Cal. Civ. Code § 64.207
Property maintenance code for habitability of rented residences — requirements — authority of county commission, limitations. (Boone County)
Operative Text
1. The county commission of any county of the first classification with more than one hundred fifty thousand but fewer than two hundred thousand inhabitants may adopt rules, regulations, or ordinances to ensure the habitability of rented residences. 2. The rules, regulations, or ordinances shall require each rented residence provide: (1) Structural protection from the elements; (2) Access to water service, including hot water; (3) Sewer service; (4) Access to electrical service; (5) Heat to the residence; and (6) Basic security, which, at a minimum, shall include locking doors and windows. If a utility service is unavailable because a tenant fails to pay for service, the unavailability shall not be a violation of the rules, regulations, or ordinances. 3. If a county elects to enact rules, regulations, or ordinances under this section, at a minimum, they shall contain the following provisions: (1) (a) The county commission shall create a process for selecting a designated officer to respond to written complaints of the condition of a rented residence that threatens the health or safety of tenants; (b) Any written complaint under this section shall be submitted by a tenant who is a lawful tenant who has signed a lease agreement with the property owner or his or her agent, and which tenant is current on all rent due; (2) The owner of record of any rented residence against which a written complaint has been submitted shall be served with adequate notice. The notice shall specify the condition alleged in the complaint and state a reasonable date that abatement of the condition shall commence. Notice shall be served by personal service or certified mail, return receipt requested, or, if those methods are unsuccessful, by publication; (3) The owner of record and any other person who has an interest in the rented residence shall be parties in a hearing under subdivision (4) of this subsection; (4) If work to abate the condition does not commence by the date stated in the notice or if the work does not proceed continuously and without unnecessary delay, as determined by the designated officer, the complaint shall be given a hearing before the county commission. Parties shall be given at least ten days' notice of the hearing. Any party may be represented by counsel, and all parties shall have an opportunity to be heard. If the county commission finds that the rented residence has a dangerous condition that is detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of the tenant, the county commission shall issue an order that the condition be abated. The order shall state specific facts, based on competent and substantiated evidence, that support its finding. If the county commission finds that the rented residence does not have a dangerous condition that is detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of the tenant, the county commission shall not issue an order; and (5) Any violation of the order issued by the county commission may be punished by a penalty, which shall not exceed a class C misdemeanor. Each day a violation continues shall be deemed a separate violation. Any penalty enacted in the rules, regulations, or ordinances shall not be the exclusive punishment for the condition. The designated officer may, in his or her own name or in the name of the county, seek and obtain any judicial relief provided under equity or law including, but not limited to, civil fines authorized under section 49.272, declaratory relief, and injunctive relief. The designated officer may declare the continued occupancy of the rented residence unlawful while the condition or conditions remain unabated. 4. The county commission shall only have the authority to respond to written complaints submitted to the county commission and shall not have the authority to: (1) Charge any fee for any action authorized under this section; (2) Perform any inspection of rented residences unless in response to a written complaint; or (3) Require licensing, registration, or certification of a rented residence on a regular schedule or before offering a residence for rent.
Missouri Revised Statutes §§ 41.944, 64.207, 209.190, 442.055, 448.4-112, 571.510 authorizes the county commission of qualifying first-classification counties — specifically those with more than 150,000 but fewer than 200,000 inhabitants, such as Boone County — to adopt habitability rules for rented residences. If such rules are adopted, every rented residence must provide structural protection from the elements, hot and cold water, sewer service, electrical access, heat, and basic security including locking doors and windows. The framework is complaint-driven: only current, lease-holding tenants may file written complaints, and the county commission's authority is limited to responding to those complaints — it cannot conduct proactive inspections, charge fees, or require landlord licensing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under the framework authorized by Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 41.944, 64.207, 209.190, 442.055, 448.4-112, 571.510, compliant property owners in qualifying Boone County-type jurisdictions generally ensure their rented residences continuously meet the six enumerated habitability standards — structural integrity, water (including hot water), sewer, electricity, heat, and locking doors and windows. When a written complaint is filed, the owner of record is entitled to formal notice specifying the alleged condition and a reasonable commencement date for abatement; operators who begin and diligently continue remediation work by that date reduce the likelihood of a commission hearing. Owners who fail to comply with a commission abatement order risk penalties up to a class C misdemeanor per day of continued violation, as well as potential civil fines and injunctive relief sought by the designated officer.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 41.944, 64.207, 209.190, 442.055, 448.4-112, 571.510 establishes that tenants in qualifying counties have a right to rented residences meeting minimum habitability standards covering structure, utilities, and basic security. Tenants who have a signed lease and are current on rent may submit a written complaint to the county's designated officer when a condition threatens health or safety; the process then requires the owner to receive notice and an opportunity to abate before any commission hearing is held. Tenants facing habitability concerns may also wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand the full range of options available, including any remedies available under equity or law beyond the county complaint process.
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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