What is covered in St. Louis
Commercial HVAC in St. Louis has to handle two hard seasons: long cooling runs in summer and heating loads through freezing winters. Under a Facility First program, the work covers:
- Rooftop unit, split-system and packaged unit repair
- Boiler and furnace repair, including gas-fired heating equipment
- Preventive maintenance: filters, belts, coils, condensate drains and controls
- Seasonal start-up for heating in the fall and cooling in the spring
- Kitchen exhaust fans, hoods and make-up air at restaurants
- Refrigerant leak detection, repair and record keeping
- Equipment replacement planning and permitted replacements
Walk-in coolers and display cases are handled under Refrigeration.
Licensing and permits in St. Louis
The City of St. Louis licenses mechanical contractors through its Building Division, and the Mechanical Contractors Board of Examiners reviews the qualifications of mechanical contractors and pipefitters who do work regulated by the City’s Mechanical Code. That code generally applies to regulated work in commercial structures.
| Requirement | Agency | Level | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Contractor’s license from the City of St. Louis; mechanical permits are issued only to licensed mechanical contractors certified by the City | City of St. Louis Building Division | City | City of St. Louis: Apply for a Mechanical Permit |
| Licensing review for mechanical contractors and pipefitters doing work regulated by the Mechanical Code | Mechanical Contractors Board of Examiners | City | City of St. Louis: Mechanical Contractors Board of Examiners |
| Mechanical permit for work such as installing boilers, furnaces, exhaust fans and hoods, and ventilation systems, applied for through STL City Permits | City of St. Louis Building Division | City | City of St. Louis: Apply for a Mechanical Permit |
| Statewide electrical contractor license, which cities must accept in place of a local electrical license (relevant where HVAC work includes electrical contracting) | Missouri Division of Professional Registration | State | Missouri Division of Professional Registration: Statewide Electrical Contractor FAQ |
| Refrigerant management rules under Clean Air Act Section 608 (leak repair provisions apply to appliances using ozone-depleting refrigerants) | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Federal | U.S. EPA: Section 608 regulatory updates |
| Leak repair for appliances with a full charge of 15 pounds or more of HFCs or substitutes with a global warming potential above 53, from January 1, 2026 (Emissions Reduction and Reclamation rule) | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Federal | U.S. EPA: Emissions Reduction and Reclamation rule fact sheet |
These City rules apply inside the City of St. Louis. Several commercial districts in the region, including Clayton, Frontenac, Richmond Heights and Des Peres, are separate municipalities in St. Louis County with their own permit and licensing requirements, so each provider’s license is checked against the jurisdiction of the location before work is assigned.
Codes and local rules
Codes in force. The City of St. Louis lists the 2018 International Mechanical Code (Ordinance 70800), the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (Ordinance 70801) and the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (Ordinance 70799) among its adopted codes, each listed with an adoption date of August 1, 2018. The 2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Fire Code carry the same date, and plumbing work, often part of boiler and hydronic jobs, falls under the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (Ordinance 71644).
Building Energy Performance Standards. The City’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS), established by Ordinance 71132, apply to buildings of 50,000 square feet and above. Each year by May 1, representatives of those buildings must benchmark the building’s energy and water use through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and submit the report, unless an exemption or extension applies. The Building Energy Improvement Board approved BEPS targets for the second compliance cycle in April 2026. HVAC service records, set points and replacement decisions affect a building’s energy use, so they feed into BEPS performance.
Refrigerants. Under the U.S. EPA’s Emissions Reduction and Reclamation rule, leak repair requirements for appliances with a full charge of 15 pounds or more of HFCs or substitutes with a global warming potential above 53 apply from January 1, 2026, alongside the existing Section 608 leak repair rules for ozone-depleting refrigerants.
Preventive maintenance schedule for HVAC
Rooftop units in St. Louis run long hours in summer and switch to heating loads for the winter, and most no-cooling and no-heat calls trace back to dirty filters, coils and drains or worn belts. A planned schedule catches these before peak season, extends equipment life and gives each location a service record by unit for warranty claims, landlords and BEPS reporting.
| Task | Recommended frequency | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Replace or clean air filters | Monthly during peak heating and cooling seasons, and at every scheduled visit | ENERGY STAR |
| Pre-season inspection and tune-up (heating before winter, cooling before summer) | Twice a year | ENERGY STAR |
| Clean evaporator and condenser coils | At least once a year, before the cooling season | Task: ENERGY STAR. Frequency: Facility First program default, adjusted per site |
| Check, adjust or replace belts and pulleys | Quarterly | Facility First program default, adjusted per site |
| Clear condensate drains, traps and pans | Quarterly, and monthly in summer for units with a history of overflow | Facility First program default, adjusted per site |
| Inspect burners, heat exchangers and venting on gas-fired units | Once a year, before the heating season | Manufacturer instructions; Facility First program default, adjusted per site |
| Check thermostat calibration and seasonal set points | Twice a year, at seasonal changeover | Task: ENERGY STAR. Frequency: Facility First program default, adjusted per site |
| Repair refrigerant leaks and keep leak inspection and service records on covered appliances | When a covered appliance exceeds its leak rate threshold | U.S. EPA Section 608 and Emissions Reduction and Reclamation rules |
| Export utility and equipment data for the annual benchmarking report (buildings of 50,000 square feet and above) | Annually, before May 1 | City of St. Louis Building Energy Performance Standards |
The authority having jurisdiction, the manufacturer and the property’s insurer can require more frequent service, and each location’s schedule is set in its program and recorded on every visit.
Seasonal and local conditions
- Summer. Long cooling runs load compressors, condenser fans and electrical components. Coil cleaning and condensate checks are completed before the cooling season.
- Winter. In January 2026 the City’s emergency management office warned of overnight lows in the single digits and wind chills below zero, and the City’s Water Division notes that pipes exposed to temperatures below 20°F for extended periods face the greatest risk of freezing. A heating failure at a closed store is treated as urgent so that the building does not lose heat to its plumbing and sprinkler piping.
- Shoulder seasons. Heating start-ups in the fall and cooling start-ups in the spring are scheduled ahead of demand.
- Older buildings. Historic commercial buildings in the city often have boilers, older ductwork or limited roof access, which affects scope and scheduling.
Where Facility First works in St. Louis
Facility First manages HVAC service for locations across the St. Louis area’s main retail and business districts, including the Central West End, the Delmar Loop, Downtown Clayton, Plaza Frontenac, the Saint Louis Galleria and West County Center. Sites range from mall stores on landlord-controlled systems to street-front shops on rooftop units, restaurants with kitchen exhaust and make-up air, and offices in mid-rise buildings. Typical clients are retail and luxury retail, restaurants, banks and corporate offices.
How HVAC requests are handled
- Request. The location submits the request through the platform or by phone, with photos and the unit tag where available.
- Triage. Facility First confirms priority, warranty status, landlord responsibility and the jurisdiction of the site.
- Dispatch. A vetted provider holding the license the jurisdiction requires (a City of St. Louis Mechanical Contractor’s license inside city limits) receives the work order.
- Photo close-out. The technician records the diagnosis, parts used, refrigerant added or recovered, and before and after photos.
- Verification and invoice. The work is checked against the request, the unit history is updated, and the job is invoiced in one format.
Repairs proceed within the approval limits the client sets. Replacements and repairs above those limits are quoted for approval first.
Security by McCray in St. Louis
Where an equipment failure forces a location to close or leaves it unsecured, McCray can post an officer until the work is complete. Security services in St. Louis
Frequently asked questions
Does an HVAC contractor need a license in the City of St. Louis?
Yes for regulated mechanical work. The City issues mechanical permits only to mechanical contractors licensed and certified by the City of St. Louis Building Division.
Which mechanical code applies in St. Louis?
The City of St. Louis has adopted the 2018 International Mechanical Code (Ordinance 70800) and the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (Ordinance 70801). Locations in St. Louis County municipalities follow their own adopted codes.
How often should commercial HVAC units in St. Louis be serviced?
ENERGY STAR recommends a pre-season tune-up before each heating and cooling season, and changing or cleaning filters monthly during peak seasons. Belts, drains and coils are added on the schedule set for each site.
Does the St. Louis energy benchmarking law affect HVAC?
Buildings of 50,000 square feet and above must submit an annual benchmarking report by May 1 and meet Building Energy Performance Standards. HVAC maintenance and replacement records support that reporting.
Are St. Louis County locations handled the same way?
Yes. The same request process, approval limits and records apply, and the provider is checked against the licensing rules of the municipality where the site is located.
Sources
- City of St. Louis Building Division: Apply for a Mechanical Permit
- City of St. Louis: Mechanical Contractors Board of Examiners
- City of St. Louis Building Division: Building Codes Adopted by the City
- City of St. Louis: Building Energy Improvement Board (BEPS, Ordinance 71132)
- City of St. Louis: Submit a Benchmarking Report
- City of St. Louis Emergency Management: City preparations for extreme cold (January 2026)
- Missouri Division of Professional Registration: Statewide Electrical Contractor License and political subdivisions
- ENERGY STAR: Checklists for saving energy in commercial buildings
- U.S. EPA: Section 608 regulatory updates and Emissions Reduction and Reclamation rule fact sheet
Checked November 2026; recheck before publishing.