The City of St. Louis has a large stock of older brick homes, and those houses raise the questions insurers ask most: how old are the roof, wiring and plumbing, and what has been updated? The city’s permit records and open data can help you answer.
Note: the City of St. Louis is separate from St. Louis County; this page covers the city.
Find your permit history
The Building Division permits section is the starting point for permit applications and a permit search by address. Look for re-roofing, electrical service, plumbing and mechanical permits. The city also publishes a building permits dataset and other Building Commissioner datasets.
Questions brick homes raise
| Feature | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| Masonry walls | How rebuilding cost is estimated; see how much dwelling coverage |
| Older wiring | Whether updates are documented |
| Slate or tile roof | Replacement cost versus actual cash value |
| Basement | Whether water backup coverage is offered |
Rebuilding historic details can cost more than market value suggests, and code upgrades after a loss fall under ordinance or law coverage.
Rehab and vacancy
Many St. Louis buyers renovate. If a house sits empty or under major renovation, ask whether a standard homeowners policy applies or whether you need vacant home insurance. If you will rent out units in a two-family flat, compare landlord insurance.
Next step
See the Missouri guide for DCI resources and our Kansas City and Springfield pages. Then call for a free quote. HomeInsurerQuotes.org connects callers with a licensed insurance agent; carriers, pricing and eligibility vary, and not all callers qualify.
By phone
What happens when you call
A conversation lets the agent ask about your specific home instead of relying on a generic online estimate. There are no online forms to fill out.
Describe your home
Share the address, size, age, construction, and roof or system updates. You do not need every detail to start.
Talk through coverage
Explain what you want covered and ask about limits, deductibles, and exclusions that apply to your property.
Compare and decide
Ask for the written quote terms and compare them before deciding. A call or a quote does not start coverage.
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Sources and how this page was checked
Page updatedThis page is general information written from the public sources below. It has not been reviewed by an insurance company, attorney or licensed agent for your situation. Your policy form, endorsements, insurer and state rules decide what is covered.
Sources
- NAIC — Homeowners insurance consumer informationRetrieved and reviewed October 14, 2026 for general consumer information. The page did not verify the specific HO-3/HO-5 form mapping and is not cited for that distinction.
- City of St. Louis — Building Division Permits SectionChecked 2026-10-19: Web search on October 19, 2026 cited this official page; excerpts describe the Building Division permit section and a permit search by address. Direct retrieval was blocked by a private-address network restriction; no search was run.
- City of St. Louis — Building Permits Open DataChecked 2026-10-19: Web search on October 19, 2026 cited this dataset page for building permits. Dataset fields and date range were not verified.
- City of St. Louis — Building Commissioner DatasetsChecked 2026-10-19: Web search on October 19, 2026 cited this list of Building Commissioner datasets.
Before you rely on this page
- Read your declarations page, policy form and every endorsement; they control over any summary.
- Ask the insurer or agent to confirm limits, deductibles and exclusions in writing before you buy or cancel coverage.
- For state rules, deadlines or complaints, check your state insurance department directly.