St. Louis, MO Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing office
- Division of Building and Inspection
- Key inspection stages
- Footing, frame, energy, final
- Notice required
- At least one working day ahead
- Covering work early
- Separate code violation
Summary
St. Louis requires inspections at each construction stage, footing, frame, energy efficiency, and final, before work can proceed or a building can be occupied.
The building official, upon notification, shall make the inspections set forth in Sections 110.3.1 through 110.3.10. No work shall be done on any part of the building or structure beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the building official... A final inspection and approval of all buildings shall be completed before occupancy as described in Section 111. Failure to obtain a final inspection before occupancy will constitute a violation of the building code subject to the penalties as set forth in Section 25.01.030.
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
Under the city's Building Code, work covered by a permit must stay accessible for inspection at every stage. The building official makes required inspections at footing/foundation, concrete slab or under-floor, framing, lath/gypsum board, fire- and smoke-resistant penetrations, energy efficiency, and special inspections, plus a final inspection before occupancy. No work may proceed past a given stage until the building official approves that inspection, and covering inspected work before approval is itself a violation. A final inspection is mandatory before any occupancy permit issues.
Violations & Fines
Skipping a required inspection or covering work before approval is a code violation subject to the penalty set out at St. Louis Revised Code § 25.01.030; occupying a building without a final inspection is also a violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much notice do I need to give before an inspection?
Can I cover framing or plumbing before it's inspected?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis
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