Window and siding replacement in Arnold
What the code and the permit desk actually require here — and what the houses in Arnold tend to be hiding behind the siding.
- People
- 20,956
- Homes
- 8,982
- Size
- 11.5 square miles
- From downtown
- About 15 miles south
- ZIP codes
- 63010
- Founded or incorporated
- 1972
Arnold was formed in 1972 by the merger of six older communities (Beck, Flamm City, Maxville, Old Town Arnold, Ten Brook and Wickes). Sitting near the Meramec-Mississippi confluence, it has a documented history of major flooding, including a record Meramec River crest of 47.26 feet.
Arnold
The housing here is mostly built from the 1960s into the 1970s, around the time of the city's 1972 incorporation.
What that vintage turns up
Original single-pane aluminium and wood units, most of which have been replaced at least once by now — which means what you are usually looking at is a first-generation replacement window from the 1990s, not the original. Aluminium frames of this age conduct cold straight through and sweat in January, which is what people are describing when they say a room feels draughty in a house with no measurable draught.
Aluminium siding was the default for years and a lot of it is still up. It does not rot and it does not burn; what it does is chalk, so the factory finish oxidises to a powder that comes off on your hand, and it dents and never un-dents. The honest decision on aluminium in decent shape is repaint against replace, and repainting is often the right answer. Later in this window, hardboard and wood-composite lap started going up, and that material has a litigation history rather than a maintenance history.
The one to watch on a house of this age
Plywood and board sheathing under this vintage holds up better than the OSB that came later, which means rot found here is usually local to a flashing failure rather than general. Find the leak, not just the soft spot.
Lead paint. Likely on anything built before 1978, and the rule does not care how much paint there is. 48.6% of the homes in Jefferson County were built before 1980, and on anything pre-1978 the EPA renovation rule applies to both of these trades. Window replacement is never exempt from it, at any size — a single window triggers it. A whole-house re-side clears the twenty square foot exterior threshold on the first wall. What the rule actually requires of a contractor.
Neighbourhoods
We work across Beck, Flamm City, Maxville, Old Town Arnold, Ten Brook and Wickes.
The rules in Arnold
Siding replacement Permit required
Re-siding is not listed among work exempt from permit. Arnold's Chapter 500 amendments cut the model exemption lists down to almost nothing: for both the IBC and the IRC the exempt items are 'Fences not over two (2) feet (609.6 mm) in height' and 'Water tanks supported directly on grade if the capacity is not greater than five hundred (500) gallons (1,892 L).' Nothing about siding, windows, glass or roofing. The Building and Code Compliance page states that 'generally, the construction, remodeling, or demolition of buildings and structures requires a permit and related inspections.' Permit therefore required.
Window replacement, same opening Permit required Enlarging or cutting an opening Permit required
Arnold draws no same-opening / new-opening distinction: the two-item exemption list (2-foot fences and 500-gallon water tanks) contains no window, door or glass-replacement carve-out, so under the adopted IRC R105.1 a permit is required for window replacement in either case. This is the strictest exemption list found in the twelve-jurisdiction group. Same caveat: derived from the code, not from a homeowner page.
A replacement window here has to be U-0.30 or lower
The City's Building and Code Compliance page independently and identically lists '2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).' Naming the IECC appendices (CA/CB commercial, RA/RB residential) is unusual and means Arnold has picked up the optional residential energy provisions.
That figure comes from the 2021 edition this jurisdiction has adopted.
A window fitted here must also carry an SHGC of 0.40 or lower.
For comparison, ENERGY STAR asks for U-0.25 or lower with an SHGC of 0.40 or lower everywhere in this metro, which is stricter than every code edition in force here. And the code only bites when the sash and the glazing are replaced together — replace the glass alone in an existing sash, or add a storm window over the top, and it does not apply.
Contractor registration Yes
Chapter 605, Sec. 605.120: 'No person shall engage in any of the businesses defined in this Article, within the City without first having obtained a license therefor from the City Clerk and paying the designated fee or tax. The license shall be for the annual license year.' Sec. 605.290 requires 'Evidence of Workers' Compensation Coverage' and applies specifically to construction-industry contractors before a licence issues. Fee (Sec. 605.130): retail business $1.00 per $1,000 of revenue; non-retail business $0.06 per square foot of building space; minimum $100.00 annually, maximum $50,000.00; businesses starting after March 15 pay a pro-rated 50%. No separate contractor-specific fee, and no bond requirement is published.
Local quirks
Arnold sits inside Jefferson County, which expressly exempts siding replacement, same-opening window replacement AND single-family roof replacement from permit - but Arnold, as a home-rule city running its own building department, exempts essentially nothing (2-foot fences and 500-gallon water tanks only). A contractor working Imperial and Arnold on the same day faces opposite rules. Arnold also drops the model code's fence exemption from 6 or 7 feet down to 2 feet, which is the most aggressive amendment seen in this metro. Address: 2101 Jeffco Blvd; hours 8:00 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
Who to call
- Building dept
- 636-282-2378
- Official
- Brian M. Herr, CBO, Building Commissioner (bherr@arnoldmo.org)
- Permits
- Department page
Work we have done in Arnold
None logged in Arnold yet. When there is one it goes here, with the address block and what was actually done to it. An empty section is better than a number you cannot check.
Where these facts came from
Everything on this page about Arnold was read off a published source. Where a question has no published answer we have said so rather than filling the gap.
Sources: arnoldmo.org · ecode360.com · ecode360.com · ecode360.com · ecode360.com · ecode360.com
Windows or siding in Arnold?
Tell us the address. We look up what the city requires before we work out a price.
Tell us about the house
We answer the phone. If we miss you, we call back.