St. Louis homeowner guide

Do you need a permit for gutters in St. Louis?

By Gutter Installation St. Louis, a referral service. Updated November 3, 2026.

Short answer

In the City of St. Louis, guidance lists gutter and downspout repair or replacement as usually needing no permit. On a City Landmark or in a City Historic District, it says the Cultural Resources Office requires approval, to protect the building's exterior. In St. Louis County and St. Charles County, each city runs its own desk, so ask yours.

Old built-in box gutter in the painted wooden cornice of an 1880s brick townhouse

Worth remembering

City of St. Louis: usually no permit, except in City Historic Districts and on Landmarks.
Cultural Resources Office: (314) 657-3865.
The city lists 18 local historic districts, each with its own standards.
Unincorporated St. Louis County goes to Transportation and Public Works.

City of St. Louis

The Building Division's residential guidance lists repair or replacement of gutters and downspouts among the work that usually needs no permit. The same guidance lists gutters and downspouts among items needing approval in a City Historic District or on a City Landmark, saying a permit is required by the Cultural Resources Office even though the Building Code doesn't require it.

The office's review FAQ says a property in a City Historic District needs a permit for all exterior work except painting wood trim. The office can be reached at (314) 657-3865 or cultural-resources@stlouis-mo.gov.

Is my house in a district?

The city's list of City Historic Districts shows 18 local districts, including Soulard, Shaw, the Central West End, Lafayette Square and Benton Park. Don't confuse this with the National Register of Historic Places, which is a separate list with different effects. Each city district has its own ordinance and design standards, so what's fine in one may not be in another. Ask the office for the standards for yours.

Good questions for the Cultural Resources Office

Is my address in a City Historic District, or is it a Landmark?
What do the standards say about gutter profile, material and color on the street-facing side?
Does the rear count the same as the front?
Can I close off a built-in gutter? What would you need to see?
Who files, me or the contractor, and how long does review take?

St. Louis County

St. Louis County is made up of many separate municipalities. Unincorporated areas such as Affton and Oakville go to the county's Department of Transportation and Public Works. The county says many like-for-like replacements are handled as over-the-counter permits. Some cities contract with the county for code enforcement, and others run their own. Your city hall can tell you which is which.

After a declared disaster, the county says permits are required for all interior and exterior repairs to damaged buildings, regardless of cost, and only registered contractors or owners can pull them.

St. Charles County

St. Charles, O'Fallon and their neighbors have their own departments and their own rules. Nothing from the City of St. Louis carries over.

HOAs and trustees

In many subdivisions, the real rule is the HOA's. Color changes are the usual catch. Check before you order.

Questions

Do I need approval for gutters at the back of a historic house?

City guidance says all exterior work in a City Historic District needs a permit, apart from painting wood trim. Standards may treat front and rear differently, so ask the Cultural Resources Office about your district.

What if work was done without approval?

The office takes complaints about historic districts and landmarks. If you've inherited unapproved work, call and ask what to do. It's easier before the next change than after.

Does National Register status mean I need approval?

Not by itself. City Historic Districts and the National Register are different things. An address can be on one list, both or neither. Ask the Cultural Resources Office which applies.

Does a downspout re-route need a permit?

It may, especially if you're connecting to underground lines or changing how water leaves the lot. Ask your city, and read our note on sewer rules.

Sources

General information for St. Louis-area homeowners. Not a quote, and not engineering, legal or insurance advice.