Occupancy Permits for Renters, City by City
In all 13 North and West St. Louis County places we cover, a rental needs an occupancy permit before you move in. What changes from city to city is who files it, what it costs, and what can stop it.
The lease and the keys do not make the move legal. The city or county occupancy permit does. The permit is the city’s check on two things: the unit and the household. It is also where a landlord’s paperwork problems become yours. Each row in the table links to the full city guide and its sources.
What is the same everywhere
- The home is inspected first. The landlord, or the landlord’s agent, arranges the city inspection. In most places the landlord pays for it; in Overland the $65 inspection fee is due with the renter’s permit application.
- The permit is tied to the people who live there. Expect to list everyone in the household, by name (some cities also ask for dates of birth), and to bring ID.
- Moving in early is the expensive mistake. Depending on the city, it brings a summons, a fine, or higher fees, and in Maryland Heights and Hazelwood even moving furniture in counts as moving in.
- The landlord’s record can stop your permit. Several cities will not issue a new permit while the landlord’s rental license is missing, property taxes are owed, or city bills are unpaid.
City-by-city comparison
Fees are for a rental house unless the row says otherwise. Apartment fees are often lower. All figures come from city or county code and city permit pages, forms and FAQs, checked October 2026.
| Place | Inspection | Your permit | Watch for | Call |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley | Landlord books and pays $100 | You apply in person, $40, within 90 days of the passed inspection | Landlord owes city fees, property taxes or trash bills; no moving in or out from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise without a police-chief permit | (314) 400-3713 |
| Bellefontaine Neighbors | Landlord applies; must give you a copy of the report | You, in person at City Hall, $50 | Landlord’s rental license or unpaid housing-code fines | (314) 867-0076 |
| Black Jack | Landlord arranges, $125 for a home | You pay $65; bring lease, photo ID and proof of relationship for listed family members | No personal checks accepted | (314) 355-7406 |
| Bridgeton | Owner applies and pays $75 | Owner holds the permit; you supply names and a photo ID | An inspection passed within two years may carry over | (314) 739-7665 |
| Dellwood | Landlord pays $75 | You, $25 | Property taxes owed on the rental | (314) 521-4339 |
| Ferguson | Exterior $40 plus interior $75; the interior can take up to 30 days | Code makes you responsible; the city page says the landlord files online. Ask the landlord to file and send you the confirmation | Rental license, money owed to the city; gas and electric will not connect without a permit | (314) 521-7721 |
| Florissant | Owner applies, $100 (two inspections) | You or the owner’s representative, $50 | Rental license, housing-code fines, proof of paid trash service | (314) 839-7648 |
| Hazelwood | Owner or agent applies, $75 | $30 | Rental license or unpaid housing-code fines | (314) 513-5032 |
| Jennings | Landlord, $50 | You, at City Hall, $50 (free at 65+; $100 if you move in first) | Landlord’s taxes; you must show paid trash service | (314) 388-1164 |
| Maryland Heights | Owner or agent, $75 | One adult in the household applies with lease and ID | 90-day windows after inspection and after issue | (314) 291-6550 |
| Overland | Landlord schedules; the $65 fee is due with your application | You file, $25; the procedure sheet asks for Social Security numbers | Moving in before the final permit | (314) 227-2930 |
| Spanish Lake (unincorporated county) | Usually the owner, $80 | County issues it once every occupant is named | Landlord must tell you in writing that a permit is required | (314) 615-5184 |
| St. Ann | Landlord, $50 | You, $30; renews yearly | Landlord must be current on county property taxes; fees rise 50% if you move in early | (314) 427-8009 |
Five questions to ask before you sign
- Has the unit passed its city inspection, and on what date? Inspections expire, often after 90 to 180 days.
- Who files the permit, and who pays which fee? In Berkeley and Overland you file; in Bridgeton the owner does.
- Is your rental license current, and are the property taxes and city bills paid? In several cities a “no” means no permit for you.
- Whose name is the trash account in? Some cities require the owner to hold it; Jennings asks renters to show it is paid.
- What is the earliest legal move-in date? Book the truck after the permit, not before.
A landlord who cannot answer these cannot give you a legal move-in date. If something feels off, read our guide to avoiding rental scams, and if a landlord refuses repairs the inspection should have caught, see when a landlord will not make repairs.
Rules change. These figures were checked against city and county code and city permit pages, forms and FAQs in October 2026; call the office in the table before you rely on a fee or deadline. This page is general information, not legal advice.