Maryland Heights, MO

The Division of Building and Code Enforcement is responsible for enforcing the City's codes and regulations regarding building permits, occupancy permits and property maintenance code enforcement. It is housed within Department of Community Development.  For more information, to speak with a building official or to schedule an inspection, call (314) 291-6550.

Learn more about various permits by clicking the links below:

Residential
Residential Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing
Fences, Sheds, Pergolas, and Gazebos
Commercial

An oc­cupancy permit is required at any change of ownership or representation of ownership, change of tenancy or construction activity. Occupancy permits are not transferable.

It is the responsibility of any person, owner, corporation or agent to not occupy or permit the occupancy of any commercial or residential premise or structure in the city without first obtaining an inspection and certificate of occupancy. The term "occupancy" includes the movement of furniture, equipment or other property into the premise or structure.

The first step in this process is to apply for a residential inspection. 

How to apply:
Please print and complete the Application for Residential Occupancy Inspection, available here, scan it (or photograph it), and e-mail the application and a copy of your driver’s license or other state issued photo identification to cst@marylandheights.com.  Staff will contact you for payment.

Other options are to apply in person at the City Government Center during normal business hours or mail the application and documentation to 11911 Dorsett Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043.

Fees:
The inspection fee is $75 and includes up to 2 re-inspections.

Who can apply:
The City has no preference for which party applies for the inspection.  The applicant may be the property owner, real estate agent (with the owner's permission), property management company, or an individual with Power of Attorney.  In some instances, such as HUD or foreclosure properties, the buyer may apply for the inspection.

What happens at the inspection:
The applicant will receive a fixed inspection time at the time of scheduling.  Someone must be present during the inspection; lock box entry is not allowed by City policy.  If this person is not the applicant or owner, they must be listed as an authorized representative on the inspection application form.

The inspection includes both the interior and exterior of the structure and normally takes less than an hour.Check out the Residential Occupancy Permit Checklist to see what our inspectors are looking for.

If there are any violations, the inspector will leave a Field Correction Notice listing these violations. Violations must be corrected and a reinspection performed.

Expiration date:
Once home passes inspection, the new occupant has 90 days to obtain an occupancy permit.  Otherwise, a new inspection may be required.

An oc­cupancy permit is required at any change of ownership or representation of ownership, change of tenancy or construction activity. Occupancy permits are not transferable.

It is the responsibility of any person, owner, corporation or agent to not occupy or permit the occupancy of any commercial or residential premise or structure in the city without first obtaining an inspection and certificate of occupancy. The term "occupancy" includes the movement of furniture, equipment or other property into the premise or structure.

Within 90 days of the passed inspection and prior to occupying the home, the prospective occupant must apply for a Residential Occupancy Permit. 

1. The Application for Residential Occupancy Permit available here
2. Proof of lease or ownership (lease agreement, title statement, sales contract, or closing document)
3. Copy of your driver's license or other state issued photo identification (we can make a copy if you apply in person).

• The apartment complex's manager arranges and pays for the inspection.
• In most cases, occupancy permits are released to the complex, not the individual tenant.

• All apartments must be inspected at change of occupancy.
• All complexes must be inspected at change of ownership.
• Owners and managers must make each unit available for inspection before the unit is occupied.
• The Building Commissioner will ensure all inspections are completed.
• The cost of inspection is $60 per unit. The fee includes two reinspections. Additional inspections are performed at an additional cost.

Applicants should apply for a commercial occupancy permit by submitting the Commercial Occupancy Permit Application.

• Tenants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to ensure adequate time to address zoning or inspection issues prior to the desired move-in date. 
• Application must be made a minimum of 10 business days before a tenant intends to move into a space, unless work requiring a building permit is proposed, in which case application is required in conjunction with the building permit application.
• The fee for inspection is $5 per 1,000 square feet with a minimum of $100; two re-inspections are included.
• Both the interior and exterior of the building will be inspected.
  • If any violations are found, the inspector will leave a Field Correction Notice listing these violations, and a re-inspection must be performed once they are corrected. 
• When the noted violations/deficiencies are corrected and the inspection is passed, an occupancy permit and business license will be mailed to the applicant.
• The applicant must contact the City Clerk's office for a Business License.
• In special cases, the building commissioner may grant temporary occupancy permits. This is up to his discretion. For these requests, please contact Jason Boren at (314) 738-2241 or jboren@maryalndheights.com. Download Temporary Commercial Occupancy Permit here

The City of Maryland Heights regulates development in the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), or floodplain. The primary purpose in this regulation is to ensure that current levels of hazard or risk are not increased. A floodplain development permit is required for any work performed in the floodplain.

The City of Maryland Heights participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) so its residents can obtain flood insurance for their homes and businesses.

The city provides flood map information upon request of both residents and business owners. The floodplain administrator can provide the following information upon request:

• Whether a property is in or out of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), or floodplain, as shown on the current Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) of Maryland Heights.
• Additional flood insurance data for the site such as the FIRM zone and the base flood elevation (BFE) or depth, if shown on the FIRM.
• Copies of Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) are on file in the floodplain administrator’s office.
• Elevation Certificates may be available to view in the office or on the City of Maryland Heights floodplain information website.

Home Improvements and Project Guides

The Better Business Bureau suggests these steps when choosing a contractor for your project:

• Research and gather information. Search for a contractor’s Business Profile at BBB.org for free information on their history of complaints, read verified Customer Reviews, and see if they are an Accredited Business. BBB Accredited Businesses make a commitment to uphold BBB's accreditation standards including: to build trust, advertise honestly, tell the truth, be transparent, honor their promises, be responsive to their customers, safeguard privacy and embody integrity. Also search for the name of the company online along with "Complaint", "Review" or "Scam" to find different results. Ask the company if employees and sub-contractors undergo a background check. Are they trained and certified? What identification will they show when they come to your home?
• Ask for references. Ask the contractor for a list of recent local references you may contact. Ask the references about the services performed and their overall experience with the contractor and the quality of the work. Ask if the contractor stuck to the estimated budget and completion date for the project. If possible, inspect the contractor's work yourself. Ask if the contractor is a member of a professional association that has standards or a code of ethics.
• Ask for multiple quotes. You should always shop around and get at least three quotes from different businesses. Make sure all bids consider the same set of criteria. Remember that the lowest bid may not necessarily be the best bid; if one bid is significantly lower than the others, the contractor may be cutting corners or may not understand your work requirements.
• Get it in writing. Always get estimates in writing and never let any work begin without a written and signed contract. Do not be pressured into signing an agreement before you are ready and make sure you read and understand everything before signing. The contract should include contact information, start and complete dates, a detailed description of the exact work to be done, any material costs, payment arrangements, and warranty information. Specify who is to obtain necessary building permits and who is responsible for clean-up. Make sure all verbal promises are included in the contract. Ask how much work will be subcontracted and ask for information on the subcontractors. Ask questions if you do not understand any part of the contract. Never sign an incomplete or partially blank contract.
• Verify license and insurance. Always be sure that the company you decide to work with has the necessary licenses and insurance to work in your region. In the United States, you can get to your state’s licensing agency to learn more here. Your local BBB can help. Once you have your contractor’s insurance information, call the carrier to confirm appropriate coverage for worker’s compensation, property damage, and personal liability in case of accidents.
• Confirm building permits. Your contractor must have the correct permits before starting your project. They will usually obtain the permits, but you will probably pay for them. That should be detailed in your contract. Request that all final inspections be completed by the local building official prior to final payment.
• Inquire about a lien waiver. A lien waiver, in the United States, is a statement from your contractor that says all suppliers and subcontractors have been paid for their work. In some Canadian provinces, there is a mandatory Builders Lien holdback, so ensure you understand any financial obligations you may be liable for.
• Think about future service issues. Make sure you are aware of your warranty coverage and how to deal with service issues.
• Arrange a payment schedule. Never pay in full up front. Stagger your payments so your final payment is not due until the work is complete and you have fully inspected it. Do not pay cash; make sure your check is written to a company, not an individual, or that you use a credit card. Paying with a credit card will provide some recourse should the job not be completed as stated in the contract.
• Get a receipt. Request a receipt marked “Paid in Full” when the job is completed and your final payment made.
• Keep your contract. Hold on to your contract for future reference or if any questions arise after the work is complete.