Cal. Civ. Code § 213.041
Restrictive covenants, homeowners' association — limitations — procedure to delete violative restrictive covenants
Operative Text
1. No declaration or other governing document of a homeowners' association shall include a restrictive covenant in violation of section 213.040. 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or provision of the governing documents, the board of directors of a homeowners' association shall amend, without approval of the owners, any declaration or other governing document that includes a restrictive covenant in violation of section 213.040, and shall restate the declaration or other governing document without the restrictive covenant but with no other change to the declaration or governing document. 3. If after providing written notice to a homeowners' association requesting that the association delete a restrictive covenant in violation of section 213.040, and the association fails to delete the restrictive covenant within thirty days of receiving the notice, the Missouri commission on human rights, a city or county in which a common interest development is located, or any person may bring an action against the homeowners' association for injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of subsections 1 and 2 of this section. The court may award attorney's fees to the prevailing party. 4. The provisions of this section shall become effective on January 1, 2006.
Missouri Revised Statutes § 213.041 prohibits homeowners' associations (HOAs) from including restrictive covenants in their governing documents that violate the state's fair housing provisions under § 213.040. HOA boards are required to remove any such unlawful covenants from their declarations or governing documents without needing a vote of the membership, leaving all other provisions intact. If an HOA fails to act within thirty days of receiving written notice requesting removal, the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, a local government, or any individual may sue for injunctive relief, and a court may award attorney's fees to the prevailing party.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 213.041, HOA boards have an affirmative obligation to identify and remove any restrictive covenants that conflict with § 213.040's fair housing protections, and this action can be taken by the board alone without a membership vote. Compliant associations typically audit their governing documents for discriminatory language, amend the relevant provisions, and restate the documents with only the offending covenant removed. Failing to act within thirty days of a written removal request exposes the association to litigation, potential injunctive orders, and possible liability for the opposing party's attorney's fees.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 213.041 gives residents and prospective residents a clear legal pathway when a homeowners' association's governing documents contain a restrictive covenant that violates fair housing law under § 213.040. A person who encounters such a covenant can send written notice to the HOA requesting its removal; if the association does not comply within thirty days, that person has standing to bring a court action for injunctive relief, and the court may award attorney's fees to the prevailing party. The Missouri Commission on Human Rights is also empowered to act under this provision, and tenant-rights or fair housing organizations can help individuals understand their options under § 213.041.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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