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Building Exteriors

Kansas City Code ch. 56, art. III, div. 2, subpt. III
in effect

Kansas City Code § 56-451 Foundations, walls and roof.

Sec. 56-451. - Foundations, walls and roof. Every foundation, exterior wall, roof and all other exterior surfaces shall be maintained in an approved state of maintenance and all exterior surface material must be protected against weathering and must be kept in repair. The foundation elements shall adequately support the building at all points. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.96; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78)

Kansas City Code § 56-452 Exterior walls.

Sec. 56-452. - Exterior walls. (a) Every exterior wall, including screened-off areas, doors and windows, shall be free of holes, breaks, loose or rotting boards or timbers, or any conditions which might admit rain, dampness or insects to the interior portions of the walls or to the occupied spaces of the building. (b) All exterior wall or surface material, once painted, must be kept in good repair free of peeling, cracked, blistered paint or paint weathered to an uneven and spotty condition. (c) Any exterior wall or surface material must be protected against weathering. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.97; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78; Ord. No. 981394, § 1, 12-17-98)

Kansas City Code § 56-453 Roofs.

Sec. 56-453. - Roofs. The roof shall be structurally sound and tight, and shall not admit rain, and drainage shall be sufficient to carry water away from the roof. All downspouts and gutters shall be kept in good repair. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.98; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78)

Kansas City Code § 56-454 Exterior openings.

Sec. 56-454. - Exterior openings. Every window, exterior door and basement hatchway shall be tight and maintained in sound condition and good repair and prevent the entrance of rodents, rain and surface drainage water into the structure. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.99; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78)

Kansas City Code § 56-455 Windows.

Sec. 56-455. - Windows. Every window shall be in good condition and fit tightly within its frame so as to exclude wind and rain as completely as possible from entering the structure. All windows shall be fully supplied with glass windowpanes or an approved substitute without open cracks or holes. Every other opening located within four feet of the ground level shall be protected against the possible entry of insects and rodents. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.100; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78)

Kansas City Code § 56-456 Doors.

Sec. 56-456. - Doors. Every exterior door shall be maintained in good condition and when closed shall fit well within its frame so as to exclude wind and rain as completely as possible from entering the dwelling or structure. Every door hinge and door latch shall be maintained in good condition. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.101; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78)

Kansas City Code § 56-457 Obstruction of exits.

Sec. 56-457. - Obstruction of exits. There shall be no obstructions to or of fire escapes, stairs or ladders which may be used as escapes, likely in the event of fire to interfere with the operation of the fire department or of the safety and ready egress of the occupants. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.102; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78)

Kansas City Code § 56-458 Permanent signs.

Sec. 56-458. - Permanent signs. (a) All permanent signs and billboards exposed to public view, together with their supporting members, shall be maintained in good repair. Any signs which have excessively weathered or faded or those upon which the paint has excessively peeled or cracked shall, with their supporting members, be removed forthwith or put into a good state of repair. (b) The provisions of this section shall apply in addition to the requirements of any other ordinance or law relating to permanent signs and billboards, and shall be cumulative thereof. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.103; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78)

Kansas City Code § 56-459 Display windows.

Sec. 56-459. - Display windows. All display windows or storefronts constructed of plate glass or other transparent material shall be kept clean and free of cracks, and no storage other than organized displays shall be permitted therein unless shielded from public view. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.104; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78)

Kansas City Code § 56-460 Storefronts.

Sec. 56-460. - Storefronts. All storefronts shall be kept in good repair, shall be protected from weathering and shall not constitute a safety hazard or nuisance. If repairs to a storefront become necessary, such repairs shall be made with the same or similar materials used in the construction of the storefront in such a manner as to permanently repair the damaged area or areas. Any cornice visible above a storefront shall be protected from weathering and kept in good repair. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.105; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78)

Kansas City Code § 56-461 Awnings and marquees.

Sec. 56-461. - Awnings and marquees. Awnings and marquees and their accompanying structural members shall be maintained in good repair and shall not constitute a nuisance or a safety hazard. If such awnings or marquees are made of cloth, plastic or of similar materials, they shall be maintained in good condition and shall not show evidence of excessive weathering, discoloration, ripping, tearing or other holes. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any encroachment on streets, sidewalks or other parts of the public domain. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.106; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78)

Kansas City Code § 56-462 Temporary signs.

Sec. 56-462. - Temporary signs. Except for "for rent" and "for sale" signs, any temporary sign or advertising material glued or otherwise attached to a window or otherwise exposed to public view shall be removed at the expiration of the event or sale for which it is erected, or within 60 days after erection, whichever shall occur first. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.107; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78)

Kansas City Code § 56-463 Enforcement.

Sec. 56-463. - Enforcement. Enforcement shall be as provided in article II, division 4, of this code. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.108; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78; Ord. No. 59593, 7-3-86)

Kansas City Code § 56-464 Temporary closing of buildings.

Sec. 56-464. - Temporary closing of buildings. Temporary closing of buildings shall be as provided in section 56-317. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.109; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78; Ord. No. 59593, 7-3-86)

Kansas City Code § 56-465 Appeals.

Sec. 56-465. - Appeals. Appeals shall be as provided in article II, division 6 of this code. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.110; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78; Ord. No. 59593, 7-3-86)

Kansas City Code § 56-466 Additional requirements.

Sec. 56-466. - Additional requirements. Additional city Code requirements affecting the environment and property maintenance are: (1) Chapter 14, pertaining to animals. (2) Chapter 34, pertaining to health and sanitation. (3) Chapter 46, pertaining to noise. (4) Chapter 48, pertaining to nuisances. (5) Section 50-191, pertaining to abandoned iceboxes. (6) Chapter 52, pertaining to parking stations. (7) Chapter 62, pertaining to solid waste. (8) Section 64-161, pertaining to obstruction of streets or sidewalks. (9) Chapter 80, pertaining to zoning. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 20.111; Ord. No. 49861, 12-14-78)

Kansas City Code § 56-467 Removal of signs in the central business district.

Sec. 56-467. - Removal of signs in the central business district. All signs on the exterior of buildings or signs in windows visible from the exterior of a building in the central business district shall be removed within 90 days of the date when any business or activity to which the signs relate has temporarily or permanently ceased in the building. The central business district shall be defined for the purposes of this section as the area bounded on the north by I-35/70, on the south by I-70, on the west by I-35, and on the east by I-35. (Ord. No. 021492, § 1, 4-3-03)
Source: City of Kansas City, Missouri, Code of Ordinances, Charter and Zoning and Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mo/kansas_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORKAMIVOII_CH56PRMACO_ARTIIINOPR_DIV2MIENRE_SDIIIBUEXFetched: 10/28/2026

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