Code Enforcement

The Building Inspector & Police Department coordinates code enforcement activity, addressing public nuisance violations (recorded through field observation, citizen/Council/Police Department/staff requests). They provide all necessary follow-up, including enforcement action resulting in Municipal Court appearance for unresolved violations, and feedback as necessary to complainants.

Complaint- Please contact the necessary department enforcing the code as shown in (bold print), the number for the correct department is listed below.

The following are lists that can be used as a guideline to assess current or potential problems in your area:

Exterior Property Area

• The presence or accumulation of debris of any kind including, but not limited to, weed cuttings, cut and fallen trees and shrubs, rubbish, garbage and trash, manure, rocks or bricks, tin, steel, parts of derelict cars or trucks, broken furniture. (Police Department)
• Any storage or accumulation on any premises or any open lot of any lumber, bricks, stones, gravel, concrete, dirt, sand or similar materials. (Police Department)
• Any accumulation, deposit or outside storage or any vehicular or equipment parts, inoperable appliances and other equipment, junk or material of any nature where it may constitute an attractive nuisance danger to children, provide a breeding or nesting area for vermin, rodents and other animals, or collect stagnant water. (Building Inspector)
• Dead or dying trees. (Building Inspector)
• The maintenance, storage or use of any interior furniture outside a fully enclosed structure. (Police Department)
• Storage of firewood in the front yard of any lot, other than in a commercially manufactured decorative firewood rack on the front porch, or in the rear yard of any lot unless evenly piled or stacked either on open racks elevated not less than six (6) inches above the ground or on a durably paved surface. (Police Department)
• Garbage and recycle cans which are not securely covered, and garbage and recycle cans which have been left or stored along public roads, sidewalks and rights-of-way in the City of St. Clair for anytime outside the thirty-six (36) hours beginning at 6:00 P.M. on the evening prior to that resident's scheduled service day and ending at 6:00 A.M. the day following the scheduled service. Holidays occurring during the week can affect the resident's normally scheduled service day. (Building Inspector)

Exterior Structure (All below are enforced by the Building Inspector)

• All exterior painted surfaces such as fascia, siding, and trim must be maintained, no chipped or peeling paint.
• Exterior vinyl siding, metal trim wrap, and similar materials must be maintained without holes, damaged, or missing.
• Address numbers must be installed on the home, be 4 inch in height and be a contrasting color from the background.
• Roofs must be maintained weather tight, no missing shingles.
• All windows and screens must be without breaks, cracks, or holes.
• The presence of any graffiti displayed on exterior surfaces.
• Decks, porches and similar structures must be maintained structurally sound.

Public Nuisances

• Stagnant water and water collected and allowed to stand for more than thirty-six (36) hours. (Building Inspector)
• The keeping of animals and fowls in any area within the City.  (Police Department)
• Water or other liquid diverted from a sump pump where the discharge is less than 15 feet from the street, which flows onto streets and sidewalks. (Building Inspector)
• Any land disturbance activity or area where vegetation has been cleared or has not been maintained or other condition which results in the runoff of mud, dirt, rocks or any other material onto sidewalks, streets or other rights-of-way or into creeks, streams, drainage ditch or any stormwater system or facility. (Building Inspector)

Tall Grass and Weeds

• Grass, brush, vegetation and weeds more than seven (7) inches in height. (Police Department)

Vehicles Declared a Nuisance

• The parking or storage of any derelict, expired or unlicensed, abandoned, or non-functional vehicle, trailer, boat, camper or other recreational vehicle unless such storage is within an enclosed garage. (Police Department)
• Any vehicle, trailer, boat, camper or other recreational vehicle shall be parked on a durably-paved surface; for the purposes of this Section, "durably-paved surface" shall mean asphalt or concrete. However, any residence or business establishment with a legally permitted gravel parking surface may use such surface for parking of licensed and functional vehicles. (Police Department & Building Inspector)

Commercial Vehicle Parking*

• Any vehicle, DOT class 3 or above shall not be parked on any street in a residential area. No semi-tractor and/or trailer shall be parked in a residential driveway. (Police Department)

Miscellaneous

• Non-permitted signs (Building Inspector)
• Any addition or structure built without a permit (Building Inspector)