How Florissant Handles Environmental Rules: A Practical Guide

Florissant maintains 116 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with environmental rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Florissant falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Stormwater Management

Florissant's nuisance code bans discharging waste materials, oil, gasoline, lawn clippings, tree limbs or any other obstruction into the City's stormwater system or in any way that pollutes natural creeks or waterways. The rule sits inside Chapter 213's health nuisance list and is enforced by the Building Commissioner with the City's misdemeanor nuisance penalty.

Key details: Governing section: § 213.010(A)(15). Prohibits: Waste, oil, debris into storm system. Also protects: Natural creeks and waterways. Notice period: 7 days to abate (§ 213.040). Enforcer: Building Commissioner.

Discharging waste, oil, yard debris or other obstructing material into a stormwater system under Section 213.010(A)(15) is a misdemeanor nuisance offense prosecuted in Florissant Municipal Court under Section 213.040. If a violator does not abate the discharge after notice, the City can remove or clean it up and certify the cost under Section 213.050 as a special tax bill or add it to the real estate tax bill, creating a lien.

Erosion Control

Florissant's Land Disturbance Code, Chapter 505 Article IX, requires a land disturbance permit and Best Management Practices for any clearing, grading or construction that exposes soil, defines major disturbance at one acre or more, and backs it with misdemeanor fines up to $1,000 per day.

Key details: Major disturbance threshold: 1 acre or more. Permit issuer: Dept. of Public Works / Engineering Division. SWPPP required: For MS4 NPDES-covered projects. Max penalty: $1,000/day or 30 days jail. Notice-to-abate window: 10 days.

Violating any provision of the code, including working without a required permit or against an approved SWPPP, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 30 days in jail, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. The city must first give written notice, and the violator has 10 days to abate before penalties or a stop-work order attach. Decisions can be appealed to the Building Code Board of Appeals within 30 days for a $100 filing fee.

Compared to other cities, Florissant takes a harder line on erosion control. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Flood Zones

Florissant requires a floodplain development permit for any construction, fill, or substantial improvement within the numbered and unnumbered A and AE flood zones mapped on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps for St. Louis County. The City Engineer serves as floodplain administrator and reviews every application before work can begin under Chapter 415.

Key details: Governing chapter: Chapter 415, Floodplain Management. Floodplain administrator: City Engineer. Applies to: numbered/unnumbered A and AE zones. FIRM effective date: February 4, 2015. Maximum fine: $1,000 per violation, each day separate.

Violating Chapter 415, including breach of any condition attached to a variance, is a misdemeanor under Section 415.060. Conviction carries a fine of up to one thousand dollars plus court costs, and each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense. The City may also pursue any other lawful remedy, including an injunction, to stop or reverse unpermitted development in the flood hazard area.

This is one of the stricter rules in Florissant's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Flood Elevation Requirements

Florissant requires new and substantially improved homes in mapped flood zones to elevate their lowest floor, including the basement, one foot above the base flood elevation. Non-residential buildings must meet the same freeboard or be engineer-certified as floodproofed and watertight up to that level.

Key details: Freeboard: 1 foot above base flood elevation. Non-residential alternative: engineer-certified floodproofing. Critical facilities: elevated above 500-year flood level. Flood openings: 1 sq in per sq ft, min 2 openings. Certifying professional: registered engineer or architect.

Constructing below the required one-foot freeboard, or occupying a substantially improved structure that was never elevated or floodproofed to the standard, violates Chapter 415 and is a misdemeanor under Section 415.060: a fine of up to $1,000 plus costs, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense, and the City can pursue other lawful remedies as well.

Compared to other cities, Florissant takes a harder line on flood elevation requirements. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Vehicle Idling Restrictions

Florissant bars delivery trucks from arriving, idling or making deliveries at a shopping center or business during hours posted on signs at the property, where those restrictions are also written into the location's business license or permit. The rule targets pre-dawn and late-night delivery idling near retail centers and carries the City's general Chapter 210 penalty.

Key details: Governing section: § 210.2280. Adopted: Ord. No. 7420, 6-13-2007. Trigger: Posted signs / business license hours. Applies to: Delivery trucks at shopping centers/businesses. Maximum fine: $1,000 (§ 100.080).

Idling or delivering at a shopping center or business during posted restricted hours under Section 210.2280 is a Chapter 210 municipal offense. The Section carries no fine of its own, so the general penalty in Section 100.080 applies: up to a $1,000 fine, up to three months in the City or County Jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Florissant is tougher than many cities when it comes to environmental rules. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Florissant, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Florissant can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.