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Branson amends dangerous-buildings code, drops appeal fee
Summary
The Board of Aldermen approved revisions to the Branson Municipal Code on dangerous buildings, clarifying definitions, removing an appeal fee and adjusting administrative procedure language; vote was unanimous.
The Branson Board of Aldermen adopted changes to the city’s dangerous-buildings code, eliminating an appeal fee and clarifying several definitions and administrative procedures.
City Attorney Solon McGee told the board the revisions were largely clarifications and that “we just eliminated that to not charge 1 at all,” referring to the appeals fee change. The board voted 6-0 to accept the redline changes and then 6-0 on the amended ordinance.
Why it matters: the ordinance amends chapter 18 of the Branson Municipal Code to clarify what qualifies as a dangerous building, tighten language about imposed loads and design capacity, and replace an earlier grant of regulatory authority to the planning director with language that allows staff to implement procedures when unusual circumstances arise. Supporters said the changes cut red tape and reduce barriers to appeal.
City Attorney Solon McGee described the edits as mostly definitional and procedural. Among the substantive edits he highlighted were a clarification that “imposed loads” refers to loads beyond intended design capacity, a consolidation of duplicated language, and a change that shifts a prior authorization for the planning director to promulgate regulations into a narrower ability to adopt procedures necessary to implement the code.
Alderman Schulz thanked McGee for education and collaboration on the revisions; another member praised the cooperative effort and framed the changes as part of a larger “red tape initiative” to make planning clearer and more efficient. No members of the public spoke against the ordinance during the hearings recorded in the transcript.
The ordinance was considered on final reading as bill number 65-60 and carried by roll-call vote, 6-0. Staff said the fee removal will allow appeals without payment of an application fee and that the changes do not expand the city’s substantive enforcement powers beyond existing code.
Board members said the refinements should make the department more efficient and reduce confusion for property owners and staff. The code change will take effect as provided in the ordinance text.
