Public Health Rules in St. Louis County, MO (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in St. Louis County, Missouri.
Verified from official government sources
Restaurant Grade Cards
St. Louis County restaurants must post a Health Department placard grading them A, B or C based on their inspection score. A score of 90 or above earns a Grade A, 80-89 is Grade B, and 79 or below triggers an automatic suspension and downgrade to Grade C unless violations are fixed within 10 days. Hiding a downgraded placard costs $300.
St. Louis County Restaurant Grade Placard Rule
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis County Food Code §8-403.11 (adopted by County Code §807.100)
(A)Every FOOD ESTABLISHMENT shall display, in a place designated by the DIRECTOR, a placard APPROVED by the DIRECTOR stating the grade of the ESTABLISHMENT, except that TEMPORARY FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS shall not be subject to grading.(B)Grades of FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS shall be as follows with provisions that the DIRECTOR may annually set and establish the rating score total, with the criteria herein...
Rodent Control
St. Louis County's public health nuisance code makes it illegal to maintain or allow a rat or mouse infestation on any property. The Director of Health can inspect, declare the nuisance, and separately runs an ordinance-based rat-control program. Violators face a fine of $5 to $300, three to 90 days in jail, or both.
St. Louis County Bans Rodent Infestations as Nuisances
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis County Code §§ 602.020, 602.050, 602.080
The following are declared to be public nuisances affecting health, and it shall be a violation of this section to maintain or allow any of the following conditions: ...(12)All infestations of flies, fleas, roaches, lice, ticks, rats, mice, fly maggots, mosquito larvae and hookworm larvae;...(15)All other acts, practices, conduct, business, occupations, callings, trades, use of property, and al...
Syringe Disposal
St. Louis County Code Section 607.897 lets a resident throw a used needle or other sharp object out with ordinary household trash instead of treating it as regulated infectious waste, but only if it first goes into a rigid, leakproof, puncture-resistant container that is sealed shut. Section 607.898 then puts an education duty on anyone who dispenses sharps to a non-medical patient.
Home Sharps Disposal Rule, St. Louis County
Light RestrictionsSt. Louis County Code §§ 607.897, 607.898
607.897 - Infectious Waste Generated by Activity Outside of Medical Facilities. Unless determined otherwise by the Director for special cases requiring more stringent safeguards to public health, generators of infectious waste outside of medical facilities shall be exempt from the special waste provisions of the chapter provided such waste is generated on-site and disposed with the generator's ...
Food Handler Certification
St. Louis County bars restaurants, cafeterias, day cares and other food establishments from employing anyone as a food handler for more than 30 days without written proof of hepatitis A immunity or vaccination. Employers must keep that certification on file for the person's entire employment and produce it to the Health Department on request; pregnant workers and religious or medical objectors are exempt.
St. Louis County Food Handler Hepatitis Rule
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis County Food Code §8-501.11 (adopted by County Code §807.100)
No employer shall employ a person as a food handler for more than thirty (30) days unless and until such person shall provide to such employer written certification by a health care provider that: (1)The person is immune from hepatitis A; or(2)The person has been vaccinated against hepatitis A, including a booster shot within six (6) to twelve (12) months of the original vaccination; or(3)The p...
Public Health Rules by City in St. Louis County
1 cities in St. Louis County have their own public health rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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