who lives in a single-family home and is on its occupancy permit may get a permit for branch wiring after passing an open-book test on the residential code’s electrical chapters; the test can be taken once in 12 months.

Plumbing: permits are issued to master plumbers or drainlayers licensed by St. Louis County, who also receive a University City licence and must show the county licence and a second ID. A homeowner permit is possible for repairs or added fixtures in an owner-occupied detached house after an open-book exam, but not for sewer laterals, building drains, the water service or gray-water systems. Commercial plumbing needs two sets of sealed plans.

Trade fees on building permits: when trade work is part of an integrated building permit, the code sets the electrical fee at 8%, plumbing at 7% and mechanical at 9% of the building permit fee, with a $35 minimum for each trade.

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

How to get a University City building permit

Inspections and occupancy permits

Every inspection must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance, and work may not continue past a stage until it is inspected and approved. Building inspections are footing (before pouring), foundation wall, braced wall panel, vapor barrier, framing and final; the electrical, mechanical and plumbing rough inspections come before the framing inspection, and the building final comes after the trade finals. Plumbing has ground rough, rough and final inspections; fences have a final only.

Every resident needs an occupancy permit. The department first checks whether an occupancy inspection has been done at the address; if not, one must be requested before the permit is issued.

Rental owners or agents must schedule an occupancy inspection before any new tenant moves in; agents must be within 50 miles of the city and registered with it. The city strongly advises owners to request an inspection before selling. Refuse bills must be paid in full when the inspection is requested, and an occupancy permit lasts for as long as the resident lives there.

Local rules worth knowing

Adopted codes: the 2018 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy Conservation and Fuel Gas Codes, adopted by Ordinance 7139 on January 25, 2021, with Appendix K of the 2018 Building Code as the administrative part of the electrical code.

Historic districts: the seven-member Historic Preservation Commission advises Planning & Zoning on work in historic districts and at landmarks; it meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Heman Park Community Center.

Floodplain: Chapter 410 of the code names the Director of Public Works and Parks as floodplain administrator and requires the lowest floor of new or substantially improved buildings to be at least 2 feet above the base flood level. FEMA lists University City 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

University City permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in University City?

The city’s Department of Planning & Zoning, 4th floor of City Hall, 6801 Delmar Boulevard (314-505-8500). St. Louis County does not handle University City’s building or trade permits.

Can I apply for a building permit online?

No. Building permits are filed by email to inspections@ucitymo.org or in person, with four paper plan sets; electrical, plumbing, mechanical and most other permits can be filed in MyGov.

How much is a building permit in University City?

It follows a cost table: $35 under $1,400, and $6 per $1,000 plus $140 for projects from $10,000 to $399,999, so a $20,000 job is $260.

Do I need a permit for a shed or fence?

Sheds of 50 sq ft or less are exempt. A new or replacement fence over 10 linear feet needs a $35 permit.

Can a homeowner do their own electrical or plumbing work?

Yes, in an owner-occupied single-family home, after passing the city’s open-book test, with limits on what the permit covers.

Do I need an occupancy inspection to rent out my house?

Yes. A rental needs a $60 occupancy inspection before each new tenant, and each tenant needs an occupancy permit.

How far ahead must I book an inspection?

At least 24 hours.

University City permit search and official resources

• University City Planning & Zoning: applying for permits
• Responsibilities after obtaining a permit
• University City electrical permits
• University City plumbing permits
• University City MyGov permit portal
• Residential occupancy inspections and permits guide
• University City building code amendments and fee schedule
• University City Code Chapter 500, Building and Construction
• University City Historic Preservation
• St. Louis County municipal code contracts list

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