Commercial Advocacy and Economic Development

Organized real estate ensures the vibrancy of the commercial market through advocacy. From city halls to the state house to the U.S. Capitol, our elected officials are making decisions that have a huge impact on the bottom line of REALTORS® and their clients. Locally, St. Louis REALTORS® Government Affairs department is a watchdog for the St. Louis commercial market. Working closely with the state and national associations of REALTORS®, the St. Louis REALTORS® Governmental Affairs department has an impact on protecting your ability to do business.

St. Louis Municipal Code Grid

St. Louis REALTORS® created a comprehensive list of building codes used in St. Louis County. This list is current as of 2020.

Building Code Reports

St. Louis REALTORS® researched regions similar to ours to identify best practices for enacting uniform and safe building codes. When assessing metropolitan areas with local code adoption policies, research still found a substantially higher level of consistency in building codes than currently exists in St. Louis County. The research team identified three key drivers of the inconsistency in building codes in St. Louis County. Finding a confusing and inconsistent approach to building codes that is a burden on municipalities, residents, and professionals, this unique combination of three factors led to unparalleled complexity and inconsistency in only one place other than St. Louis County when compared to anywhere else in the country.

Read the Building Code Reports.

Notable Advocacy Victories

Thanks to the passage of Missouri’s Amendment 4, we successfully prevented the threat of new sales taxes on commissions and services. Immense victory credit goes to REALTOR® efforts throughout Missouri.
We protected commercial brokers’ commissions by supporting one of the country’s first commercial lien laws.
We beat a probable real estate commission tax in Missouri that now saves commercial brokers from forfeiting six percent on EVERY real estate commission.
Against tremendous odds, we led, and continue to defend, the Historic Tax Credit … which would not exist without the lobbying of Missouri REALTORS®!
Our victory in keeping banks out of the real estate brokerage saves every REALTOR®, both commercial and residential, an average of $5,400 each year.
We are continually lobbying for the preservation of the 1031 Exchange.
Prevented a controversial rental licensing ordinance proposed by St. Louis County from passing by undertaking legal action and winning Summary Judgement.

Find more information on the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) and how you can make a difference in supporting pro-REALTOR® Party candidates at the Federal, State, and local level!

NAR Advocates for Commercial Real Estate

Over the last few years, NAR’s advocacy efforts in Washington have meant more to our members and our industry than ever. The impact that NAR’s advocacy team and the REALTOR® Party play in protecting rights and advancing favorable policies has been critical in keeping the commercial real estate industry running. Find out more about the difference NAR makes and hear from commercial leaders about how these efforts have helped their businesses.

Through its commercial advocacy efforts, NAR advocates every day on behalf of the nation's 1.3 million REALTORS® and 75 million property owners.

Learn about the difference NAR makes and hear from commercial leaders about how these efforts have helped their businesses.