Section 321.222

Title XXI PUBLIC SAFETY AND MORALS

Chapter 321

Effective - 28 Aug 2005   

  321.222.  Residential construction — definitions — regulatory system of city or county supersedes fire protection district regulations (Jefferson County). — 1.  As used in this section, the term "residential construction" shall mean new construction and erection of detached single-family or two-family dwellings, the alteration, enlargement, replacement, or repair of detached single-family or two-family dwellings.

  2.  As used in this section, the term "residential construction regulatory system" means any bylaw, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation pertaining to residential construction, the implementation or enforcement of any permitting system or program relative to residential construction, including the use or occupancy by the initial occupant thereof, or the implementation or enforcement of any system or program for the inspection of residential construction.

  3.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, in the event a city, town, village, or county adopts or has adopted, implements or has implemented, or enforces a residential construction regulatory system or any portion thereof applicable to residential construction within its jurisdiction, neither fire protection districts nor their boards shall have the power, authority, or privilege to adopt, enforce, or implement a residential construction regulatory system or any portion thereof applicable to or pertaining to residential construction within the jurisdiction of such city, town, village, or county.

  4.  Any residential construction regulatory system or any portion thereof adopted or previously adopted, implemented or previously implemented, or enforced by a fire protection district or its board as to residential construction within the jurisdiction of a city, town, village, or county shall be null and void as of the date on which such city, town, village, or county adopts, implements, or enforces its own residential construction regulatory system as to residential construction within its jurisdiction whether or not the residential construction regulatory system or any portion thereof adopted, implemented, or enforced by such city, town, village, or county specifically addresses matters addressed in substance or manner by the residential construction regulatory system or any portion thereof adopted, implemented, or enforced by the applicable fire protection district or its board.

  5.  In no event shall a fire protection district or its board enact, adopt, or implement any bylaws, ordinances, orders, rules, or regulations that pertain, in any manner, to either the subdivision of land for the purpose of residential construction or to the construction, installation, and erection of any improvements, infrastructure, and utility facilities related to or for the purpose of serving residential construction.

  6.  Any residential construction regulatory system or any portion thereof adopted or previously adopted, implemented or previously implemented, or enforced by the applicable fire protection district or board that is in conflict with this section shall be void.

  7.  This section shall only apply to any fire protection district located wholly within any county of the first classification with more than one hundred ninety-eight thousand but fewer than one hundred ninety-nine thousand two hundred inhabitants.

  8.  Notwithstanding any provision in this section to the contrary, a fire protection district may enter into a contract with a county, city, town, or village to assist in the implementation of the residential construction regulatory system of such county, city, town, or village as it relates to fire protection issues as long as the county, city, town, or village retains jurisdiction over the implementation and enforcement of such system.

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(L. 2005 S.B. 210)

(2006) Section applying only to fire protection districts wholly within counties within a very narrow population range was a special law in violation of article III, section 40(30) without substantial justification for the classification.  Jefferson County Fire Protection Districts Association v. Blunt, 205 S.W.3d 866 (Mo.banc).