Inspections

Back to the 2005 Missouri Revised Statutes %137.115.  In the same revised statute, note paragraphs 10 and 12:

http://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=137.115&bid=35127&hl=

If you happen to be one of the unlucky property owners that received a postcard on your door or in your mailbox indicating that the inspector had been to your property, these paragraphs are the driving force behind that.  I’m not a lawyer, but as I interpret it, simply put, if the County Assessor’s office has deemed that your property value has increased more than 15% since the last assessment (likely 2 years ago unless you had recently filed a successful appeal,) then they are required to send out an inspector to inspect your property to ensure that their records are accurate.  It even qualifies that a “drive-by inspection or the like” is not acceptable. 

Per the county:

https://stlouisco.com/portals/8/docs/document%20library/assessor/Brochures/ReassessmentBasics2017.pdf

The County Assessor’s office isn’t doing this to be kind or proactive.  They are required to do so by law.

Let me rephrase that.

The County Assessor’s office is required to do so, by law.  Whether they are actually doing so is another matter entirely.