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Dardenne Prairie aldermen reopen debate on requiring occupancy inspections when homes are sold
Summary
A proposal from Aldermen Detweiler and Ney would require an occupancy inspection or seller-provided inspection certification when a property changes ownership. Supporters said it protects buyers and neighbors; opponents said buyers should be free to waive inspections. The city attorney will draft ordinance language for the next meeting.
A proposal to require an occupancy inspection on a change of property ownership dominated discussion at the Dardenne Prairie Board of Aldermen work session on Nov. 19, 2025.
Alderman Detweiler, who introduced the RBA with Alderman Ney, said the change is intended to protect buyers and neighboring properties by ensuring unpermitted or unsafe work is identified before closing. "People are buying homes sometimes cash, no inspections," Detweiler said, arguing that the city needs to guard against safety risks such as electrical hazards and unpermitted basement work.
Alderman Johnson opposed forcing sellers to obtain an inspection, saying buyers should retain the right to purchase a home "as is" and that requiring a seller-ordered inspection would impose an unnecessary burden. Johnson suggested an alternative: require that, if a seller uses a private home inspector, that inspector sign a certified form verifying the inspection covered city code items and submit that form to the city as a condition of occupancy registration.
An experienced local home inspector/consultant briefed the board on how many municipalities structure occupancy reviews. The speaker said city occupancy inspections typically focus on basic safety items — functioning GFCIs in wet spaces, obvious structural defects, leaking pipes and obvious electrical hazards — and that a city inspector can usually complete a basic occupancy check in roughly 30 minutes, producing a digital report for the parties. The consultant said more detailed issues (beyond the minimum safety standards) are resolved between buyer and seller during negotiation.
City Attorney staff were asked to draft potential ordinance language reflecting the board's direction, including clarifying how "as is" sales would be handled and whether a seller-provided, licensed home inspector's certification could be accepted in lieu of a city inspection. The board agreed to continue work on the proposal and to revisit it at a future meeting.
The discussion did not produce final action tonight; aldermen directed the city attorney to prepare verbiage and moved the item forward to the next meeting for additional consideration and refinement.
