Florissant, MO Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Florissant Code Ch. 510, enacted 11-22-2021
- Enforcement officials
- Building Inspector and Building Commissioner
- Standard order
- Repair, vacate, or demolish
- Notice period
- Up to 30 days to begin work
- Appeal path
- City Council, then St. Louis County Circuit Court
- Maximum fine
- $1,000 per day of non-compliance
- Cost recovery
- Special tax bill lien at 8% interest
Summary
Florissant Code Chapter 510 lets the City order any building with serious structural, fire, sanitary or safety defects repaired, vacated or demolished as a declared public nuisance. The Building Inspector investigates on complaint or referral, the Building Commissioner holds a hearing, and an owner who ignores the order faces fines up to $1,000 per day plus a lien on the property.
All buildings or structures that are detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the residents of the City and that have any or all of the following defects shall be deemed "dangerous buildings": ... 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. ... All dangerous buildings or structures, as defined by Section 510.220 of this Chapter, are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be repaired, vacated or demolished as provided herein. ... upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). Each day that a person fails to comply with an order of the Building Commissioner may be deemed a separate offense.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4989395; v43 updated 2026-05-26; through 05-26-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 510, adopted by Ord. No. 8748 on November 22, 2021, replaced Florissant's former Existing Structures and Property Maintenance Code in its entirety. 220 defines nine categories of "dangerous buildings," covering structures with leaning or buckled walls, 33% or more deterioration of supporting members, fire or wind damage, inadequate egress, or conditions unfit for human habitation. 230 declares every building meeting that definition a public nuisance that must be repaired, vacated or demolished. The Building Inspector, working for the Code Enforcement Officer, investigates on complaint, City department referral, or Police or Fire report, then notifies every owner, occupant, lessee, mortgagee and agent shown on the St.
Louis County Recorder of Deeds records, by personal service, certified mail or, if service fails, two weeks of newspaper publication. The notified party gets up to 30 days to begin repair, vacation or demolition. 270 and the Director of Public Works issues written findings; an aggrieved owner may appeal to the Florissant City Council and then, de novo, to the St. 150, RSMo. If the City ends up performing the repair or demolition itself, the cost becomes a special tax bill against the property bearing 8% annual interest, payable in installments over up to ten years.
In an emergency posing immediate danger to health or safety, the Building Commissioner can order immediate repair, vacation or demolition without waiting for the hearing process.
Violations & Fines
Any owner, occupant or lessee who disregards a repair, vacate or demolish order, or anyone who removes a posted dangerous-building notice, commits an ordinance violation under Section 510.310 and, on conviction, faces a fine of up to $1,000. Each day of continued non-compliance counts as a separate offense, and the City can additionally recover its own repair or demolition costs as a lien against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a building "dangerous" under Florissant's code?
What happens if I ignore an order to fix or tear down my building?
Can I appeal a dangerous-building order in Florissant?
Who inspects and enforces Florissant's dangerous buildings chapter?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Florissant
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