Trees & Stumps

The owner of land shall be responsible for the maintenance of all landscape plantings located on his/her land and within the right-of-way to which the land abuts, except for trees planted by the City within a public right-of-way. Trees planted by the City and located within public rights-of-way shall be maintained by the City. All required landscape plantings shall be maintained in a healthy and neat condition.

• Vertical clearance requirements. In order to assure the safe and unimpeded progress of emergency and street maintenance vehicles, all trees, plants and shrubs that are within or adjacent to and overhanging any street, highway, road or thoroughfare shall be maintained to have the following vertical clearances (when fully leafed):
  • A minimum height of 14 feet above the center line of the street, highway, road or thoroughfare; and
  • A minimum height of 12 feet above the curb, or edge of pavement (when no curbing is present), of the street, highway, road or thoroughfare.
• Removal or pruning of landscape plantings representing hazards or obstructions.
  • Diseased or damaged trees. Any dead or diseased tree, on private property or within public rights-of-way, which constitutes a hazard to life or property; is diseased or infested with destructive insects or fungi; or is injurious to sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines, or other public improvements shall be removed.
  • Obstructions. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to remove any trees, shrubs, or parts thereof, which are planted on their property and which overhang or interfere with traffic control devices, street lighting, public sidewalks, rights-of-way, or property owned by the City.
  • Removal or pruning order. The Director of Public Works, or the Director’s designated representative, shall have the authority to order the pruning or removal of any tree or part thereof on private property or within a public right-of-way, which is in violation of the regulations and standards contained in this division.
  • Stump removal. The stumps of all removed trees shall be ground out to at least three inches below the ground level, the chips removed, the soil cavity filled with soil, and the area leveled. If the area where the tree is removed is to be paved, the top of the stump shall be ground out to at least six inches below the ground level.
  • Pruning. All pruning should be accomplished according to standard horticultural practices. Trees may be periodically pruned or thinned in order to reduce the leaf mass and thus increase visibility to the site and/or minimize damage from storms
• Required replacement of trees. Any existing trees or vegetation that satisfy the requirements of this division which are removed shall be replaced with plantings which are of acceptable type and species and in locations which comply with the provisions of this division and any previously approved site and landscape plan. Such replacement shall take place within six months of notification from the Director of Public Works, or the Director’s designated representative. 
  • Where such replacement involves properties within a C-1 or M-1 district, a landscape plan shall not be required if the replacement plantings match a previously approved landscape plan. If replacement will significantly vary from an approved landscape plan, a new plan may be required.
    

(Crestwood City Code, Sect. 26-312 & 26-313)

Fences and Gates

All fences shall comply with the following requirements:

• Gates, which are required to be self-closing and self-latching in accordance with the Building Code listed in Chapter 7 of the City Code, shall be maintained such that the gate will positively close and latch when released from a still position of six inches (152 mm) from the gatepost.
• Fencing shall only be comprised of standard fencing material, including chain-link, vinyl, wood, wrought iron, composite wood, masonry, or other materials as approved by the Director of Public Services. Wooden fences, including any posts, shall consist of materials produced in a lumberyard or mill, and the components shall be of nominal size.
• All fence posts shall be of the same material and shall have a uniform appearance from the ground to the top of post. However, posts of fences abutting differing property lines on the same parcel may be of not more than two differing materials.
• All fencing materials shall be of the same composition and be complementary to the posts on the same property line. However, fencing materials on fences abutting differing property lines on the same parcel may be of not more than two differing materials.
• Painted fences shall be of not more than two colors which are compatible with the color of the home located on the parcel. Colors of fences abutting differing property lines on the same parcel may be of not more than two differing colors, so long as all colors are compatible with the color of the home located on the parcel.
• All fences shall be kept in good repair and shall not be allowed to deteriorate to an unsound or unsightly condition. Repairs shall be made with materials that match materials and color of the balance of the fence line where the repairs are required.
• The construction of two fences on a property line by the same owner is prohibited.
• All new fence installations shall be erected with the smooth side facing outward. All posts shall be located on the inside of the fence.
• Electric (invisible pet containment) fences installed after February 1, 2012, shall be permitted only if such fences are installed a minimum of two feet from the front or side property lines. Such fences shall not extend into the public right-of-way.

Fence Permit

No fence shall be erected within the City unless a permit has been issued by the Director of Public Services or his or her designee. Such application shall be filed along with a site plan containing the following information:

• The address of the property
• The name of all streets bounding the property
• The size and location of all buildings on the property
• The location of the proposed fencing
• The location of the driveways and parking areas
• A description of the adjacent properties
• A North arrow
• A drawing scale

The application and/or site plan shall clearly show the type of fence proposed to be erected and the material which is to be used. The application for a fence permit shall be accompanied by a filing fee in an amount established by the Board of Aldermen. 

Denial of a permit for the erection of a fence shall be subject to review by the Public Works Board as set forth in Section 7-33(a)111.1. No permit shall be required to repair an existing fence.

To apply for a Fence Permit, please click here. 

(Crestwood City Code, Sect. 7-35)

Recreational Vehicle Parking

The City of Crestwood defines parking a recreational vehicle as any boat, RV or trailer, including but not limited to, any boat, canoe, personal watercraft, motorized construction equipment, RV, trailer, camper, camper shell, luggage rack or sports equipment rack. Recreational Vehicle Parking rules include: 

• RVs, trailers, and boats must be stored in an enclosed area or on an asphalt, concrete or paving stone surface in the side or rear yard behind the front building line. In the case of a corner lot, the side yard will also be considered a front yard.
• Vehicle accessories must be stored in an enclosed area or attached to a licensed vehicle in the manner for which they are intended to be used.
• Motorized construction equipment must be stored in an enclosed area.
• A resident owner or lessee is allowed to park a licensed RV on a residential street for purposes of loading and unloading only, but not to exceed 48 hours at a given time. 
• Visitors of residents are allowed to park a licensed RV on a residential street or in a driveway for up to seven days in a calendar year.
• Parking of trailers, boats, motorized construction equipment, and vehicle accessories is not allowed on residential streets. Trailers and boats on trailers may be parked on a residential street for a period not to exceed 72 hours if the trailer is attached to a licensed vehicle. 
• Visitors of residents are allowed to park trailers and boats on trailers, if attached to a licensed vehicle, on a residential street or in a driveway for up to seven days in a calendar year.
• The foregoing notwithstanding, RV’s, trailers, and boats may be parked in the front driveway by a resident owner or lessee, for purposes of loading and unloading only, but not to exceed 72 hours at any given time.
• Applicability to current RV, boat and trailer owners. City of Crestwood resident owners or lessees who are RV, boat or trailer owners at the time this section becomes effective [November 17, 2003], will not be subject to the restrictions set forth in subsection (b)(1), so long as said RV, boat or trailer owner registers the RV, boat or trailer with the City Clerk on or before December 31, 2003.

(Crestwood City Code, Sect. 14-175)

Excessive Animal Noise Complaint Packet

The City of Crestwood Code Enforcement Division of the Public Services Department has established a program to assist Crestwood residents in obtaining relief from habitually excessively noisy animals causing a nuisance in their neighborhood.

Excessively noisy animals are a serious nuisance. Because of limited code enforcement and Police staff, however, the departments are no longer able to assist the community by responding to complaints of excessively noisy animals in a timely manner. In fact, in most circumstances, by the time an officer arrives at the scene, the animal is no longer making any noise and an officer is unable to address the issue.

This program has been established to assist Crestwood residents with their efforts towards resolving the problems associated with excessively noisy animals. The enclosed material provides the required information necessary for the Code Enforcement division to designate an animal as a public nuisance.

Excessive Animal Complaint Packet Log

Excessive Animal Noise

Noise violations by animals are defined in Chapter 6, Section 3: EXCESSIVE ANIMAL NOISE - Any animal noise causing a disturbance by barking, howling, meowing or other noisemaking.

Chapter 6, Section 19 Public nuisances; abatement; violation.

1. Every person responsible for a dog, cat, puppy, kitten or other animal shall keep it from creating a nuisance.
2. A dog, cat, puppy, or kitten or any other animal creates a nuisance if it: (4) Causes excessive animal noise or (6) Molests, attacks, bites, or interferes with persons or other animals on public property or property not belonging to a person responsible for the animal.
3. For purposes of enforcement of subsection (b)(4) of this Section, a resident disturbed by excessive animal noise may obtain an Excessive Animal Noise Complaint packet from the Code Enforcement Officer to keep a log of Disturbances. The Code Enforcement Officer will review the disturbance log and abate the public nuisance in the following circumstances: 
4. Three Disturbances within a thirty-day period (the “Initial Period”) results in a courtesy notice to the Responsible Person for such animal; 
5. Upon three additional Disturbances within any thirty-day period after a courtesy notice has been issued to the Responsible Person under subdivision (1), a notice of violation shall be issued to the Responsible Person for such animal; and 
6. Upon three additional Disturbances within any thirty-day period after a notice of violation has been issued to the Responsible Person under subdivision (2), the matter shall be referred to the Crestwood Municipal Court for the Responsible Person for such animal. 
7. Notwithstanding any provision of subdivisions (1) – (3) of subsection (c) of this Section to the contrary, if a calendar year elapses after a courtesy notice, or notice of violation has been issued, or after a matter has been referred to municipal court, and no Disturbances have been recorded in such calendar year for an animal within the City, the first Disturbance thereafter observed shall be treated as the first Disturbance, and a third Disturbance within a thirty-day period shall result in a courtesy notice to the Responsible Person for such animal. 
8. For purposes of enforcement of this chapter, the owner of or responsible person for a dog, cat, or other animal who creates a public nuisance as defined above, shall abate such public nuisance in accordance with the order of the Code Enforcement Officer or his/her designee. The failure to abate the public nuisance shall be deemed to be in violation of the provisions of this chapter. The Code Enforcement Officer or his/her designee shall inform the Health Director of any citations issued under subsection (b)(5) — (7).
9. Nothing herein shall be interpreted or construed to prevent the Health Director from classifying as dangerous animals those animals who cause certain nuisances within a timeframe and from impounding those animals in accordance with the St. Louis Animal Control Code.
10. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a Code Enforcement Officer, or a law enforcement officer of the City who observes a Disturbance, as defined in Section 6-3 of this Code, or who has probable cause to believe a Disturbance has occurred, may issue a notice of violation to the Responsible Person for the animal causing such Disturbance, and may refer such notice of violation to the municipal prosecuting attorney for consideration of charges. A complaint signed by the person who reported a Disturbance may form the basis of probable cause that a Disturbance has been caused by an animal.

This noise is considered a violation that may result in a notice of violation if witnessed by the code enforcement officer or a citation if witnessed by a Police officer.

Excessive noise by an animal may also rise to the level of a public nuisance if the violations are frequent and continued. A Public Nuisance declaration will result in the responsible person being required to take steps to abate the nuisance within thirty (30) days, or more serious misdemeanor citations may be issued that can result in fines and the offending animal being ordered from the Crestwood jurisdiction.

Code Enforcement and Police consider excessive noise to be a violation when it has occurred for more than ten (10) consecutive minutes per incident between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. or for more than five (5) consecutive minutes per incident between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. and a nuisance if there are incidents on three (3) or more separate days in a thirty (30) day period.

In order to prove a charge of nuisance excessive noise, specific factual information is required and strong evidence is necessary. A Public Nuisance designation requires complaining neighbors to maintain a log of the dates and times in which an identified animal, at a specific location, is disturbing the peace of the neighborhood. Additional supporting evidence may include a date-stamped audio/video recording of the offending animal from the location of the complainant’s property as it is habitually barking.

Nuisance complaints may be subjective, and a complaint of habitually excessive noise is stronger if it is supported by more than one neighbor. Therefore, Code Enforcement has determined that at least one other neighbor must verify that the animal’s noise was habitual and caused a nuisance on at least one of the three incidents. Witness verification must be provided on the Witness Statement form in the Excessive Animal Noise Complaint packet, signed under penalty of perjury by each witness specifically stating the dates and times of each incident of habitual excessive noise. An incident log and witness verification are included in this informational packet.

When preparing a Complaint of nuisance noise, please be sure to note on the Excessive Animal Noise Incident Log:

1. The date and time the noise started and when the noise stopped.
2. The specific address of the animal and your address. Please remember that the barking must be audible for at least ten continuous minutes during daytime hours (8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) or five minutes during nighttime hours (10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.).
3. Evidence, if available, based on personal observation, that the animal was not provoked into barking.
4. The three (3) incidents of excessive barking must take place on different days within a thirty (30) day period of time.

You must comply with the requirement that:

1. Use the Excessive Animal Noise Incident log in this packet to document three (3) or more separate days of habitual barking within thirty (30) days. Include the witness statement if applicable. This will allow code enforcement to send a “Courtesy Notice” to the offending address.
2. If the excessive noise nuisance continues after the mailing of the “Courtesy Notice”, use the Excessive Animal Noise Incident log in this packet to document three (3) more separate days of habitual excessive noise. Include the witness statement for at least one of the three days. The witness can be a different person each time. This will allow the code enforcement officer to send a “Notice of Violation” advising the responsible person of the animal that the problem has resulted in a nuisance declaration and that unless the problem is remedied within thirty (30) calendar days, further action will be taken.
3. If the excessive noise nuisance continues after the mailing of the “Notice of Violation” (NOV), use the Excessive Animal Noise Incident log in this packet to document three (3) more separate days of habitual excessive noise. Include the witness statement for at least one of the three days. The witness can be a different person each time. This will allow the code enforcement officer to send a notice of violation advising the responsible person that the problem has resulted in a nuisance declaration and that the case will be forwarded to Crestwood Municipal Court for further action.
4. If there is a gap of one year or more since the last notice was issued, the process will re-start at step one.
5. Should the case be referred to the Crestwood Municipal Court, the officer, person signing the complaint, or the declarant would be required to attend court.

Complainants may submit or mail completed original packets to;

• Code Enforcement, 1 Detjen Drive, Crestwood, MO 63126
• Drop off from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• E-mailed copies will be accepted at CodeEnforcement@cityofcrestwood.org 
• Complainants should make copies of the submitted information prior to delivering the packets to code enforcement.

Please remember: Enforcement of the laws against excessively noisy animals is possible only with the cooperation and assistance of the residents of Crestwood themselves. Code enforcement and the Crestwood Police department cannot solve noisy animal problems without your participation. Please take the time to fully document each offense and obtain proper evidence.

(Crestwood City Code, Chap. 6)

International Property Maintenance Code

The City of Crestwood - in coordination with St. Louis County - has adopted use of the International Property Maintenance Code, 2015 edition, as published by the International Code Council as the official property maintenance code of the City of the control of buildings and structures.

The IPMC regulates all building codes for the City including the interior and exterior of the property, including grading and drainage, decks, roofs, sanitation, walls, handrails and much more.  

Copies of the IPMC are on file in the City Clerk’s Office at the Crestwood Government Center.

(Crestwood City Code, Sect. 7-32 & 7-33)