Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Woodson Terrace, Missouri

Woodson Terrace’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Woodson Terrace city limits; the city administers its own zoning ordinance (Code Chapter 400, Zoning Regulations).

  • Use and development are limited to the uses in the district that applies to the parcel (Section 400.110).
  • Subdivisions with a plat approved under the city's subdivision regulations are governed by the final plat where it conflicts with R-1 or R-2 rules (Section 400.110).

  “the use and redevelopment of land and structures within any zoning district are limited to those uses and developments set forth in those sections of this chapter applicable to such district”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Woodson Terrace city limits; the district list is in Code Article II, Chapter 400.

  • Districts listed in Article II include R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1 through C-4, I, and overlay districts (PD, GO, TCO).
  • Zoning map is established under Section 400.090; the map itself was not opened.

  “section 400.120 "r-1" residential district regulations.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family dwellings in the R-1 residential district inside Woodson Terrace city limits.

  • Purpose statement: R-1 includes single-family homes on lots not less than 9,000 square feet (Section 400.120(a)).

  minimum lot area: >= 9000 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 50 feet

  “"r-1" single-family residential district bulk regulations minimum lot area 9,000 square feet minimum lot width 50 feet”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Dwellings in the R-1 residential district inside Woodson Terrace city limits.

  • Bay windows may extend into the front setback, provided they do not extend more than three feet from the structure's foundation.
  • On double-frontage lots the front yard is required on both streets.
  • Rear yard is the greater of 15 feet or 20% of lot depth.

  front yard: >= 42 feet (may be reduced to 30 feet for open porches) · side yard (each side): >= 5 feet · rear yard: >= 15 feet (or 20% of lot depth, whichever is greater)

  “each lot upon which a dwelling is constructed shall have a front yard of not less than 42 feet, except the front yard setback may be reduced to 30 feet for open porches. bay windows may extend into the front setback, provided they do not extend more than three feet from the structure's foundation. when a lot has double frontage, the required front yard shall be provided on both streets. side on each lot upon which a dwelling is constructed, there shall be a side yard on each side of at least five feet. rear every lot or parcel of land upon which a building is constructed shall have a rear yard of not less than 15 feet or 20% of the lot depth, whichever is greater.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Dwellings in the R-1 residential district inside Woodson Terrace city limits.

  • Height is measured from the average finished grade to the highest point of the roof.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet · maximum stories: <= 2.5 stories

  “maximum height no more than 2.5 stories; up to 35 feet measured from the average finished grade to the highest point of the roof”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divided into new lots inside Woodson Terrace city limits.

  • Subdivision regulations are Ordinance No. 1690, codified in Code Chapter 405 (Sections 405.010 to 405.240 per the table of contents).
  • Final plats approved under those regulations control in conflicts with R-1 and R-2 district rules (Section 400.110).

  “the final plat of which has been approved in accordance with the terms and provisions of the city's subdivision regulations ordinance number 1690 set out in chapter 405”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New dwelling construction inside Woodson Terrace city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Woodson Terrace city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building codes for construction inside Woodson Terrace city limits.
• Inspections — Construction inspections inside Woodson Terrace city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates for new dwellings inside Woodson Terrace city limits.

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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.