The top priority of Mayor Francis Slay's administration is ensuring that St. Louis has strong, safe, healthy neighborhoods. This conviction is based on a very simple premise: people seeking a good, secure neighborhood in which to make a home, raise a family or start a business should be able to do so in the City of St. Louis.

To keep these neighborhoods strong, all property should have the grass cut and be free of debris and weeds.

The Weed Control and Debris Removal program is responsible for insuring that all property in the city, whether vacant or occupied, is clean and well maintained.

The City of St. Louis has an ordinance (#59860) that requires property to be clean and free of debris and weeds. The Weed Control and Debris Removal program sends a letter and service charge information sheet to the owners of all vacant property each March.

The property owner must maintain the grass and unwanted vegetation and to keep their properties clear of debris at all times. If they don’t keep the property in compliance, the Forestry Division will clean the property and send a bill for the work.

Crews work on rotation from April until September to remove weeds and debris on all vacant lots and buildings. Eight rotations on vacant lots and four rotations on vacant buildings are normally completed and approximately 10,000 loads of debris are removed annually by this program.

Residents who notice weeds or debris on property can file a service request to the Citizen’s Service Bureau at 622-4800.

Public nuisance inspectors follow-up with inspections that will result in a notice to the owner if violations are found. If the owner does not correct the problems, the Weed Control and Debris Removal program will clean the property.

Property owners are billed for completed services on a monthly basis. A collection agency pursues all delinquent accounts after 90 days.

Weed Control and Debris Removal program also maintains of all vegetation and woody plants on the levee and floodwall during the spring and summer months with an organized herbicide program.

Coordinated efforts with the Alternative Sentencing and Regimented Discipline programs to assist with grass maintenance efforts at no cost to the city.

Consistent efforts are made to coordinate with the Trash Task Force (622-4628) in identifying problem properties and removing illegally dumped debris to ensure public safety in our neighborhoods. This program also coordinates with the Trash Task Force and approximately 5000 loads of debris are removed annually

The District Debris Removal Program is responsible for systematically removing all debris in alleys, easements, right-of-ways and vacant properties. In contrast to the Weed Control/Debris Removal Program, this section removes all debris without citing property owners. However, the two programs coordinate to ensure the completion of open work orders.