The Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in favor of a suburban St. Louis man whose number of political yard signs conflicted with the amount the municipal government allows. The limit is one sign, but Lawrence Willson had three. The ACLU filed a First Amendment lawsuit in January 2018 on behalf of Willson, who had been threatened with jail time and fines for the number of political signs in his yard.
Breaking the law for the number of political signs on your lawn is easily done if you’re unaware of the rules, and it’s just one example of the laws around the outside of your property. There are certain laws you should know in St. Louis to avoid accidentally breaking the rules.
How Property Maintenance Inspections Work
Your home should be inspected regularly as it ages to ensure against code violations, as natural wear and tear lead to visible decay on the house. Should your house violate any codes, a member of the Neighborhood Preservation Inspection will guarantee any violations are corrected, as their main goal is to be proactive in the pursuit of housing code violations. The inspector will rigorously comb their designated area. Should an exterior of a house have clear violations against the Property Maintenance Code, such as peeling paint, loose or missing siding and/or roofing, house gutters not properly secured, and litter in the yards, the Neighborhood Preservation Inspector will contact the homeowner, asking them to remedy these issues.
Other housing aspects inspected include potential electrical dangers, insufficient or improper plumbing, broken chimneys, broken windows, unsecure handrails or guardrails, and potentially dangerous stairs or steps leading to the property. Everywhere from the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, living room, basement, and garage will be examined, in addition to the house’s exterior. By correcting any housing code violations, neighborhoods maintain consistently high property value.
Assessing Your Property’s Conditions And Maintenance
You can self-assess the condition of your house with a Saint Louis County Housing Inspection Report. It’s a helpful checklist ensuring you inspect everything a Neighborhood Preservation Inspector would. You could also contact the Neighborhood Preservation Office main branch at (314) 615-7360 with any questions or concerns.
No one aims to break local laws through incomplete or neglectful property management, so property owners are advised to be aware of the law, and take steps to ensure their property meets the requirements.