City Home Rules

Selling a house in Kirkwood, MO: what the city requires

St. Louis County, Missouri · Last checked November 2026

Required at sale

Kirkwood requires a residential occupancy inspection before a home is sold or reoccupied. The buyer usually needs the occupancy permit to move in.

What Kirkwood requires

Residential occupancy inspection at sale

Who does it
City building or code enforcement inspector. Schedule it as soon as you list.
Applies to
Sale or change of occupancy of a residential property.

Who to call

Kirkwood occupancy permit information
Official page

Housing in Kirkwood

Median year homes were built
1962
Median home value
$451,400
Owner-occupied homes
9,254 of 11,992 (77%)
Total housing units
12,978

Homes here are typically from 1962 or later, so inspections tend to focus on safety items like smoke and CO alarms, GFCI outlets and handrails.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for Kirkwood city, Missouri.

Need this done in Kirkwood?

Get quotes from a local contractor for occupancy inspection repairs, help with repairs, or a cash offer to sell as-is. We pass your request to independent local providers. Free, no obligation.

What do you need?

How the st. louis-area occupancy inspection process works

Most municipalities in St. Louis County, and the City of St. Louis, inspect a home before it is sold or reoccupied. The new owner needs the occupancy permit, and failed items must be fixed or formally assumed by the buyer.

  1. Call the city building or code office to schedule. In spring, waits can run several weeks.
  2. Prepare for common items: smoke and CO detectors, GFCI outlets near water, handrails, trip hazards, gutters and downspouts, house numbers, and peeling paint.
  3. Fix the items on the report and pass a reinspection, or ask whether the buyer can assume them with an escrow or a signed agreement.
  4. The occupancy permit is issued to the new owner before move-in.
Typical cost ranges (estimates, not quotes)
ItemTypical range
Municipal inspection feeAbout $50 to $150
Typical repair list$200 to $3,000

Read the full st. louis-area occupancy inspection guide

If the house fails

You can repair before closing, use an escrow or extension where the city allows it, let the buyer assume the work for a credit, or sell as-is. Compare the options.

Frequently asked questions

What does Kirkwood require before I sell my house?

Kirkwood requires a residential occupancy inspection before a home is sold or reoccupied. The buyer usually needs the occupancy permit to move in.

What if my house fails?

You can make the repairs before closing, negotiate a credit with the buyer, or sell as-is to a buyer who will handle the work. Ask the municipality whether it allows a buyer to assume the work or an escrow.

Who pays, the buyer or the seller?

The ordinance usually makes the seller responsible for ordering it, but who pays for repairs is negotiable in the purchase agreement.

How old are the homes in Kirkwood?

The median home in Kirkwood was built in 1962, and the median home value is $451,400, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.

Nearby: St. Louis area

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Sources

Last checked November 2026. Rules and fees change by ordinance and resolution. Confirm with the municipality before you list. See something out of date? Report a change.