St. Louis County, MO Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Designation method
- County Council ordinance
- Demolition/move
- permit required, Commission review
- Historic Buildings Commission
- 9 members, Parks Dept.
- Appeal fee
- $200 within 10 days
- Protest threshold
- 25% of nearby land area
- Manufacturing use cap
- 4,000 sq. ft.
- Parking reduction allowed
- up to 20% with study
Summary
St. Louis County can designate a building, site, structure, monument, or neighborhood as a Landmark and Preservation Area (LPA) under Section 1003.191 when it holds historic, architectural, cultural, or archeological significance. Once the County Council approves an LPA by ordinance, Section 1007.050 makes it unlawful to demolish or move any building or structure there without a permit reviewed by the Historic Building Commission.
1. Purpose and intent. The purpose of this section is to promote the general welfare, heritage, education and economic benefit of St. Louis County, through the preservation, protection and regulation of buildings, sites, structures, monuments, and neighborhoods of historic, architectural, cultural or archeological significance. It is further the intent of this procedure to encourage the adaptation of these buildings, sites, structures, etc. for current use. 2. In any zoning district, except "PS" Park and Scenic District, a single parcel or geographic area may be designated as a landmark and preservation area thereby encouraging the preservation, enhancement, rehabilitation and perpetuation of the landmark building, structure or area. The Planning Commission may recommend and the County Council, by ordinance, may approve designation for a specific parcel or area provided the area is characterized by one or more of the following criteria: (1) has significant character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the County of St. Louis, State of Missouri, or the United States.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Traffic: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
191 lets the Planning Commission recommend, and the County Council approve by ordinance, LPA designation for a specific parcel or area characterized by significant heritage or cultural value, association with a significant historic event, work of an influential designer, distinctive architectural craftsmanship, or status as an established visual landmark of a neighborhood. 030 as a nine-member body within the Department of Parks and Recreation, reviews and comments on every designation petition before the Planning Commission makes its recommendation to the County Council; the Planning Commission construes the Commission's silence as acceptance.
Approval must be accompanied by conditions written into the designating ordinance covering permitted uses and maximum floor area, preservation and design standards for new construction and repair, height limits, exterior facade review by the Historic Buildings Commission, minimum yard requirements, off-street parking and loading, sign regulations, and any deed restrictions. Designation also unlocks additional uses beyond what the underlying zoning district allows, such as offices, limited retail and studio space, and affiliated dwelling units for an owner, manager, or employee, subject to a 4,000-square-foot cap on any manufacturing use.
050, once an area is designated, no one may demolish or move a building or structure there without first obtaining a permit; the Historic Building Commission reviews every application and determines whether the proposed demolition or move is detrimental to preserving the buildings, sites, and structures the designation protects.
Violations & Fines
A petitioner denied LPA designation, or a nearby property owner protesting an approval, may appeal to the County Council under Section 1003.193 within ten days of the Planning Commission's report, with a $200 filing fee for a petitioner's appeal or signatures from owners of 25 percent of nearby land area for a protest. Demolishing or moving a designated structure without the Historic Building Commission's permit is unlawful under Section 1007.050 and is enforced through the County's standard zoning violation powers, including stop-work orders and County Counselor referral for prosecution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies a site for Landmark and Preservation Area designation?
Can I demolish a building inside a designated LPA?
Who reviews an LPA designation before the County Council votes?
How do I appeal a denied or approved LPA petition?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
Compare St. Louis County to another location·View the Missouri historic preservation overview
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