The rules are from the Preservation Board's Solar Panel Installation Policy for Local Historic Districts, dated February 2013 and read 23 October 2026. It is still the policy the City Historic Districts page links. It applies to residential, commercial, institutional and government buildings.
Your district's rule
| District | Standards adopted | Solar policy |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette Square | 2012 | No Visibility Required |
| Soulard | 1991 | No Visibility Required |
| Benton Park | 2006 | No Visibility Required |
| Fox Park | 2006 | No Visibility Required |
| McKinley Heights | 2008 | No Visibility Required |
| Central West End | 2013 | No Visibility Required |
| Union Station | 1979 | No Visibility Required |
| Kingsbury-Washington Terrace | 1983 | No Visibility Required |
| Skinker-DeBaliviere | 1973 | Visual Compatibility Required |
| Shaw Neighborhood | 1985 | Visual Compatibility Required |
| The Ville | 2006 | Visual Compatibility Required |
| 4100-4300 Lindell | 2013 | Visual Compatibility Required |
| Compton Hill | 1978 | Visual Compatibility Required |
| Cherokee-Lemp Brewery | 1980 | Visual Compatibility Required |
| Hyde Park | 1978 | Visual Compatibility Required |
| North I-44 | 1987 | Visual Compatibility Required |
| Visitation Park | 1975 | Visual Compatibility Required |
That is 17 districts from the 2013 table; the City now lists 18, and Tower Grove East is not in the table. The policy says the Preservation Board decides which approach applies where a district's standards give no guidance, and that the approach changes if a district's standards are revised by ordinance. Ask the Cultural Resources Office, (314) 657-3865, for the current rule before you sign.
The policy prefers a non-historic building on the same lot: "the non-historic building would be the preferred site for a solar array, providing it would be not visible or visually compatible." Newer products are judged on "minimal visual presence through size, shape, plane of position, and closeness to the roof".
What the installer has to submit
For a Preliminary Review or the permit review, the policy asks for:
- A site plan showing the array on the building and the building on the lot.
- An installation plan showing the roof, dormers and other roof elements, with a drawing of the roof slope and a section of the panels as mounted. "The position of the panels relative to the roof must be clearly indicated."
- Photographs from the public sidewalk and street showing how visible the array would be, including landscaping and neighbouring buildings that affect it.
- If new roofing is part of the job, the materials and where they go.
The Cultural Resources Office's permit review page says "No permit may be issued without the Cultural Resources Office or the Preservation Board's approval", that a Preliminary Review costs nothing, and that projects with preliminary approval get expedited permit review.
What it means for hiring
In a No Visibility district, ask for the layout the installer will submit, with the street photos, before you sign; if the street photos show the panels, the layout has to change, and the price should be quoted on that layout. Ask whether the installer has been through Cultural Resources review, and who files the photos.
| City of St. Louis solar permits, October 2023 to September 2026 | Value |
|---|---|
| Permits / firms | 148 / 51 |
| Usual filed value | $20,000 |
| Middle half of firms' usual job | $14,675 to $28,612 |
| Completed (permits a year or more old) | 82.8% |
| Usual days from issue to completion | 154 |
| Firms with only one permit | 30 (58.8%) |
| Share held by the five busiest firms | 48.6% |
| Busiest firm, last 12 months of the file | Sun Solar (11) |
The City's solar market is small and spread out: 58.8% of firms filed a single permit in three years. A firm that does one job a year in the City is less likely to know the district rules than one of the few that file every month.
Compare St. Louis solar installers →
Prices by firm: St. Louis solar cost. Windows in the same districts: St. Louis historic district window replacement. Other exterior work: St. Louis remodel permit. Counts by year: St. Louis permit statistics.
What this does not tell you
Our file does not flag which permits are inside a historic district, so the figures are citywide. The policy is from 2013 and said it would be reviewed at least every five years; the City still links that version, but the office has the final word on your district. Filed values are estimates on the application.
How we know this
District approaches, adoption years, submittal requirements and siting preferences are quoted from the St. Louis Preservation Board's Solar Panel Installation Policy for Local Historic Districts (February 2013); the current district count from the City Historic Districts page; the review process from the Cultural Resources Office's Applications and Permit Review page; all read 23 October 2026. Our figures are City of St. Louis residential solar permits, October 2023 to September 2026; completion uses permits a year or more old.
Numbers come from City of St. Louis building permits, data through October 14, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Can I put solar panels on my house in Lafayette Square or Soulard?
Only where they cannot be seen. The Preservation Board's solar policy puts Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park, Fox Park, McKinley Heights and the Central West End under 'No Visibility Required': panels must not be visible from the public areas of the district. The policy names a non-historic building on the same lot, such as a newer garage, as the preferred site.
- Which St. Louis historic districts allow visible solar panels?
Under the 2013 policy, 'Visual Compatibility Required' applies in Compton Hill, Cherokee-Lemp Brewery, Hyde Park, North I-44, Visitation Park, Skinker-DeBaliviere, Shaw, The Ville and 4100-4300 Lindell: some visibility is allowed if the panels keep the character of the building and district. Union Station and Kingsbury-Washington Terrace are 'No Visibility Required'.
- What do I submit for solar review in a St. Louis historic district?
A site plan, an installation plan showing the roof, dormers and a section of the panels on the roof slope, photographs from the public sidewalk and street showing how visible the array would be, and any new roofing material. The same set is used for a Preliminary Review or the permit review.
- How long does solar approval take in a St. Louis historic district?
The Cultural Resources Office says applications are approved 'within a few days' unless the work does not meet the standards or more information is needed; larger projects may go to the Preservation Board. After issue, the usual City solar permit in our file was completed in 154 days.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Albuquerque building permit search: how to look up permits on an address
- Do I need a solar permit in Albuquerque? Building and electrical permits, the engineer triggers and the fee
- Do I need a solar permit in Anaheim? The online small-rooftop permit, the 10 kW line and the City utility
- Do I need a solar permit in Bend, OR? The prescriptive checklist, the 2026-27 fees and how fast permits final
For one city
- Solar Panel Installation Policy for Local Historic Districts — St. Louis Preservation Board (February 2013) (accessed 2026-10-23)
- City Historic Districts — City of St. Louis Cultural Resources Office (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Applications and Permit Review — City of St. Louis Cultural Resources Office (accessed 2026-10-23)