St. Louis County, MO Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SLCRO § 1103.P-128(1)
- Covered rights-of-way
- Streets, alleys, easements, highways
- Approving authority
- Whoever holds jurisdiction over that ROW
- Enforcement tool
- Stop-work order, § 1103.P-144
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine, 90 days jail
Summary
St. Louis County's Plumbing Code bars anyone from excavating or encroaching on a street, alley, easement, or highway right-of-way to lay, locate, maintain, or remove mains, pipes, sewers, or drains without first getting approval from whichever authority has jurisdiction over that right-of-way.
1103.P-128 - Permits from Other Authorities—Required. —1. Right-of-way Approval. No person, firm, association or corporation shall excavate, encroach on, cause to be excavated, or cause the encroachment of the right-of-way of any street, avenue, boulevard, road, alley, public easement or highway in order to lay, locate, maintain or remove any mains, pipes, sewers or drains without first having obtained the approval of the appropriate authority having jurisdiction of the right-of-way. 2.Other Required Approvals. No person, firm, association or corporation shall do any work, which requires approval from the Code Official, or any other authority having jurisdiction, without first having obtained the required approval.
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
P-128(1), Right-of-way Approval, flatly prohibits any person, firm, association, or corporation from excavating, encroaching on, or causing the excavation or encroachment of the right-of-way of any street, avenue, boulevard, road, alley, public easement, or highway in order to lay, locate, maintain, or remove mains, pipes, sewers, or drains, unless approval has first been obtained from the appropriate authority having jurisdiction of that right-of-way. The section does not name a single office because jurisdiction varies with the right-of-way: county roads fall under the St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works, state routes under the Missouri Department of Transportation, and sewer easements often under the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District. P-126. P-144 for any other unauthorized job.
Violations & Fines
Encroaching on a right-of-way without the required approval is enforced as a Chapter 1103 violation: a misdemeanor under Section 1103.P-140, punishable by a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to 90 days, or both, with each day of continued encroachment a separate offense. The Code Official can also issue a stop-work order under Section 1103.P-144 and assess a no-permit penalty up to the greater of $500 or 1% of construction cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dig up a St. Louis County street to run a private sewer or water line?
Which rights-of-way does this encroachment rule cover?
Who approves right-of-way work if it crosses a state highway?
Is right-of-way approval separate from my plumbing permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
Compare St. Louis County to another location·View the Missouri sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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