Electrical Permit in St. Louis, MO
Permit Summary
Who Can Do the Electrical Work?
Homeowner Eligibility Rules
A homeowner may receive an electrical permit only after passing a short Building Division Electrical Section test showing sufficient Electrical Code knowledge, for work on an owner-occupied single-family dwelling, and only for a room addition, repair, or modification to an existing system. Homeowners may not obtain the permit for service changes, rehab, or new construction; those scopes must be performed by a licensed contractor.
Contractor Rules
Except for the limited qualifying-homeowner pathway, the permit application is made by the license holder responsible for the electrical installation. The City's contractor process requires an Electrical Contractor license issued by the St. Louis Building Division, and online applications require a registered trades-contractor account. Service changes, rehab, and new construction must be performed by a licensed contractor.
Permit & Plan Review
Electrical Work Covered
The St. Louis Electrical Code governs the design, installation, maintenance, alteration, and inspection of electrical systems. A permit is required before electrical work begins unless the work is one of the code-defined minor repairs. Covered permit scopes include residential repairs and modifications, new construction and major rehab, service work, and commercial/industrial outlets, service equipment, sub-panels, disconnects, transformers, and other regulated electrical installations.
Plan Review Rules
The code official may require construction documents showing the nature and extent of proposed electrical work before a permit is issued. If work changes from approved construction documents, amended documents must be submitted and, if approved, a supplementary permit is issued after the original permit conditions are satisfied.
Service, Panel & Utility Requirements
Service / Panel Rules
Service changes and service equipment are permit-regulated work and are not eligible for the homeowner self-permit pathway. The City's fee schedule separately prices residential service-only work and repair/modification work that includes service, and commercial/industrial service equipment by voltage and amperage; sub-panels and disconnects are also separately listed permit-fee items.
Service Reconnect Rules
An electrical reinspection is required before restoring service to a structure from which electrical service has been disconnected, or that has not been in use, for six months or more. The owner, tenant, manager, or other responsible party may request the City's Ameren Safety Inspection online or in person. After a satisfactory inspection, the code official notifies the electric utility that service may be restored.
Low-Voltage Rules
The Electrical Code provides a Communications Contractor license for low-voltage limited-energy communications work, including burglar and fire alarm systems, public-address and wired-music systems, telephones and telephone outlets, specified alarm devices, and radio/television and CATV distribution systems, provided the system does not exceed 24 volts nominal. Equipment wiring in a device greater than 24 volts must be installed by a licensed Electrical Contractor. The electrical permit fee schedule counts communications, data, burglar-alarm, and fire-alarm points as electrical outlets.
Utility Coordination Rules
Utility coordination applies when City inspection approval is needed before electric service can be restored. For service that has been disconnected or premises unused for six months or more, the City requires a reinspection; if the system is satisfactory, the code official notifies the electric utility that service may be restored.
Inspections & Permit Life
Electrical Inspection Stages
The code authorizes inspections during installation. Work may not be covered or concealed until it has been inspected and permission to conceal has been approved. A final inspection is required when the electrical work is completed and before final approval. A separate reinspection is required before restoring service after a disconnection or six months or more of nonuse.
Permit Expiration / Inspection Interval
An electrical permit is deemed abandoned six months after the filing date, except permits for rehab and new construction, which have a one-year period, unless the permit has been diligently prosecuted. After abandonment, reapplication and new fees are required. The code official may grant one or more extensions for additional periods not exceeding 180 days when there is reasonable cause.
What You Need Before Applying
Requirements
Obtain an electrical permit before beginning electrical work unless the work qualifies as a minor-repair exemption. Contractor applications require a City of St. Louis Electrical Contractor license and, for online filing, a registered trades-contractor account. A qualifying homeowner may use the limited homeowner pathway. Permitted work must comply with the City's adopted 2017 National Electrical Code with St. Louis amendments and must receive required inspections.
Exemptions
The Electrical Code exempts defined minor repairs from the electrical-permit requirement. These include replacement of a convenience outlet with the same current-carrying capacity, except when replacing an ungrounded outlet with a grounding type requires new grounding wiring; replacement of a light switch with the same current-carrying capacity; replacement of a light socket and holder; replacement of one light fixture on the same outlet box with the same current rating; and, within a dwelling unit, replacement of a fan, blower, pump, or other fractional-horsepower motor with the same horsepower, electrical characteristics, and current rating, limited to 240 volts.
Required Documents
The permit application must include an adequate written description of the proposed electrical work and identify the work, location, cost, building use and occupancy, and proposed start date. Contractor applicants must have the applicable City electrical-contractor license; online applicants also need a registered trades-contractor account. The code official may require construction documents showing the nature and extent of the proposed work before permit issuance.