How to Hire and Vet a Foundation Repair Contractor in St. Louis, MO
Hiring a foundation repair contractor in St. Louis is a little more complicated than in states with a single statewide contractor license, because Missouri doesn't have one. That means the vetting burden falls more on you as the homeowner, and it also means the answer to 'is this contractor licensed' depends on exactly which city or county your home sits in. Whether you're dealing with a bowing basement wall in a Webster Groves ranch, a settling brick foundation in a Dogtown bungalow, or a wet basement in Florissant, this guide walks through exactly how to vet a contractor, what questions to ask, what a fair quote looks like, and which red flags tend to show up most often in the St. Louis market.
By Jason Green · Foundation Repair · Published August 28, 2026 · 9 min read
Understand there's no statewide license in Missouri
Missouri does not license general contractors at the state level, so there's no single state database you can check to confirm a foundation repair company is legitimate. Instead, licensing and registration happen locally: the City of St. Louis requires contracting businesses to hold a Construction Industry Contractor Graduated Business License through the city's License Collector, while St. Louis County runs its own separate contractor licensing and registration program through the Division of Code Enforcement.
This means a contractor properly licensed to work in the City of St. Louis isn't automatically licensed in St. Louis County, and vice versa, and some individual municipalities like Kirkwood or Webster Groves may have their own additional requirements. Ask any contractor which jurisdictions they're currently registered in and confirm it matches where your home is located.
Confirm the right permit office before work starts
Before signing anything, find out which permit office actually applies to your address. City of St. Louis residents work with the Building Division, part of the Department of Public Safety, through the stlcitypermits.com portal. St. Louis County residents work with the Division of Code Enforcement through the county's Accela Citizen Access portal. St. Charles County and western suburb residents work with St. Charles County's own building department.
Ask the contractor directly whether the quoted price includes pulling the permit, and get the permit number once it's filed so you can verify it independently through the relevant portal. A contractor who's vague about which office they're filing with, or who suggests skipping the permit on structural work like piers or wall anchors, is a warning sign.
Verify insurance and engineer credentials
Since there's no state contractor license to lean on, general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage are your main protection if something goes wrong during the job. Ask for a certificate of insurance directly from the contractor's insurer, not just a claim that they're insured.
If your repair involves a structural engineer's evaluation or stamped plan, which is common for pier installations and significant underpinning work, verify that engineer's license directly through the Missouri Division of Professional Registration's APELSLA board lookup rather than taking the contractor's word for it.
What a fair St. Louis quote looks like
A complete, trustworthy quote should specify the exact repair method being proposed, whether that's carbon fiber strips, steel bracing, wall anchors, or push piers, with the count and approximate location of each marked on a diagram of your basement or foundation. It should also state clearly whether a structural engineer's evaluation is included in the price or billed separately, which permit office the contractor will file with, and the full warranty terms in writing, including whether the warranty transfers to a future buyer if you sell the home.
Get at least two quotes for anything beyond simple crack injection, since pier counts, recommended repair methods, and pricing can vary meaningfully between St. Louis-area contractors, and a second opinion is one of the best ways to catch an oversold repair plan.
Questions to ask before you hire
Are you registered or licensed in the specific city or county where my home is located, and can you provide proof? Who is pulling the permit, and can I see the permit number once filed? Is a structural engineer's evaluation included, and can I verify their license through the APELSLA lookup?
What specifically caused this problem, and how does the proposed repair address that cause rather than just the symptom? What's the full warranty, is it transferable, and what voids it? Can you show me a recent, similar job you've completed in a neighborhood with construction similar to mine, whether that's an older brick foundation in the city or a mid-century poured basement in the county?
Red flags in the St. Louis market
Be cautious of same-day, high-pressure sales tactics that push you to sign before getting a second quote, financing pitches that come before any real engineering discussion, and contractors who can't clearly explain whether they're registered in the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, or wherever your specific home sits. Also watch for anyone who brushes off the need for a permit or engineer involvement on structural pier or anchor work, since skipping that step can create real problems if you sell the house later and a buyer's inspector goes looking for permit records that don't exist.
Typical cost ranges
| Foundation inspection with written report | $0 - $600 |
| Structural engineer evaluation letter | $400 - $850 |
| Crack injection, non-structural | $400 - $900 |
| Push piers (per pier) | $1,100 - $1,900 |
| Exterior wall anchor system (per anchor) | $500 - $900 |
Ranges are general estimates gathered from homeowner-reported quotes, not an offer or a quote for your project.
Common questions
Is foundation repair licensed in Missouri?
There is no statewide Missouri contractor license. The City of St. Louis requires a Construction Industry Contractor business license, and St. Louis County runs its own separate contractor registration and licensing program, so verify based on your specific address.
How do I check if a St. Louis contractor is registered?
Contact the License Collector's office if your home is in the City of St. Louis, or the St. Louis County Division of Code Enforcement if you're in the county, and ask them to confirm the contractor's registration status directly rather than relying solely on the contractor's own claim.
Should I get more than one quote for foundation repair?
Yes, especially for anything beyond simple crack injection. Pier counts and recommended repair methods can vary between contractors, and a second opinion helps confirm the scope of work is reasonable.
Who pulls the permit for foundation repair in St. Louis?
This depends on where your home is: City of St. Louis residents go through the Building Division at stlcitypermits.com, St. Louis County residents go through the Division of Code Enforcement's Accela portal, and other municipalities may have their own process. Ask your contractor to confirm and provide the permit number.
What warranty should I expect on foundation repair work in St. Louis?
Warranty terms vary significantly between companies, so get the specific terms in writing, including what's covered, how long it lasts, and whether it transfers to a new owner if you sell the home.
Does a structural engineer need to be involved in my repair?
For significant work like pier installation or major underpinning, many St. Louis contractors involve or recommend a structural engineer. You can verify any engineer's license directly through the Missouri Division of Professional Registration's APELSLA board.
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The Henry Standard
Every foundation contractor in our network agrees to three things.
Show up
Call back. Keep appointments. And if something changes, communicate it.
Quote honestly
Clear scope, pier counts, and pricing in writing—so you know what you're agreeing to.
Finish the work
See the repair through, including the drainage and cleanup that was quoted.
Nothing revolutionary. Just the way we believe doing business should still be done.