St. Peters, MO Code Violation Reporting: Common Violations (2026)
Key Facts
- Nuisance categories
- Animal matter, junk/rubbish, weeds, and more
- Weed/grass height limit
- 7 inches (residential districts)
- Enforcement official
- City Health Officer or Building Commissioner
- Abatement notice period
- 10 days to abate
- Appeal path
- Board of Aldermen, within 10 days
- Unpaid cost interest
- 8% per year on tax bill lien
Summary
In the City of St. Peters, Missouri, Section 215.010 declares a long list of property conditions a public nuisance, including accumulated animal or vegetable matter, rubbish or junk that attracts vermin, and weeds or grass over seven inches in residential districts, all enforceable through the City's Code Official.
A. Animal Or Vegetable Matter. Any accumulation of animal or vegetable matter that is offensive by virtue of odors or vapors or by the inhabitation therein of rats, mice, snakes or vermin of any kind which are or may be dangerous or prejudicial to the public health are declared to be a public nuisance. ... ... F. Rubbish, Trash Or Junk. Any accumulation of rubbish, trash or junk causing or threatening to cause a fire hazard, or causing or threatening to cause the accumulation of stagnant water, or causing or threatening to cause the inhabitation therein of rats, mice, snakes or vermin of any kind which are or may be dangerous or prejudicial to the public health and any violations of Chapter 235 are declared a public nuisance. ... ... a. No person shall permit weeds such as jimson, burdock, ragweed, thistle, cocklebur, milkweed, buckthorn, dandelion, henbit, crabgrass, goosegrass, foxtail, nutsedge, and poison ivy, or other weeds of a like kind ... or grass of any type to grow to a height of seven (7) inches or more upon any lot or tract of land which includes a building under construction ("developed tract") or on common ground in any residentially zoned district.
Full Breakdown
Section 215.010, Definitions And Remedies, itemizes public nuisance categories letter by letter in Chapter 215. Subsection (A) declares any accumulation of animal or vegetable matter offensive by odor or vapor, or that draws rats, mice, snakes or vermin, a public nuisance. Subsection (F) declares any accumulation of rubbish, trash or junk that threatens fire, stagnant water or vermin infestation a public nuisance, cross-referencing solid waste violations under Chapter 235. Subsection (H)(1)(a) bars letting weeds such as jimson, ragweed, thistle, crabgrass or other rank vegetable growth, or any grass, grow past seven inches on a developed lot or common ground in a residential district.
A resident reports any of these by complaint to the Code Official, defined in Subsection (K) as the City Health Officer or Building Commissioner or their designee. Under Section 215.030, the Code Official inspects the property on complaint, and if the condition poses immediate danger the City may summarily abate it and bill the cost on the property's tax bill; if not urgent, the City Administrator issues a notice under Section 215.033 giving the owner ten days to abate or show that abatement has begun, followed by a hearing right and an appeal to the Board of Aldermen under Section 215.035(G).
Repeat weed or trash violations on the same property in one season let the Chief of Police order removal without further notice under Subsection (H)(1)(f).
Violations & Fines
A complaint triggers a Code Official inspection; conditions posing immediate danger can be summarily abated by the City with costs certified to the property's real estate tax bill, while non-urgent nuisances get a written notice under Section 215.033 giving the owner ten days to abate. Unresolved cases go to a City Administrator hearing, appealable to the Board of Aldermen within ten days under Section 215.035(G); unpaid abatement costs become a tax bill lien accruing 8% annual interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report a nuisance property in St. Peters?
How tall can grass get before it's a violation?
What happens if I don't abate a cited nuisance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Peters
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