What does 'F' zoning mean in St. Louis?

F is a neighborhood commercial district under Title 26's alphabetical system, sitting between the city's residential letter districts (A through D) and its heavier commercial/industrial letters (G through K); it permits small-scale retail and service uses along with the residential uses allowed in the letters below it.

Why does St. Louis zoning use letters instead of names like R-1 or C-2?

St. Louis's zoning code dates to a 1918 ordinance substantially revised in 1926, before the R/C/M naming convention became standard nationally; the city has retained its original A-through-K letter system through subsequent amendments rather than renaming districts.

Does St. Louis County zoning apply inside St. Louis city limits?

No. St. Louis has been an independent city, entirely separate from St. Louis County, since an 1876 vote took effect in 1877; only the city's own Title 26 zoning code and its Planning & Urban Design Agency have jurisdiction within city limits.

St. Louis, Missouri · city zoning districts · 11 districts

St. Louis, MO zoning map & districts

St. Louis zones under its own municipal code rather than a county ordinance — the city has operated independently of St. Louis County since an 1876 vote separated the two. Title 26 uses an unusual alphabetical district system dating largely to the city's 1918 and 1926 code revisions: districts run from A (single-family) through K (unrestricted industrial), with each successive letter generally permitting the uses allowed in the letters before it unless the code expressly restricts that carryover. The Planning & Urban Design Agency reviews rezonings and site plans, the Board of Adjustment hears variances, and the Preservation Board administers design review in the city's numerous local historic districts, including Central West End, Soulard, and Lafayette Square.

The code City of St. Louis Zoning Code (Title 26 of the Revised Code)

St. Louis zoning map

The city's Planning & Urban Design Agency maintains the official zoning map and Title 26 code text; parcel zoning is also searchable through the city's online GIS and property lookup portal.

There is no link to the official map here yet — confirm current district boundaries directly with the St. Louis planning or zoning department.

A published summary is never the authority. The adopted ordinance and the city's official zoning map govern, and both change — verify the district and every standard on your parcel before you rely on it.

How zoning works in St. Louis

Because the base code predates modern zoning practice, much of the city's redevelopment activity runs through Planned Unit Developments and tax-abatement mechanisms (Chapter 353 and Chapter 100) layered on top of the base letter district rather than through district standards alone. Developers should expect to coordinate zoning review with the Land Reutilization Authority on any parcel that has passed through prior public ownership, which is common in north St. Louis and other legacy-vacancy areas.

St. Louis zoning districts by family

The 11 district codes below are the ones that decide most projects in St. Louis, grouped by what they are for rather than by the order the ordinance prints them.

Key districts in the City of St. Louis Zoning Code (Title 26 of the Revised Code) — a curated reference, not the exhaustive list. Confirm against the current adopted code.
Code	District	What it is for
Residential 4 districts
A	Single-Family Dwelling District	Base single-family residential district.
B	Two-Family Dwelling District	Allows duplexes in addition to single-family.
C	Multiple-Family Dwelling District	Lower-density multi-family residential.
D	Multiple-Family Dwelling District (Higher Density)	Denser multi-family, including larger apartment buildings.
Mixed-use 2 districts
E	Neighborhood Commercial District	Small-scale neighborhood retail and service commercial.
F	Neighborhood Commercial District	Broader neighborhood commercial than District E.
Commercial 1 district
G	Local Commercial and Office District	General commercial and office uses.
Downtown / core 1 district
I	Central Business District	Downtown core; highest-intensity commercial district.
Industrial 3 districts
H	Outer Business and Light Industrial District	Mixed business and light industrial uses.
J	Industrial District	General industrial uses.
K	Unrestricted District	Heaviest industrial uses, least restricted.

St. Louis zoning — common questions

What does 'F' zoning mean in St. Louis?: F is a neighborhood commercial district under Title 26's alphabetical system, sitting between the city's residential letter districts (A through D) and its heavier commercial/industrial letters (G through K); it permits small-scale retail and service uses along with the residential uses allowed in the letters below it.
Why does St. Louis zoning use letters instead of names like R-1 or C-2?: St. Louis's zoning code dates to a 1918 ordinance substantially revised in 1926, before the R/C/M naming convention became standard nationally; the city has retained its original A-through-K letter system through subsequent amendments rather than renaming districts.
Does St. Louis County zoning apply inside St. Louis city limits?: No. St. Louis has been an independent city, entirely separate from St. Louis County, since an 1876 vote took effect in 1877; only the city's own Title 26 zoning code and its Planning & Urban Design Agency have jurisdiction within city limits.

Working in Missouri? Get on the list.

The parcel layer lands in the order demand does. Illinois went first because that's where the deals were; the next state is decided by who tells us what they're trying to underwrite. Tell us where you're building and what you wanted to run — you'll hear from us when Missouri opens, and sooner if we need a test parcel.

Keep reading

← Missouri zoning — who holds the zoning power in Missouri, under which enabling statute, and the reforms that override local rules.

Other Missouri cities

The zoning reference → — every state, plus city-level district guides like this one.

St. Louis zoning summaries on this page are provided for information, not legal advice. Confirm every project against the current adopted code for the jurisdiction.