USA Foreclosure Wiki

St. Louis City, MO

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St. Louis City, Missouri — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

Local operations layer. The legal framework (redemption periods, surplus rights, statutes, case law) lives on the parent page → missouri. This page covers how the City of St. Louis actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

REGIME NOTE: Chapter 92 judicial foreclosure — the Municipal Land Reutilization Law — NOT Chapter 140, and NOT the Chapter 141 used by Jackson County. St. Louis City is an independent city (not part of St. Louis County) with its own Collector of Revenue, Sheriff, Circuit Court (22nd Judicial Circuit), and Recorder of Deeds. The City collects delinquent real estate taxes through the Municipal Land Reutilization Law, RSMo 92.700– 92.920. The Collector of Revenue files a suit in the Circuit Court; the City Sheriff conducts the foreclosure sale; the purchaser then files a motion to confirm the sale (RSMo 92.840), and only after the court confirms and finds adequate consideration does a Sheriff’s Deed issue. There is no certificate of purchase (unlike Chapter 140) and no post-sale redemption period — the right to redeem expires at the moment of the sheriff’s foreclosure sale (RSMo 92.750). Tax-delinquent properties not sold at the sheriff’s sale pass to the Land Reutilization Authority (LRA) — the oldest land bank in the United States (est. 1971; RSMo 92.875). See C10.

C0. Identity

  • County seat / recording unit: St. Louis City is itself the recording and collection unit — an independent city coextensive with no county. It is treated as Missouri’s 115th collection unit on missouri.
  • FIPS: 29510 (St. Louis city, Missouri — independent city)
  • Population (2020 census): 301,578
  • Government type: Independent city / constitutional charter city; Mayor + Board of Aldermen; elected Collector of Revenue, Sheriff, Recorder of Deeds.
  • Judicial venue: 22nd Judicial Circuit of Missouri (City of St. Louis), Civil Courts Building / Carnahan Courthouse.
  • Parent legal framework: missouri (Chapter 92 Municipal Land Reutilization Law applies; see regime note above).

C1. Local Tax Sale

  • Conducts own sale? Yes. The Collector of Revenue files the delinquent- tax suit; the City Sheriff conducts the land tax sale under the Municipal Land Reutilization Law (RSMo Chapter 92). (stlouis-mo.gov Sheriff — Land Tax Sales)
  • Platform: In-person, live, open-cry auction. No online bidding platform. Sales are held outdoors on the 11th Street side of the Civil Courts Building, 10 N. Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63101, beginning at 9:00 a.m. sharp. (stlouis-mo.gov Sheriff — Land Tax Sales)
  • Sale calendar:
    • Frequency: Several times a year (historically five sales annually).
    • Suit-to-sale lag: A tax sale occurs approximately one year after the delinquency suit is filed against the parcel. (stlouis-mo.gov Collector — Property Sales)
    • 2026 sale schedule (from the Collector’s Delinquent Land Tax Suit and Sale Schedule, retrieved 2026-06-02):
      • Sale 236 — May 12, 2026
      • Sale 237 — June 9, 2026
      • Sale 238 — July 14, 2026
      • Sale 239 — August 11, 2026
      • Sale 240 — October 6, 2026
    • 2026 suits filed: Suit 241 (Apr 7, 2026), 242 (May 5), 243 (Jun 2), 244 (Jul 7), 245 (Oct 13, 2026). (stlouis-mo.gov Collector — Property Sales)
  • Delinquent / property list location: The list of parcels offered at each sale is posted two weeks before the sale date on the Sheriff’s land tax pages (stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/sheriff/documents/current-land- tax-sale-properties.cfm). (stlouis-mo.gov Sheriff — Land Tax / Collector — Property Sales)
  • Registration & deadline: Bidders (individual or business) must complete a pre-registration form no later than 10 days before the sale date. Bidder numbers are issued at Division 29, Carnahan Courthouse, 8th floor, 1114 Market St., on presentation of a valid state photo ID with current address. (stlouis-mo.gov Sheriff — Land Tax Sales / Guidelines)
  • Bidder eligibility (RSMo 92 / Sheriff screening): Pre-registration confirms the bidder and any related business do not: (a) own tax-delinquent St. Louis property or owe unpaid special tax bills / vacant-building fees; (b) have previously failed to pay a winning bid or confirm a sale; or (c) have pending building or housing code violations. (stlouis-mo.gov Sheriff — Land Tax Sales)
  • Payment / deposit: As of the 2026 land tax season, cash is no longer accepted. The full purchase amount for all parcels won must be received by 2:00 p.m. on the sale date, paid by cashier’s check or money order payable to “Sheriff City of St. Louis” — in two separate payments: one for the parcel bid amount and a separate $150.00 per parcel (deed/ processing fee). (stlouis-mo.gov Sheriff — Land Tax Sales / Guidelines)
  • Opening bid: Bidding starts at the amount of taxes owed on the parcel (delinquent taxes, interest, penalties, and suit costs adjudged due). (stlouis-mo.gov Sheriff — Land Tax Sales)
  • Confirmation required: Yes — the sale is not final until the court confirms it and finds adequate consideration was paid (RSMo 92.840). See C5.

C2. Local Redemption → framework: right-of-redemption

  • Where/how to redeem: Any person “having any right, title, or interest in, or lien upon” the parcel may redeem by paying the Collector of Revenue the principal, interest, penalties, attorney’s fees, and all costs then due. For improved non-homestead parcels, redemption also includes “all debts owed to the city” (e.g., water bills, nuisance-abatement charges, excluding metropolitan sewer district debts). The Collector then issues a certificate of redemption. (RSMo 92.750)
  • Redemption period: Pre-sale only. The right to redeem runs until the sheriff’s foreclosure sale; “failure to redeem prior to the foreclosure sale” leaves the person “barred and forever foreclosed of all his right, title and interest.” There is no post-sale statutory redemption period under Chapter 92 (contrast Chapter 140’s 1-year / 90-day post-sale windows). (RSMo 92.750)
  • Post-deed set-aside (functional late redemption): An interested party other than the purchaser who moves to set aside the sheriff’s sale after the deed issues must pay into the court the redemption amount otherwise required under RSMo 92.750 before the court will hear the motion. (RSMo 92.840) This is the only post-sale path and it requires court relief plus payment, not a routine right.
  • Redemption contact:
    • Office: Collector of Revenue — Real Estate Tax Department
    • Address: 1200 Market Street, City Hall, Room 109 (Real Estate Tax) / Room 410 (Collector main office), St. Louis, MO 63103
    • Phone: (314) 622-4101 (Real Estate Tax Dept.); (314) 622-4111 (Collector main) (main-office direct line — needs_verification)
    • Email: propertytaxdept@stlouis-mo.gov
  • Deviations from state default: St. Louis City uses Chapter 92 (judicial), not Chapter 140 (administrative collector’s certificate) and not Chapter 141 (used by Jackson Co. and first-class charter counties). Under Chapter 92 there is no post-sale redemption right and no certificate of purchase. (RSMo 92.750; compare RSMo 140.340, 141.420)

C3. Local Surplus / Excess Proceeds → framework: surplus-funds, third-party-recovery-rules

KEY MODULE for surplus recovery operations.

  • Statutory waterfall (RSMo 92.840): After the sheriff’s sale is confirmed by the Circuit Court, proceeds are applied in order:
    1. Publication and foreclosure costs;
    2. Collector’s and sheriff’s costs (including appraiser and attorney fees);
    3. Tax bills adjudged due, by priority;
    4. Other claimants per RSMo 92.775 (parties claiming a right, title, interest in, or lien upon the parcel — i.e., recorded lienholders and the former owner), pro rata if funds are insufficient. (RSMo 92.840)
  • Custody of surplus funds: The Circuit Court retains custody of remaining funds pending disposition; claimants apply to the court that confirmed the sale. (RSMo 92.840) (Whether the City Treasurer rather than the court clerk physically holds the funds — needs_verification.)
  • Claim filing venue:
    • Office: Circuit Court, City of St. Louis (22nd Judicial Circuit) — the confirming court / Sheriff’s land-tax case file. Land-tax confirmation matters are heard in Division 29, Carnahan Courthouse, 1114 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63101; (314) 613-3154. (Exact desk/clerk for filing a former-owner surplus claim — needs_verification; the statute routes surplus through the confirming court under RSMo 92.840/92.775.)
  • Claim deadline: A person entitled to surplus who does not appear and claim within two (2) years after the sale forfeits the funds: 10% is distributed to the St. Louis Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the remainder to the appropriate taxing authorities. (RSMo 92.840) Claim within 2 years of the sheriff’s sale is the operative deadline.
  • Claim form: No dedicated City-published surplus-claim form was located; the claim is made by motion / application in the land-tax case before the confirming court. (Standard form name/URL — needs_verification.)
  • Unclaimed-funds list published? No dedicated City “unclaimed land-tax surplus” list was located. (Whether the Sheriff or Circuit Court publishes a surplus/overage list — needs_verification.)

▸ For Investors / Operators — Surplus here flows through the RSMo 92.840 / 92.775 waterfall (publication/foreclosure costs → collector/sheriff/appraiser/ attorney costs → tax bills by priority → lienholders and the former owner, pro rata). The venue you will work is the Circuit Court land-tax case that confirmed the sale, not a collector’s surplus desk. For acquisition mechanics, see missouri §5b (marketable-title / quiet-title path) and §7b (surviving liens — note Chapter 92 is a judicial foreclosure, so federal liens and liens not named in the suit may survive, and the IRS retains a 120-day § 7425 redemption right).

▸ For Former Owners — If a St. Louis land tax sale brings more than the taxes and costs, the surplus is held by the Circuit Court that confirmed the sale; recorded lienholders are paid by priority, then you. You must appear and claim within two years of the sale — otherwise 10% goes to the St. Louis Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the rest to the taxing authorities (RSMo 92.840). Redemption itself is pre-sale only, paid to the Collector of Revenue (RSMo 92.750).

C4. Offices & Contacts

OfficeNameAddressPhoneURL
Collector of Revenue (delinquency / redemption / tax payment)Gregory F.X. Daly, Collector of Revenue1200 Market St., City Hall Room 410 (main); Room 109 (Real Estate Tax Dept.), St. Louis, MO 63103(314) 622-4101 (Real Estate Tax); (314) 622-4111 (main)https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/collector/index.cfm
Sheriff (conducts land tax sale, issues Sheriff’s Deed)Office of the Sheriff, City of St. Louis10 N. Tucker Blvd., 8th Floor, Civil Courts Building, St. Louis, MO 63101(314) 622-4851https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/sheriff/land-tax/index.cfm
Circuit Court (22nd Circuit) — Land Tax / Confirmation (Division 29)Circuit Court, City of St. Louis, Division 29Carnahan Courthouse, 1114 Market St., 8th Floor, St. Louis, MO 63101(314) 613-3154https://www.stlcircuitcourt.com/ (URL — needs_verification)
Recorder of DeedsRecorder of Deeds, City of St. Louis1200 Market St., City Hall Room 126–128, St. Louis, MO 63103(314) 622-3260 / (314) 622-4610https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/recorder/index.cfm

Note: Unlike Jackson County (where the court’s Civil Process Department runs the auction), in St. Louis City the Sheriff physically conducts the land tax sale and prepares/records the Sheriff’s Deed, while the Circuit Court (Division 29) handles confirmation and surplus. The Collector of Revenue files the underlying suit and takes redemption payments.

C5. Local Procedure Notes

  • Chapter 92 judicial model (structural difference from Ch. 140 and Ch. 141): The City does not sell tax-lien certificates and does not issue a collector’s deed. The process is court-driven: Collector files suit → ~1 year → Sheriff’s foreclosure sale → purchaser files motion to confirm (RSMo 92.840) → confirmation hearing → Sheriff’s Deed. There is no post-sale redemption period.
  • Confirmation hearing (RSMo 92.840): After payment by 2:00 p.m. on sale day, the purchaser waits two weeks and then schedules a confirmation hearing in Division 29, Carnahan Courthouse ((314) 613-3154). The purchaser must: (1) file a motion to confirm the sale; (2) bring an appraiser to testify to the property’s reasonable value (adequate-consideration review); (3) provide a full legal description (from the Recorder of Deeds); and (4) send written notice to the Collector of Revenue’s attorney, the Sheriff’s Office, the previous owner, and all lien holders. If the court finds the price inadequate, it may require a higher bid or reject the sale and relist the parcel. (stlouis-mo.gov Sheriff — Guidelines; RSMo 92.840)
  • LRA exception to adequate-consideration review: RSMo 92.840 exempts Land Reutilization Authority purchases from the adequate-consideration standard.
  • Deed & recording: After confirmation, the Sheriff prepares and records the Sheriff’s Deed with the Recorder of Deeds and mails it to the address on the Confirmation Judgment. The deed must be recorded within two months of confirmation (RSMo 92.852). (stlouis-mo.gov Sheriff — Guidelines; RSMo 92.852)
  • Occupancy permit: The purchaser must apply for a City occupancy permit within ten (10) days after the confirmation hearing; failure to comply can result in the sale being set aside and the parcel relisted. (stlouis-mo.gov Sheriff — Guidelines; RSMo 92.840)
  • Sold “as is” / lien survival: As a judicial foreclosure of the tax liens in the suit, federal tax liens and liens not named in the suit may survive, and the IRS retains a 120-day post-sale redemption right under 26 U.S.C. § 7425 if not given proper notice. See federal-tax-lien-redemption.
  • Five sales per year / one-year suit lag: Distinct from the single annual August sale used by Chapter 140 counties — St. Louis runs multiple land tax sales per year, each roughly a year behind its originating suit.

C6. Records Access

C8. Title & Quiet Title → framework: quiet-title-after-tax-sale, missouri §5b

  • Title type: judicial tax deed — a Sheriff’s Deed issued after Circuit Court confirmation under RSMo 92.840 (no tax-lien certificate; no redeemable deed).
  • Quiet title required? A court-confirmed Sheriff’s Deed under the Municipal Land Reutilization Law carries a judicial confirmation of adequate consideration, which strengthens marketability relative to a Chapter 140 collector’s deed. However, Missouri title insurers generally treat tax-derived titles cautiously and may require a quiet-title action or a seasoning period before insuring, particularly where federal/municipal liens or notice defects are suspected. (See missouri §5b/§7: RSMo 527.150 circuit-court quiet title; 10-year title-insurer seasoning alternative.)
    • Court for a quiet-title action: Circuit Court, City of St. Louis (22nd Judicial Circuit) under RSMo 527.150.
    • Typical timeline / cost: secondary-source estimates for a Missouri quiet-title action are roughly 3–9 months and ~$1,500–$5,000 (see missouri §5b). (St. Louis City–specific timeline/cost — needs_verification.)
  • Deed seasoning: Missouri underwriters commonly look for ~10 years of seasoning to insure a tax title absent a quiet-title decree (True Title — Missouri practice; see missouri §5b).
  • Title insurers active locally: national underwriters operating in the St. Louis market include Old Republic, First American, Fidelity National, Stewart, Chicago Title, and Missouri agencies such as True Title. (Which underwriters will affirmatively insure a fresh St. Louis Sheriff’s Deed without quiet title — needs_verification.)

C9. Purchaser Obligations

  • Subsequent-tax payment office: Post-sale taxes are paid to the Collector of Revenue — Real Estate Tax Department, 1200 Market St., Room 109; (314) 622-4101; payitStLouis (https://payitstlouis.com/). Because Chapter 92 has no certificate-of-purchase / subsequent-tax-with-interest mechanic (that is a Chapter 140 feature), the purchaser’s exposure is to taxes accruing after acquisition rather than reimbursable “subs.”
  • Notice-to-owner procedure: The purchaser’s required notice is the confirmation-hearing written notice sent to the Collector of Revenue’s attorney, the Sheriff’s Office, the previous owner, and all lien holders before the RSMo 92.840 confirmation hearing. (stlouis-mo.gov Sheriff — Guidelines)
  • Redemption-payment office: Owners redeem (pre-sale only) at the Collector of Revenue (RSMo 92.750); see C2.
  • Occupancy / access: Purchaser must apply for a City occupancy permit within 10 days of confirmation (RSMo 92.840). Possession of an occupied parcel post-deed requires the ordinary judicial possession/eviction process; the deed does not self-execute removal of occupants. (Specific St. Louis writ- of-possession practice — needs_verification.)

C10. Local Restrictions

  • Land bank: Land Reutilization Authority (LRA) of the City of St. Louis — the oldest land bank in the United States (established 1971; RSMo 92.875). The LRA receives title to all tax-delinquent parcels not sold at the sheriff’s sale (and properties via donation), then manages, maintains, and resells them. Housed within and staffed by the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC).
  • Right of first refusal: RSMo 92.840 exempts LRA purchases from the adequate-consideration review, and the LRA acquires all parcels left unsold at the sheriff’s sale — a structural land-bank acquisition channel rather than a classic pre-sale ROFR. No statutory municipal right of first refusal over third-party winning bids was located. (Any LRA/City pre-emption over a confirmed third-party sale — needs_verification.)
  • Entity / insider notes: Bidders may not be tax-delinquent in the City, may not have unpaid special tax bills or vacant-building fees, may not have prior unpaid bids / unconfirmed sales, and may not have pending building or housing code violations (Sheriff pre-registration screening; cf. RSMo 92 / the bidder-disqualification model also seen in RSMo 141.550 for Chapter 141 jurisdictions). (stlouis-mo.gov Sheriff — Land Tax Sales)

C7. Meta

sources:

  • {type: official, url: “https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/sheriff/land-tax/land-tax-sales.cfm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Fetched — Sheriff conducts land tax sale; in-person 9am 11th St side of Civil Courts Bldg 10 N Tucker; pre-register 10 days prior; bidder eligibility screening; 2026 no-cash; full payment by 2pm cashier’s check/money order payable ‘Sheriff City of St. Louis’; $150/parcel; bidding starts at taxes owed”}
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/sheriff/land-tax/index.cfm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Fetched — process overview; Sheriff (314) 622-4851, 10 N Tucker Blvd 8th Floor; Collector Real Estate Tax Dept propertytaxdept@stlouis-mo.gov (314) 622-4101, 1200 Market Rm 109; 2025 sale dates; lists posted 2 weeks prior”}
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/sheriff/land-tax/guidelines.cfm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Fetched — confirmation under RSMo 92.840: motion to confirm, appraiser testimony, written notice to Collector attorney/Sheriff/previous owner/lien holders, full legal description; wait two weeks; Division 29 Carnahan Courthouse 8th floor 1114 Market (314) 613-3154; occupancy permit within 10 days; Sheriff’s Deed recorded by Sheriff; Recorder (314) 622-4610 Rm 128; bidder number at Division 29”}
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/collector/real-estate-tax/property-sales.cfm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Fetched — Collector files suit, sale ~1 year later; 2026 sale schedule (Sale 236 May 12, 237 Jun 9, 238 Jul 14, 239 Aug 11, 240 Oct 6); 2026 suit schedule (241 Apr 7 … 245 Oct 13); list posted 2 weeks prior; City Hall 1200 Market (314) 622-4800”}
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/collector/index.cfm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Collector of Revenue homepage — Gregory F.X. Daly, Collector since 2006; collects real estate, personal property, earnings tax, water/refuse”}
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/recorder/archives/obtain-land-records.cfm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Fetched — Recorder of Deeds free online search via Fidlar (mostlouiscity.fidlar.com/MOStLouis/DirectSearch); Tapestry for copies; 1200 Market Rm 126-128; (314) 622-3260; land@stlouiscityrecorder.org; M-F 8-5”}
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/data/address-search/index.cfm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Fetched — official Address & Property Information Search; taxes/valuation/assessment/sales/land use; NO owner-name search allowed online; search by address or parcel only”}
  • {type: official, url: “https://payitstlouis.com/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Fetched — official City PayIt platform; pay real estate + personal property taxes, earnings tax, water/refuse; managed by Collector of Revenue (Gregory F.X. Daly)”}
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.lrastl.org/about-lra”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Fetched — LRA established 1971, OLDEST land bank in US; receives title to all tax-delinquent properties unsold at sheriff’s sale + donations; RSMo 92.875; 1520 Market St Suite 2000; housed in/staffed by SLDC”}
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/research/Geo-St-Louis.cfm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Geo St. Louis public GIS parcel/zoning/land-use mapping; ArcGIS REST at stlgis.stlouis-mo.gov/arcgis/rest/services”}
  • {type: statute, url: “https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=92.750”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “RSMo 92.750 — redemption: any person with right/title/interest/lien may redeem by paying collector principal/interest/penalties/attorney fees/costs (+ city debts for improved non-homestead) prior to sheriff’s foreclosure sale; collector issues certificate of redemption; failure to redeem before sale = barred and forever foreclosed”}
  • {type: statute, url: “https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=92.840”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “RSMo 92.840 — confirmation hearing within 6 months; adequate-consideration review (LRA exempt); deed w/ occupancy-permit restriction (apply within 10 days or set aside); proceeds waterfall (publication/foreclosure costs → collector/sheriff/appraiser/attorney → tax bills by priority → other claimants per 92.775, pro rata); unclaimed after 2 years: 10% to St. Louis Affordable Housing Trust Fund, remainder to taxing authorities; court retains custody of funds; post-deed motion to set aside requires paying 92.750 redemption amount into court first”}
  • {type: statute, url: “https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=92.852”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “RSMo 92.852 — sheriff’s deed under Municipal Land Reutilization Law subject to recording fee; must be recorded within two months after court confirms the sale”}
  • {type: secondary, url: “https://www.lrastl.org/about-lra”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “corroborates LRA = oldest US land bank; absorbs unsold tax-delinquent parcels”}
  • {type: federal_statute, url: “https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/7425”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “IRS 120-day post-sale redemption right where federal tax lien encumbers a judicially foreclosed parcel; relevant to Ch. 92 judicial sale lien survival”}

needs_verification:

  1. Surplus-fund custody (court clerk vs. City Treasurer): RSMo 92.840 says the court retains custody of remaining funds; whether they are physically held by the Circuit Clerk or paid to the City Treasurer pending claim is not confirmed from a directly retrieved City office page. (1 pt, Row 2)
  2. Former-owner surplus claim form & filing desk: No dedicated City-published surplus/excess-proceeds claim form or filing-desk instruction was located; the claim appears to proceed by motion in the land-tax case before the confirming court (Division 29). Exact form/URL and clerk window unconfirmed. (1 pt, Row 2)
  3. Unclaimed land-tax surplus list: Whether the Sheriff or Circuit Court publishes a public list of land-tax sale surplus/overages. Not located. (1 pt, Row 2)
  4. Circuit Court (22nd Circuit) official URL: stlcircuitcourt.com cited as the 22nd Circuit site but not directly fetched and confirmed in this pass. (1 pt, Row 2)
  5. Collector main-office direct phone: (314) 622-4111 listed as the Collector main line; only the Real Estate Tax Dept line (314) 622-4101 was confirmed from a fetched page. (1 pt, Row 2)
  6. Quiet-title timeline/cost specific to St. Louis City: Only Missouri-wide secondary estimates (~3–9 months, ~$1,500–$5,000) carried over from missouri §5b; no St. Louis City-specific figure retrieved. (1 pt, Row 2)
  7. Title insurers that will insure a fresh St. Louis Sheriff’s Deed without quiet title: National underwriters operate locally, but which (if any) will affirmatively insure a fresh confirmed Sheriff’s Deed without seasoning/quiet title is unconfirmed. (1 pt, Row 2)
  8. LRA/City right of first refusal / pre-emption over confirmed third-party sales: Only the unsold-parcel land-bank channel and the LRA adequate- consideration exemption are confirmed; no classic ROFR over a third-party winning bid was located. (1 pt, Row 2)
  9. LRA suite number: LRA “About” lists 1520 Market St. Suite 2000; SLDC materials list Suite 221 — exact current suite unconfirmed. (1 pt, Row 2)
  10. St. Louis City writ-of-possession / eviction practice post-deed: Specific local procedure to obtain possession of an occupied parcel after the Sheriff’s Deed not retrieved. (1 pt, Row 2)
  11. Division 29 floor: Guidelines reference both “8th floor, Carnahan Courts” for bidder numbers and Division 29 confirmation; exact floor for the confirmation division unconfirmed (stated 8th floor). (1 pt, Row 2)

gap_score computation:

  • Row 2 (honest needs_verification): 11 items × 1 pt = 11 pts
  • All other rows (3/4/5 — uncited/unretrieved/fabricated): 0
  • Total: 11 (all from Row 2 — page qualifies to KEEP per the rubric gate)

completeness_score: 0.84 — all C0–C10 modules populated; gaps are secondary (surplus form/list, title-insurer specifics, ROFR confirmation).

confidence: 0.86 — core sale, redemption, confirmation, surplus waterfall, deed, land-bank, and records facts are from directly retrieved official City pages and the retrieved RSMo 92.750/92.840/92.852 statutes.

cross_links: missouri, jackson-mo, saint-louis-mo, tyler-v-hennepin-county, jones-v-flowers, mennonite-v-adams, mullane-v-central-hanover, schlereth-v-hardy-2009, right-of-redemption, surplus-funds, third-party-recovery-rules, due-process-notice, sheriff-sale, quiet-title-after-tax-sale, federal-tax-lien-redemption, land-bank-programs, void-vs-voidable

changelog:

  • 2026-06-02 — Initial autoresearch population. St. Louis City confirmed as an independent city operating under the Municipal Land Reutilization Law (RSMo Chapter 92, 92.700–92.920) — distinct from both Chapter 140 (default certificate regime) and the Chapter 141 model used by Jackson County. Core verified from official stlouis-mo.gov Sheriff (land-tax-sales, index, guidelines), Collector (property-sales, collector homepage), Recorder (obtain-land-records → Fidlar search), Address & Property Search, payitStLouis, Geo St. Louis, and the LRA site, plus retrieved RSMo 92.750 (pre-sale redemption only), 92.840 (confirmation + adequate consideration + surplus waterfall + 2-year claim / 10% affordable-housing-trust escheat), and 92.852 (Sheriff’s Deed recording). 2026 sale/suit schedule captured. 11 honest needs_verification items; gap_score 11, all Row 2.

Legal disclaimer: This page contains legal information, not legal advice. Tax and foreclosure law changes frequently. Verify all facts against primary sources (Missouri Revised Statutes, official City of St. Louis office websites, or qualified legal counsel) before relying on this information. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

Who this page is for

▸ For Investors / Operators — St. Louis City runs a Chapter 92 judicial land tax sale: the Collector files suit, the Sheriff auctions in person (C1; five sales/year, in-person at 10 N. Tucker, no online platform, full payment by 2 p.m. + $150/parcel), and the sale is not final until the Circuit Court confirms it and finds adequate consideration (C5; RSMo 92.840). There is no certificate of purchase and no post-sale redemption (C2). Surplus flows through the RSMo 92.840/92.775 waterfall and is held by the confirming court (C3). Title comes via a Sheriff’s Deed; expect a quiet-title action or seasoning before insuring (C8), and note that as a judicial foreclosure federal and unnamed liens may survive (missouri §7b).

▸ For Former Owners — Redemption is pre-sale only, paid to the Collector of Revenue (C2; RSMo 92.750) — once the sheriff’s sale happens you are foreclosed. If the sale brings more than the taxes and costs, the surplus is held by the Circuit Court that confirmed the sale and, after recorded lienholders by priority, belongs to you — but you must appear and claim within two years of the sale or 10% goes to the St. Louis Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the rest to the taxing authorities (C3; RSMo 92.840).

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