Cal. Civ. Code § 215.300
Definitions
Operative Text
As used in sections 215.300 to 215.318, the following terms mean: (1) "Additional subsidies", subsidies provided by the Missouri housing development commission to the owner of a subsidized multifamily rental housing project pursuant to section 215.311; (2) "Administering agency", the Missouri housing development commission; (3) "Affordable rent", a rent amount less than or equal to thirty percent of a family's income; (4) "Expand affordability", to reduce the cost of the housing to one or more low income tenants; (5) "HUD", the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and shall include the Federal Housing Administration and a local housing authority when it is acting to administer a HUD program; (6) "Low income tenant", a tenant who is a person or group of persons residing in the same housing accommodation so long as the total income for all such persons for the most recent twelve-month period is less than or equal to fifty percent of the median income for the area, as defined by HUD, in accordance with section 1437a, Title 42, United States Code; (7) "Low income unit", a housing unit for which the annual rental charge is less than or equal to thirty percent of the maximum annual income for a low income tenant; (8) "Moderate income tenant", a tenant who is a person or group of persons residing in the same housing accommodation so long as the total income for all such persons for the most recent twelve-month period is more than fifty percent but less than or equal to eighty percent of the median income for the area, as defined by HUD, in accordance with section 1437a, Title 42, United States Code; (9) "Moderate income unit", a housing unit for which the annual rental charge is less than or equal to thirty percent of the maximum annual income for a moderate income tenant; (10) "Mortgage prepayment", repayment of outstanding debt on a loan issued pursuant to a federal mortgage insurance program, prior to the maturity date of the loan; (11) "Multifamily rental housing project", a building or buildings under common ownership and containing four or more rental units that were constructed or substantially rehabilitated pursuant to a federal mortgage insurance program; (12) "Prepayment restriction", any limitation imposed by the federal government with regard to the repayment of outstanding debt on a loan issued pursuant to a federal mortgage insurance program, prior to the maturity date of the loan, without the prior approval of the secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Section 215.300 of Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 215 establishes the vocabulary used throughout the subsidized multifamily rental housing statutes (sections 215.300–215.318). It sets precise income thresholds that determine who qualifies as a "low income tenant" (at or below 50% of area median income) or a "moderate income tenant" (between 50% and 80% of area median income), and it defines what counts as "affordable rent" as no more than 30% of a family's income. The definitions also clarify the roles of the Missouri Housing Development Commission as the administering agency and HUD as the relevant federal authority. These meanings govern how all other provisions in this statutory range are interpreted and applied.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Owners and managers of subsidized multifamily rental housing projects in Missouri should be familiar with the definitions in § 215.300, because those terms set the framework for compliance obligations throughout sections 215.300–215.318. For example, whether a unit qualifies as a "low income unit" or "moderate income unit" depends on annual rental charges measured against income thresholds tied to HUD's area median income figures. Operators generally track tenant income documentation and rental charge levels against these definitions to determine which program requirements apply to their properties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 215.300 defines the income categories—"low income tenant" and "moderate income tenant"—that determine eligibility for protections and subsidies available under Missouri's subsidized multifamily housing statutes (sections 215.300–215.318). Tenants whose household income falls at or below 50% of HUD's area median income may qualify as low income tenants, while those between 50% and 80% may qualify as moderate income tenants, each category carrying different implications under the broader statutory scheme. Tenants who believe they may qualify under these definitions can contact the Missouri Housing Development Commission, identified in § 215.300 as the administering agency, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for general information about what these classifications mean for their housing situation.
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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