Certificate of inspection requirements—Exception.
St. Louis Revised Code § 25.56.040
in effect25.56.040 - Certificate of inspection requirements—Exception.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or any other legal entity to occupy or permit the occupancy for any purpose or collect the rent of any occupied dwelling unit when a complete change of occupancy has occurred without first securing a certificate of inspection for said dwelling unit.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, firm, corporation, or other legal entity to take possession as a result of conveyance as it is reflected in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, of an occupied residential unit(s) without first securing a certificate of inspection for said unit(s).
C. Upon determining that a dwelling unit has undergone a complete change of occupancy or a sale of the property as reflected in the Recorder of Deeds' Office without first obtaining a certificate of inspection, the code official shall serve written notice on the owner of such dwelling unit, that a certificate of inspection must be obtained within thirty (30) calendar days of notification, or the unit will be condemned for occupancy and must be vacated. Written notice may be sent by (i) personal service; (ii) postage prepaid United States certified mail, return receipt requested, and regular first class mail; (iii) FedEx, UPS, or similar carrier; or (iv) posting the notice in a conspicuous location on the property where the violation exists, unless there has been personal service.
D. It is the responsibility of the owner to secure a certificate of inspection. It shall be the responsibility of the owner, owner's agent, and/or the occupant to provide access to all applicable areas subject to inspections as provided in this chapter.
E. It shall be unlawful for the owner or owner's agent to require a prospective occupant to apply or pay for any fee contained herein for a certificate of inspection.
F. If there is a change in occupancy or ownership of a dwelling unit(s) within twelve (12) months of the date of issuance of a certificate of inspection for that unit(s), a new certificate of inspection shall not be required.
(Ord. No. 72025, § 1, 7-11-2025; Ord. No. 71835, § 1, 4-16-2024.)
Source: City of St. Louis, Missouri, Revised Code of the City of Saint Louis, 2020, Annotated, and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mo/st._louis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT25BUCO_CH25.56HOCODI_25.56.040CEINREXCFetched: 11/1/2026