In-Law Suites & Multigenerational Living in St. Charles, Missouri

St. Charles homes and this kind of project

An in-law suite in St. Charles means working in everything from 1800s brick to 1990s subdivisions, so on our first visit we look at zoning limits on second kitchens, the HOA indenture and which part of the house suits the person moving in.

The housing stock here: nineteenth-century brick in the historic core, early twentieth-century bungalows and four-squares in midtown, postwar ranches, 1980s to 2000s subdivisions to the west and south, and New Town's neo-traditional homes.

A carriage house or rear wing is sometimes the answer on an older property, subject to zoning.

Lots, exteriors and approvals in St. Charles

Historic district properties need approval for exterior changes, including windows, siding, porches and sometimes paint colors. Wood porch restoration is common. Elsewhere, decks, patio covers and siding replacement are the routine exterior jobs.

Adding onto an old St. Charles house is a design problem first. Rooflines, window proportions, siding exposure and foundation height all have to relate to the original, and review boards in historic areas will insist on it. We set additions back and keep them subordinate to the main house.

What is included

We meet with St. Charles planning staff or the county before finalizing the design, so the kitchenette, entrance and utility setup are approved on paper before construction money is spent.

We take on in-law suite work across St. Charles, from the Highway 94 South corridor to Historic Main Street and Frenchtown.

What we watch for

A basement suite in St. Charles with a bedroom needs egress and enough ceiling height. We check both before recommending the basement route over an addition.

St. Charles properties tend to be tight historic blocks near the river and ordinary suburban lots farther west, and that affects how we stage materials, where the full range of trades park and how debris leaves the site.

Permits and approvals in St. Charles

The City of St. Charles is where we file for an in-law suite in St. Charles, and the job will see zoning review plus the usual building and trade inspections.

Exterior work in St. Charles can also involve historic preservation review in the old districts, and we put that package together for you.

Schedule and getting to you

Plan on six weeks to six months depending on the approach of site work for an in-law suite in St. Charles, once permits and materials are in hand.

St. Charles is about half an hour east on I-70, or along Highway 370 to the north side from our Wentzville base. We plan crew days and deliveries around that drive so you get full working days on site.

What moves the price in St. Charles

We price in-law suites & multigenerational living in St. Charles from a site visit, not a square-foot figure. These are the items that change the number.

• A separate HVAC zone or system.
• Exterior entrance, walkway and any ramp.

More detail

Our step-by-step method for this work, and the factors that move its price, are laid out on the main in-law suites & multigenerational living page. More about the area is on our St. Charles page.