Missouri Court Invalidates Law Restricting HOA Control Over Backyard Chickens

A Missouri circuit court ruled that a 2024 state law prohibiting homeowner associations (HOAs) from banning backyard chickens is unconstitutional, striking down the entire bill for violating the state's constitutional requirements for single-subject legislation. The law, included as part of House Bill 2062 (also referred to as HB 2026 in some sources), had allowed residents on lots of at least 0.2 acres to keep up to six chickens despite HOA rules. The court found that the bill improperly combined unrelated provisions—including those on electric vehicle charging, eviction moratoriums, and tax credits—constituting "logrolling" to secure passage. The ruling, delivered by Cole County Circuit Judge Brian Stumpe, was hailed as a major victory by the Community Associations Institute (CAI), which had challenged the law arguing it infringed on HOAs' contractual self-governance rights. The decision restores the authority of community associations to regulate backyard chickens, though the state is expected to appeal. This legal outcome highlights ongoing tensions between state legislation and the rights of community associations in Missouri.