Bolthole Index

St. Louis County, Missouri

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Ferguson, Missouri

Ferguson, Missouri requires a construction permit from the city's Code Compliance office for residential and commercial building work inside city limits1. The City of Ferguson also runs its own zoning districts2. Septic tanks are prohibited anywhere city sewers are available3; for septic questions in St. Louis County, the county Department of Public Health is an ordinance authority4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required: city construction permit through Code Compliance1
Zoning
City zoning districts with district-specific uses and lot sizes2
Occupancy
Occupancy permit required before a property is occupied or re-occupied5
Septic
Prohibited where sanitary sewers are available3
Driveways
City permit required for driveways and curb cuts6

Who to call

Building permits

City of Ferguson Code Compliance

Construction permits and occupancy permits inside Ferguson city limits

314-521-7721

110 Church St. Ferguson, MO 63135

Septic permits

St. Louis County Department of Public Health

County onsite wastewater (septic) permitting; confirm whether it covers an address inside Ferguson

(314) 615-0600

administration.doh@stlouisco.com

6121 N Hanley Rd, Berkeley, MO 63134

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Ferguson means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Ferguson, Missouri?

Yes. The City of Ferguson requires a construction permit for residential and commercial projects within city limits, including electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire-prevention, decks, fences and other structural work1. Code Compliance administers it1. Ferguson also requires a driveway permit for installing, replacing or modifying driveways and curb cuts, which must meet city engineering and drainage standards6.

Ferguson's fees are listed on the city's permit page, but the city says they are not final, and a permit issues only after the full payment shown on the completed application is received7. We could not confirm which building code edition Ferguson has adopted or whether owner-builders get any exemption; ask Code Compliance.

Who issues building permits in Ferguson, and how do you reach them?

Building permits inside Ferguson come from the city's own Code Compliance office, not from St. Louis County1. Call 314-521-7721 or visit City Hall at 110 Church St. Ferguson, MO 631358.

St. Louis County's building code and permit rules apply to unincorporated St. Louis County only9. For land outside any city, see the St. Louis County page.

Does Ferguson have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and use?

Ferguson is divided into several zoning districts, each with its own rules on permitted uses, lot sizes and development standards2. The city publishes residential districts R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, R-1D, R-2, R-3 and R-4, plus commercial, downtown and industrial districts10. Check your parcel's district on the city's zoning map before you plan anything, since lot size and use depend on it.

The city's overview does not replace the full Zoning Code10. Rezonings, special use permits, lot consolidations, site plan reviews and subdivisions all go through one city zoning application11. We could not confirm Ferguson's rules on RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or minimum home size; ask the city's Planning and Development staff.

How do septic permits work in Ferguson?

Ferguson prohibits septic tanks in any district where sanitary sewers are available3. Where sewers are not available, a property on public water must keep a septic tank that meets State Division of Health rules3. City water is also not supplied where sewers are available unless the premises connects to them12.

We could not confirm which office issues septic permits for an address inside Ferguson. St. Louis County lists its Department of Public Health and its Plumbing Department as septic ordinance authorities, and incorporated areas may be handled differently4. Call the county Department of Public Health at (314) 615-060013 and Ferguson Code Compliance before you plan any septic work.

Building a home in Ferguson: the steps, in order

  1. Find your lot's zoning district on the city zoning map and confirm the use and lot size you need2.
  2. File the city zoning application if you need a rezoning, special use permit, lot consolidation, site plan review or subdivision11.
  3. Apply for the construction permit through Code Compliance1.
  4. Get a driveway permit for any new driveway or curb cut6.
  5. Before anyone moves in, apply for the occupancy permit, which starts the city's safety and housing inspections5.
  6. Confirm sewer connection or septic with the city and the county health department12.

What stays with St. Louis County, and what to check before you buy in Ferguson

Septic, wells and floodplain questions can involve county or state offices even inside a city. Missouri requires a water-well installation permit to construct or repair a water well14. St. Louis County regulates floodplain development in its FP Flood Plain District through the Department of Transportation and Public Works15; whether that district reaches a given Ferguson parcel is not something we confirmed, so ask Code Compliance about flood zones.

For taxes, St. Louis County's effective property tax rate is 1.2%16. Subdivision indentures can add private restrictions on top of city zoning17.

Watch-outs

  • Ferguson's fee schedule is marked not final, so confirm the amount with Code Compliance before you pay7.
  • Rules for unincorporated St. Louis County do not apply inside Ferguson, and city rules do not apply outside it9.
  • We could not confirm the building code edition, owner-builder rules or septic permit issuer for Ferguson addresses; call Code Compliance at 314-521-77218.

Sources

  1. Permits and Licenses | Ferguson, MO (Ferguson), quoted and re-checked
  2. Zoning Map & Administration | Ferguson, MO (Ferguson), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 45 - Utilities | Code of Ordinances | Ferguson, MO (Ferguson), quoted and re-checked
  4. OWTS Construction Permit Process — St. Louis County authorities, quoted and re-checked
  5. Permits and Licenses | Ferguson, MO (Ferguson), quoted and re-checked
  6. Permits and Licenses | Ferguson, MO (Ferguson), quoted and re-checked
  7. Permits and Licenses | Ferguson, MO (Ferguson), quoted and re-checked
  8. City of Ferguson Code Compliance (fergusoncity.com)
  9. Chapter 1115 - Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  10. Zoning Map & Administration | Ferguson, MO (Ferguson), quoted and re-checked
  11. Permits and Licenses | Ferguson, MO (Ferguson), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chapter 45 - Utilities | Code of Ordinances | Ferguson, MO (Ferguson), quoted and re-checked
  13. St. Louis County Department of Public Health (stlouiscountymo.gov)
  14. Water Wells - PUB2945, quoted and re-checked
  15. Bill No. 82, 2022 — Section 1003.101 FP Flood Plain District Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  16. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Single-Family Dwelling Design Checklist, quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Ferguson

Ferguson’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Residential and commercial construction projects within Ferguson city limits, including electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire-prevention, decks, fences, and other structural improvements.

    • The City identifies the permit as a construction permit administered by Code Compliance.
    “Required for [...] construction projects”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    A property before it is occupied or re-occupied within Ferguson city limits.

    • The occupancy-permit application initiates inspections to verify safety and housing standards before issuance of an occupancy certificate.
    “Required before a property can be occupied or re-occupied within Ferguson. The application initiates inspections to verify the structure meets safety and housing standards prior to issuance of an occupancy certificate.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land within Ferguson city limits.

    • District-specific regulations govern property use and development.
    “The City of Ferguson is divided into several zoning districts that help guide how properties may be used and developed throughout the community. Each district has specific regulations related to permitted uses, lot sizes, development standards, and other requirements.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts within Ferguson city limits.

    • The City says its overview is a helpful reference and does not replace the full Zoning Code.

    published residential districts: R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, R-1D, R-2, R-3, R-4 · published nonresidential and downtown districts: C-1, C-2, DT-1, DT-2, DT-3, DT-4, DT-5, M-1, West Florissant

    “R-1A Single Family Residence [...] West Florissant”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Use of septic sanitation within Ferguson city limits.

    • Septic tanks are prohibited where sanitary sewers are available.
    • Where sanitary sewers are unavailable, a premises using public water must maintain a septic tank conforming to State Division of Health rules.
    “The use or maintenance of septic tanks in any district where sanitary sewers are available is prohibited.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Premises within Ferguson city limits served by City water or located where sanitary sewers are available.

    • Water service is not provided where sanitary sewers are available unless the premises connects to the sanitary sewers.
    • Where sanitary sewers are not provided, water service is not supplied unless a septic tank is provided conforming to Sec. 45-12(c).
    “Water service shall not be provided [...] unless [...] connected with the sanitary sewers”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision proposals within Ferguson city limits.

    • The City directs applicants to use its zoning application for subdivisions.
    “Use this application for: rezoning, special use permit, lot consolidation, site plan review, and subdivisions. If you aren't sure what application you need, complete this form and staff will assist you!”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Installation, replacement, or modification of driveways and curb cuts within Ferguson city limits.

    • Driveway work must meet City engineering and drainage standards.
    “Required for [...] driveways and curb cuts.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    City permits and licenses within Ferguson city limits.

    • The City's listed fees are not final.
    • A permit or license issues only after full payment stated on the completed application is received.
    “Any fees listed within the table are not final. Permits and Licenses will only be issued when the full payment due, as stated on the completed application, has been received by the City of Ferguson. See individual application documents for specific fee calculations.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Ferguson or St. Louis County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders within Ferguson city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land within Ferguson city limits.
  • Inspections — Construction inspections within Ferguson city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential districts within Ferguson city limits.
  • Setbacks — Single-family residential districts within Ferguson city limits.
13 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Ferguson publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. St. Louis County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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