St. Peters, MO Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)

Section 215.030(A)(1), Summary Abatement Of Nuisances, spells out the intake procedure for any nuisance complaint under Chapter 215: whenever a complaint is made to the Code Official alleging a public nuisance, the Code Official shall promptly cause the property to be inspected. Upon discovering a public nuisance, the Code Official may order the person creating, keeping, maintaining or permitting it to abate the condition. If the inspection turns up an immediate danger to public health, welfare or safety, summary abatement procedures apply and the inspecting official or department may remove or abate the nuisance directly, with costs certified by the City Clerk and assigned to the property's annual real estate tax bill; Section 215.030(A)(2) confirms that no advance notice to the owner is required before summary abatement, though a notice describing the action taken must be posted afterward.

If the situation is not an immediate danger, the Code Official instead submits a written report with photographs to the City Administrator under Section 215.030(B)(1), and the City Administrator's abatement order proceeds by written notice under Section 215.033 rather than by summary action. Reports can be made to the Code Official (the City Health Officer, his or her designee, or the Building Commissioner) covering conditions such as tall weeds and grass, accumulated trash and junk, derelict vehicles, graffiti, rodent harborage and other nuisances defined throughout Section 215.010.

The City Health Official also has an independent right of entry under Section 215.020 to inspect any building, lot, cellar, sewer or privy reasonably believed dangerous to public health, within the City and within a half mile beyond its boundaries.