St. Louis County, MO Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)
Key Facts
- Cure period
- 30 days after non-compliance notice (extendable)
- Revocation trigger
- More than 2 suspensions in 12 months
- Appeal deadline
- 10 working days to the Director
- Hearing decision
- Due within 10 days of hearing's close
- Criminal penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine or 1 year jail
- Domestic-violence carve-out
- Cannot be grounds for suspension
Summary
St. Louis County can suspend a residential rental license the moment the Director of Transportation and Public Works finds the property out of compliance with the Property Maintenance Code, giving the owner 30 days to fix violations before the suspension takes effect, under Section 825.400 of the Residential Rental Property Licensing Code.
1. The Director may suspend or revoke a license approved pursuant to this Code upon the grounds specified in this section. Provided, that the Director shall not suspend or revoke any license based on activities connected with or related to incidents of domestic violence, including the making of emergency 911 calls relating to such incidents. Notice of the suspension or revocation shall be provided in writing and served upon the owner by means reasonably calculated to provide actual notice to the owner. i. A license may be suspended as to any property subject to the requirements of this chapter if the property is found by the Director to be out of compliance with Chapter 1110, SLCRO, the Property Maintenance Code, and corrections are not made to bring the property back into compliance within thirty (30) days from the date of notice of non-compliance; however, the period for corrections may be extended by the Director if the Director determines that the license holder is moving forward as expeditiously as possible to correct all violations.
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
Chapter 825 SLCRO licenses every residential rental property in unincorporated St. Louis County, and the license only stays valid if the property keeps passing muster under Chapter 1110, the Property Maintenance Code. Section 825.400 gives the Director five separate grounds to suspend or revoke: the property is found out of compliance with Chapter 1110 and isn't fixed within 30 days of the notice of non-compliance (a window the Director can extend if the owner is moving forward as expeditiously as possible); the owner made material false statements on the license application or an exemption declaration; the owner is delinquent on rental property maintenance fines owed to the St. Louis County Municipal Court; the owner racks up more than two suspensions in any 12-month period, which converts to a revocation; or the owner never obtained the required occupancy, re-occupancy, or pre-occupancy permit under Chapter 1110 before letting anyone move in. The section carves out one hard limit on the Director's power: a license cannot be suspended or revoked over activity connected to domestic violence, including a tenant's own 911 calls.
Owners get a real appeal path. Section 825.400.5 lets an owner appeal a suspension or revocation in writing to the Director within 10 working days of notification, triggering a contested hearing with written findings due within 10 days of the hearing's conclusion. Once a suspension or revocation is effective, the owner cannot sign a new lease for the affected property, and a misrepresentation-based suspension bars new leases anywhere in the owner's portfolio until the license is reinstated.
Violations & Fines
Section 825.500 makes a Chapter 825 violation punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to one year in the St. Louis County Jail, or both, and treats every day a property is occupied in violation of the chapter as a separate offense. An owner who racks up more than two license suspensions within any 12-month period faces automatic revocation rather than another suspension under Section 825.400.iv.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can get my St. Louis County rental license suspended?
How long do I have to fix a compliance problem?
Can I appeal a suspension or revocation?
What happens if I keep renting after my license is suspended?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
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