Residential

Commercial

What is my property zoned ?
How do I change the zoning of my property?
What are the differences between the zoning classifications ?
Is my property in a flood zone ?
How do I find an address ?
What housing grants are available?
How do I apply for funding for a housing grant?
Is my property condemned ?
Where is my sewer line ?
Will the fire department inspect my house ? What size fire extinguisher do I need for my home?
Is my landlord required to maintain my smoke detector ?
If I live in the county, what do I need to do to get City utilities ?

Is my property in an Enterprise Zone ?
Are there any charges for doing a fire inspection of a structure?
Why do my exit signs have to have battery backup power?
Why do I have to have an occupant load limit for my bar/nightclub/ restaurant?

Complaints

What are the minimum property standards ?
How do I file a complaint for minimum property standards?
What do I do about a neighbor’s tree hanging?
over my property line?
My neighbor’s tree is going to knock over my roof/fence .
I want to report high weeds .

What is my property zoned?
Zoning information is available from the City’s Planning Services Division.

Visit Planning Services on the second floor of City Hall (401 Independence ) or call 573-339-6326 for details.

How do I change the zoning of my property?
Changing the zoning of your property requires an application and review by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council. An application is available online and at the City’s Planning Services Division.

Visit the Planning Services office on the second floor of City Hall (401 Independence ) or call 573-339-6326 for details.

What are the differences between the zoning classifications?
Zoning in Cape Girardeau is broken down in the following manner:

Visit the Planning Services office on the second floor of City Hall (401 Independence ) or call 573-339-6326 for details.

Is my property in a flood zone?
The City of Cape Girardeau is operating flood control projects in the floodplains of the Mississippi River and the Cape La Croix and Walker Branch Creeks. For specific information on your property, you need to contact the City’s Planning Services Division.

Visit the Planning Services office on the second floor of City Hall (401 Independence ) or call 573-339-6326 for details.

How do I find an address?
Address for property within the City Limits of Cape Girardeau are determined out of the City’s Planning Services Division. Property within Cape Girardeau County is determined by the 911 Coordinator in Jackson .

Visit the Planning Services office on the second floor of City Hall (401 Independence ) or call 573-339-6326 for details.
For County address information, contact the 911 Coordinator in Jackson at 573-243-0911.

What housing grants are available?
The City administers a block grant for housing rehabilitation. At present we are working in two areas. If you are within the block grant area, you will be notified and asked to come in and apply for the grant. An application is also available at the City’s Planning Services Division.

Visit the Planning Services office on the second floor of City Hall (401 Independence ) or call 573-339-6326 for details.

Is my property condemned?
Condemnations require extensive review by City staff and Municipal Court. If you have questions about the status of your property, contact the City’s Planning Services Division.

Visit the Planning Services office on the second floor of City Hall (401 Independence ) or call 573-339-6326 for details.

Where is my sewer line?
Sewer lines and wye locations may be obtained in the Inspection Services Division. Maps of sewer lines in new development areas, however, are located in the Engineering Division.

Contact the Inspecation Services Division at 573-339-6328 and the Engineering Division at 573-339-6327. Both divisions are located at City Hall, 401 Indepedence.

Will the fire department inspect my house?
The City Fire Department gives courtesy inspections of residential structures. The inspection includes mechanical, ventilation and any chimneys or flues.

Contact the Fire Department at 573-339-6330 for more information or visit Fire Station #1 at the corner of Sprigg and Independence .

What size fire extinguisher do I need for my home?
Commercial properties are required to have a minimum of a 5 pound ABC-type fire extinguisher. This is the size we recommend for residential property owners also.

Contact the Fire Department at 573-339-6330 for more information or visit Fire Station #1 at the corner of Sprigg and Independence .

Is my landlord required to maintain my smoke detector?
The Minimum Property Standards Code requires that landlords maintain smoke detectors installed within the structures that they own. The Fire Code says that the detector is required to work. If your landlord does not comply, you may file a grievance at the Inspections Services Division to require to owner of the property to maintain minimum property standards.

Visit the Inspection Services office on the first floor of City Hall (401 Independence ) or call 573-339-6328.

If I live in the county, what do I need to do to get city utilities?
Water is the only City-owned utility available to the County. In order to get water if you are presently out of the City Limits is to first get annexed into the City. The first step in this process is to obtain an Annexation Application from the City’s Planning Services Division.

Visit the Planning Services office on the second floor of City Hall (401 Independence ) or call 573-339-6326 for details.

Is my property in an Enterprise Zone?
Businesses in Enterprize Zones may be eligible for certain incentives and programs. Maps marking the Enterprise Zones are available at the City’s Planning Services Office.

Visit the Planning Services Division on the second floor of City Hall (401 Independence ) or call 573-339-6326 for details.

Are there any charges for doing a fire inspection of a structure?
If are going to open a business and are looking at buildings to use, the Fire Department recommends that you call before you take any action so that we can check the structure, the zoning and anything else that might restrict the use of the building. We prefer to do this before you sign a contract for the building. There is no charge for this service.

To arrange an inspection, simply call the Fire Inspector at 573-339-6330.

Why do my exit signs have to have battery backup power?
All new exit signs are required by the BOCA Building Code to have battery backup power. This allows the exit sign to remain lighted should power be lost to the structure.

Visit the Inspection Services office on the first floor of City Hall (401 Independence ) or call 573-339-6328 for details.

Why do I have to have an occupant load limit for my bar/night-club/restaurant?
To prevent the overcrowding of the building which would create a dangerous situation should an emergency occur. Overcrowding has contributed to loss of life and injuries in such assemblies. The BOCA Building Code dictates the allowable number of people for specific occupancies.

For details, call the Fire Inspector at 573-339-6330.

What are the minimum property standards?
The minimum property standards are a set of building code standards that apply to existing properties. (The ICC Building Code applies to new construction.) This set of standards was adopted by the City Council to maintain a minimum standard of living in Cape Girardeau and is applied to single family dwellings, rental units and commercial structures. Affected citizens may file a complaint against a property online or at the Inspection Services Office.

Visit the Inspection Services office on the first floor of City Hall (401 Independence ) or call 573-339-6328.

How do I file a complaint for minimum property standards?
If you are a tenant of a rental unit, live within 200 feet of a property, or are a patron of a business establishment, and would like to file a complaint against the property, come to the Division of Inspection Services and request to file a complaint. There is an authorized complaint form which must be completed and signed by the complainant. More information is online .

 An inspector from the Inspection Services office will then conduct an inspection and notify the owner by certifice mail of any corrections which must be made.

Visit the Inspection Services office on the first floor of City Hall (401 Independence ) or call 573-339-6328.

What do I do about a neighbor’s tree hanging over my property line? My neighbor’s tree is going to knock over my roof/fence.
This is considered a civil matter which must be settled in civil court. The City will not get involved.

Visit the Inspection Services office on the first floor of City Hall (401 Independence ) or call 573-339-6328 for more information.

I want to report high weeds.
Weed abatement is operated by the Police Department.

Visit the Nuisance Abatement Officers at the Good Hope Substation or call 573-339-6311 for more information.