Dellwood Rental Guide

Realistic rent ranges

Dellwood has about 4,900 people (2020 Census) and RentCafe publishes no Dellwood apartment average. About three in four renter households here live in single-family houses (ACS 2020–2024). The Census puts the median rent paid, utilities included, at $1,161 a month (ACS 2020–2024). That figure describes houses, not studios, so do not read it as the price of a 1-bedroom. For apartments, look next door: Ferguson averages $778 for a 1-bedroom and $1,030 for a 2-bedroom, and Jennings $754 and $909 (RentCafe, buildings with 50+ units, September 2026).

Before you move in: the occupancy permit

Every change of tenant in Dellwood triggers a city inspection and a permit, and both have to happen before you move in. The city’s code enforcement page and code (§515.120 and §515.210) set it up this way:

• The landlord pays for the inspection. It costs $75, re-inspections are $30 each, and the home must pass before a permit can be issued. A passed inspection is good for 6 months.
• You get the occupancy permit. It costs $25. The city’s form warns that a tenant without one gets a court summons.
• The landlord’s taxes become your problem. Since June 2024, the city checks that no property taxes are owed on the rental before it issues your permit (§515.215). If your landlord is behind, you cannot get one. Ask before you sign, not after.

Landlords can request the inspection through the city’s SmartGov portal; for the permit, go to or call City Hall, 1415 Chambers Rd., Dellwood, MO 63135 · (314) 521-4339 · Mon–Fri 8–5. The permit application lists every occupant’s name, relationship and date of birth.

City rules to know before you sign

A few city rules decide whether a particular rental works for you at all. The city’s ordinance summary says households may keep no more than 3 animals, registered at City Hall; the code itself caps dogs and cats at three of each (§205.120). Pit bulls and related breeds are treated as “dangerous animals” under city code (§205.130): you may keep one only if it is registered with the city and kept under strict conditions, including indoor confinement or a locked kennel and a short leash and muzzle outside. The summary page goes further and says these breeds are not allowed, so ask City Hall before you sign. If you need an assistance animal, the Fair Housing Act lets you ask the landlord for a reasonable accommodation to its pet rules (24 CFR 100.204); the city’s breed rules are a separate question for City Hall. There is no street parking from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., and cars must be parked on a paved surface, not the yard. If you have a dog, or more cars than the driveway holds, settle those questions before you pay an application fee.

Getting around

Two MetroBus routes stop inside the city: #61 Chambers Rd and #74 Florissant along West Florissant Avenue. The North County Transit Center (3140 Pershall Rd., Ferguson) sits just outside the city line, about a mile and a half from City Hall, with routes #40, #60, #74, #77, #78 and #79; Metro moved its Transit Access Center (reduced fares, Call-A-Ride eligibility) there in May 2026. I-270 is just north of the city.

West Florissant Avenue between Stein Road and Ferguson Avenue, about 1.5 miles through Dellwood and Ferguson, is the county’s Great Streets rebuild, funded in part by an $18.2 million federal RAISE grant awarded in 2021. Before you sign on that stretch, check St. Louis County’s active-construction page or call the county for current lane closures.

Major employers within a short commute

The closest large employer is Christian Hospital on Dunn Road, about 3 miles away. Retail jobs in Ferguson and Florissant are next door, and I-270 runs west to the Hazelwood job corridor, Boeing, and Lambert Airport.

Schools

Dellwood is split among three districts: Riverview Gardens covers most of the city’s land, with parts in Ferguson-Florissant and Hazelwood (city facts page). Two homes a few blocks apart can go to different schools, so check the exact address with the district.

Utilities, groceries and parks

Trash is a city contract with Republic Services, (636) 947-5959, with pickup days by street on the city’s trash page. Electric (Ameren Missouri), gas (Spire), water (Missouri American Water) and sewer (MSD) are the standard North County providers; confirm each by address (see our utility setup guide). For groceries, plan on Schnucks Westfall Plaza (8037 West Florissant Ave.) or Schnucks Ferguson (49 Florissant Rd.), each a short drive. The city’s recreation center at 10266 West Florissant has a fitness room, a computer lab, and an outdoor pool.

What applications expect

With mostly houses, you will usually deal with an independent landlord rather than a leasing office. Screening is more personal, and steady deposits and paid-rent history can count as much as a credit score. Read our scam guide before sending money to any private landlord. Then ask three things: has the home passed its city inspection, are the property taxes paid, and will the landlord give you what you need for the permit?