Frequently Asked Questions

Please click the "contact us" button to report a code violation regarding property maintenance, storage, or use.

Common code violations include: 

• Improper address placement on buildings
• Improper length of weeds and lawns
• Failure to keep alleyways clear
• Improper placement or height of fences
• Existence of graffiti
• Existence of inoperable or unlicensed vehicles
• Existence of junk, debris and salvage materials
• Illegal parking on property
• Improper maintenance of vacant buildings
• Improper placement of signs
• Improper landscaping
• Housing concerns including electrical, plumbing, mechanical, protection from the elements, life safety, and safety from fire

The owner may receive notice of violation, and the City's expectation for corrections, in one of the following ways:

• Door knocker or sticker,
• Compliance notice letter,
• City facilitated abatement (costs assessed to the property),
• Citation (summons, mandatory court appearance),or
  other legal ramifications.

The tree owner is the person who owns the property from which the tree emanates (essentially where the stump is). The adjacent property owner is the person who owns the property onto which the tree has grown or fallen (but not from which the tree emanates). Once the tree growth crosses property lines, the adjacent property owner may prune the tree up to the property line.

If a tree falls due to unforeseeable circumstances (acts of God), such as ice storms, there is no liability on the part of the Tree Owner UNLESS the tree was defective in some way (dead, rotted, diseased) and the Tree Owner knew about the defect, then the liability is on the part of the Tree Owner. However, these are legal conclusions that the City of Jefferson is not making.

The City of Jefferson will seek remedy against the property on which the tree  lies, be it the tree owner or an adjacent property owner. If an adjacent property owner states that it is some one else's tree, they need to look for remedy against that person. The adjacent property owner still needs to comply with he City of Jefferson ordinances and clean up their own property.

If you have any questions, contact the City Forester.

If correcting a problem on your property creates a financial hardship or you are unable to physically complete the work, please contact one of the following organizations for assistance:

Central Missouri Community Action Agency - (573) 635-4480
Habitat for Humanity ReStore - (573) 635-6106
Junk Car - (866) 586-5111
Local Churches
Recycling options
Samaritan Center - (573) 634-7776
United Way First Call for Help - 211
Working Wheels for Working Families - (573) 690-6484

If you have any questions about property maintenance or would like to report a property in the city that you feel is in violation, please contact us by clicking the "Contact Us" button.

Any growth of weeds, grass and poisonous or harmful vegetation to a greater height than 12 inches or any accumulation of dead weeds, grass or bush.

It is prohibited to allow any of the following items to be on the premise that can be viewed from off site:

Each person in the city shall keep the sidewalks, tree wells in the sidewalks, gutters, public rest areas and public alleys in front of and adjacent to any building, tenement, room or real property owned, occupied, possessed or managed clean and clear of snow, mud, filth, debris, trash, litter and other substances.

The contents of the container shall be emptied and removed once per week.

Trash containers or recycling bin should not  be on City right-of-way for more than 24 consecutive hours consistent with the day of collection.

All intersections of public rights-of-way and driveway intersections with public rights-of-way shall have a visual clear zone (VCZ) that is free of any obstruction to vision of a motorist or pedestrian. 

For additional information review Code Section 35-55