St. Louis, MO Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Base height limit
- 2½ stories or 35 feet
- With two 10-ft side yards
- 3 stories or 45 feet
- Churches/schools/gov't buildings
- up to 85 feet
- Governing section
- St. Louis Revised Code § 26.20.050
- Violation classification
- zoning infraction, Chapter 1.12
Summary
St. Louis caps 'A' Single-Family Dwelling District homes at 2½ stories or 35 feet, allowing 3 stories or 45 feet only with two 10-foot side yards; churches, schools and government buildings can rise to 85 feet.
No building hereafter erected shall exceed 2½ stories or 35 feet in height unless two side yards of not less than 10 feet in width are provided, in which case a building may not exceed 3 stories or 45 feet in height. Any church, school or governmental building may be erected to a height not exceeding 85 feet, provided that front and rear yards are increased in depth and the side yards are increased in width beyond the area regulations 1 foot for each foot of height that the building exceeds 35 feet.
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
Section 26.20.050 of the Zoning Code caps buildings in the 'A' Single-Family Dwelling District at 2½ stories or 35 feet. A builder can add a third story and reach 45 feet only by widening both side yards to at least 10 feet each. Churches, schools and government buildings get a carve-out up to 85 feet, but only if front, rear and side yards grow by one foot for every foot the building exceeds 35 feet. The 'B' Two-Family Dwelling District (26.24.040) uses the same base limits, with a slightly different side-yard formula for taller institutional buildings.
Violations & Fines
Height violations are zoning infractions punished under Chapter 1.12's general penalty; owners, agents, tenants, builders and contractors can all be cited, and the City Counselor can sue to restrain the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be in St. Louis's 'A' Single-Family Dwelling District?
Can a church or school exceed the 35-foot residential height cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis
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