Zoning Report
St. Louis, MO Zoning
St. Louis City administers zoning through Title 26 of its Code of Ordinances, with the Zoning Section reviewing permits for compliance and routing projects as use by right, conditional use, or denial with appeal rights. The city also uses several overlay-style tools, including Special Use Districts, Planned Unit Development Districts, Community Unit Plans, and certain form-based districts. Based on the sources provided, the research supports the city’s process structure and recent amendment activity more clearly than it supports a full district-by-district use and dimensional analysis.
Last researched May 2026
Zoning Districts in St. Louis, MO
A Single-Family Dwelling District
A residential dwelling district referenced in the zoning code as part of the city’s base residential zoning framework.
B Two-Family Dwelling District
A residential dwelling district referenced in the zoning code for two-family residential areas.
C Multiple-Family Dwelling District
A multiple-family residential district referenced in the zoning code.
D Multiple-Family Dwelling District
A multiple-family residential district referenced in the zoning code.
E Multiple-Family Dwelling District
A multiple-family residential district referenced in the zoning code.
F Neighborhood Commercial District
A commercial district referenced by the zoning code as part of the city’s neighborhood-serving commercial framework.
G Local Commercial and Office District
A commercial and office district referenced in the zoning code.
H Area Commercial District
A broader commercial district referenced in the zoning code.
J Industrial District
An industrial district referenced in the zoning code as part of the city’s business-oriented zoning framework.
K Unrestricted District
A business-oriented district referenced in the zoning code that may allow broader use patterns, though the detailed use list was not provided in the source set.
Special Use District (SUD)
An overlay district used to prohibit, limit, or conditionally allow certain new or expanded uses within a specific geographic area.
Allowed uses: Uses may be prohibited, limited, or shifted into conditional use review by the specific SUD ordinance
Form-Based Districts
Special zoning areas referenced by the city for places such as Central West End and Forest Park Southeast.
Planned Unit Development Districts
A special zoning mechanism referenced by the city as part of its overlay and customized zoning toolkit.
Community Unit Plans
A special zoning or development mechanism referenced by the city.
Recent Zoning Changes
The clearest recent zoning changes in the provided sources are 2025 adopted ordinances for accessory dwelling units and minimum lot size reform, plus city-posted references to recent Special Use District amendments and a proposed signage overlay near the stadium area. The code database also notes that online codification may lag the most current legislation, so recently adopted ordinances should be verified in both Municode and the city’s board bill materials.
ADU, Rental & Special Use Rules in St. Louis, MO
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
The city adopted Ordinance No. 72036 in July 2025 to define, permit, and regulate ADUs.
- Detailed standards were not included in the provided source excerpt
- Verify size, owner-occupancy, parking, location, and district applicability in the codified ordinance text
Short-term rental
Short-term rentals are expressly regulated in Title 26, but the actual use regulations were not provided in the source excerpt.
- Verify Section 26.76.030 for where short-term rentals are allowed and under what conditions
Home occupation
The city processes Home Occupation Waivers through its zoning system.
- Home Occupation Waivers are available through the city permit portal
- The substantive standards were not included in the provided sources
Conditional uses in Special Use Districts
Within an SUD, a use may be moved into conditional use review even if it would otherwise be permitted or already conditional under the base district.
- Subject to specific SUD ordinance text
- Conditional use process under Section 26.80.010 may apply
Overlay Districts in St. Louis, MO
Special Use District (SUD)
A geographically defined overlay district used to implement adopted plans or address documented neighborhood problems by prohibiting, limiting, or conditioning uses.
Form-Based Districts
The city references form-based districts, including examples in Central West End and Forest Park Southeast, as part of its zoning overlay framework.
Planned Unit Development Districts
The city lists Planned Unit Development Districts as a zoning overlay/development tool for customized project regulation.
Community Unit Plans
The city lists Community Unit Plans as part of its special zoning toolkit.
Signage Plan Overlay District for St. Louis City SC Stadium Area
A proposed overlay district for signage regulation in the stadium area.
Floodplain / FEMA flood zones
Flood risk exists in St. Louis due to river proximity and low-lying areas, but the provided sources do not include the city’s official floodplain zoning text or map layers.
St. Louis, MO Zoning FAQ
Are ADUs allowed in St. Louis, MO?
The city adopted Ordinance No. 72036 in July 2025 to define, permit, and regulate ADUs.
Are short-term rentals allowed in St. Louis, MO?
Short-term rentals are expressly regulated in Title 26, but the actual use regulations were not provided in the source excerpt.
What zoning districts are in St. Louis, MO?
St. Louis, MO includes districts such as A Single-Family Dwelling District, B Two-Family Dwelling District, C Multiple-Family Dwelling District, D Multiple-Family Dwelling District, E Multiple-Family Dwelling District, F Neighborhood Commercial District, G Local Commercial and Office District, H Area Commercial District.
Are there flood zones or overlay districts in St. Louis, MO?
Flood risk is the main environmental constraint identified in the provided materials. St. Louis’ river geography makes floodplain status an important parcel-level screening issue, but the source set does not include the city’s official floodplain zoning ordinance text, wetland standards, steep-slope rules, or aquifer p…
Have there been recent zoning changes in St. Louis, MO?
The clearest recent zoning changes in the provided sources are 2025 adopted ordinances for accessory dwelling units and minimum lot size reform, plus city-posted references to recent Special Use District amendments and a proposed signage overlay near the stadium area.
Common questions about St. Louis, MO zoning
Zoning Guides
- How to Check Zoning Before You Buy→
- Zoning Due Diligence Checklist→
- ADU Zoning Laws Explained→
- Variance vs. Special Use Permit→
- Zoning Red Flags Investors Miss→
- What Is a Nonconforming Use?→
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Deal-fit, approval path & risk flags for St. Louis, MO
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Get the full St. Louis, MO report free →Sources
- Zoning Section — Primary city overview of zoning administration, permit routing, overlays, recent amendments, and zoning resources.
- Code of Ordinances | St. Louis, MO | Municode Library — Confirmed code currency and identified adopted but not yet codified ordinances including ADU and lot size reform.
- Chapter 26.80 - USE, HEIGHT AND AREA EXCEPTIONS | Code of Ordinances | St. Louis, MO | Municode Library — Provided conditional use permit procedures, timelines, hearing requirements, and decision standards.
- Chapter 26.73 - SPECIAL USE DISTRICTS | Code of Ordinances | St. Louis, MO | Municode Library — Provided the best source material on Special Use District overlays and how they can prohibit, limit, or condition uses.
- Apply for a Building Permit — Provided building permit filing steps, fees, and general review workflow.
- Board of Adjustment — Confirmed appeal structure, meeting format, and legal posture of Board of Adjustment decisions.
- Planning Commission Agendas and Minutes — Confirmed active 2025-2026 Planning Commission meeting schedule and ongoing board activity.
- Planning and Urban Design Agency Documents — Confirmed city planning document repository and mapping resources.
- Zoning Map — Confirmed existence of the interactive zoning map and citywide printable zoning district map resources.
- Understanding St. Louis's Flood Zones | IASTL — Used cautiously as background context on flood risk only; not relied on for operative zoning rules.
This summary is AI-generated from public municipal sources and is not legal, engineering, or land-use advice. Always verify zoning with St. Louis, MO officials before making decisions.