St. Louis offers density and height incentives within the Form-Based Code and through Tax Increment Financing or Chapter 353/99 tax abatement when a project includes affordable units, historic rehab, or LRA infill on the city's vacant land bank.
Unlike California's statutory density bonus, Missouri lets cities craft their own. Under the 2024 FBC, projects in T5 and T6 zones may earn additional stories or reduced parking minimums by providing on-site affordable units at or below 60-80% AMI, dedicating ground-floor active uses, or restoring historic facades. Tax abatement under Chapter 99 (Land Clearance) and Chapter 353 (Urban Redevelopment) ties incentives to affordability or blight remediation. The Affordable Housing Trust Fund (Prop NS, Prop A) channels bond proceeds into projects under 80% AMI.
Failure to deliver promised affordable units or design features results in clawback of tax abatement, loss of TIF reimbursement, and recorded covenant enforcement.
St. Louis, MO
St. Louis adopted a citywide Form-Based Code in 2024, replacing the 1947/1993 Euclidean zoning. The FBC organizes regulation by transect zones (T3 through T6...
St. Louis, MO
St. Louis encourages transit-oriented development around MetroLink light-rail stations and high-frequency MetroBus corridors via the Form-Based Code's T5/T6 ...
See how St. Louis's density bonus law rules stack up against other locations.
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