Buying in South County’s Small Towns
Seven small cities, villages and towns in and around South County, from Bella Villa to Shrewsbury, on one page: what sold in 2026, which school districts the sales were in and which communities each one borders. For the larger South County communities, start with the South County guide.
What Sold in Each Town in 2026
These towns are too different to blend into one median: Fenton and Shrewsbury had 13 and 15 sales, while the five smallest had one to three each. Here they are side by side.
| Town | Sales | Median (or prices) | School districts in sales | Land area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bella Villa | 3 | $218,225 | Bayless 3 | 0.13 sq mi |
| Fenton | 13 | $327,000 | Lindbergh 11 and Rockwood 2 | 6.27 sq mi |
| Grantwood Village | 1 | $625,000 | Lindbergh 1 | 0.82 sq mi |
| Lakeshire | 1 | $290,000 | Affton 1 | 0.22 sq mi |
| Marlborough | 2 | $230,000 / $295,000 | Affton 2 | 0.23 sq mi |
| Shrewsbury | 15 | $285,000 | Webster Groves 9 and Affton 6 | 1.44 sq mi |
| Wilbur Park | 3 | $265,000 | Bayless 3 | 0.06 sq mi |
Source: 38 closed 2026 sales from the STL Home Journey St. Louis County sales dataset whose listing coordinates fall inside each town’s boundary in the Census Bureau’s 2024 TIGER/Line place file. Borders are from the same file. Historical sales, not current inventory. Verify jurisdiction and school assignment for the exact address.
Bella Villa, Missouri
3 sales in 2026, with a median of $218,225 (range $210,000–$255,000). Bella Villa’s 2026 sales were in the Bayless School District.
Bella Villa borders Lemay. Its 2026 sales were in ZIP 63125.
Occupancy and home rules in Bella Villa
Bella Villa has an occupancy permit and an active residential sewer-lateral program. St. Louis County issues building and trade permits. Get current City procedures and fees directly from the City.
- Occupancy when you buy
- Residential occupancy permit required. Get the current application and fee from the City before closing.
- At sale or transfer
- Occupancy permit required for a residential transfer. Confirm the steps with the City.
- Rental occupancy
- Rental occupancy permit required. Get the current procedure and fee from the City.
- Rental license or registration
- No separate rental registration; the rental occupancy permit is the requirement.
- Sewer lateral program
- Active residential sewer-lateral program. The current municipal program directory reports 100% reimbursement until the fund runs out. Ask the City for current benefit details.
- Who issues permits
- St. Louis County issues building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits for Bella Villa properties. Check City zoning approval first.
- Fence
- Check City zoning approval before work.
- Deck
- City zoning approval, then a St. Louis County building permit.
- Shed or accessory building
- City zoning approval, plus a St. Louis County building permit where required.
- Pool
- City zoning approval, plus St. Louis County permits where required.
- Electrical, plumbing, mechanical
- St. Louis County permits
- Property maintenance and code
- City code enforcement plus St. Louis County permit and trade enforcement. Ask the City about a property-specific issue.
- Fees and key amounts
- Ask the City for the current occupancy fee and sewer-lateral benefit.
Authority: City of Bella Villa + St. Louis County. Sources: data.mo.gov and stlouisrealestatesearch.com. Last verified September 25, 2026. Requirements can depend on the exact address and project; confirm with the local authority before you rely on them.
Fenton, Missouri
13 sales in 2026, with a median of $327,000 (range $60,000–$970,000). Fenton’s 2026 sales were split: 11 in the Lindbergh School District and 2 in the Rockwood School District.
The median sale spent 4 days on market. 7 of the 13 closed above the original list price and 5 below it. The median house was about 1,877 sq ft, built in 1963.
Fenton borders Kirkwood, Murphy, Sunset Hills and Valley Park. Its 2026 sales were in ZIP 63026.
Fenton has two sides, and the mailing address won’t tell you which one a house is on. On the St. Louis County side there’s the incorporated city and the area around it. On the Jefferson County side, homes aren’t in any city, but the mailing address still says Fenton. I just sold one on that side.
The school district changes too. The 13 sales inside city limits were mostly Lindbergh, but across all 60 St. Louis County sales with a Fenton mailing address in 2026, 45 were in the Rockwood School District and 15 in Lindbergh. Check the exact address.
Occupancy and home rules in Fenton
Existing-home resale is comparatively simple on occupancy; renovation still uses City-to-County process.
- Occupancy when you buy
- No general existing-home resale/reoccupancy permit; residential occupancy permits only for new dwellings
- At sale or transfer
- No City residential resale occupancy permit for existing dwelling
- Rental occupancy
- No general resale occupancy rule established
- Rental license or registration
- No separate residential rental registration or license.
- Sewer lateral program
- No City residential Sewer Lateral Repair Program
- Who issues permits
- City Municipal Zoning Approval before County building permits/inspections
- Fence
- Permit required
- Deck
- Permit required
- Shed or accessory building
- Permit required
- Pool
- Permit required
- Electrical, plumbing, mechanical
- County permits/inspections after City approval
- Property maintenance and code
- Fenton Community Development
- Fees and key amounts
- Project-specific
Authority: City of Fenton + St. Louis County. Sources: fentonmo.org and ecode360.com. Last verified September 25, 2026. Requirements can depend on the exact address and project; confirm with the local authority before you rely on them.
Grantwood Village, Missouri
1 sale in 2026, at $625,000. Grantwood Village’s 2026 sale was in the Lindbergh School District.
Grantwood Village borders Affton, Concord, Crestwood and Sappington. Its 2026 sale was in ZIP 63123.
Occupancy and home rules in Grantwood Village
Grantwood has its own zoning gate and sewer-lateral program; County permitting follows where applicable.
- Occupancy when you buy
- Occupancy permit required when a residence changes ownership under St. Louis County Property Maintenance Code framework subscribed to by Grantwood Village.
- At sale or transfer
- Ownership change triggers the Village occupancy-permit requirement; verify transaction timing/application details with Grantwood Village.
- Rental occupancy
- The Village has a Basement Rental permit; no separate whole-property rental registration.
- Rental license or registration
- No separate whole-property rental registration or license. Ask the Village about rental use for a specific property.
- Sewer lateral program
- Village sewer-lateral program is active: 2025 Village financials show lateral-sewer revenue. Published Village policy covers first $2,000 of qualifying repair, County-administered, with homeowner responsible above $2,000/excluded work.
- Who issues permits
- Grantwood zoning approval required before applicable St. Louis County permits
- Fence
- Zoning permit required for fences
- Deck
- Village/County permit path
- Shed or accessory building
- Zoning permit required for applicable accessory improvements; Village site also publishes non-zoning permits for basement rental, dumpsters, chicken coops and temporary parking.
- Pool
- Village code contains residential pool standards
- Electrical, plumbing, mechanical
- County construction codes adopted
- Property maintenance and code
- Village/County framework
- Fees and key amounts
- Zoning application $25; final zoning permit fee based on project size; sewer-lateral funded coverage $2,000 per qualifying repair under published policy.
Authority: Grantwood Village + St. Louis County. Sources: grantwoodvillage.org and grantwoodvillage.org. Last verified September 25, 2026. Requirements can depend on the exact address and project; confirm with the local authority before you rely on them.
Lakeshire, Missouri
1 sale in 2026, at $290,000. Lakeshire’s 2026 sale was in the Affton School District.
Lakeshire borders Affton and Concord. Its 2026 sale was in ZIP 63123.
Occupancy and home rules in Lakeshire
Sale can trigger inspection; conditional occupancy can shift correction responsibility by agreement.
- Occupancy when you buy
- Occupancy permit required on change of occupancy or ownership
- At sale or transfer
- Seller instructed to request inspection before closing; conditional occupancy can allow buyer correction period
- Rental occupancy
- Rental occupancy requires permit/tenant information
- Rental license or registration
- Residential rental occupancy permit applies; out-of-state/corporate landlords must designate a Missouri agent before permit issuance.
- Sewer lateral program
- City participates in County-administered MSD Sewer Lateral Repair Program; annual $50 tax-based fee. Owner obtains camera verification, then applies to St. Louis County.
- Who issues permits
- City permit review; County electrical/plumbing permits when required
- Fence
- Permit required
- Deck
- Permit required
- Shed or accessory building
- Special permit at 120 sq ft or larger; other rules still apply
- Pool
- Permit required
- Electrical, plumbing, mechanical
- City structural/mechanical; County electrical/plumbing when required
- Property maintenance and code
- City Property Maintenance Code; occupancy permit required before any dwelling/dwelling unit is occupied until violations are corrected.
- Fees and key amounts
- Occupancy inspection: houses/duplexes/condos $96 per unit; apartments $75 per unit. Initial inspection plus one required reinspection included. Third or past-due inspection $43.67. Sewer lateral annual tax-based fee $50.
Authority: City of Lakeshire. Sources: lakeshiremo.gov and lakeshiremo.gov. Last verified September 25, 2026. Requirements can depend on the exact address and project; confirm with the local authority before you rely on them.
Marlborough, Missouri
2 sales in 2026, at $230,000 and $295,000. Marlborough’s 2026 sales were in the Affton School District.
Marlborough borders Affton, Shrewsbury and Webster Groves. Its 2026 sales were in ZIPs 63123 and 63119.
Occupancy and home rules in Marlborough
Transaction disclosure requirement makes Marlborough particularly important for sellers/landlords.
- Occupancy when you buy
- Re-occupancy permit required for change of occupancy
- At sale or transfer
- Written disclosure of occupancy/re-occupancy requirement before conveyance/rental contract
- Rental occupancy
- Re-occupancy process applies to rental
- Rental license or registration
- Occupancy/rental process
- Sewer lateral program
- Residential sewer-lateral program; 2025 update
- Who issues permits
- Village zoning/building steps plus adopted County codes
- Fence
- Residential fence permit required
- Deck
- Regulated
- Shed or accessory building
- Regulated
- Pool
- Regulated
- Electrical, plumbing, mechanical
- County inspection/code roles plus Village process
- Property maintenance and code
- County performs contracted occupancy/property-maintenance inspections
- Fees and key amounts
- Occupancy permit fee equals Village inspection-contract cost plus Village administrative cost; current dollar amount is maintained on file with Village Clerk. Fee covers initial inspection, one reinspection, and one occupancy permit.
Authority: Village of Marlborough + St. Louis County. Sources: ecode360.com and ecode360.com. Last verified September 25, 2026. Requirements can depend on the exact address and project; confirm with the local authority before you rely on them.
Shrewsbury, Missouri
15 sales in 2026, with a median of $285,000 (range $235,000–$631,000). Shrewsbury’s 2026 sales were split: 9 in the Webster Groves School District and 6 in the Affton School District.
The median sale spent 15 days on market. 10 of the 15 closed above the original list price and 5 below it. The median house was about 1,381 sq ft, built in 1949.
Shrewsbury borders Maplewood, Marlborough, the City of St. Louis and Webster Groves. Its 2026 sales were in ZIP 63119.
Occupancy and home rules in Shrewsbury
Owner/renter occupancy approval required; City directly regulates fences and pools and maintains a sewer-lateral program.
- Occupancy when you buy
- Residential occupancy application requires Certificate of Occupancy before legal occupancy; ownership option included
- At sale or transfer
- New occupant must obtain occupancy approval before legal occupancy; confirm sale-inspection timing with the City for the specific transaction.
- Rental occupancy
- Residential occupancy application covers renters and requires Certificate of Occupancy
- Rental license or registration
- No separate residential rental registration; residential occupancy approval still applies.
- Sewer lateral program
- City maintains a sewer-lateral fund/program supported by property-tax revenue. Public authoritative materials confirm the program/fund but do not publish an individual homeowner reimbursement formula; contact City for current benefit terms.
- Who issues permits
- City Building & Housing / zoning framework; permit fees and code administered by City
- Fence
- Permit required; $35 first 200 lineal ft + $15 each additional 100 ft; $25 each inspection
- Deck
- Decks are regulated structures under City zoning/building framework; building permit applies as applicable.
- Shed or accessory building
- Accessory buildings are regulated by City zoning/building code; building permit applies as applicable.
- Pool
- Private pools regulated by City code; 10-ft lot-line minimum and protective barrier requirements
- Electrical, plumbing, mechanical
- City adopts County electrical and mechanical codes; City plumbing code also applies
- Property maintenance and code
- City Minimum Housing / Property Maintenance framework
- Fees and key amounts
- Occupancy $40; fence $35 first 200 lineal ft + $15/additional 100 ft; fence inspection $25
Authority: City of Shrewsbury. Sources: shrewsburymo.gov and ecode360.com. Last verified September 25, 2026. Requirements can depend on the exact address and project; confirm with the local authority before you rely on them.
Wilbur Park, Missouri
3 sales in 2026, with a median of $265,000 (range $229,200–$278,000). Wilbur Park’s 2026 sales were in the Bayless School District.
Wilbur Park borders Affton. Its 2026 sales were in ZIP 63123.
Occupancy and home rules in Wilbur Park
Wilbur Park requires Village zoning approval before St. Louis County permits. It has an occupancy permit and a residential sewer-lateral program. Get current Village procedures and fees directly from the Village.
- Occupancy when you buy
- Residential occupancy permit required. Get the current application and fee from the Village.
- At sale or transfer
- Occupancy permit required. Confirm the steps with the Village.
- Rental occupancy
- Rental occupancy permit required. Get the current procedure and fee from the Village.
- Rental license or registration
- No separate rental registration; the occupancy permit is the requirement.
- Sewer lateral program
- Active residential sewer-lateral program. Past County and Municipal League records show a $50 annual lateral fee; ask the Village for the current fee and benefit.
- Who issues permits
- Signed Wilbur Park zoning approval is required before St. Louis County residential building permits.
- Fence
- Village zoning approval, then any St. Louis County permit. Ask the Village for fence details.
- Deck
- Village zoning approval, then a St. Louis County building permit.
- Shed or accessory building
- Village zoning approval, then a St. Louis County building permit.
- Pool
- Village zoning approval, plus St. Louis County building and electrical permits.
- Electrical, plumbing, mechanical
- St. Louis County issues residential electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits after applicable municipal zoning approval.
- Property maintenance and code
- Village zoning and code, plus St. Louis County building and trade permits. Ask the Village about property-maintenance enforcement.
- Fees and key amounts
- Ask the Village for the current occupancy fee and sewer-lateral fee. The past lateral fee was $50.
Authority: Village of Wilbur Park + St. Louis County + MSD. Sources: aca-prod.accela.com and msdprojectclear.org. Last verified September 25, 2026. Requirements can depend on the exact address and project; confirm with the local authority before you rely on them.
Questions Buyers Ask About South County’s Small Towns
Which school districts serve these small South County towns?
Several. Of the 38 2026 sales across these seven towns, 12 were in the Lindbergh School District, 9 were in the Affton School District, 9 were in the Webster Groves School District, 6 were in the Bayless School District and 2 were in the Rockwood School District. The town name doesn’t settle the district, so verify it for the exact address.
Are these towns incorporated?
Yes. The Census Bureau lists each one as an incorporated city, village or town, so each sets its own local rules. Each town’s section below has its occupancy, sewer-lateral and permit rules, last verified September 25, 2026.
Does a Fenton mailing address mean the City of Fenton?
A Fenton mailing address doesn’t always mean the City of Fenton. Fenton has a St. Louis County side, with the incorporated city, and a Jefferson County side, where homes aren’t in any city but still have a Fenton mailing address. In 2026, 11 of the 13 sales inside city limits were in Lindbergh, while 45 of the 60 St. Louis County sales with a Fenton mailing address were in Rockwood.
Why put these towns on one page?
Most of them had only one to three sales in 2026, too few for a meaningful page of their own. Fenton and Shrewsbury had more and get fuller sections here.
Grew up in South St. Louis, lived in Dogtown for 6 years, now in South County. You'll find us at Wellspring on Lindbergh on Sundays. I'm not selling you a house — I'm showing you how to think about buying or selling a house.
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