Public Health & Safety Main Focus of Compliance Effort

The complete release below is from the City of Branson:

The City of Branson is launching a new ‘Lodging Safety Initiative’ designed to ensure all lodging establishments operating within city limits are complying with required public health and safety standards. As a premier destination for millions of visitors annually, Branson offers a wide range
of lodging establishments including motels and hotels, condominiums, bed and breakfasts, resorts, and other types of lodging establishments. Through the implementation of the Lodging Safety Initiative, the City of Branson is emphasizing a focused commitment to ensure consistency and accountability in the protection of public health and safety for visiting guests and other occupants of lodging establishments located within city limits. 

This initiative is the result of a comprehensive review of the City’s adopted codes, along with input from various business and non-profit stakeholders. It is intended to provide clear direction to City departments on the priority of public health and safety code compliance. The initiative implements a framework of enforcing existing codes and authority of the City in encouraging compliance with local ordinances regarding building structures, property maintenance, and fire code requirements that protect public health and safety. When appropriate, this initiative will address severe offenders operating establishments under non-compliant conditions with significant public health and/or life safety violations. 

The vast majority of lodging establishments operating within city limits routinely meet the regulatory inspections and requirements necessary to be issued a City business license, and to be further inspected, and ultimately upon approval, to be granted a lodging establishment permit issued by the Taney County Health Department and a lodging license issued by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. However, the City has recently identified several lodging establishments operating outside of the permitting/licensing process. 

“Our top priority is to ensure the protection of public health, life, and safety for our guests and residents in Branson,” said Mayor Larry Milton. “This initiative is a positive step in reinforcing the credibility and legitimacy of our city’s business licensing and lodging program by creating an equal regulatory playing field for lodging establishments who actively choose to follow the law and provide healthy and safe accommodations. We
are taking this critical step through this initiative to set the level of expectations in our City, especially in lodging establishments housing vulnerable populations in extended stay type living situations.” 

The City of Branson code, fire and licensing inspection programs have been actively engaged in contacting all lodging establishments regarding required inspections for the 2024 lodging season, which begins November 1st. In coordination with city business licensing, code enforcement, fire inspection, and building inspection staff, the City has developed an action plan premised on a customer-service and compliance assistance process. 

“Our goal is to help businesses achieve code compliance in the most business-friendly way possible. However, protecting life and safety is our first-and-foremost mission as local government,” said City Administrator Cathy Stepp. “While the issue of lodging compliance is not new to our community, our strategic, safety-focused initiative gives us more coordination, more collaboration and the utilization of the necessary tools
to address those establishments operating outside the confines of the law.” 

Under current code provisions, the City can issue citations and, following administrative steps, can ultimately terminate city water supply to business establishments that have consistently disregarded or attempted to circumvent the city licensing and inspection requirements necessary to lawfully operate as a business (BMC Sec. 22-41 (F)). The licensing process is a regulatory system to ensure minimal protections are in place. 

“The Branson Area Lodging Association is proud to endorse the City of Branson’s Lodging Safety Initiative. Our members have always strived to ensure the safety and comfort of visitors to our region. This enhanced enforcement of code, fire, and health compliance is necessary to take bad operators out of our industry and our community,” said Laurie Hayes, Executive Director, Branson Area Lodging Association. 

“We appreciate that the health and safety of residents are a priority in this process and we are here to connect those who need assistance with agencies that can assist,” said Lisa Marshall, Director of Taney County Health Department. “We are thankful to have a network of agencies to help support our community during times of need.” 

“The Branson Fire Department is supporting this city initiative to champion an end goal of safety and fire prevention for guests staying in area lodging facilities. This initiative is a positive step for our community in ensuring we have the tools to ensure fire code compliance and fulfill our department’s mission of putting life, health and safety first,” said Branson Fire Chief, Ted Martin. 

“Our officers have been continually frustrated by a small group of lodging establishment owners who take advantage of our most at-risk community members that are often forced to live in unsafe conditions. Our officers and employees will enthusiastically support this city initiative with the goal of ensuring safe and healthy living conditions for all who choose to visit and reside in Branson,” said Branson Police Chief, Eric Schmitt.

More details can be found on the City of Branson Website.