Editor's Note — Ord. no. 3508, adopted October 16, 2000,
enacted the provisions set out herein which superseded the material
previously set out herein on the same subject.
[Ord. No. 3508 §1, 10-16-2000]
It is the purpose of this Chapter to provide a just, equitable
and practicable method for the repairing, vacation or demolition of
buildings or structures that may endanger the life, limb, health,
property, safety or welfare of the occupants of such buildings or
the general public, and this Chapter shall apply to all dangerous
buildings, as herein defined, that now are in existence or that may
hereafter exist in the City of Berkeley, Missouri.
[Ord. No. 3508 §2, 10-16-2000]
A. All
buildings that are detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of
the residents of the City of Berkeley, Missouri, and that have any
or all of the following defects shall be deemed "dangerous
buildings":
1. Those with interior walls or other vertical structural members that
list, lean or buckle to such an extent that a plumb line passing through
the center of gravity falls outside the middle third of its base.
2. Those that, exclusive of the foundation, show thirty-three percent
(33%) or more damage or deterioration of the supporting member or
members or fifty percent (50%) damage or deterioration of the non-supporting
enclosing or outside walls or covering.
3. Those that have improperly distributed loads upon the floors or roofs
or in which the same are overloaded or that have insufficient strength
to be reasonably safe for the purpose used.
4. Those that have been damaged by fire, wind or other causes so as
to become dangerous to life, safety or the general health and welfare
of the occupants or the people of the City.
5. Those that are so dilapidated, decayed, unsafe, unsanitary or that
so utterly fail to provide the amenities essential to decent living
that they are unfit for human habitation, or are likely to cause sickness
or disease, so as to work injury to the health, safety or welfare
of those occupying such building.
6. Those having light, air and sanitation facilities that are inadequate
to protect the health, safety or general welfare of human beings who
live or may live therein.
7. Those having inadequate facilities for egress in case of fire or
panic or those having insufficient stairways, elevators, fire escapes
or other adequate means of evacuation.
8. Those that have parts thereof that are so attached that they may
fall and injure members of the public or property.
9. Those that because of their condition are unsafe, unsanitary or dangerous
to the health, safety or general welfare of the people of this City.
[Ord. No. 3508 §3, 10-16-2000]
All dangerous buildings, as defined by Section
505.020, are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be repaired, vacated or demolished as provided herein.
[Ord. No. 3508 §4, 10-16-2000]
A. The
following standards shall be followed in substance by the Building
Inspector and the Building Commissioner in ordering repair, vacation
or demolition of any dangerous building.
1. If the dangerous building reasonably can be repaired so that it no
longer will exist in violation of the terms of this Chapter, it shall
be ordered repaired.
2. If the dangerous building is in such condition as to make it dangerous
to the health, safety or general welfare of its occupants, it shall
be ordered to be vacated and repaired.
3. In all cases where a building cannot be repaired so that it no longer
will exist in violation of the terms of this Chapter, it shall be
demolished.
4. In all cases where a dangerous building is a fire hazard existing
or erected in violation of the terms of this Chapter or any ordinance
of this City or Statute of the State of Missouri, it shall be repaired
or demolished.
[Ord. No. 4643, 11-2-2020]
A. The
Neighborhood Preservation Inspector/Code Enforcement officer shall
have the duty under this Chapter to:
1. Perform a variety of field and office work in support of the City's
local code enforcement program; enforce compliance with City regulations
and ordinances including those pertaining to zoning, land use, nuisance
housing, building codes, health and safety, blight, graffiti, water
waste, and other matters of public concern.
2. Receive and respond to citizen complaints and reports from other
agencies and departments on alleged violations of City zoning and
related municipal codes and ordinances; interview complainant and
witnesses; conduct investigations and provide recommendations for
resolution.
3. Conduct field investigations; inspect properties for violations;
attempt to make contact at the residence or business in order to resolve
violation; issue and post warning notices, notices of violation, corrective
notices, orders to comply, and related documentation for code violations;
schedule and perform all follow-up functions to gain compliance including
letters, inspections, calls, meetings, discussions, and negotiations
to ensure compliance with appropriate codes and ordinances; issue
administrative and parking citations and notices of violation as necessary.
4. Prepare evidence in support of legal actions taken by the City; appear
in court as necessary; testify at hearings and in court proceedings
as required.
5. Maintain accurate documentation and case files on all investigations,
inspections, enforcement actions, and other job-related activities
including accurate and detailed information regarding code enforcement
activity to substantiate violations; draw diagrams and illustrations
and take photographs.
6. Prepare a variety of written reports, memos, and correspondence related
to enforcement activities.
7. Patrol assigned area in a City vehicle to identify and evaluate problem
areas and/or ordinance violations; determine proper method to resolve
violations.
8. Participate in the implementation of the City's graffiti abatement
program; receive requests for abatement of graffiti; patrol the City,
record location of graffiti, and inform the City's Graffiti Abatement
Office of the need for vandalism clean-up; obtain and collect right
of entry forms for graffiti abatement on private property; enter calls
into computer system and track case progress.
9. Attend meetings and serve as a resource to other City departments,
divisions, the general public, and outside agencies in the enforcement
of zoning regulations; provide research and documentation for meetings;
interpret and explain municipal codes and ordinances to members of
the general public, contractors, business owners, and other interested
groups in the field, over the counter, and on the telephone.
10. Operate computer to enter, process, and acquire data relative to
complaints, inspection sites, and effective code enforcement; research
complaints.
11. Participate in supervising the work of community service workers,
county inmates, or volunteers engaged in community clean-up and preservation
activities; determine locations and type of work to be performed.
12. Locate vacant residences and businesses; secure buildings with proper
materials as necessary; post the property as necessary; check vacant
buildings regularly for transient activity, graffiti, and other forms
of vandalism.
13. Assist in researching, drafting, and rewriting municipal codes; participate
in the development of forms and processes utilized to address various
issues.
14. Shall possess the qualifications as set forth by the City.
[Ord. No. 3508 §5, 10-16-2000; Ord.
No. 4643, 11-2-2020]
All City Police Officers so designated by the City Manager/Administrator
shall be Building Inspectors within the meaning of this Chapter.
[Ord. No. 3508 §6, 10-16-2000; Ord. No. 4271 §1, 3-21-2016]
A. The Building Inspector shall have the duty under this Chapter to:
1.
Inspect or cause to be inspected, as often as may be necessary,
all residential, institutional, assembly, commercial, industrial,
garage, special or miscellaneous occupancy buildings for the purpose
of determining whether any conditions exist that render such places
a dangerous building when he has reasonable grounds to believe that
any such building is dangerous.
2.
Inspect any building, wall or structure about which complaints
are filed by any person to the effect that a building, wall or structure
is or may be existing in violation of this Chapter, and the Building
Inspector determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe
that such building is dangerous.
3.
Inspect any building, wall or structure reported by the Fire
or Police Department of this City as probably existing in violation
of this Chapter.
4.
Notification.
a.
Notify in writing, either by personal service or by certified mail, return receipt requested, or if the service cannot be had by either of these modes of service, then service may be had by publication in a newspaper qualified to publish legal notices for two (2) successive weeks, the owner, occupant, lessee, mortgagee, agent and all other persons having an interest in said building as shown by the land records of the Recorder of Deeds of St. Louis County and a title search from an established title company of any building or structure found by him to be a dangerous building within the standards set forth in Section
505.020. The title search shall reveal the following:
(1) Sellers or grantors have an interest in the property.
(2) Restrictions pertaining to the use of the land
(real covenants, easements, or other servitudes.
(3) Is the property encumbered (mortgages, back taxes,
mechanic's lien, sewer lien, assessment, or any other instrument)?
b.
The required notice to demolish shall be sent to all affected
parties having interest in the property and shall state that:
(1) The owner must vacate, vacate and repair or vacate
and demolish said building and clean up the lot or property on which
the building is located in accordance with the terms of the notice
and this Chapter.
(2) The occupant or lessee must vacate said building
or have it repaired in accordance with the notice and remain in possession.
(3) The mortgagee, agent or other persons having an
interest in said building as shown by the land records of the Recorder
of Deeds of the county and a valid real property title search wherein
the land is located may, at his own risk, repair, vacate or demolish
the building and clean up the property or have such work done, provided
that any person notified under this Subsection to repair, vacate or
demolish any building or clean up the property shall be given such
reasonable time not exceeding thirty (30) days to commence the required
work.
5.
The notice provided for in this Section shall state a description
of the building or structure deemed dangerous, a statement of the
particulars that make the building or structure a dangerous building
and an order requiring the designated work to be commenced within
the time provided for in the above Subsection.
6.
Report in writing to the City Building Commissioner the non-compliance
with any notice to vacate, repair, demolish, or clean up the property
or upon the failure to proceed continuously with the work without
unnecessary delay.
7.
Appear at all hearings conducted by the Building Commissioner
and testify as to the condition of dangerous buildings.
8.
Immediately report to the Building Commissioner concerning any
building found by him to be inherently dangerous and that he determined
to be a nuisance per se. The Building Commissioner may direct that
such building be marked or posted with a written notice reading substantially
as follows:
"This building has been found to be a dangerous building by
the Building Inspector. This notice is to remain on this building
and/or property until it is repaired, vacated or demolished and the
property is cleaned up in accordance with the notice that has been
given the owner, occupant, lessee, mortgagee or agent of this building
and all other persons having an interest in said building as shown
by the land records of the Recorder of Deeds of St. Louis County,
and a real property title search for all persons, companies, entities,
having an interest in the real property. It is unlawful to remove
this notice until such notice is complied with."
Provided, however, that the order by the Building Commissioner
and the posting of said notice shall not be construed to deprive all
persons entitled thereto by this Chapter to the notice and hearing
prescribed herein.
9. Shall possess the qualifications as set forth by the City.
[Ord. No. 4643, 11-2-2020]
[Ord. No. 3508 §7, 10-16-2000; Ord.
No. 4643, 11-2-2020]
The Public Works Director or other designated employee meeting
the qualifications shall act as Building Commissioner under this Chapter.
[Ord. No. 3508 §8, 10-16-2000; Ord.
No. 4643, 11-2-2020]
A. The
Building Commissioner shall have the powers and duties pursuant to
this Chapter and shall possess the qualifications as set forth by
the City to:
1. Supervise all inspections required by this Chapter and cause the
Building Inspector to make inspections and perform all the duties
required of him by this Chapter. Upon receiving a complaint or report
from any source that a dangerous building exists in the City, the
Building Commissioner shall cause an inspection to be made forthwith.
If the Building Commissioner deems it necessary to the performance
of his duties and responsibilities imposed herein, the Building Commissioner
may request an inspection and report be made by any other City department
or retain services of an expert whenever the Building Commissioner
deems such service necessary.
2. Upon receipt of a report from the Building Inspector indicating failure
by the owner, lessee, occupant, mortgagee, agent or other persons(s)
having an interest in said building to commence work of reconditioning
or demolition within the time specified by this Chapter or upon failure
to proceed continuously with work without unnecessary delay, the Building
Commissioner shall hold a hearing giving the affected parties full
and adequate hearing on the matter.
Written notice, either by personal service or by certified mail,
return receipt requested, or by publication for two (2) successive
weeks in a newspaper qualified to publish legal notices, at least
ten (10) days in advance of a hearing date to the owner, occupant,
mortgagee, lessee, agent and all other persons having an interest
in said building as shown by the land records of the Recorder of Deeds
of the County wherein the land is located, to appear before the Building
Commissioner on the date specified in the notice to show cause why
the building or structure reported to be a dangerous building should
not be repaired, vacated or demolished in accordance with the statement
of particulars set forth in the Building Inspector's notice as provided
herein.
Any party may be represented by counsel and all parties shall
have an opportunity to be heard.
3. Make written findings of fact from the evidence offered at said hearing as to whether or not the building in question is a dangerous building within the terms of Section
505.020.
4. If the evidence supports a finding based upon competent and substantial
evidence that the building or structure is a dangerous building, the
Building Commissioner shall issue an order based upon its findings
of fact commanding the owner, occupant, mortgagee, lessee, agent or
other persons(s) having an interest in said building as shown by the
land records of the County wherein the land is located may vacate
and demolish said dangerous building at his own risk to prevent the
acquiring by the City of Berkeley of the lien against the land where
the dangerous building stands. If the evidence does not support a
finding that a building or structure is a dangerous building, no order
shall be issued.
5. If the owner, occupant, mortgagee or lessee fails to comply with the order within thirty (30) days, the Building Commissioner shall cause such building or structure to be repaired, vacated or demolished and the property cleaned up as the facts may warrant; and the Building Commissioner shall certify the cost of the work borne by the City of Berkeley for such repair, vacation or demolition or cleaned up to the City of Berkeley Clerk as a special assessment represented by a special tax bill against the real property affected; said tax bill shall be a lien upon said property and shall be deemed a personal debt against the property owner(s) unless the building or structure is demolished, secured or repaired by a contractor pursuant to an order issued by the City of Berkeley and such contractor files a mechanic's lien against the property where the dangerous building is located. The contractor may enforce this lien as provided in Sections 429.010 to 429.360, RSMo. Except as provided in Subsection
(6) of this Section, at the request of the taxpayer this special tax bill may be paid in installments over a period of not more than ten (10) years; said assessment shall bear interest at the rate of nine percent (9%) per annum until paid.
6. As to damage or loss to a building or other structure caused by or arising out of any fire, explosion or other casualty loss, if an order is issued by the Building Commissioner as provided in Subsection
(5) of this Section, and a special tax bill or assessment is issued against the property, it shall be deemed a personal debt against the property owner. If there are proceeds of any insurance policy based upon a covered claim payment made for damage or loss to a building or other structure caused by or arising out of any fire, explosion or other casualty loss, the following procedure is established for the payment of up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the insurance proceeds as set forth in Subdivisions (a) and (b) of this Subsection. This Subsection shall apply only to a covered claim payment that is in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the face value of the policy covering a building or other structure:
a. The insurer shall withhold from the covered claim payment up to twenty-five
percent (25%) of the covered claim payment and shall pay such monies
to the City to deposit into an interest-bearing account. Any named
mortgagee on the insurance policy shall maintain priority over any
obligation under the ordinance.
b. The City of Berkeley shall release the proceeds and any interest that has accrued on such proceeds received under Subdivision (a) of this Subsection to the insured or as the terms of the policy and endorsements thereto provide within thirty (30) days after the receipt of such insurance monies unless the City of Berkeley has instituted legal proceeding under the provisions of Subsection
(5) of this Section. If the City of Berkeley has proceeded under the provisions of Subsection
(5) of this Section, all monies in excess of that necessary to comply with the provisions of Subsection
(5) of this Section for the removal, securing, repair and clean up of the building or structure and the lot on which it is located, less salvage value, shall be paid to the insured.
7. If there are no proceeds of any insurance policy as set forth in Subsection
(6) of this Section, at the request of the taxpayer, the tax bill may be paid in installments over a period of not more than ten (10) years. The tax bill shall be a lien on the property and a personal debt against the property owner(s) until paid.
8. Subsection
(6) of this Section shall apply to fire, explosion or other casualty loss claims arising on all buildings and structures.
9. Subsection
(6) of this Section does not make the City of Berkeley a party to any insurance contract, and the insurer is not liable to any party for any amount in excess of the proceeds otherwise payable under its insurance policy.
10. The Building Commissioner may certify in lieu of payment of all or part of the covered claim under Subsection
(6) that it has obtained satisfactory proof that the insured has removed or will remove the debris and repair, rebuild or otherwise make the premises safe and secure. In this event, the Building Commissioner shall issue a certificate within thirty (30) days after receipt of proof to permit covered claim payment to the insured without the deduction pursuant to Subsection
(6) of this Section. It shall be the obligation of the insured or other person making the claim to provide the insurance company with the written certificate provided from this Subsection.
[Ord. No. 3508 §9, 10-16-2000]
Any owner, occupant, lessee, mortgagee, agent or any other person(s)
having an interest in a dangerous building as shown by the land records
of the Recorder of Deeds of the County wherein the land is located
may, within thirty (30) days from the receipt of the order of the
Building Commissioner, appeal such decision to the Circuit Court of
the County wherein the land is located pursuant to the procedure established
in Chapter 536, RSMo.
[Ord. No. 3508 §10, 10-16-2000]
In cases where it reasonably appears that there is immediate
danger to the health, life or safety of any person unless a dangerous
building, as defined herein, is immediately repaired, vacated or demolished
and the property is cleaned up, the Building Inspector shall report
such facts to the Building Commissioner and the Building Commissioner
may cause the immediate repair, vacation or demolition of such dangerous
building and clean up of the property. The costs of such emergency
repair, vacation or demolition of such dangerous building shall be
collected in the same manner as provided in Sections 505.080(5).
[Ord. No. 3508 §11, 10-16-2000]
A. The owner, occupant or lessee in possession of any dangerous building who shall fail to comply with the order to repair, vacate or demolish said building given by the Building Commissioner shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punishable as set forth in Section
505.120.
B. Any person removing any notices provided for in this Chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished in accordance with Section
505.120.
[Ord. No. 3508 §12, 10-16-2000]
Any person violating the provisions of this Chapter is guilty
of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more
than five hundred dollars ($500.00). Each day that a person fails
to comply with an order of the Building Commissioner may be deemed
a separate offense.