Business Licensing & Operations in St. Louis, MO (2026)
6 verified business licensing & operations rules for St. Louis, Missouri, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
St. Louis regulates adult cabarets and bookstores under Title XI, requiring a special business license, distance buffers from schools, churches, parks, and residential zones, and on-site manager registration with SLMPD.
St. Louis Adult Entertainment Licensing
Heavy RestrictionsMassage Establishments
Massage establishments in St. Louis must hold a city business license, employ only Missouri-licensed therapists, comply with health inspections, and meet zoning rules under Title XI.
St. Louis Massage Establishment Rules
Some RestrictionsRSMo § 324.240
324.240. Definitions. — As used in sections 324.240 to 324.275, the following terms shall mean: (1) "Board", the board of therapeutic massage; (2) "Certified mentor", a practitioner who is qualified for license in this state pursuant to sections 324.240 to 324.275 and who has practiced professionally for five years, with an average of four hundred fifty hours per year of teaching and massage ho...
Tobacco Retail License
Tobacco and vape retailers in St. Louis must hold a city business license and comply with Missouri's statewide Tobacco 21 law, with city inspectors and SLMPD checking ID compliance and signage.
St. Louis Tobacco Retail License Rules
Some RestrictionsRSMo § 407.926
407.926. No tobacco sales to minors — penalties — alternative nicotine products and vapor products, sale to minors prohibited — nicotine liquid containers, requirements, penalty. — 1. Any person or entity who sells tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or vapor products shall deny the sale of such tobacco products to any person who is less than eighteen years of age. 2. Any person or...
Secondhand Dealers
Secondhand dealers, scrap-metal buyers, and resale shops in St. Louis must hold a city license, log seller ID for every transaction, and report sales electronically so SLMPD can trace stolen goods.
St. Louis Secondhand Dealer Rules
Some RestrictionsRSMo § 407.300
407.300. Certain materials, collectors and dealers to keep register, information required — catalytic converter transaction, limit on location — stolen catalytic converter, purchase of, penalties — exempt transactions. — 1. Every purchaser or collector of, or dealer in, junk, scrap metal, or any secondhand property who obtains items for resale or profit shall keep a register containing a writte...
Pawnbrokers
Pawnbrokers in St. Louis must hold a city license, electronically report every transaction to SLMPD, hold pledged items for a mandatory waiting period, and cap interest under Missouri pawn statutes.
St. Louis Pawnbroker Licensing
Heavy RestrictionsTowing Companies
Tow operators in St. Louis must hold a city license, register each truck and driver with SLMPD, post regulated rates, and follow Missouri towing statutes for non-consensual tows.
St. Louis Tow Truck and Wrecker Rules
Heavy RestrictionsRSMo § 304.155
304.155. Abandoned motor vehicles on public property, removal — hazards on land and water, removal, limited liability, when [...] — 1. Any law enforcement officer within the officer's jurisdiction, or an officer of a government agency where that agency's real property is concerned, may authorize a towing company to remove to a place of safety: (1) Any abandoned property on the right-of-way of: ...