About Boards and Commissions

Boards and commissions are an important part of St. Louis City's government.

Citizens representation on boards and commissions offer an opportunity to help create effective and equitable laws and policies.

Diverse representation on each board helps ensure that decisions reached and services rendered more adequately reflect the wants and needs of all populations being served and contributes not only to the success of government, but to the overall quality of life.

Citizens interested in serving on a board or commission can apply online or via mail.

Types of Boards and Commissions

Boards and commissions are unique in purpose, mission, and role and are created by local or state laws and rules, executive orders, and federal laws and regulations. There are three main types of boards:

1. Advisory Boards, develops policy and makes recommendations to public officials on how to address specific issues.
2. Regulatory Boards, are those that oversee the licensing, handle complaints, and enforce disciplinary actions of individuals or industries that fall within the jurisdiction of the board’s authority.
3. Policy-Making Boards, often serve as a governing board within an agency. The board may be responsible for directing, approving budgets, creating and implementing agency policy, or appointing the agency director. Members of these boards have final decision-making authority.
4. Special Taxing Districts are separate political subdivisions of the state that fund specific services and improvements. 
   1. Special Business Districts (SBD) -  a separate political subdivision of the state that may impose additional property taxes and business license taxes to fund certain public improvements and services within the district.
   2. Community Improvement Districts (CID), a non-profit corporation or a separate political subdivision of the state that may be created for the purpose of issuing bonds, levying taxes, and applying special assessments to finance public improvements, public services, and blight removal within a defined area.
   3. Transportation Development District (TDD), a separate political subdivision of the state that may be created for the purpose of issuing bonds, levying taxes, and applying special assessments or tolls to finance transportation-related improvements. A TDD may finance transportation improvements outside of its boundaries so long as the improvements directly benefit the TDD.

Learn More

• Read how our City government is structured and works
• Find all City Department and Agencies
• View list of all City boards and Commissions
• Consider serving on a Board or Commission. Review the application instructions.