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St. Louis, MO Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Threshold
50,000+ gross square feet
Standard
65th-percentile site EUI
Board
9-member Energy Improvement Board
First penalty
written warning, then fine/jail
Records retention
7 years

Summary

St. Louis requires municipal, commercial, institutional, and multi-family buildings of 50,000 square feet or more to meet building energy performance standards enforced through mandatory ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking.

Standards for each property type will be set by May 4, 2021 through a stakeholder engagement process overseen by the Building Energy Improvement Board. The chief performance metric will be site energy use intensity (EUI). Standards will be set no lower than the 65th percentile by property type such that at least 65% of the buildings of that property type have a higher EUI.

Source: City of St. Louis Revised CodeView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 11).

Full Breakdown

Chapter 25.71 of the St. Louis Revised Code sets building energy performance standards for covered buildings: municipal, commercial, institutional, and multi-family properties of 50,000 gross square feet or more. A nine-member, mayoral-appointed Building Energy Improvement Board sets a site energy use intensity target for each property type no lower than the 65th percentile, revised every four years. Owners comply through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking, an approved alternative compliance plan, or an alternative compliance payment. Qualified affordable buildings and houses of worship get a six-year cycle instead of four. The Building Commissioner enforces the chapter, beginning with a written warning.

Violations & Fines

Written warning first; unreported benchmarking data after 60 days is an offense punishable by a fine up to $500 or up to 90 days in jail, each day a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which St. Louis buildings must comply with the energy performance standard?
Municipal, commercial, institutional, and multi-family buildings with 50,000 or more gross square feet, per St. Louis Revised Code § 25.71.030.
How do owners show compliance?
By benchmarking site energy use intensity through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager against the 65th-percentile standard, or via an approved alternative compliance plan or payment.
What happens if an owner doesn't submit benchmarking data?
The Commissioner issues a written warning; failing to report within 60 days is an offense punishable by a fine up to $500, up to 90 days imprisonment, or both, each day a separate offense.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in St. Louis

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All St. Louis rules

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