3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in St. Louis County, Missouri.
Verified from official government sources
Fences 6 feet or less in height may be installed in unincorporated St. Louis County without a building permit. Taller fences require a permit. Barbed wire and electrical fencing are prohibited in residential areas.
St. Louis County Code §3110.1 / §1110.302.7
Fences, six (6) feet in height or less, may be installed without a building permit. … Fencing located on a corner lot cannot be located within the sight distance triangle. A sight distance triangle is defined as the area of a corner lot bound by the property lines and a line connecting the two (2) points on the property lines thirty (30) feet from the intersection of the property lines. Barbed ...
A building permit is required for any retaining wall over 3 ft in height (measured from the non-retained grade), over 2 ft if it supports a surcharge load, located closer than its height to a property line, or with a fence/guardrail on top exceeding 6 ft total.
St. Louis County Code §1115.105.2
A permit is required for any retaining wall that … exceeds three (3) feet in height. … exceeds two (2) feet in height and supports a surcharge load (driveway, pool, or similar structure). … is located at a distance less than or equal to its height from the property line. … has a fence or guardrail on top of the wall and the total height of the wall from the lowest grade to the top of the fence/...
SLCRO bans barbed wire and electrical fencing in residential areas of unincorporated St. Louis County. Property-maintenance rules also prohibit fences with peeling paint, rust, or structural damage.
St. Louis County Code §1110.302.7
Barbed wired and electrical fencing is not permitted in residential areas. … All fences must be kept structurally sound, with no peeling or flaking paint, and no rusted or worn finishes.
2 cities in St. Louis County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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