All structures must be maintained in good
repair.The following is a list from the city's Building Division of
items, which should be regularly checked. If regular maintenance is not
done properly, the Building Division can request that charges be filed
in city court against theowner.
Exterior Walls and Foundations: The
exterior walls andfoundations should be checked for loose and
deteriorating mortar, cracks orholes. The exterior walls should be
watertight and maintained in a workman-like state of repair.
All cracks and holes should be sealed to
prevent water from entering the building and to keep rats and insects
out. It is mucheasier to tuckpoint a wall than rebuild it. All exterior
surfaces in need of paint or other protective coating should be painted
as soon as possible to prevent deterioration from the weather.
Exterior Doors and Windows: All windows and
doorsshould be water and weathertight. They should be easily opened and
have sound hardware. Window frames should be checked for caulking and
door frames should be check for weather stripping. All broken window panes
should be replaced. Allsurfaces that require painting should be painted
to protect them from the weather.
Porches and Steps: Porches and steps
shouldbe checked to determine the structural soundness of the flooring,
steps,handrails and foundation. If the porch is frame construction, the
homeowner should check for loose, flaking paint and bare, unprotected
wood. If the porchis concrete the homeowner should check for spilling,
cracking and deterioration.
Gutters and Downspouts: Gutters should be
freefrom leaves and other debris that would prevent water from flowing
to thedownspouts. They should also be free from rust and leaks and
should be firmly affixed to the building. Downspouts should be
water-tight and free from all obstructions. They must be connected to the
sewer when the roof exceeds 500 square feet.
Chimneys: The chimney should be checked for
loose mortar, cracks, openings and water tightness. It should not be
leaning or out of plumb.The flashing around the chimney base should be
water-tight, free of cracks andopenings. If the chimney and flashing are
not water-tight, water can leak intothe house, causing dampness and
damage to interior ceilings and walls.
Garages: Private garages must be kept in
good repair, theirsiding and trim maintained and their window areas
covered by glass or boardedup. Garage doors are not required, but if
they do exit, they must be kept ingood condition.
Roofs: The roof should be structurally
sound, watertightand have proper drainage to prevent rainwater from
leaking into the home,causing dampness in interior walls. The homeowner
should check the interior walls and ceiling for dampness or wet spots,
peeling paint or wallpaper. The roof should be checked for loose or
missing shingles.
Smoke detectors: Every residential unit
must have a smoke detector installed near the sleeping area. It is
theresponsibility of the owner to supply, install and maintain the
smoke detectors. It is the tenant's responsibility to provide and
maintain functional batteries for each detector.
Fences: There is no requirement that
residential property be fenced. However, all existing fences must be
maintained in a sound condition. All wooden surfaces must be painted or
treated to prevent deterioration from weather. Fence posts must be
firmly anchored to the ground.There are also regulations governing
heights and types of fencing.
Address Numbers: Address numbers must be
displayed on every structure in the City of St. Louis. The numbers must
be affixed to both the front and rear of the building.
Graffiti: Graffiti has a very negative
impact on our neighborhoods and business districts. Therefore, it is
important to remove graffiti as soon as possible from all residential
andcommercial buildings and fences.
Although City ordinance requires the property
ownerto be responsible for the removal, Operation Brightside sponsors a
citywide graffiti abatement program that assists homeowners and
businesses with theremoval process free of charge. With
permission from the owner, professionally-trained Operation Brightside
crews will remove or paint over graffiti if possible.
To report graffiti, call theCitizens' Service Bureau at 622-4800.
Questions regarding these or other building regulations may be answered
by calling 622-3313.
Permits
Before you begin any major project, whether it
is new construction or alterations and repairs, you should be aware that
a building permit or other permits may be required. Also note that
zoning laws prohibit some uses of property in certain zones, with most
restrictions applying to residential dwelling zones.
Specific information concerning which work
requires a building permit and which does not, can be obtained from the
Permit Section of the Building Division, Room 426, City Hall, 622-3313.
Generally speaking, work which requires
structural change to the building, complete rehabilitation or
renovation, and any new construction will require a building permit. On
the other hand, routine maintenance and repairs such as painting,
replacing a roof with a similar kindand tuckpointing do not require
permits.
Any major work on either the plumbing or
electrical systems requires a separate permit. The homeowner should be
careful to select a qualified and licensed contractor to perform work on
these systems in his/herhome.
Information about installation or repair can
beobtained by calling or visiting the Plumbing Section, Room 425, City
Hall,622-4356, or the Electrical Section, Room 425, City Hall, 622-3325.
Demolition
Demolition of any structure, including
garages, requires a permit. In most circumstances, demolition work can
only be done by a certified demolition contractor. For more information,
contact the DemolitionSection at 622-4671.
Condemnation
Property may be condemned for occupancy by the Building Division for the following reasons:
- Rat Infestation
- Hazardous or faulty wiring
- Defective sewers
- Severe structural defects
- No sanitary facilities
If a property is condemned, residents are
required to move from the building as soon as possible or they are
subject to arrest.The Housing Resource Center offers assistance in
finding alternative housing and can be reached at 771-2273.
(Courtesy of City of St. Louis)