Accessory Structures in Kirkwood, MO (2026)
4 verified accessory structures rules for Kirkwood, Missouri, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Kirkwood allows one accessory dwelling unit per single-family lot, capped at 750 square feet and two bedrooms, on a lot of at least 15,000 square feet, with a two-story height limit, under § 25-45(b) of the zoning code.
Kirkwood Accessory Dwelling Unit Standards
Significant RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances § 25-45(b)(1), (6), (7), (8) and (9)
Accessory dwelling units shall only be permitted when accessory to a single-family dwelling on a single lot. ... Accessory dwelling units may have a maximum height of up to two stories. In no case shall an accessory dwelling unit exceed the height of the principal building. ... Only one accessory dwelling unit is permitted on an individual lot. ... There shall be a minimum lot area of 15,000 sq...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Kirkwood requires the property owner to actually live on site whenever an accessory dwelling unit is occupied. Under Zoning Code § 25-45(b)(11), the owner of the lot must reside in either the main house or the ADU for as long as both units are lived in, closing off pure rental-investment ADUs.
Kirkwood ADU Owner-Occupancy Requirement
Some RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances § 25-45(b)(11)
(11) The owner of the lot shall reside in either the principal dwelling or accessory dwelling unit as long as both dwelling units are occupied as residences.
Shed & Carport Rules
Kirkwood caps detached accessory structures like sheds at 24 feet or 1 1/2 stories, limits total accessory coverage to 7% of the lot or 1,500 square feet, requires a 5-foot setback, and allows only two such buildings per lot under §§ 25-42 and 25-45(h).
Kirkwood Backyard Shed Size and Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances §§ 25-42(h), (i), (j)(1) and 25-45(h)
Maximum height. Unless otherwise stated, the maximum height of a detached accessory structure for a single-family residential structure shall be 24 feet, or 1 1/2 stories. In no case shall an accessory structure exceed the height of the principal building. ... Maximum size and coverage for accessory structures serving single-family residential structures. ... the total of all accessory structur...
Garage Conversions
Kirkwood lets homeowners convert a detached garage into an accessory dwelling unit under Zoning Code § 25-45(b), but the garage must be brought up to every ADU standard in the section, including the setbacks that apply to principal buildings, before the Director of Public Services will sign off. A converted garage cannot skip any requirement just because the structure already exists.
Kirkwood Garage Conversion to ADU Rules
Some RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances § 25-45(b)(2), (5)
(2) Accessory dwelling units may be constructed within an existing dwelling unit (interior apartment) or as a separate or converted accessory structure (e.g., converted garage, carriage house, unit above a garage). ... (5) No existing accessory building can be converted to an accessory dwelling unit or modified to incorporate an accessory dwelling unit without meeting all the standards of this ...
Looking for St. Louis County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Kirkwood city rules.
Accessory Structures in St. Louis County →