Historical March 1979 reproduction from Saint Louis Guide for Housing and Property Maintenance, Department of Public Safety, Division of Building Inspection. These period codes, electrical ratings, plumbing requirements, contacts and checklist are archival material, not current code or home-repair instructions.
The code violations most frequently found by building inspectors are given by category as:
### STRUCTURE SHELL ELEMENTS
Failure to maintain:
- Foundations and chimneys, and walls plumb and free from open cracks and breaks
- Masonry walls and chimneys in such a manner that all mortar joints are tight and weather-proof (tuckpointing)
- Downspouts and gutters in good repair and connected to sewer
- Roof in a weather-proof condition
- Wood and metal appurtenances, window frames, sash, sills and glass in good repair and structural soundness
- Wood composition or metal siding weather-proof and properly surfacecoated to prevent deterioration Failure to reasonably protect all exterior wood surfaces and gutters from the elements and against decay or rust by a protective coating.
### PORCHES
Failure to maintain the porch and/or porches in good repair and structurally sound and reasonably protected from the elements and against decay or rust by a protective coating.
### STEPS, WALKS, DRIVES, PARKING
### AREA
Failure to maintain steps, walks, drives and parking areas in good repair.
### INTERIOR
Failure to maintain all interior structural members in good repair and structurally sound.
### HEATING
Failure to maintain existing heating plant in a safe, usable condition.
### DUAL EGRESS
Failure to provide two separate usable exits from each floor above the second floor, where there is a separate occupancy.
### ZONING –
Failure to comply with the existing zoning ordinances.
### SANITATION
Failure to remove all accumulation of refuse and debris from the premise.
### DEMOLITION
Failure to wreck and remove from the premises the structurally unsound and/or illegal structure.
### ELECTRICAL
Failure to maintain the existing electrical system in a safe and usable condition.
### PLUMBING
Your health depends on good plumbing. The plumbing in your home should be properly maintained at all times. When inspecting your plumbing, you should observe the following items: General Maintain all existing toilet and/or lavatory, and/or tub and shower bath in a safe and usable condition, properly connected to approved hot and cold water and sewer systems within the building. Stop Box The stop box is generally located on public property, in front of the building, for the purpose of making the water shut-off valve accessible. It must be at grade level, have a lid and be clean from debris. Vent or House Trap The house trap may be located in the front or rear yard. It is used to cable out a stopped up sewer. The stand pipe to the trap must have a perforated grate to allow fresh air circulation to prevent sewer gases from entering the building. Guttering Guttering is to be in good condition, not leaking and have proper fall. Downspouts Downspouts are to be sewer connected. Exceptions granted on small roof areas. Water Heaters Heaters must have proper hot water shut-off valves. The new approved type 3/4 inch temperature and pressure valve self-closing spring reaction must be installed on every water heater installation. The fuse type temperature pressure valve must be replaced with the approved type. Flue piping must be in good condition and cemented at the flue. Floor Drains Floor drains to have grates. Water Piping Water piping to have proper and workable shut-off valves, to be of proper size for adequate water pressure and have proper hangers. Soil and Vent Stacks All soil and waste stacks to have cleanouts. Stacks are to be in good condition, free from rust and deterioration. Saddle type connections to stack must be replaced with proper fitting. Plumbing Fixtures Plumbing fixtures to be in good condition and to be in a secure position, having proper traps and vents, with water shut-off valves. General Repairs Leaking faucets, stopped-up drains, deteriorated traps, and general repairs are considered minor repairs. When selecting your plumber, you may verify his qualifications by his License Number, or by calling the Plumbing Section, City of St. Louis, 453-4356. Plumbing permits are to be posted on the job site; and the work is inspected by the City of St. Louis Plumbing Section to insure the home owner that the work complies with City Ordinances.
### ELECTRICAL
### SERVICE
60 Ampere 3 wire 120/240 volt with four circuit switch. 100 Ampere 120/240 volt if electric range, electric dryer, or air conditioning units are used. Each should be placed on separate circuits.
### RECEPTACLES
General Purpose — Two in each room, located equal distances apart. These receptacles may be installed on the lighting circuits.
### SMALL APPLIANCE LOAD
Two receptacles in the kitchen and one in the laundry area. Each new installation must be on a 20 Ampere branch circuit and not on any other circuit.
### BASEMENT
In general, this may have to be rewired.
### GENERAL
All replacement receptacles shall be of the polarized type. This means that the branch circuit feeding same must contain a third wire to be used for grounding only. A code enforcement inspection checks many points and the inspector will look into these conditions and questions:
### FLOORS, STRUCTURAL SUPPORTS
- In sound condition
- Floors sagging or in disrepair
- Basement support posts deteriorated or damaged
### FOUNDATION
- In sound condition
- Basement damp — lack of ventilation
- In need of repair and/or tuckpointing
### EXTERIOR WOODWORK
- In sound condition
- Surface deteriorated; in need of paint
- Termite damages
- In need of repair or replacement
### EXTERIOR PORCHES
- In sound condition
- In need of repair ###
Originally published in The Paper, March 1979.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1979_03.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
