Bolthole Index

St. Louis County, Missouri

Zoning, building permits and sewer rules in Grantwood Village, Missouri

Grantwood Village, Missouri (St. Louis County) runs its own zoning, and construction there needs a Village zoning permit plus a St. Louis County building permit12. Every structure must connect to the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, so a private septic system is not the normal path inside the Village3. The zoning permit application fee is $254.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, the Village divides its land into named zoning districts15
Building permit
St. Louis County building permit required, then Village authorization to proceed26
Zoning permit fee
$25 application fee, non-refundable4
Sewer / septic
Every structure drains to an MSD sewer3
Residence lot width
100 feet at the building line in a Residence District7
Residence setbacks
At least 35 feet rear yard and 20 feet each side yard8
Height limit
2½ stories or 40 feet9
Moving into a purchased home
St. Louis County occupancy permit required first10

Who to call

Zoning

Town of Grantwood Village (Board of Trustees)

Zoning permit applications and authorization to proceed with construction inside Grantwood Village

314-842-4409

[email protected]

1 Missionary Ridge, Saint Louis, Missouri 63123

Building permits

St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works — Codes and Ordinances

County building permits and plan review, which the Village requires before it authorizes construction

314-615-5184

41 South Central Avenue, 6th Floor, Clayton, MO 63105

Septic permits

St. Louis County Department of Public Health

Onsite wastewater (septic) questions for St. Louis County; the first call if a Grantwood Village lot ever lacks a sewer connection

314-615-0600

[email protected]

6121 North Hanley Road, 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 Town of Grantwood Village means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Grantwood Village, Missouri have zoning?

Yes. Grantwood Village, a town in St. Louis County, divides its land into named zoning districts1. The districts are A through E Residence, FP Flood Plain, G Animal Preserve, H Commercial, P Park and T Trail5. St. Louis County's own zoning covers unincorporated land only; inside a municipality, the municipal zoning officer approves zoning11.

The Village's published rules for a Residence District require a lot width of 100 feet at the building line7. New or structurally altered buildings need a rear yard of at least 35 feet and a side yard of at least 20 feet on each side8. No structure may exceed 2½ stories or 40 feet in height9. Lot width and setbacks are written for a Residence District, so confirm which district your parcel sits in before you plan.

We could not confirm Village rules on RVs, temporary camping, tiny homes, minimum house size, lot coverage or short-term rentals. Ask the Village at [email protected] before assuming any of them is allowed.

Do you need a building permit in Grantwood Village, and who issues it?

Two approvals are involved. The Village issues a zoning permit, and St. Louis County issues the building permit. Construction inside the Village cannot begin until the applicant submits a copy of the St. Louis County building permit and approved plans to the Village212. The Village then issues authorization to proceed with start and end dates6.

The Village's zoning permit application fee is $25, it must accompany every application, and it is not refundable; the form also provides for a separate fee based on construction cost4. Work done without a zoning permit is a violation under the Village's rules6.

St. Louis County's building code requires the owner to apply to the building official and obtain a permit before constructing, altering, repairing or demolishing a building; it lists exemptions such as one-story detached sheds of 120 square feet or less13. A Village tree permit is also required if construction will affect trees12. We could not confirm which building-code edition the Village itself has adopted; ask the Village.

How do septic permits work in Grantwood Village?

Inside Grantwood Village, septic is mostly a non-issue because the Village code says every structure must drain sewage and runoff into a sewer system that is part of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, through an enclosed and concealed connection3. Off-grid sanitation is therefore limited to what that rule allows14.

We could not confirm any Village rule on septic permits, septic inspections or private wells. If a lot lacks a sewer connection, ask the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, which the state lists as an ordinance authority for onsite wastewater in the county15. Missouri requires a construction permit before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater systems16.

What about floods and driveways in Grantwood Village?

The Village has an FP Flood Plain District5. In Village lands mapped as A or AE flood zones, no development is allowed without a floodplain development permit from the Village or its designated representative17. New subdivisions and other new development in special flood hazard areas must also meet the Village's floodplain safeguards18.

For driveways, parcels with a paved surface get one driveway opening per street frontage. Additional openings need Site Development Plan approval and 100 feet of frontage for each extra opening, and openings may not exceed 30 feet in width unless the plan approves a wider one19.

Building or buying a home in Grantwood Village: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your parcel's zoning district with the Village ([email protected]) and check the flood zone517.
  2. Apply to St. Louis County for the building permit and plan approval2.
  3. Submit the county permit, approved plans and the $25 application fee to the Village64.
  4. Wait for the Village's authorization with start and end dates before work begins6.
  5. Connect to the MSD sewer3.
  6. If you bought an existing home, obtain a St. Louis County occupancy permit before moving in10.

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

The Village decides zoning and issues its own authorization, but building permits and the occupancy permit come from St. Louis County210. For land outside Village limits, use the St. Louis County page; county rules for unincorporated land do not apply inside the Village.

Before buying, check the zoning district, the flood zone and the sewer connection. Subdivision indentures may impose additional private restrictions on top of municipal zoning20. For context, St. Louis County's effective property tax rate is 1.2%21, and its typical home value is about $293,45822.

Watch-outs

  • The Village's lot-width, setback and height figures are written for a Residence District, so a parcel in another district may follow different numbers78.
  • We could not confirm Village rules on RVs, tiny homes, minimum house size, owner-builder work, private wells or septic; call the Village at 314-842-4409 or email [email protected] before relying on any of them12.
  • Construction cannot start on a county permit alone; the Village must authorize it in writing first6.

Sources

  1. Grantwood Village Code, Title IV: Land Use (Town of Grantwood Village), quoted and re-checked
  2. Grantwood Village Zoning Permit Application (Town of Grantwood Village), quoted and re-checked
  3. Grantwood Village Code, Title IV: Land Use (Town of Grantwood Village), quoted and re-checked
  4. Grantwood Village Zoning Permit Application (Town of Grantwood Village), quoted and re-checked
  5. Grantwood Village Code, Title IV: Land Use (Town of Grantwood Village), quoted and re-checked
  6. Grantwood Village Zoning Permit Application (Town of Grantwood Village), quoted and re-checked
  7. Grantwood Village Code, Title IV: Land Use (Town of Grantwood Village), quoted and re-checked
  8. Grantwood Village Code, Title IV: Land Use (Town of Grantwood Village), quoted and re-checked
  9. Grantwood Village Code, Title IV: Land Use (Town of Grantwood Village), quoted and re-checked
  10. Resident Information - Grantwood Village (Town of Grantwood Village), quoted and re-checked
  11. Single-Family Dwelling Design Checklist, quoted and re-checked
  12. Town of Grantwood Village (Board of Trustees) (grantwoodvillage.org)
  13. Chapter 1115 - Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  14. Grantwood Village Code, Title IV: Land Use (Town of Grantwood Village), quoted and re-checked
  15. OWTS Construction Permit Process — St. Louis County authorities, quoted and re-checked
  16. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  17. Grantwood Village Code, Title IV: Land Use (Town of Grantwood Village), quoted and re-checked
  18. grantwoodvillage.org (Town of Grantwood Village), quoted and re-checked
  19. Grantwood Village Code, Title IV: Land Use (Town of Grantwood Village), quoted and re-checked
  20. Single-Family Dwelling Design Checklist, quoted and re-checked
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

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 Town of Grantwood Village

Town of Grantwood Village’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction inside Grantwood Village town limits.

    • Construction cannot begin until the applicant submits a St. Louis County building permit and approved plans to Grantwood Village; Village authorization then issues with start and end dates.
    “Construction cannot commence until a copy of the STLCO Building Permit and approved plans are submitted to Grantwood Village.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Grantwood Village town limits.

    • The Village is divided into named zoning districts.
    “In order to regulate and restrict the location of residences and the location of structures erected or altered for residences, and to regulate and limit the height of structures hereafter erected or altered, to regulate and determine the area of yards and other open space, and to regulate and limit the density of population, the Village is hereby divided into Zoning Districts which shall be known as:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside Grantwood Village town limits.

    • District boundaries are shown on the Town of Grantwood Village Zoning District Map dated March 8, 1999, as amended by future authorized changes.

    districts: A, B, C, D, E Residence; FP Flood Plain; G Animal Preserve; H Commercial; P Park; T Trail

    “"A" Residence District "B" Residence District "C" Residence District "D" Residence District "E" Residence District "FP" Flood Plain District "G" Animal Preserve "H" Commercial District "P" Park District "T" Trail District”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Structures inside Grantwood Village town limits.

    • Every structure must drain sewage and runoff to an MSD sewer system or successor through an enclosed and concealed connection, pipe, or conduit.
    “Every structure shall drain sewage and water run-off into a sewer system which is part of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, or its successor entity, by means of an enclosed and concealed connection, pipe or other conduit.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Every structure inside Grantwood Village town limits.

    • The sewer system must be part of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District or its successor; the connection must be enclosed and concealed.
    “Every structure shall drain sewage and water run-off into a sewer system which is part of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, or its successor entity, by means of an enclosed and concealed connection, pipe or other conduit.”
  • Subdividing landLimited

    Subdivision proposals and new development in Village special-flood-hazard areas.

    • The cited floodplain rule applies to subdivision proposals in special flood hazard areas.
    “subdivision proposals and other proposed new development, including manufactured home parks or subdivisions, located within special flood hazard areas are required to assure that:”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Paved-surface parcels inside Grantwood Village town limits.

    • Additional openings require a Site Development Plan and 100 feet of frontage per additional opening; wider openings require specific Site Development Plan approval.

    driveway openings per street frontage: 1 opening (Additional openings require Site Development Plan approval) · maximum driveway opening width: <= 30 feet (Unless specifically approved in a Site Development Plan)

    “Parcels of paved surface land shall be permitted one (1) driveway opening per street frontage, but additional driveway openings may be approved through a Site Development Plan provided there is a minimum of one hundred (100) feet of frontage for each additional driveway opening along each street. Driveway openings shall not exceed thirty (30) feet in width unless a wider opening is specifically approved in a Site Development Plan.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in Village lands identified as numbered or unnumbered A or AE zones on the applicable flood maps.

    • Development is allowed only through a floodplain development permit issued by the Village or designated representative and subject to safeguards and restrictions.
    “In all areas covered by this Chapter, no development shall be permitted except through the issuance of a floodplain development permit, granted by the Village or its duly designated representative under such safeguards and restrictions as the Village or the designated representative may reasonably impose for the promotion and maintenance of the general welfare, health of the inhabitants of the community, and as specifically noted in Article IV.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Village zoning-permit applications.

    • The application fee must accompany every application and is non-refundable; the form also provides for a separate fee based on construction cost.

    application fee: 25 USD (Must accompany any application; non-refundable)

    “$25.00 Application Fee must accompany any application. The $25 Application Fee is non-refundable.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction inside Grantwood Village town limits.

    • A copy of the STLCO building permit and approved plans must be submitted; Village authorization includes construction start and end dates.
    “Construction cannot commence until a copy of the STLCO Building Permit and approved plans are submitted to Grantwood Village. • Grantwood Village will then issue authorization to proceed with construction including start and end dates.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Grantwood Village

Town of Grantwood Village does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    A recently purchased home inside Grantwood Village town limits.

    • The occupancy permit is issued by St. Louis County and is required before moving into the newly purchased home.
    “If you recently purchased a home in Grantwood, you need to have a St. Louis County Occupancy permit prior to moving in your new home.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    A Residence District inside Grantwood Village town limits.

    • The provision specifies a 100-foot minimum lot width at the building line; building lines are tied to the recorded Grantwood Terrace plat, with stated lot-specific exceptions.

    minimum lot width at building line: 100 feet (A Residence District)

    “There shall be a minimum width requirement of one hundred (100) feet at the building line of each said lot.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    A Residence District inside Grantwood Village town limits.

    • Applies to buildings thereafter erected or structurally altered.

    rear yard: >= 35 feet (A Residence District) · side yard each side: >= 20 feet (A Residence District)

    “Every building that is hereafter erected or structurally altered shall provide a rear yard of not less than thirty-five (35) feet deep. 3. Side yard. For every building hereafter erected or structurally altered there shall be a side yard on each side of the building of not less than twenty (20) feet wide.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    A Residence District inside Grantwood Village town limits.

    • Applies to structures thereafter erected or structurally altered.

    maximum height: <= 40 feet (Maximum two and one-half stories)

    “No structure hereafter erected or structurally altered shall exceed two and one-half (2½) stories or forty (40) feet in height.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Grantwood Village town limits.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land inside Grantwood Village town limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Grantwood Village town limits.
  • Lot coverage — Land inside Grantwood Village town limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Grantwood Village town limits.
7 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Town of Grantwood Village 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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