City of St. Louis Mechanical and HVAC License Renewal

At a glance

Who needs a license

Except as the code provides, no individual or business may perform HVAC Servicer-Installer Work, Process Piping System Work or HVAC Duct System Work in the City of St. Louis unless licensed under section 112 of the Mechanical Code, or hold themselves out as available to do it. A business advertising the work needs a principal or employee who is licensed, and no licensee may let anyone else use their name or license

License types

Mechanical Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor and HVAC Servicer-Installer Contractor; Pipefitter, Sheet Metal and HVAC Servicer-Installer Journeyman; and Pipefitter, Sheet Metal and HVAC Servicer-Installer Apprentice

HVAC servicer-installer work

The code defines it as work on HVAC systems that provide no more than 14 tons of air conditioning, no more than 300,000 BTUs of heating, steam at less than 15 psi, and no more than 5,000 CFM of ventilation and 5,000 CFM of exhaust

Where the code applies

The Board's page says the Mechanical Code generally applies to regulated work in commercial structures, and that certain residential buildings, lower-cost projects, public utilities and work by a property owner's employees may be exempt under the City Code. Section 112.12 also lists exempt work, such as portable equipment, domestic appliances and work that needs no permit under the code

Mechanical permits

Issued to licensed mechanical contractors certified by the City of St. Louis: the Building Division's permit page asks for a Mechanical Contractor's license issued by the City of St. Louis Building Division and a registered trades contractor account on the STL City Permits website

Renews every

3 years for contractor and journeyman licenses: the code's Table 112.8 sets each fee for a 3-year license, and a contractor's license is valid for three years from the date of issue. The table lists the apprentice license's fee without a term; ask the Mechanical Section how long yours runs

Fees

Contractor license $100 for a 3-year license; journeyman license $45 for a 3-year license; apprentice license $10 (the code's Table 112.8)

Renewal notice

The code says a notice of renewal is sent to the contractor's or journeyman's last known address. For contractors it adds that not getting the notice doesn't excuse filing for the renewal before the grace period ends

Continuing education

Licensed journeymen seeking renewal furnish proof of twelve professional education units (24 hours) received within the last three years on the current Mechanical Code or accepted practices in work it covers, or equivalent proof the Board approves, at the time of renewal. Up to four units (8 hours) over the requirement can carry over to the next license cycle, and units completed under the St. Louis County Mechanical Code count. The code's CE rule names journeymen only

Renewing late

Licenses are to be renewed before they expire. Under section 112.8, if the renewal fee isn't paid within 30 days after the expiration date, the license is deemed expired and you can't do work that needs it until it's reinstated; paying the fee within 120 days of the expiration reinstates it automatically. After that the Board can reinstate it for good cause; otherwise you re-apply and meet the standards for a new license. For contractor licenses, section 112.7.3 also speaks of a thirty day grace period after expiration in which renewal is given without re-qualification

Insurance

Contractors submit a certificate of insurance for combined $1,000,000 minimum limits liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage to the Mechanical Section on or before January 15 of each year, showing the insurer's name, address and phone number, the kind of insurance, the coverage and the policy number. Permits aren't issued to contractors who don't file it annually or whose insurance has lapsed

Qualifying supervisor

A contractor's license rests on employing someone with the code's supervising experience. The exception: an HVAC Servicer-Installer Journeyman who is the sole proprietor of a company employing no other journeyman the code requires to be licensed can hold an HVAC Servicer-Installer Contractor's License without one. The contractor must tell the Mechanical Equipment Inspection Section within ten days of no longer employing that supervisor

St. Louis County licenses

A current, valid St. Louis County license can be matched with a city license on payment of the fees, for as long as the County's criteria for its licenses are no less stringent than the city's. That first city license runs for the rest of the County license's term, and its fee isn't prorated. A contractor with no city-licensed journeyman on staff isn't issued a contractor license this way

Temporary project license

A journeyman can get a temporary license for up to six months for a named project of a licensed contractor, if the Board finds it won't compromise public safety. It can be renewed on application and proof of employment by a licensed contractor

Contact

The Mechanical Contractors Board of Examiners page lists City Hall, Room 426, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103, phone (314) 622-3313, email dps-building-division@stlouis-mo.gov. Walk-in mechanical permits are at the Building Division's Mechanical Section, Room 425, City Hall

This guide covers the City of St. Louis's mechanical licenses only, not St. Louis County's or any other Missouri city's or county's: check with the one where you work.

The fees, CE and late rules here come from Ordinance 70800 as enacted in 2018, which the Building Division's Building Codes page lists as the city's Mechanical Code (2018 International Mechanical Code, adopted 08-01-18). The Mechanical Section can tell you about any later change, and whether the renewal can be filed online.

How to renew

1. Check the expiration date on your City of St. Louis license. Contractor and journeyman licenses run three years; a contractor's runs from its date of issue, and a first license matched to a St. Louis County license runs for the rest of the County license's term.
2. Journeymen: make sure you have 12 professional education units (24 hours) from the last three years on the current Mechanical Code or accepted practices, and keep the proof for your renewal.
3. Renew and pay the fee ($100 for a contractor, $45 for a journeyman) before the license expires. Watch for the renewal notice, but don't wait for it.
4. Contractors: file the year's certificate of $1,000,000 liability insurance with the Mechanical Section by January 15, and tell the Mechanical Equipment Inspection Section within ten days if your qualifying supervisor leaves.
5. Missed the date? Pay the renewal fee right away: 30 days after expiration the license is deemed expired, and only a payment within 120 days reinstates it automatically.

Deadline checklist

• January 15, every yearContractors: file the certificate of $1,000,000 liability insurance with the Mechanical Section, or permits stop.
• 6 months outJourneymen: count your professional education units from the last three years (12 units, 24 hours, are needed).
• Before it expiresRenew with the fee ($100 contractor, $45 journeyman) and, for a journeyman, the CE proof.
• 30 days afterNot paid yet? The license is now deemed expired: pay within 120 days of the expiration to have it reinstated automatically.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

Frequently asked questions