Cal. Civ. Code § 442.055
Contamination of premises, radioactive or hazardous material — disclosure to prospective lessees, purchasers, or transferees — penalty
Operative Text
In the event that any premises to be rented, leased, sold, transferred, or conveyed is or was previously contaminated with radioactive material or other hazardous material, the owner, seller, landlord, or other transferor shall disclose in writing to the prospective lessee, purchaser, or transferee the fact the premises is or was previously contaminated with radioactive material or other hazardous material; provided that, the owner, seller, landlord, or other transferor has knowledge of such radioactive or other hazardous contamination. In the event that an owner, seller, landlord, or other transferor does not make the disclosure as required under this section*, and the person had knowledge of such radioactive or other hazardous contamination, the person shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. As used in this section, the term "knowledge" shall require the receipt by the owner, seller, landlord, or other transferor of a report stating affirmatively that the premises is or was previously contaminated with radioactive material or other hazardous material.
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 41.944, 64.207, 209.190, 442.055, 448.4-112, and 571.510, when a property that is being rented, leased, sold, or otherwise transferred has been contaminated with radioactive or hazardous material, the transferring party is required to disclose that fact in writing to the prospective tenant, buyer, or recipient — but only if that party has received a report affirmatively stating the contamination exists or existed. Failing to make this disclosure when such knowledge exists is classified as a class A misdemeanor under Missouri law. The provision defines 'knowledge' narrowly: it is triggered specifically by receipt of a written report confirming contamination, not merely by rumor or suspicion.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and landlords operating under Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 41.944, 64.207, 209.190, 442.055, 448.4-112, and 571.510 generally maintain records of any environmental or hazardous-material reports they have received about their properties, and provide written disclosure of known contamination to prospective tenants before any lease is signed. Compliant operators treat receipt of any report affirmatively identifying radioactive or hazardous contamination as the trigger for mandatory written disclosure, regardless of how old the contamination may be. Because non-disclosure with knowledge of contamination constitutes a class A misdemeanor, property managers typically establish clear internal procedures for tracking and communicating environmental reports across their portfolios.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Prospective tenants in Missouri are entitled, under Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 41.944, 64.207, 209.190, 442.055, 448.4-112, and 571.510, to receive written notice before signing a lease if the landlord has received a report confirming that the property is or was contaminated with radioactive or hazardous material. If a tenant later discovers that a landlord withheld such information despite having received a qualifying report, that non-disclosure may constitute a class A misdemeanor, which can be reported to local law enforcement or the county prosecutor's office. Tenants who believe this provision may have been violated can also seek guidance from a tenant-rights organization or consult with a licensed Missouri attorney to understand what remedies or defenses may be available to them.
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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