The two lakes in the city of Lake St. Louis are private lakes owned by the membership of the Lake St. Louis Community Association (LSLCA). The LSLCA was formed to maintain and administer the Lake St. Louis amenities and provide services for the recreation-oriented community. The community association is funded by an assessment on all property within the LSLCA membership area. Originally all owners of property inside the city were automatically members of the LSLCA; however, as the city grew, the need to prevent lake overcrowding resulted in newer residential developments not having membership in the LSLCA. Since the lakes, as well as a country club, marinas, and several park areas, are private property of the community association, they are not available for use by non-members. This means that many residents of the city are not permitted to use the lakes, because their property is not covered by LSLCA membership