1. All owners of real estate within any city not within a county living outside such city not within a county must designate an agent to accept service of process for any violation of city building or occupancy codes or other city ordinances. The agent’s name and address must be registered in the city assessor’s office by January 1, 1991, and any changes must be reregistered by the owner thereof within thirty days after any such change is made. Service of process upon this agent, including service of process by registered mail as authorized pursuant to section 506.150, shall be deemed service of process upon the owner. No agent, unless he is the owner of the property, shall be liable for housing code violations relating to the property.

2. Any violation of the provisions of this section is a class B misdemeanor.