In the Dirt: A Real Estate Legal Update

A new Missouri law may be a new cause of concern for homeowners. The new law, which restricts the ability of local government to regulate home occupations with zoning ordinances or other regulations, may allow noxious businesses to become new neighbors. The law, created in response to people working from home during COVID-19, has likewise caused concern for municipalities across the state as they scramble to satisfy concerned homeowners. This law may go beyond its original intention of allowing work from home as became necessary during the pandemic, and it is especially troublesome for homeowners in dense housing urban areas who may be more likely to experience disturbances from home businesses.

Tis the season to be jolly! Homeowner Associations (HOA’s) usually have some control over regulating holiday decorations but the line between what homeowners consider gorgeous or garish can be as thin as twice-used wrapping paper. HOA’s are faced with a tricky question: how can decorative displays be regulated without taking the “festive" out of “festival?”