St. Louis City Revised Code Chapter 20.26 Construction, Repair and Maintenance of Sidewalks
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DIVISION II. STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
Chapter 20.26 20.26.010 Repairs--Notice to owner. 20.26.010 Repairs--Notice to owner. Whenever any sidewalk or driveway or the covering over any areaway or vault
in the sidewalk in any public highway shall need repair, the Director of Streets
shall notify the owner of the property adjoining the sidewalk, or his agent,
through the mail, to have the same repaired to the satisfaction of the Director
of Streets within thirty days from the date of the notice, or to appear before
the Board of Public Service on the day and hour specified in the notice. The
time shall be the time of the first meeting of the Board after the expiration of
the thirty-day period. The owner shall show cause why the Board should not have
the sidewalk or driveway or the covering over any areaway or vault in the
sidewalk repaired, and the cost thereof assessed as a tax against the property
abutting the sidewalk area in which the work is done. 20.26.020 Repairs--Failure of owner to show cause. At the meeting of the Board of Public Service at which a hearing is held for
the repair of a sidewalk or driveway or the covering over an areaway or vault,
or within three days following the meeting, the Board shall make its decision
regarding the repair. If, in the opinion of the Board, the owner or agent has
failed to show cause why the repair should not be made, the Board shall
authorize and instruct the Director of Streets to cause the repair to be done
under his direction and to his satisfaction, and an accurate account kept of the
cost of all labor, including supervision, and material entering into the work. 20.26.030 Repairs--Costs--Constitute lien. The expense incurred by the City for labor, including supervision, and
materials employed in the repair of any sidewalk or driveway or the covering
over any areaway or vault in the sidewalk in any public highway under authority
of the Board of Public Service and Sections 20.26.010 and 20.26.020, shall be
charged as a lien against the property adjoining the sidewalk area in which the
work is done. 20.26.040 Repairs--Costs--Computed and assessed as special tax. Upon completion of the repair of any sidewalk or driveway or the covering
over any areaway or vault in the sidewalk in any public highway by the Director
of Streets, as authorized by the Board of Public Service under authority of
Sections 20.26.010--20.26.030, the Director shall cause the total cost of the
repair to be determined and certify the same to the Board of Public Service. Upon the approval of the report by the Board, the report, with the approval
of the Board endorsed thereon, shall be transmitted to the person designated by
the Board to prepare special tax bills, who shall assess the same as a special
tax against each lot of ground chargeable therewith, in the names of the owners
thereof, respectively, and shall make out and certify to the Comptroller bills
of the cost and assessments accordingly as required by law. 20.26.050 Private construction. No property owner, contractor or any other person shall construct,
reconstruct or repair, or cause to be constructed, reconstructed or repaired,
any sidewalk or driveway, or the covering over any areaway or vault in the
sidewalk in any public highway in the City without having previously obtained
written permission so to do from the Director of Streets. The work shall be done in accordance with specifications approved by the
Board of Public Service, and under the supervision and to the satisfaction of
the Director of Streets or his duly authorized agent. In case of failure on the part of the permittee to proceed in conformity with
the specifications and directions, the Board of Public Service shall cause the
walk to be removed or reconstructed in the manner provided for in Sections
20.26.010--20.26.040. Whenever the Board of Aldermen shall direct, by ordinance, the improvement of
a public street or avenue, the Board of Public Service shall, upon the
application of the owner of any property fronting or bordering the improvement,
grant permission to the owner to construct the sidewalk in front of the
property. If the permit is for the construction of a sidewalk in front of a
corner lot, the permit will be given on condition that the sidewalk be laid to
the curb lines of the intersecting street. Without such permission no sidewalk
shall be constructed. 20.26.060 Construction or reconstruction--Notice to owner. Whenever a sidewalk adjoining any property should be constructed or
completely reconstructed, in the opinion of the Director of Streets, the
Director shall notify the owner of the property adjoining the area on which the
sidewalk should be constructed or completely reconstructed, or the agents of the
owners, through the mail, to have the sidewalk constructed or completely
reconstructed, in accordance with the specifications approved by the Board of
Public Service, as provided in Section 20.26.050, within thirty days from the
date of the notice, or to appear before the Board on the day and hour specified
in the notice. The time shall be the first meeting of the Board after the
expiration of the thirty-day period. The owner shall show cause why the Board
should not cause the sidewalk to be constructed or completely reconstructed, and
the cost thereof assessed as a special tax against the property adjoining the
area on which the sidewalk is to be constructed or reconstructed. 20.26.070 Construction or reconstruction--Failure of owner to show cause. At the meeting of the Board of Public Service at which the hearing is held
for the construction or reconstruction of a sidewalk, or within three days
following such meeting, the Board shall make its decision regarding the
construction or reconstruction. If, in the opinion of the Board, the owner or
agent has failed to show cause why the sidewalk should not be constructed or
reconstructed, the Board shall cause the sidewalk to be constructed or
reconstructed, as the case may be, and cause special tax bills to be issued
therefor, all as directed by the Charter for doing public work to be paid for by
a special assessment. 20.26.080 Width requirements. Except in those cases where the width of sidewalks shall be fixed by order
duly entered by the Board of Public Service, as hereinafter provided, the widths
of all sidewalks in the City shall be as follows: In all streets of thirty and under thirty-eight and one-half feet in width
the sidewalks shall be five and one-half feet wide; those of thirty-eight and
one-half and under forty feet in width shall have sidewalks six and one-half
feet wide; those of forty and under fifty feet in width shall have sidewalks
eight feet wide; those of fifty and under sixty feet in width shall have
sidewalks ten feet wide; those of sixty and under seventy-five feet in width
shall have sidewalks twelve feet wide; those of seventy-five and under eighty
feet in width shall have sidewalks fourteen feet wide; those of eighty and under
one hundred feet in width shall have sidewalks fifteen feet wide; those of one
hundred feet and upwards shall have sidewalks twenty feet wide; provided,
however, that the Board of Public Service may at any time, by order duly
entered, fix the width of any sidewalk or sidewalks, in the City at variance
with the widths above set out, whenever it may seem best to do so in the
discretion of the Board. 20.26.090 Cross slope. No sidewalk shall be constructed, the cross grade of which or rise from the
curbstone, shall be greater than one-quarter inch vertical rise to one foot
horizontal distance except with the approval of the Board of Public Service. In
each instance the cross grade shall slope toward the street and the curb line
shall be maintained at its correct elevation above the City directrix which
shall be determined from the construction of the particular street in question. 20.26.100 Crosswalks. The Board of Public Service shall grant any person permission to construct a
crosswalk at his own expense at any point upon any street, avenue or highway
when the crosswalk will not obstruct the public carriage way or inconvenience
the public. The crosswalk shall be constructed of the kind of material and in
the manner directed by the Board of Public Service. 20.26.110 Revolving fund for sidewalk repair--Created. There is created a revolving fund to expedite the repair of sidewalks and
driveways and of the covering over of areaways and vaults in the sidewalks, in
order to provide funds to carry out the provisions of Section 20.26.060, and the
amount hereinafter appropriated, together with any money hereafter appropriated
to the fund, shall be used to pay the cost of the repairs. 20.26.120 Revolving fund for sidewalk repair--Payment of special tax bill. Upon the payment of any special tax bill issued against private property for
the cost of repairs made pursuant to Section 20.26.060, the cost of which
repairs was paid out of the fund, the proceeds of the special tax bill shall be
deposited to the credit of the fund and may be again used for the purposes for
which the fund is created and in the same manner as money hereinafter
appropriated. 20.26.130 Revolving fund for sidewalk repair--Warrant by Comptroller. The Comptroller is authorized and directed to draw his warrant upon the fund
upon the written request of the Director of Streets. 20.26.140 Bond or Deposit required for issuance of building permit. No building permit or occupancy permit shall be issued by the Building
Commissioner to erect, alter, add to, or use a structure for any purpose
whatever prior to the placing on deposit with the Director of Streets a sum
equal to, or a corporate surety bond of at least ten thousand dollars and equal
to a sum equal to, the cost of erecting a new sidewalk and/or driveway where
none is in existence or repairing an existing sidewalk and/or driveway. 20.26.150 Building demolition. Whenever any building or structure on any premises is wrecked, removed or
demolished, in whole or in part, and the building or structure is served by a
coal hole, cellar or basement door or passageway, water stopcock box, gas
stopcock box, which is located within the public sidewalk area adjacent to the
building or structure, and is abandoned, the owner, his agent, contractor or
subcontractor engaged in the wrecking, demolition or removal of the building or
structure shall at the time of the demolition, removal or wrecking remove or
fill in with earth, sand or other similar material, properly tamped and
compacted, the coal hole, the cellar or basement door or passageway, water
stopcock box or gas stopcock box located within the public sidewalk or parkway
and shall cause the surface of same to be paved with materials equal to the
surface materials of the surrounding public sidewalk. The paving shall be at the
established grade of the sidewalk and shall be level with the sidewalk surface
adjoining the same. 20.26.160 Bonding persons doing concrete work for hire. Every person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of doing concrete
work for hire in the public sidewalk area shall give bond to the City in the sum
of ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars. This bond shall be given prior to the issuance of any permits from the
Department of Streets for sidewalk work. The bond shall be approved by the Comptroller and shall be filed with the
Register and conditioned that the party principal therein will faithfully
observe all directions of the Director of Streets, or his agents, and also all
City ordinances relating to construction. All concrete work must be done by the
principal, or under the direction of the principal and executed in a workmanlike
manner. The principal shall indemnify and save the City harmless from all
accidents and damages caused by any negligence in protecting their work or by
any unlawful or inadequate work done by themselves or their agents. The bond
shall also be for the benefit of any person or persons injured, or whose
property is injured, by the violation or neglect to observe the requirements of
the Department of Streets. The bond shall be considered in effect until the City
is notified, in writing, of cancellation by the bonding company. The
indemnifying bond shall be written by a person, firm, or corporation authorized
to do business in the state and shall be approved by the Comptroller. 20.26.170 Penalty for violation of Section 20.26.160. Any person, firm, or corporation who shall do any concrete work in the public
sidewalk area without giving bond to the City as required by Section 20.26.160
shall be in violation of the provisions of Section 20.26.160, and upon the
conviction of same shall be fined not less than fifty dollars, nor more than
five hundred dollars for each offense, or by imprisonment for not more than
ninety days, or by both fine and imprisonment. Each day's violation shall
constitute a separate offense. 20.26.175 Bonding of persons doing asphalt paving work for hire in the public
right-of-way. A. Every person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of doing
asphalt paving work for hire in the public right of way area shall give bond to
the City in the sum of ten thousand dollars. This bond shall be given prior to the issuance of any permits by the
Department of Streets for right of way work. Said bonds shall be approved by the Comptroller and shall be filed with the
Register of the City and conditioned that the party principal therein will
faithfully observe all directions of the Director of Streets, or his agents, and
also all City ordinances relating to construction. All asphalt paving work must
be done by the principal, or under the direction of such principal and executed
in a workmanlike manner. That indemnify and save the City harmless from all
accidents and damages caused by any negligence in protecting their work or by
any unlawful or inadequate work done by themselves or their agents. Said bond
shall also be for the benefit of any person or persons injured, of whose
property is injured, by the violation or neglect to observe the requirements of
the Department of Streets. Said bond shall be considered in effect until the
City is notified, in writing, of cancellation by the bonding company. Such
indemnifying bond shall be written by a person, firm, or corporation authorized
to do business in the state and shall be approved by the Comptroller of the
City. B. Any person, firm, or corporation who shall do any asphalt paving work, for
hire, in the public right-of-way without giving bond to the City as required by
subsection (A) of this section shall be in violation of the provisions of
subsection (A) of this section, and upon the conviction of same shall be fined
not less than fifty dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars for each such
offense, or by imprisonment. Each day's violation shall constitute a separate
offense. 20.26.180 Hazardous sidewalks--Notice to repair. Whenever the Director of Streets, or his authorized representative shall be
informed that any sidewalk lawfully used by the public in the City, is in a
hazardous condition likely to cause bodily injury to persons using the same, he
shall cause reasonable protective measures to be taken to guard the public and
shall notify the owner through reasonable means of the situation and at such
time command the owner to repair or replace the sidewalk within thirty days from
the receipt of the notification or, if the City has a responsibility of
correcting any condition contributing to the hazard, then within thirty days
from the completion of the correction. 20.26.190 Hazardous sidewalks--Appeal--Time extension. Any owner of such a sidewalk may within the thirty days after receipt of the
Director's notice or, completion of the corrective action by the City, appeal to
the Board of Public Service the Director's determination of the hazardous
condition of the sidewalk, or seek an extension of time for accomplishing the
repair of the sidewalk, which may be granted by the Board if the sidewalk can be
immediately and temporarily rendered safe for the public and the owner so
alleviates the condition. While an appeal remains undetermined, the owner shall
not be prosecuted and when the sidewalk condition is alleviated to the
satisfaction of the Board and within the time granted by the Board, the owner
shall not be prosecuted. 20.26.200 Hazardous sidewalks--Penalty for violation. If the owner shall fail to repair or replace a hazardous sidewalk, or portion
thereof within thirty days after notification by the Director unless the time is
extended as provided in Section 20.26.190, or shall fail to appeal as provided,
or shall fail to repair or replace the sidewalk or portion thereof as may be
ordered by the Board, providing that in the case of raised sidewalk blocks
caused by tree roots raising the sidewalk blocks the City must first have taken
all steps required by the Municipal Code for the correction thereof, he shall be
deemed guilty of violation of Sections 20.26.180--20.26.200 and shall upon
conviction be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more
than one hundred dollars and each day that any violation shall continue shall
constitute a separate offense. 20.26.210 Tax bill for sidewalk repair--Issued when. A. The Board of Public Service is hereby authorized to issue special tax
bills for sidewalk repair on all public streets within the City where property
owners have refused to accept the City's fifty percent sidewalk shared cost
program. Said tax bills shall be in ten (10) equal annual payments due upon
service of the notice of said tax bills. B. The Director of Streets shall monthly forward to the Board of Public
Service a list of locations where special tax bills should be issued. The Board
of Public Service, as authorized by Article XXIII, shall prepare and issue said
tax bills. 20.26.220 Curbs. No new or replacement curbing or new or replacement sidewalk within ten (10)
feet of curbing at an intersection is to be constructed unless the curb and
sidewalk configuration be constructed so as to provide a gradual slope to the
level of the street from the grade of the sidewalk and provide an uninterrupted
line of travel between pedestrian and motorized lines of travel, and at other
points where necessary to avoid abrupt changes in grade. The Board of Public
Service's standard specification for the construction of a handicap access ramp
(wheelchair ramp) shall be used as the primary design pattern for the
construction of the replacement sidewalk and curbing unless the existing
configuration of curbing, sidewalk and other existing structures is such as to
inhibit its implementation in which case, the Street Department and the Office
of the Disabled shall prescribe standards of slope, gradient and slip resistant
qualities to assure the sidewalk will accommodate a person in a wheelchair or
other person with disabilities. These standards shall be included in the Revised
Traffic Code. 20.26.230 Contracts for repairs. Provided an appropriation has been made to pay costs, the Board of Public
Service is authorized to let and enter into annual contracts from the first day
of July of every year for emergency work required for the maintenance and
necessary repairs of sidewalks which require prompt attention, as determined by
the Director of Streets. The emergency work and necessary repairs shall be done
with materials similar to the existing sidewalks. 20.26.240 Sidewalks--Authority of Street Department to repair. A. The Street Department is hereby authorized to repair or have repaired
sidewalks that abut property in zoning districts "A" through
"G" or abuts property in any zoning district upon which is located a
building designed for and used primarily for residential purposes which are in
poor condition and need of repair as determined by the Director of Streets or
the Director's designee and requiring that the property owners pay one-half of
the total repair cost. This shall include sidewalks that are on a private street
if such street is open to the general public. B. Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, owners of
residential and commercial property shall not be required to pay the repair cost
of any portion of an abutting sidewalk which has been damaged by trees growing
in the public easement immediately abutting to such sidewalk. 20.26.250 Notice to property owners. The Director of Streets shall as authorized by Section 20.26.010 notify
property owners of sidewalks in need of repair. He shall also notify said
property owners that are covered under Sections 20.26.240--20.26.280 that the
City will pay half the cost of repair if the owner provides matching funds. 20.26.260 Notice of costs to property owners. Upon completion of work the Street Department shall notify the property owner
in writing of their cost of the work and the property owner shall have ten (10)
months in which to pay the bill. 20.26.270 Special tax lien. Any covered property owner who has been notified of a defective sidewalk and
refuses to voluntarily comply with the fifty percent shared cost program shall
have a special tax lien as authorized by Article XXIII of the Charter of the
City placed against their property. 20.26.280 Nonentitlement to credit or rebate. Any non-covered property owner may make repairs as authorized by Section
20.26.050; however, he shall not be entitled to any rebate as authorized herein. 20.26.290 Residential walks--Special revolving fund. There is hereby created as part of the matching funds program here
established, a special revolving account to administer said program for each
ward as established in the City; upon the receipt of payment of funds by the
property owner in compliance with the billing provisions of Section 20.26.260,
the funds so received and any interest earned on such funds shall be deposited
in the revolving account of the ward in which the improvements have been made.
Thereafter said funds and interest shall not be transferred or reallocated to
any other account or fund, nor shall said funds or interest be assigned to
general revenue, but said funds and interest shall be used solely in furtherance
of the purposes stated in Section 20.26.240 within the ward boundaries of the
ward for that specific account or revolving fund has been established.
Construction, Repair and Maintenance of Sidewalks
20.26.020 Repairs--Failure of owner to show cause.
20.26.030 Repairs--Costs--Constitute lien.
20.26.040 Repairs--Costs--Computed and assessed as special tax.
20.26.050 Private construction.
20.26.060 Construction or reconstruction--Notice to owner.
20.26.070 Construction or reconstruction--Failure of owner to show cause.
20.26.080 Width requirements.
20.26.090 Cross slope.
20.26.100 Crosswalks.
20.26.110 Revolving fund for sidewalk repair--Created.
20.26.120 Revolving fund for sidewalk repair--Payment of special tax bill.
20.26.130 Revolving fund for sidewalk repair--Warrant by Comptroller.
20.26.140 Bond or Deposit required for issuance of building permit.
20.26.150 Building demolition.
20.26.160 Bonding persons doing concrete work for hire.
20.26.170 Penalty for violation of Section 20.26.160.
20.26.175 Bonding of persons doing asphalt paving work for hire in the public
right-of-way.
20.26.180 Hazardous sidewalks--Notice to repair.
20.26.190 Hazardous sidewalks--Appeal--Time extension.
20.26.200 Hazardous sidewalks--Penalty for violation.
20.26.210 Tax bill for sidewalk repair--Issued when.
20.26.220 Curbs.
20.26.230 Contracts for repairs.
20.26.240 Sidewalks--Authority of Street Department to repair.
20.26.250 Notice to property owners.
20.26.260 Notice of costs to property owners.
20.26.270 Special tax lien.
20.26.280 Nonentitlement to credit or rebate.
20.26.290 Residential walks--Special revolving fund.
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
(Ord. No. 68604, § 9, 3-16-2010.)
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