We cover 3 jurisdictions in Jefferson County. Each one below has its own page with the local permit rule, the code edition it enforces and the building department's number — because in Missouri those are set locally, and they change from one city to the next.
Click a city for its full permit and code detail.
| City | Permit for a re-roof | Adopted code | Building official | Building dept. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold | Not published | 2021 IRC | Brian M. Herr, CBO, Building Commissioner (bherr@arnoldmo.org) | 636-282-2378 |
| Festus | Not published | Not published | — | 636-937-6646 |
| Imperial | No | 2015 IRC | — | — |
We list a building official's name only where the jurisdiction publishes one — 1 of 3 here do. We list a permit answer only where the jurisdiction states one — 1 of 3 here do, and 0 of those clearly require a permit. Everything else is left blank on purpose.
Missouri has no statewide residential building code. Residential roofing is governed entirely by whatever code a city, village or county has adopted by local ordinance (and by the permit/inspection program that jurisdiction runs). In unincorporated areas the county code applies; in incorporated areas the municipal ordinance applies, and a municipality may also contract permitting back to the county (Wildwood and Manchester both do). Adopted editions across the St. Louis metro range from the 2009 IRC (Creve Coeur) to the 2024 IRC (Brentwood), so the applicable code can change from one side of a street to the other.
That is the whole reason these pages exist. The permit route, the adopted edition and the inspection availability are all local, and a roof spec that was correct in the next town over is not automatically correct here.
| Criterion | Figure | What it drives |
|---|---|---|
| Ultimate design wind (Vult) | 115 mph | Fastener schedule and the manufacturer wind rating we specify |
| Nominal design wind (Vasd) | 89 mph (derived, not published locally) | The allowable-stress figure older specs quote |
| Ground snow load | 20 psf | Structure, and how much the eaves hold in a freeze-thaw |
| Frost depth | 30 in | Footings, not roof covering |
| Seismic design category | C residential / D commercial | Lateral bracing and structural connections — not shingles |
On nailing, the code minimum and the manufacturer requirement are two different things and contractors mix them up constantly. The IRC minimum is four nails per strip shingle. Shingle manufacturers require six to keep a wind warranty in force, and six is what we install — but that is a manufacturer requirement, not a code one. A contractor telling you the code demands six is either mistaken or selling.
The full explanation is in our St. Louis roofing code guide.
Free inspection, a written scope, and photos you keep either way.