Setbacks & Height Limits in St. Louis

This guide explains the basic setback and height rules that apply to residential construction in St. Louis. The exact numbers depend on your zoning district, overlays, and lot geometry, so always confirm with the St. Louis Planning & Urban Design Agency before finalizing plans.

Note: St. Louis uses a letter-based district system (A–K) instead of the R-1 / R-2 style common in most cities. Residential districts are A, B, C, and D; commercial and industrial districts run F through K.

What Are Setbacks?

A setback is the minimum required distance between a building and a lot line. Setbacks are measured from the property line to the nearest point of the building (typically the wall, though eaves, bay windows, and chimneys may have their own projection rules).

St. Louis Title 26 specifies front, side, and rear setbacks separately for each district. Corner lots have two "front" setbacks (one per street frontage) plus an interior side and rear.

Typical Residential Setbacks

For the four residential districts in St. Louis, Title 26 sets approximately:

Side setbacks in all four residential districts are not a single fixed number — they scale with lot width and the number of stories. Narrow city lots typical of historic St. Louis neighborhoods often have smaller required side yards than the wider-lot suburban fringe. Consult Title 26 or call planning for the exact formula that applies to your lot.

Height Limits

Maximum residential building height in St. Louis is:

• A (Single-Family): 35 ft
• B (Two-Family): 35 ft
• C (Multi-Family Low): 45 ft
• D (Multi-Family High): 70 ft

Height is measured from average grade to the highest point of the roof (or a defined reference plane for pitched roofs). Height may be further constrained in:

• Historic districts — St. Louis has numerous locally designated historic districts where design review can cap height below the base district limit
• Cultural districts — contextual massing rules may apply
• Riverfront and view corridors — additional regulations can modify height
• Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) — height is set in the approved site plan rather than the base district

Lot Coverage

Title 26 limits the percentage of the lot that buildings may cover. Lot coverage requirements vary by district and lot size — Single-Family (A) and Two-Family (B) districts are the most restrictive, while C and D multi-family districts allow higher coverage to accommodate apartment buildings. Open porches, uncovered decks, and driveways are typically excluded from coverage calculations. Confirm the exact number in Title 26 or with the Planning & Urban Design Agency.

Common Exceptions and Encroachments

St. Louis Title 26 allows certain features to project into required setbacks, similar to most zoning codes:

• Eaves and gutters (limited projection)
• Chimneys (limited projection)
• Uncovered porches, stoops, and steps
• Air conditioning condensers (subject to placement rules)
• Bay windows (limited projection)

Fences, retaining walls, and accessory structures have separate rules — check the accessory structures section of Title 26.

State ADU Rules

Missouri has no statewide ADU mandate. St. Louis does have locally adopted provisions for accessory dwelling units, and ADUs must generally meet the base district setback rules. See the ADU rules page for more detail, and call the Planning & Urban Design Agency at (314) 622-3400 for current ADU setback, height, and size requirements.

How to Look Up Your Specific Requirements

1. Find your district letter — contact the Planning & Urban Design Agency at (314) 622-3400 to confirm whether your property is in A, B, C, D, or another district
2. Read the district chapter — open Title 26 of the St. Louis Revised Code and locate the chapter for your district letter
3. Check for overlays — historic districts, cultural districts, and PUDs can modify the base rules
4. Ask planning staff — St. Louis planners will typically confirm setbacks, height, and coverage for a specific address

Variances

If your project cannot meet Title 26 as written, you may apply for a variance through the Board of Adjustment. Variances require evidence of hardship specific to your lot (not a self-created or economic hardship) and typically involve a public hearing. See the Variance Application Guide for the general process.

Official Sources

• St. Louis Revised Code on Municode — Title 26 Zoning
• St. Louis Planning & Urban Design Agency — (314) 622-3400

Disclaimer: This guide is informational and is not a substitute for direct confirmation from the St. Louis Planning & Urban Design Agency. Zoning codes change, and site-specific factors (overlays, historic status, lot configuration) can alter the applicable rules. Always verify with planning staff before finalizing plans.