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Roofing in St. Louis, Missouri

Hail belt

No — St. Louis, MO does not require a permit for like-for-like roof replacement (City of St. Louis, Missouri - Building Division). The Building Division's "When a Residential Building Permit is Needed" page states, under roofing: a permit is needed "when roof work is not replacement of like material and/or when more than 25% of the roof sheathing is removed and replaced." (Implication: like-material roof-covering replacement with 25% or less sheathing replacement is exempt from a permit.) Building permit applications require a $25 application fee per application per the Building Division Permits Section page. St. Louis, Missouri sits in one of the country's most hail-prone regions. This hub aggregates St. Louis's roofing permit and contractor-registration requirements and impact-resistant material options — every fact linked to its sourced directory record.

Roofing permits & building code in St. Louis

Roofing permit and contractor-licensing rules in St. Louis are set locally by City of St. Louis, Missouri - Building Division. Missouri has no statewide roofing or general-contractor license, so licensing and registration are handled at the local level — always confirm the current requirements with the authority before starting work.

Roofing permit
Not required
Contractor registration
Required
Adopted building code
2018 International Residential Code for One- and Two-family Dwellings (including Appendices E, F, G, H, J, K, M, R, S, and U), adopted by Ordinance No. 70795, Section 2, effective 7-6-2018, codified as Chapter 25.11 (Residential Code) of Title 25 of the Code of Ordinances. Municode's own codified text of Sec. 25.11.010 (Adoption) states: "The 2018 International Residential Code for One- and Two-family Dwellings as published by the International Code Council, Inc. ... is hereby adopted as the Residential Code for One- and Two-family Dwellings of the City of Saint Louis, in the State of Missouri, pursuant to this chapter and in conformity with RSMo 71.943 ... (Ord. No. 70795, Sec. 2, 7-6-2018.)" Section 25.11.020 lists local amendments; where a local amendment does not touch a given IRC section, the unamended 2018 IRC baseline text governs (per 25.11.010: "If differences occur between a provision modified by this chapter and a provision adopted without modification, then the modified provision shall control.") The companion 2018 International Building Code (commercial/multi-family) was adopted the same date by Ordinance No. 70794, Chapter 25.01. Also adopted effective 08-01-18: 2018 International Existing Building Code (Ord. 70797), 2018 IECC (Ord. 70799), 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (Ord. 70798), 2018 International Fire Code (Ord. 70796), 2018 International Mechanical Code (Ord. 70800), 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (Ord. 70801), and 2017 National Electrical Code (Ord. 70802).
Registration details
  • license: The City of St. Louis License Collector's "Apply for a Construction - Contracting Business License" page states a "Construction Industry Contractor Graduated Business License (GBL)" is required, with these steps: (1) obtain a State of Missouri Sales Tax Number if selling products; (2) complete the GBL application at the License Collector's office, City Hall Room 104; (3) obtain a Statement of Clearance from the Collector of Revenue's office, City Hall Room 410; (4) obtain an Occupancy Permit from the Building Division, City Hall Room 425 (314) 622-3313; (5) provide proof of Workers' Compensation coverage. The page does not list fee amounts, does not name roofing as a trade category, and does not describe an exam or bonding requirement (unlike the City's separately administered trade-specific licenses for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing contractors, which are handled under different chapters). The License Collector's office can be reached at (314) 622-4528.
Permit process
The Building Division's "When a Residential Building Permit is Needed" page states, under roofing: a permit is needed "when roof work is not replacement of like material and/or when more than 25% of the roof sheathing is removed and replaced." (Implication: like-material roof-covering replacement with 25% or less sheathing replacement is exempt from a permit.) Building permit applications require a $25 application fee per application per the Building Division Permits Section page.

View the full St. Louis permitting authority record →

Impact-resistant roofing materials for St. Louis hail

St. Louis, Missouri sits in one of the country's most hail-prone regions. For hail exposure, the highest impact rating a roof covering can earn is UL 2218 Class 4. These cataloged material categories reach Class 4:

Class 4 impact-resistant materials

Class 4 Impact-Resistant Shingle Corrugated Metal Panel Metal Shingle Rubber (Polymer) Shingle Standing-Seam Metal Roof Stone-Coated Steel Synthetic Shake Synthetic Slate Synthetic Tile

Browse every option on the Class 4 impact-resistant materials hub, and read the Class 4 impact-resistant shingles buyer's guide. Many insurers offer premium credits for a documented Class 4 roof — confirm terms with your carrier.

Local permitting authority

City of St. Louis, Missouri - Building Divisioncity

Roofing guides

Class 4 Impact-Resistant ShinglesGuide Asphalt vs. Metal vs. TileGuide Wind & Fire RatingsGuide

Sources