St. Louis Building Permits: Bring Five Copies of the Plans In Person, or Apply Online
St. Louis permit sets print at $1.95 a sheet in black and white or $3.75 in color, at 18×24, 24×36, 30×42 or 36×48, and orders placed by 3 PM ET ship the same day to all 50 states. The City of St. Louis Building Division takes applications online or in person at the Permit office in City Hall. In-person applicants should bring 5 copies of the plans, along with a $25 application fee per application, paid by check or cash. Small residential jobs like decks, porches and room additions may be approved over the counter. Major structural changes usually need drawings sealed by an architect or engineer.
What the City of St. Louis asks for
From the City’s Building Permit, Plan Exam and Building Codes pages:
| Rule | What the City says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Copies (in person) | “In-person submissions should bring 5 copies of the plans for review” | Building Permit page |
| How to apply | “You can apply in person by bringing your drawings to the Permit office in City hall during business hours, or you can apply online” | Same |
| Online files | “Online submission acceptable file types include: .gif, .jpeg, .jpg, .png, .bmp, .pdf, .doc, .docx” | Same |
| Application fee | “A $25 application fee per application. If you are requesting a permit in-person, only check or cash payment is accepted.” | Same |
| Over the counter | “Plans for smaller, residential projects such as decks, porches, and room additions may be approved over the counter while commercial projects and larger residential projects require more extensive review.” | Plan Exam page (Hot Spot desk) |
| Seals | “Major changes to a structure will, in most cases, require drawings with an architect’s or engineer’s seal.” “Some improvements to existing structures may be approved based solely on a hand-drawn sketch.” | Same |
| Permit document | Once approved, “you will be able to pay your permit fee and print the permit document, which needs to be displayed onsite during construction.” | Building Permit page |
| Codes | The City lists the 2018 International Building Code (Ordinance 70794) and 2018 International Residential Code (Ordinance 70795) among its adopted codes. | Building Codes page |
Here’s how that shapes your order:
- Five copies means five full sets. A 12-sheet set × 5 copies is 60 sheets, or $117.00 in black and white. Order it as one line: 12 sheets, quantity 5.
- Bring all five copies to the Hot Spot desk. Small residential plans may be approved at the counter, so have every copy with you.
- Online, upload a PDF. The City takes PDFs, among other file types. Upload the same PDF you print, so the paper and digital sets match.
- Print the permit document yourself. It’s a document you print and display on site. We print plan sheets from 18×24 to 36×48, not permit cards.
- Hand sketches print best from a clean scan. If a sketch is acceptable for your job, scan it to PDF at full size first.
Print at the drawn size so the scale holds (how to check). For sealed sets, see wet stamp vs digital seal printing.
We print your plans on white 20 lb bond from the PDF as sent. The Building Division and your design professional decide copies and seals, so confirm with them first.
Built for St. Louis jobs
- Five-copy sets for in-person filings at City Hall.
- Deck, porch and room-addition sets that may be approved over the counter.
- Sealed sets for major structural changes.
- Single sheets after a plan examiner’s comments.
We ship St. Louis sets to Soulard and Lafayette Square, the Central West End, Tower Grove and South City, and Downtown. We also ship to St. Louis County cities like Clayton, Kirkwood and University City, which are separate from the City of St. Louis and have their own permit offices.
Quick cost examples (print only; shipping chosen at checkout)
| Example | Sheets | Print total | With code WELCOME20 (20% off your first order) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck or porch plans, 4 sheets × 5 copies, B&W | 20 | $39.00 | $31.20 |
| Rehab set, 12 sheets × 5 copies, B&W, 24×36 | 60 | $117.00 | $93.60 |
| Commercial set, 30 sheets × 5 copies, B&W | 150 | $292.50 | $234.00 |
| 1 approved set for the job site, 12 sheets, B&W | 12 | $23.40 | $18.72 |
Frequently asked questions
How do I get 5 copies for a St. Louis City Hall filing?
Upload the PDF, order 5 copies and we ship them to you. Orders placed by 3 PM ET ship the same day.
How many copies of plans does St. Louis want for a building permit?
The City of St. Louis Building Division says in-person submissions should bring 5 copies of the plans for review. Online applications upload files instead.
Can I apply for a St. Louis building permit online?
Yes. The City says you can apply in person at the Permit office in City Hall or apply online. Online files can be .gif, .jpeg, .jpg, .png, .bmp, .pdf, .doc or .docx.
Do I need sealed drawings in St. Louis?
The Plan Exam page says major changes to a structure will, in most cases, require drawings with an architect’s or engineer’s seal, and some improvements to existing structures may be approved based solely on a hand-drawn sketch.
What does a St. Louis permit application cost?
The City lists a $25 application fee per application, and in person it accepts only check or cash. The permit fee itself is separate and based on the project. Printing with us is $1.95 a sheet in black and white.
Is St. Louis County the same as the City of St. Louis?
No. The City of St. Louis is separate from St. Louis County. Clayton, Kirkwood and other county cities have their own permit offices.
