Choose Kirkwood!

Access "Choose Kirkwood" here - the City's new online data and research tool. The Choose Kirkwood tool not only provides a space for available commercial properties to be listed by brokers, but it also allows interested businesses or individuals to look at various demographic, labor force, and economic data. The data can be customized within a certain distance of a particular site or can be viewed for the entire City of Kirkwood. This is a great FREE tool that can help you make an informed decision about locating or expanding your business in Kirkwood!

Kirkwood Open for Business

The City of Kirkwood is ready to roll up its sleeves and work hand in hand with existing and potential businesses to expand or plant roots within our community. "Kirkwood Open for Business" is a partnership between the City, the Kirkwood-Des Peres Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Special Business District, working together to help you build your business right here in Kirkwood! Got questions? We have answers.

What does it mean that Kirkwood is open for business? It means that City staff are here to help and support you while you get your new Kirkwood business up and running or your development project through the approval process. It means you've come to the right place.

For questions about opening your business, please call Jonathan Raiche, Director of Planning & Development Services at 314-984-5926.

Welcome to Kirkwood!

The City of Kirkwood is happy and excited that you want to locate your business here.  We are here to help you. Below you will find the steps for opening a business in Kirkwood. Follow these simple steps, and your experience will be a smoother, more productive one. We wish you the best of luck with your new business!

STEP 1: PLANNING AND ZONING APPROVAL

Contact City Planners Amy Lowry (314-822-5815 or lowryag@kirkwoodmo.org) or Lauren Hoerr (314-822-5899 or hoerrla@kirkwoodmo.org) from the Planning & Development Services Department before you sign a lease. You want to make sure the business you plan to open is a permitted use for the location you are considering. If the use is not permitted, you may need to request a Special Use Permit, which must be approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission and by the Kirkwood City Council. The City Planner will help you with this part of the process. To view the City's Zoning Map, visit this page of the website.

STEP 2: BUILDING COMMISSIONER APPROVAL

Commercial Occupancy: If the zoning use is approved by Planning & Development Services, you must obtain a Commercial Occupancy Permit from the Building Division, located at City Hall, 139 S. Kirkwood Road, on the lower level. The Building Commissioner will discuss with you the permits and the separate fees that may be required for remodeling the property. The Building Division will also inspect the property. Any deficiencies must be corrected before the Commercial Occupancy Permit or Business License will be issued and the space can be occupied. You may download the Commercial Occupancy Permit Application on the Building Division page of this website.

Signage and Exterior Modifications: Signage and any exterior modification to the building must be reviewed by the Architectural Review Board (ARB). The ARB meets the first and third Mondays of the month (most months).  You may download the ARB Sign Application and the ARB Commercial Building Design Review Application on the ARB's page of this website. Please Note: Awnings with lettering are considered a sign.

Home-Based Business or Occupation: If you would like to run a business out of your residential dwelling, you must first seek approval for "Home Occupation." The home-based business or occupation is clearly secondary to the use of the dwelling for living purposes and does not change the character thereof, require any structural changes in the dwelling, or have any exterior evidence of the home business or occupation. This includes offices of an accountant, real estate agent, engineer, or other professional person, including an instructor of music, limited to a single client or pupil at a time. You may download the Home Occupation Application and view the additional regulations on the Building Division's page of this website.

STEP 3: FINANCE DEPARTMENT APPROVAL

Business License: Any person who engages in any business, occupation, pursuit, profession, calling, avocation or trade within the City limits of Kirkwood is required to have a business license, unless specifically exempted by law. The requirements to obtain a business license vary depending on the type and location of the business. A list of most business fees can be found in the Flat-Fee Business Schedule. Please see the City of Kirkwood’s Code of Ordinances, Section 13-39, for additional information about fees. After requesting and paying for your Commercial Occupancy Permit inspection or obtaining approval for your Occupation or Home-Based Business, you will be directed to the Finance Department window. You will complete a Business License Application, and if applicable, schedule utilities to be transferred to your business at the time of lease signing. A business license fee and a utility deposit, if applicable, will be required at this time. You will need to have a federal and state sales tax ID number for the business license. Contact the Finance Department Office Manager at 314-984-6944 or businesslicenses@kirkwoodmo.org with any additional business licensing questions.

Liquor License:  A liquor license application may be obtained at the Finance Department window.  A background check and City Council approval are required. For additional information and requirements, please see this page About Liquor Licenses.

Downtown Kirkwood Special Business District: If your business will be located within the boundaries of the Downtown Kirkwood Special Business District (SBD), you will need an SBD Business License application from the Finance Department. The SBD office may provide additional information for operating a business downtown, including advertising and marketing, special events, façade improvement, gift certificates, and management of employee parking on public lots. Please visit the SBD website, or call 314-822-0084 for more information. The SBD office is located at 130 East Jefferson Avenue and is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Local Business Incentives

Financial incentives, when used properly, can be a great tool to promote economic activity. The City of Kirkwood understands this reality. The following is a list of the most common financial incentives that have been utilized in Kirkwood and are available for your business; 

• Downtown Façade Improvement Program
• Community Improvement District
• Neighborhood Improvement District
• Transportation Development District
• Tax Increment Financing
• Industrial Development Bonds

Kirkwood Utilities - both Electric and Water - offer incentives on a case-by-case basis. 

Kirkwood Electric reviews the load associated with a proposed building and the annual revenue associated with that load. Extension costs for new electric service may be waived up to 10 percent of the annual revenue associated with the building. This includes providing the transformer.

Kirkwood Water will participate in cost-sharing for the upsizing of water mains in order to meet fire flow requirements.

State Business Incentives

In addition to these programs, the Missouri Department of Economic Development has a comprehensive listing and description of financial incentives available to eligible businesses. A few incentives that may be applicable to your project or business within Kirkwood include:

• Building Use Incentives for Large-Scale Development (BUILD) Program
• Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing
• SBA 504 Loans

The Missouri Department of Economic Development  has developed a Small Business Grant Program to assist with recovering from negative economic impacts during the COVID pandemic (comparing 2019 to 2021). The final guidelines will be posted on November 1st and the application period will open the week of November 14th. For more information about this program visit www.ded.mo.gov/ARPA.

Looking to start or grow your small business? Check out this online article called Top Small Business Grants from business.com.   You may also find this article on starting an LLC in Missouri helpful.

Kirkwood is located in the heart of St. Louis County and is within a short distance of numerous regional amenities such as Forest Park and Grant’s Farm. Kirkwood itself is home to family-friendly attractions such as the award-winning Magic House and Kirkwood Farmer’s Market as well as historical sites such as the Kirkwood Train Station and Frank Lloyd Wright House. Drop in and find out why Kirkwood is such a wonderful town, you won’t be disappointed.

Want to Know More About Kirkwood?

Take a look at our Community Profile below.  Feel free to click the icons at the top for a targeted data set.  We hope this information helps inform your decisions about locating or expanding your business in Kirkwood!

Looking for Development Opportunities?

For more information regarding development opportunities and the economic goals of the City, visit the Long Range Planning page of our website to find the City's Comprehensive Plan, Downtown Master Plan, and recent commercial market analysis.

EDUCATION

Public Education

Kirkwood School District, chartered in 1865, is among the oldest in St. Louis County and one of the oldest west of the Mississippi River. Located in southwest St. Louis County approximately 15 miles from the city of St. Louis, Kirkwood School District covers an area of 15 square miles and serves all, or portions of, eight suburban communities including Des Peres, Frontenac, Glendale, Huntleigh, Kirkwood, Oakland, Town and Country, and Warson Woods. The district also welcomes eligible students from the city of St. Louis through participation in the St. Louis Voluntary Transfer Program.

Private Education

Christ Community Lutheran School(Elementary & Middle)
110 W Woodbine Ave. (314) 822-7774

St. Gerard Majella Catholic School(Elementary)
2005 Dougherty Ferry Rd. (314) 822-8844

St. Peter Catholic School(Elementary & Middle)
215 N. Clay Ave. (314) 821-0460

St. Vianney Catholic School(High, All-Boys)
1311 S. Kirkwood Rd. (314) 965-4853

Villa di Maria Montessori School(Elementary)
1280 Simmons Ave. (314) 822-2601

Higher Education

St. Louis Community College – Kirkwood (Meramec) Campus, the largest campus in the St Louis Community College System with a total enrollment of almost 9,000 students, STLCC-Meramec is home to the Center of Visual Technology, a state-of-the-art instruction laboratory. The campus offers five types of degrees and two types of certificates. Associate degrees are offered for the following: Associate in Arts, Associate in Fine Arts, Associate in Science, Associate of Arts in Teaching and Associate in Applied Science. Students can also complete a Certificate of Proficiency or Certificate of Specialization in a number of different fields of study.

TRANSPORTATION

Kirkwood is located approximately 15 miles and 20 minutes from Downtown St. Louis. Located directly adjacent to I-270 and I-44, Kirkwood is conveniently situated in the heart of the St. Louis region with quick access to various amenities, employment centers and transportation hubs.

Airport

Kirkwood is located 20 minutes to the south of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. The airport and its two terminals service 68 unique destinations amongst the following airline carriers:

Amtrak

Kirkwood’s historic 1893 train station located in the heart of downtown is point of pride and symbol of the community. It was on the verge of closing in 2002, but in April 2003, the City purchased the station from Amtrak and has maintained and staffed the station with volunteers ever since. In 2014, it was rated number one among Amtrak stations for “overall station experience”.

The station currently serves as a stop on the Amtrak Missouri River Runner route between Kansas City and St. Louis. The southbound and northbound trains each make 2 stops daily at the Kirkwood Station. Kirkwood, of the ten stops along the route, ranks behind only St. Louis and Kansas City in terms of ridership ons and offs.

Metro St. Louis

The City of Kirkwood is currently served by Metro St. Louis, specifically the MetroBus system. There are five principal bus routes that serve the community. These routes connect Kirkwood to a variety of retail, educational, medical and employment centers located throughout the St. Louis region. Routes 21 and 56 also connect with the Shrewsbury Metrolink Station which ties Kirkwood to the regional light rail system.

For businesses and individuals looking to establish or expand their presence in Kirkwood, we are here to help. We are committed to providing the support and guidance you need every step of the way. Whether you have questions about business development, economic initiatives, or how to get started, don't hesitate to reach out. We are eager to assist you in making your venture in Kirkwood a success. Connect with us today and discover why Kirkwood is the perfect place for your business ambitions. 

Jonathan Raiche, AICP - Director of Planning & Development Services
139 S. Kirkwood Rd., Kirkwood, MO 63122
Phone: 314-984-5926 | E-mail: raichejd@kirkwoodmo.org