Department Director
Director of Planning & Development Services
Susan M. Istenes, AICP
314-290-8459
sistenes@claytonmo.gov
Contact Information
Louis Clayton
314-290-8450
lclayton@claytonmo.gov
Administrative Assistants
Kathy Scott
314-290-8453
kscott@claytonmo.gov
Jackie Williams
314-290-8452
jwilliams@claytonmo.gov
Planning & Development Services
Mission Statement:
The mission of the Planning and Development Services Department is to protect the health, safety and welfare of Clayton's citizens, businesses and visitors. This Department provides professional planning, building and code enforcement services in order to promote responsible growth and to ensure that the City remains a sustainable, well-designed and prosperous community within a business-friendly environment.
The department is divided into two interrelated divisions: the Planning Division which is primarily responsible for direction and coordination of all planning, zoning and property development activities, and the Building Division which includes systematic property code inspections, housing code enforcement, plan review and building permit issuance and monitoring. The duties of each division overlap and often reflect different stages in an overall development process.
Current News/Updates
City of Clayton selected by East-West Gateway Board of Directors as a partner in 1 of 11 Community Planning areas throughout the region. See how you can participate in the planning of our region below:
Please join the City of Clayton and East-West Gateway for a St. Louis Regional Sustainable Communities Community Planning Area Meetings scheduled Spring, 2013.
You are invited to join East-West Gateway Council of Governments, FOCUS-St. Louis, and 10 other regional partners in an effort to coordinate housing, transportation, the environment and economic development planning across the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. Please click here to view details.
2013 UPDATE:
Meetings to be held in January and February in several Community Planning Areas of the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development :
East-West Gateway and its planning partners have announced the schedule for the balance of Round 3 meetings of the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (RPSD) project, a three-year planning process meant to develop a regional plan for sustainable development in the St. Louis region. These meetings are open to all interested people who either live or work in a particular area. Meeting participants will have the opportunity to review and provide feedback on renderings of examples of sustainable development created specifically for a particular CPA and discuss ideas on what would make the community a more sustainable place to live.
The meeting schedule is:
• Jan. 10: Northeast St. Louis County (Bellefontaine Neighbors, Riverview, Glasgow Village & Spanish Lake)
• Jan. 16: Mid-Metro 5 (Clayton, Shrewsbury, Brentwood, Maplewood, Richmond Heights)
• Jan. 22: O'Fallon-Wentzville-Lake Saint Louis
• Jan. 29: Tri-City, Ill. (Granite City, Madison, Venice &Tri-City Port)
• Feb. 7: Lemay (S. St. Louis County)
• Feb. 12: Belleville-Swansea
• Feb. 19: Pevely-Herculaneum-Festus-Crystal City
All meetings will be held from 6:30--8:30 PM. The meeting flyer and the location of each meeting is available at www.ewgateway.org/rpsd/RPSD-CPAInfo/rpsd-cpainfo.htm 
by clicking on a specific location.
More information on this planning effort is online at www.ewgateway.org/rpsd.
Inspection Ordinance Amended - effective January 25, 2011
Clayton's inspection ordinance has been amended to require tenancy inspections for non-owner occupied duplexes and rental condominiums; any duplex in which the owner lives in one side is not required to have an inspection of the rented side. Tenancy and prior to sale inspections will continue to be required for residential rental structures with three or more units. The purpose of this change is to ensure that rental properties are proactively inspected to preclude potential maintenance and safety violations. Click here to view the ordinance. Note: Tenancy inspections are not required for single family dwellings.
Solar and Wind Regulations adopted February 28, 2012:
Carbon Monoxide Alarm Requirement
The 2009 International Residential Code requires carbon monoxide alarms in new one and two family dwellings and in existing one and two family dwellings when work requiring a permit takes place. The carbon monoxide alarms must be installed in the immediate vicinity of all sleeping areas. Hardwired, battery operated or plug-in alarms may be used. Unlike the smoke alarm requirements, there is no exception for exterior work or the addition of decks or porches. Roofing, siding, window replacement and other exterior work requiring a permit will require the installation of carbon monoxide alarms.
Click here to view a summary of the requirements
2013 Plan Commission/Architectural Review Board Schedule
Click here to view the 2013 regularly scheduled meeting dates and submittal deadlines for the Plan Commission/Architectural Review Board. Please note planned cancellations of some regular meetings.
2009 Code Adoption - Effective December 14, 2010
Effective December 14, 2010, the City of Clayton has adopted the following codes:
Part I, the 2009 International Building Code
Part II, the 2009 International Mechanical Code
Part III, the 2009 International Plumbing Code
Part IV, the 2009 International Residential Code
Part V, the 2009 International Fuel Gas Code
Part VI, the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code
and all appendices to each Code.
The 2008 National Electric Code has also been adopted as part of the St. Louis County Amendments.
The City will also be adopting the 2009 International Property Maintenance Code, First Edition as published by the International Code Council.
Rodent Control
Clayton does not administer a rodent control program; rodent control is the responsibility of the property owner. Section 308.1 of the City Building Codes and Building Regulations requires that all structures be kept free from rodent infestation. For control methods to be effective, all residents must do their part and work together to keep our neighborhoods free of rats. If you have any questions, please call Clayton Building Inspections at 314-290-8455 or St. Louis County Vector Control at 314-727-3097 or visit St. Louis County Rodent Control Information. Click here for more information on how to control rats in your neighborhood. Thank you for your assistance in helping control this problem.
American Planning Association Designates Wydown Boulevard as a Great Street
Wydown Boulevard has been designated one of the ten Great Streets in America of 2010 by the American Planning Association.
Applying for Architectural or Site Plan Review?
The Clayton Green Sheet is available to provide information on sustainable development resources to Architectural and Site Plan Review applicants. Energy efficient buildings that are designed, constructed and operated for optimal performance and resource conservation are able to demonstrate reduced negative environmental impacts, improved occupant wellbeing and profitability from energy savings.
Click here to view the citywide Code of Ordinances.
