[CC 1991 §15-16; Ord. No. 454 §15, 4-11-1972]
Every act, or thing done, or made, or permitted, allowed or
continued on any property, public or private, by any person, or persons,
or corporation, their agent, or servant, to the nuisance, inconvenience,
detriment, damage or injury of any of the inhabitants of this City,
whether specified in this Chapter or not, shall be deemed a nuisance
and is hereby prohibited.
[CC 1991 §15-17; Ord. No. 454 §§2 — 8, 10 — 14, 4-11-1972; Ord. No. 2005-1467 §4, 8-16-2005; Ord. No. 2009-1596 §1, 4-29-2009; Ord. No. 2015-1777 § 1, 12-15-2015; Ord. No. 2023-2021, 8-15-2023]
A.
The following are hereby declared, defined and deemed to be nuisances
for the purposes of this Chapter; provided, however, the following
shall not be deemed to be exclusive:
1.
The existence of rubbish, garbage, trash or other materials
which are obnoxious, dangerous or detrimental to public health, safety
or welfare upon any street, sidewalk, alley, public place or private
lot or premises unless such articles are contained in an approved
receptacle of a weight which will permit two (2) men to handle when
filled or such a receptacle which is so designed and constructed so
as to be emptied by specially constructed trash pickup vehicles and
such receptacles or containers are emptied at least once a week;
2.
Placing or throwing rubbish, garbage, trash or other articles
or materials which are obnoxious, dangerous or detrimental to public
health upon any street, sidewalk, alley or public or private place;
3.
The burning of garbage, waste, refuse, leaves, straw or other
combustible materials in any street, alley or on any private property,
or public property other than wood or charcoal or appropriate fuel
in a device or container designed for such purpose or food preparation
on private property;
4.
All ponds or pools of stagnant water; all foul or dirty water
or liquid discarded through any drainpipe, spout or otherwise upon
any street, alley or thoroughfare, or private lot, or public property,
to the injury or nuisance of the public;
5.
The discharge of swimming pool water for public or private pools
shall be subject to the following restrictions:
a.
Water with chlorine content in excess of environmental standards
for discharge into natural watercourses or storm drainage systems
set by the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) into an open
channel or stormwater drain is strictly prohibited;
b.
Swimming pool water with a pH level between 5.5 and 11.5, that
is free of other harmful chemicals, may be drained onto the owner's
property, provided that such water discharges into a designated drainage
channel, storm drain sewer inlet, or along the curb line gutter of
a paved street, provided that the owner must ensure that the drainage
channel or inlet has the capacity to handle the volume of water being
discharged at the time of discharge and that it does not cause any
adverse effects on neighboring properties;
c.
Water that is cloudy, discolored, has algae or sediment, or
shows the presence of other contaminants, cannot be drained.
6.
All carcasses of dead animals in the City, not slain for human
food, not removed by the owner or other person entitled thereto within
twelve (12) hours after death;
7.
Depositing of any dead animal, filth, decayed, or decomposed
matter, or other substance, or any things obnoxious to the public,
upon a street, alley or public or private place;
8.
Privies not of a temporary nature and provided only on an as-needed
basis or privy vaults;
9.
The keeping, sheltering and maintaining of any dog known or
found to be dangerous or vicious shall be deemed to be a public nuisance;
10.
Any dirt gathered in the cleaning of yards, waste from industrial
or business establishments, or any rags, damaged merchandise, wet,
broken or leaking barrels, casks or boxes, or any material, which
is offensive, or which by decay tends to become putrid, or to render
the atmosphere impure, or unwholesome, or which may serve as a harbor
and breeding place for vermin;
11.
Any stable, shed, building or structure, or any yard or appurtenance
thereto in which any horse, or any other animal or animals shall be
kept in any place in which manure or liquid discharge from such animal
or animals shall collect or accumulate, so that any offensive smell
shall be allowed to escape therefrom; provided that nothing in this
Subsection shall be construed so as to include manure deposited upon
any private property for the cultivation and enrichment of the soil,
provided that such manure shall be properly applied;
12.
Any activities which shall give rise to continued loud, excessive
or offensive noises;
13.
Outside lights, yard lights and other exterior lighting devices
which cause glare and excessive illumination to surrounding property
and to the owners and occupants thereof;
14.
All other acts, practices, conduct, business, occupations, callings,
trades, uses of property and all other things detrimental or certain
to be detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the inhabitants
of the City;
15.
Debris of any kind, including, but not limited to, weed cuttings,
cut, fallen or hazardous trees and shrubs, overgrown vegetation and
noxious weeds which are seven (7) inches or more in height, rubbish
and trash, lumber not piled or stacked twelve (12) inches off the
ground, rocks or bricks, tin, steel, parts of derelict cars or trucks,
broken furniture, any flammable material which may endanger public
safety or any material or condition which is unhealthy or unsafe and
declared to be a public nuisance;
16.
Any dog, cat, puppy, kitten or other animal soiling, defiling
or defecating on urban property other than property of a person responsible
for the animal unless such waste is immediately removed by a person
responsible for the animal and deposited in a waste container or buried
on ground where the person responsible for the animal has permission
or the right to bury it; and/or
17.
Handbills On Public Or Private Property. No person shall tack, stick, paste or fasten in any manner any handbill or flier containing commercial advertising of a written, printed or pictorial nature upon any public property within the limits of the City; or on any motor vehicle, dwelling or other structure within the City without the consent of the owner or occupant thereof. See also City Code Section 620.210 prohibiting the placement of handbills on vehicles.
[CC 1991 §15-18; Ord. No. 454 §16, 4-11-1972]
It shall be the duty of the Police Department to enforce this
Chapter.
[CC 1991 §15-20; Ord. No. 454 §17, 4-11-1972]
It shall be the duty of the Police Department, deputies, assistants,
inspectors and other employees of the Health Department, to observe
the sanitary condition of the City, and to receive, regard and investigate
all complaints or information, from any source, of a violation of
any provision of this Chapter, or of any unsanitary condition in the
City which may constitute a nuisance.
[CC 1991 §15-21; Ord. No. 454 §18, 4-11-1972]
The Police Department shall, before proceeding to abate or remove
any nuisance, notify in writing the owner, tenant, lessee or occupant,
or his/her agent, employee or manager, having charge of, doing business
in or on which any nuisance exists, to abate, discontinue or remove
the same. If such person cannot be so served in the City, then such
notice shall be given by publication by one (1) insertion in some
newspaper published in the County.
[CC 1991 §15-22; Ord. No. 454 §19, 4-11-1972]
If a nuisance shall not be abated, discontinued or removed within
five (5) days after service of the notice to abate the nuisance or
within five (5) days after the publication of the notice, the City
may proceed to abate or remove such nuisance.
[CC 1991 §15-23; Ord. No. 454 §20, 4-11-1972]
The Board of Aldermen may assess the cost of abating or removing
any nuisance and levy and assess the same as a special tax bill against
the property involved in the same manner and subject to the same penalties
and conditions as tax bills issued by law for public improvements.
[CC 1991 §15-24; Ord. No. 454 §§23 — 24, 4-11-1972]
The City shall not be liable to any affected party for any damage
or injury to any building or structure caused by the enforcement of
this Chapter when such enforcement is carried out in accordance with
the procedures herein provided.
