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Code Enforcement

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Protecting Our Community

Understanding Local Regulations

Code enforcement regulations help maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming community for everyone. Whether you’re looking for information on burning policies, parking regulations, animal control, or yard sale requirements, these guidelines outline the City’s standards and help residents stay informed and in compliance with local ordinances.

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City Ordinances
Burning Policy

Burning of vegetation grown specifically on the property is permitted by Ordinance on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from November 1st through April 30th of each year. These fires must be:

  • Attended at all times
  • Confined to private property (not in rights-of-way, paved surfaces, drainage-ways, or gutters)
  • Contain no construction material, paper, or trash
  • Extinguished by or at 4 p.m

A substantial fine may be levied for violations.

Parking Policy

Accessible Parking
Any facility offering parking for employees or visitors must provide accessible parking for people with disabilities. View the Accessible Parking Guide (PDF) for more information on these regulations.

RV Parking
City Ordinance provides that all boats, trailers, campers, and other recreational or sports vehicles must be stored along the side of or to the rear of the residence on an aggregate base, such as a stone or concrete pad or driveway which will adequately support the vehicle’s weight.

Animal Control

Animal Control includes, but is not limited to, attending to or responding to the following at any location within the city:

  • Animal waste on private property
  • Animals running at large
  • Excessive barking or other noise-making created by animals or pets
  • Harboring an excessive number of animals
  • Mosquito abatement
  • Residents reporting lost pets

The City of Fairview Heights offers an animal control pet identification program free of charge. The tag is for identification purposes only and is not a substitute for the mandatory county tag.

Get in touch
St. Clair County Animal Control | 618-235-0585
Belleville Humane Society | 618-235-3712

Yard Sale Regulations

Anyone holding a yard sale, garage sale, or similar sale on residential property in the City of Fairview Heights is reminded that there is an ordinance requiring a Yard Sale Permit. for such activities. Yard sales may be held for no more than 3 consecutive calendar days, no more than 3 per year, and no sooner than 30 days from the last sale.

The ordinance covering such activities also includes tailgate sales, moving sales, or any type of sale of a similar nature at a residence. Businesses are covered by a separate and different set of regulations. Failure to comply could result in a citation which requires a court appearance. Refer to section 8-6-1 of the revised city code for more information.

Neighborhood and Group Yard Sales
Neighborhood or group yard sales are recommended to contact the Land Use & Development Department for specific regulations approximately 1 week in advance of sale. Regulations include, but are not limited to, a contact person responsible for the sale and a list of all participating residents including names, addresses, phone numbers, and a signature. Each resident should not apply for a separate yard sale permit, as only one permit will be issued for all participants of the neighborhood sale.

View Yard Sale Permit Codes

8-6-1 DEFINITIONS
Included within the terms of this Article, and heretofore referred to as “yard sales”, is any display of merchandise for the purpose of exchanging it for legal tender or barter at a location not otherwise regularly used or specifically designated for the sale or exchange of merchandise. Events commonly known as “garage sales”, “tailgate sales”, “flea markets”, “house sales”, “moving sales”, etc., shall be defined as yard sales under the provisions of this Article.

8-6-2 PERMIT; EXCEPTION
No person or persons shall offer for sale any merchandise, or permit the use of his or her property, in conjunction with a yard sale without first obtaining a permit therefor at least one (1) day in advance of the first day of the yard sale. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to bankruptcy, estate or other sales under judicial process, licensed and authorized auctions and sales conducted at or by organizations affiliated with churches, schools, federal, state, city, county and township government units provided that those organizations are non-profit, religious, civic and/or charitable in nature.

8-6-3 ISSUANCE OF PERMIT
The Administrative Official is authorized to issue a “Yard Sale Permit” as required by this Article to any resident person upon request provided the permit be completed to include the name and address of the applicant, and the duration and the location of the yard sale. Permit shall be posted at site of sale.

8-6-4 SIGNS
One sign may be posted away from the location of the sale no sooner than 5:00 P.M. on the day prior to the sale. Sign may be up to four (4) square feet in area containing name, address and signature of permit holder. Such signs shall not be located on private property without consent of the property owner. Signs may not be attached to utility poles, traffic signals, street signs or other safety control objects. All signs shall be removed within twenty-four (24) hours of the conclusion of the sale by the applicant.

8-6-5 LOCATION
(A) Yard sales shall be restricted to residential and non-commercial districts under Chapter 14, Article II of the Revised Code, unless otherwise approved by City staff. (B) Yard sales conducted by and for the benefit of non-profit organizations may be held in zoning districts other than residential and non-commercial.

8-6-6 DURATION
(A) No yard sale shall be conducted for a period greater than three (3) successive calendar days. (B) Yard sales shall be conducted with the period between sunrise and sunset.

8-6-7 FREQUENCY
(A) Yard sales shall be held no more than three (3) times within the same calendar year at the same location. (B) Yard sales shall be held no sooner than thirty (30) days subsequent to the close of a yard sale at the same location.

8-6-8 PROHIBITED MERCHANDISE
Prohibited from such merchandise to be sold at yard sales shall be alcoholic beverages, firearms, firearm ammunition, materials determined by the City Code as obscene, animals, or any other merchandise of which sale without proper licensing or authorization from state or local authorities is unlawful.

8-6-9 ON-SITE ADVERTISING
Prohibited at the location of any yard sale are loud speakers, amplifiers, and signs defined as “prohibited” under Section 14-7-7 of this Code

8-6-10 PENALTY
Any person who violates any provision on this Article, shall, upon conviction, be fined One Hundred Dollars ($100).(Ord. No. 1011-00; 08-01-00) [Supplement No. 52; 02-01-01]

Contact Land Use and Development 

Phone

Staff Directory

Dallas Alley | Director of Land Use & Development
Alley@cofh.org
618-489-2061

Mike Ehret | Plumbing Inspector
ehret@cofh.org 

Joe Werner | Building Official

Sam James | Electrical Inspector
618-489-2169

Jeff Blair | Building Inspector
Jeff.Blair@cofh.org

Randall Hall | Clerk 1
Randall.Hall@cofh.org

Bobby Bond | Building Inspector
Bobby.Bond@cofh.org
618-489-2082

Julius Jackson | Building Inspector
Julius.Jackson@cofh.org
618-489-2066

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Address