447.620.  Definitions. — As used in sections 447.620 to 447.640, the following terms mean:

  (1)  "Housing code", a local building, fire, health, property maintenance, nuisance, or other ordinance which contains standards regulating the condition or maintenance of residential buildings;

  (2)  "Last known address", the address where the property is located or the address as listed in the property tax records;

  (3)  "Municipality", any incorporated city, town, or village;

  (4)  "Nuisance", any property which because of its physical condition or use is a public nuisance or any property which constitutes a blight on the surrounding area or any property which is in violation of the applicable housing code such that it constitutes a substantial threat to the life, health, or safety of the public.  For purposes of sections 447.620 to 447.640, any declaration of a public nuisance by a municipality pursuant to an ordinance adopted pursuant to sections 67.400 to 67.450 shall constitute prima facie evidence that the property is a nuisance;

  (5)  "Organization", any Missouri not-for-profit organization validly organized pursuant to law and whose purpose includes the provision or enhancement of housing opportunities in its community and which has been incorporated for at least six months;

  (6)  "Parties in interest", any owner or owners of record, occupant, lessee, mortgagee, trustee, personal representative, agent, or other party having an interest in the property as shown by the land records of the recorder of deeds of the county wherein the property is located, except in any municipality contained wholly or partially within a county with a charter form of government and with more than six hundred thousand but less than seven hundred thousand inhabitants, "parties in interest" shall mean owners, lessees, mortgagees, or lienholders whose interest has been recorded or filed in the public records;

  (7)  "Rehabilitation", the process of improving the property, including, but not limited to, bringing the property into compliance with the applicable housing code.