Bill > SB943

This bill modifies existing Missouri state law regarding nuisance actions, expanding the circumstances under which property owners and neighborhood organizations can bring legal action against properties with code violations or nuisance conditions. Specifically, the bill allows property owners within 1,200 feet of a nuisance to sue for damages to their property value and seek injunctive relief. Before filing a lawsuit, the party must provide a 60-day written notice to the property owner and tenant detailing the specific nuisance, when it was discovered, and the relief sought. The bill also expedites legal proceedings for such actions and allows the prevailing party to potentially recover attorneys' fees. A notable new provision introduces a significant penalty for out-of-state property owners, imposing a $2,000 civil fine per code violation and creating a mechanism for the taxing jurisdiction to sell the property if nuisances are not abated within one year or if civil fines remain unpaid after two years. The law applies to specific types of cities, including home rule cities of certain population sizes and cities not within a county, making it a targeted approach to addressing property nuisances in particular urban environments.

Government Affairs

https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=203