Bill > HB1309

This bill establishes the "Building Permit Reform Act" to provide significant regulatory relief for homeowners undertaking home improvement projects. The bill defines an "exempt homeowner" as a non-corporate, single-family residence owner and prohibits local governments from requiring professional licenses, certifications, or examinations for permit applications when work is performed by the owner or current resident. Key provisions include limiting administrative fees for unpermitted work, allowing homeowners to perform various minor home improvements without permits (such as replacing appliances, sinks, or floor coverings), and protecting homeowners from excessive fines and inspection requirements. The legislation also mandates that local governments quickly respond to inspection requests, with failure to do so resulting in partial or full fee refunds, and restricts government agents from entering private residences without permission or a warrant. Additionally, the bill requires that if a local government incorporates copyrighted building codes, they must provide those codes free of charge upon request. The overall intent is to reduce bureaucratic barriers and costs for homeowners making improvements to their properties, while still maintaining basic safety standards and code compliance.

Government Affairs

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1309&year=2025&code=R