Missouri Landlord-Tenant Law
The rules for renting in Missouri — security deposits, eviction, ending a lease, repairs and rent — with the statute or official page behind every answer.
Quick answers for Missouri
- Security deposit limit
- Landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit of more than two months' rent. RSMo 535.300.1
- Deposit return deadline
- Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the full deposit or send an itemized list of damages along with any remaining balance. Mailing to the tenant's last known address satisfies the duty. RSMo 535.300.3
- Notice for unpaid rent
- No fixed pay-or-quit notice period. Landlord must demand the rent; if it is unpaid, landlord may file a rent-and-possession statement. The one-month termination notice of 441.060 is not required before filing. RSMo 535.020
- Ending a month-to-month lease
- Either landlord or tenant may terminate with written notice setting a termination date that falls on a periodic rent-paying date at least one month after the notice is received. Unwritten city/town residential leases are month-to-month. RSMo 441.060.3-.4(1)
- Landlord entry notice
- No statute — entry and notice before entry are governed by the lease. RSMo Chs. 441, 534 and 535 (no section on landlord entry)
- Rent control / increase limits
- Statewide preemption. Counties and cities, including charter governments, may not enact, maintain, or enforce ordinances regulating the rent charged for privately owned residential or commercial rental property. Exceptions: property the locality owns, voluntary agreements for subsidized properties, and CDBG-assisted properties. RSMo 441.043
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-23
Security Deposits in Missouri
| Security deposit limit | Landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit of more than two months' rent. Pet deposits are excluded from the definition of 'security deposit' (535.300.8). Since 28 Aug 2025, RSMo 441.043 bars cities/counties from limiting security deposit amounts. Source: RSMo 535.300.1 |
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| Deposit return deadline | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the full deposit or send an itemized list of damages along with any remaining balance. Mailing to the tenant's last known address satisfies the duty. Landlord must give the tenant reasonable written notice of the move-out inspection, and the tenant may attend (535.300.5). Source: RSMo 535.300.3 |
| Itemized deductions | Required. Withholding must be listed in a written itemized list of damages. Allowed deductions: unpaid rent; restoring the unit beyond ordinary wear and tear; carpet cleaning if the lease contains the required notice and a receipt is provided within 30 days; actual losses from the tenant's inadequate termination notice if the landlord tried to mitigate. Tenant may not use the deposit as last month's rent (535.300.7). Source: RSMo 535.300.3-.4 |
| Interest on deposits | No interest owed to tenant. Deposits must be held in an insured bank, credit union, or similar depository institution, and any interest earned belongs to the landlord. Housing authorities and other government landlords are exempt from the depository requirement. Source: RSMo 535.300.2 |
| Penalty for withholding | Tenant may recover twice the amount wrongfully withheld. Annotation on the Revisor page cites PDQ Tower Services v. Adams, 213 S.W.3d 697 (Mo. App. W.D. 2007): double-damages provision does not apply to commercial tenants. Source: RSMo 535.300.6 |
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Eviction in Missouri
| Notice for unpaid rent | No fixed pay-or-quit notice period. Landlord must demand the rent; if it is unpaid, landlord may file a rent-and-possession statement. The one-month termination notice of 441.060 is not required before filing. Tenant can stop the case by tendering all overdue rent plus costs on the judgment date (RSMo 535.160). Source: RSMo 535.020 |
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| Notice for lease violations | 10 days' notice to vacate for breach of a written lease condition, unauthorized assignment/sublet, or waste (violations of 441.030), and for illegal use under 441.020 (gambling, bawdyhouse, controlled substances). The statute provides no right to cure. Expedited eviction for drug-related criminal activity or violence is available under RSMo 441.710-441.880; 441.780 dispenses with notice in certain of those actions. Source: RSMo 441.030, 441.040, 441.020 |
| Lockouts & utility shutoffs | Prohibited. A landlord who removes or excludes a tenant or the tenant's property without judicial process and court order, or removes doors or locks, is guilty of forcible entry and detainer. The same applies to willfully interrupting essential services (electric, gas, water, sewer) unless done for health or safety reasons. Tenant can sue under Ch. 534, which awards double damages and double monthly rents/profits until restitution. Exception: abandonment procedure under RSMo 441.065. Damages: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=534.330 Source: RSMo 441.233; 534.330 |
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Notice to Vacate in Missouri
| Ending a month-to-month lease | Either landlord or tenant may terminate with written notice setting a termination date that falls on a periodic rent-paying date at least one month after the notice is received. Unwritten city/town residential leases are month-to-month. Same notice applies to both parties. Mobile home lot leases under one year (tenant owns the home): termination no sooner than 60 days after the next rent due date (441.060.4(2)). Source: RSMo 441.060.3-.4(1) |
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Landlord Entry in Missouri
| Landlord entry notice | No statute — entry and notice before entry are governed by the lease. No section of the landlord-tenant (Ch. 441), forcible entry and unlawful detainer (Ch. 534) or rent-and-possession (Ch. 535) chapters sets a landlord right of entry or an entry-notice period. In a code-enforcement nuisance case, an owner's inability to get access despite good-faith efforts is a defense (RSMo 441.560). Chapter lists: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=534 and https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=535. |
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Repairs & Habitability in Missouri
| Repair and deduct | Allowed in narrow cases: tenant must have lived there 6 consecutive months, be current on rent, and have no uncured written lease-violation notice. The condition must affect habitability, sanitation, or security and violate a local housing/building code. Reasonable repair cost must be under $300 or one-half month's rent, whichever is greater, but never more than one month's rent. Tenant gives written notice; landlord has 14 days (or promptly in an emergency) to fix. Tenant then gives an itemized statement with receipts. Total deductions are capped at one month's rent in any 12-month period. If the landlord disputes the repair in writing, the tenant must first get municipal written certification of the code violation. The 14 days then run from certification or notice, whichever is later. This right cannot be waived by lease. Source: RSMo 441.234 |
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| Withholding rent | No general right to withhold rent. The AG says a tenant who withholds rent may be evicted. Exceptions: repair-and-deduct under 441.234, and court-ordered rent payments in a deficient-housing/nuisance receivership action, which are a defense to eviction for nonpayment. Per the AG guide 'Missouri's Landlord-Tenant Law' (revised Sept. 2025). For 441.580, see https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=441.580 Source: RSMo 441.234; 441.570-441.580 |
| Retaliation protection | No general statewide anti-retaliation statute for residential tenants. No section of Chs. 441, 534 or 535 bars retaliation against residential tenants. Fair-housing retaliation rules and local ordinances may apply. Whether courts recognize a common-law retaliatory-eviction defense is not settled by statute. Chapter lists: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=534 and https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=535. |
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Rent Increases & Late Fees in Missouri
| Rent control / increase limits | Statewide preemption. Counties and cities, including charter governments, may not enact, maintain, or enforce ordinances regulating the rent charged for privately owned residential or commercial rental property. Exceptions: property the locality owns, voluntary agreements for subsidized properties, and CDBG-assisted properties. Amended by H.B. 595 & 343 (2025), effective 28 Aug 2025. It now also bars local rules that: require landlords to accept housing-assistance income; restrict tenant screening (credit, eviction or criminal history); limit security deposit amounts; or require a tenant right of first refusal. Source: RSMo 441.043 |
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| Late fees | No statute — no cap or grace period; late fees are governed by the lease. No section of Chs. 441, 534 or 535 caps late fees or requires a grace period. The Attorney General's guide advises tenants to check the lease for late fees and grace periods. Chapter lists: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=534 and https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=535. |
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Breaking a Lease in Missouri
| Ending a lease: domestic violence | Limited. Missouri has no notice-based lease-break procedure. Instead, in a landlord's action under Ch. 441, 534 or 535, a tenant who has moved out has an affirmative defense and is not liable for rent after vacating if the court finds (by a preponderance of the evidence) that the tenant was, or was in imminent danger of becoming, a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and the tenant notified the landlord and gave any requested documentation. Documentation can be a statement signed under penalty of perjury by a victim-service, health-care, or mental-health professional (also signed by the victim), or a police, court, or administrative agency record. The landlord may charge a reasonable termination fee. Victims also cannot be denied tenancy, evicted, or found in violation of a lease because of the abuse. The anti-discrimination protection does not apply if the tenant allowed the named abuser into the premises, or the landlord reasonably believes the named person threatens other occupants or the property (441.920.2). False information can be grounds for eviction (441.920.5). Effective 28 Aug 2019. Source: RSMo 441.920 |
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| Ending a lease: military, medical, death | Military: an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces, or a Missouri Army or Air National Guard member on full-time duty or serving as a civil service technician, may end a residential lease on 15 days' written notice after receiving permanent change of station orders, temporary duty orders over 90 days to a location at least 25 miles away, discharge or release from duty, or orders to live in government quarters. A copy of the orders (or a commanding officer's letter) must be given before the termination date. Rent is due through the termination date, and the deposit and pet deposit must be refunded in full if the tenant otherwise complied with the lease and 535.300. No state statute was found for medical/disability, senior, or tenant-death terminations. The federal SCRA also applies. Medical/senior/death absence is based on the Chapter 441/534/535 section lists only. Source: RSMo 41.944 |
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Squatters & Abandoned Property in Missouri
| Squatters / unauthorized occupants | Expedited court process (since 28 Aug 2024). The owner or an authorized agent files a verified petition in the county where the property is. The petition must state, among other things: the property includes a residential dwelling and was not open to the public when the occupants entered; the occupants are not guests, current or former tenants, or immediate family of the owner; the owner told them to leave and they refused; the property has not been leased to anyone for three consecutive months; and no related litigation is pending. On good cause the court must immediately issue an ex parte removal order, with a hearing within 48 hours of filing. The sheriff enforces the order and may stand by while the owner changes the locks and moves the occupants' belongings to or near the property line. Violating the order is a class A misdemeanor. A person removed without just cause may sue for restored possession, actual damages to personal property, $1,000 statutory damages, and court costs. Clerks must help unrepresented owners with the forms at no cost; filing fees match associate circuit court fees (534.602.3-.4). Criminal trespass arrests remain available (534.602.13). The penalty and arrest provisions are in 534.604: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=534.604 |
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| Belongings left behind | After the tenant abandons the premises, the landlord may remove or dispose of property left behind without liability. The premises count as abandoned only if: (1) the landlord reasonably believes the tenant has moved out and does not intend to return; (2) rent has been due and unpaid for 30 days; (3) the landlord posts a written notice on the premises and mails it to the tenant's last known address by both first-class and certified mail (return receipt requested), using the statutory wording that the landlord may declare the property abandoned and dispose of the tenant's possessions unless the tenant responds in writing within 10 days; and (4) the tenant does not pay rent or respond in writing within 10 days after both the posting and the mailing. No storage period or sale procedure is required by the statute. After an eviction judgment, if the officer fails to deliver possession within 7 days of receiving the writ, the landlord may (within 60 days of judgment, with a law enforcement officer present) remove locks and remove property left behind, and is not liable for that property except for negligent, willful or wanton acts (RSMo 441.060.5-.6). Source: RSMo 441.065 |
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Rental Fees in Missouri
| Application / screening fees | No statute. Missouri statutes do not cap or regulate rental application or screening fees. Since 28 Aug 2025, cities and counties may not restrict a landlord's use of credit scores, credit reports, eviction or property damage history, or criminal history in screening. Based on review of the section titles of Chapters 441, 534 and 535 on the Revisor site (https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=441). Other chapters not exhaustively searched. |
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| Other rental fees | No statute. No Missouri statute limits move-in, convenience, or online-payment fees or requires all-in rent disclosure. In a rent-and-possession case, other lease charges may be joined to the claim but are not treated as rent and cannot by themselves support an order for possession. Absence finding based on the Chapter 441/534/535 section lists. |
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Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel in Missouri
| Section 8 / source of income | No. Missouri has no statewide ban on refusing voucher holders. Since 28 Aug 2025, cities and counties (including charter governments) are also barred from enacting, keeping, or enforcing ordinances that stop landlords from refusing tenants whose rent is paid partly with federal or other housing assistance. Local ordinances protecting recipients of veterans' benefits remain allowed. The ban covers 'maintain' and 'enforce', so it reaches existing local ordinances. Whether the state Human Rights Act (RSMo Ch. 213) lists source of income was not separately checked. |
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| Eviction record sealing | No statute found. No section of RSMo Chapters 441, 534 or 535 provides for sealing, masking, or expunging eviction court records. A consumer website claims Missouri allows sealing of some eviction records but cites no statute; not confirmed. Court-rule or Case.net practices were not checked. |
| Right to a lawyer in eviction | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases found. Local (city) right-to-counsel programs, if any, were not checked. |
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Mold, Pests, Heat & AC in Missouri
| Mold | No statute — Missouri has no mold disclosure or remediation law. Missouri courts recognize an implied warranty of habitability as case law, not statute. Local housing codes set specific standards. If a condition that detrimentally affects habitability or sanitation violates a local housing or building code, an eligible tenant may use the statutory repair-and-deduct remedy. To qualify, the tenant must have lived there 6 consecutive months, be current on rent, and have no uncured lease-violation notices. Chapter 441 contents checked: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=441. Local ordinances (e.g., in Kansas City and St. Louis) may contain moisture or mold standards. |
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| Pests & bed bugs | No statute — no state law assigns pest or bed bug treatment or requires disclosure. The lease, local housing codes and the case-law implied warranty of habitability govern. Where an infestation violates a local housing code, an eligible tenant may use the repair-and-deduct remedy. Local codes in larger cities typically make owners responsible for extermination in multi-unit buildings. |
| Heat | No statewide minimum temperature or heating season for rentals. Heat requirements come from local housing codes and the lease. By statute, in master-metered multi-unit buildings, the utility must post notice 5 days before shutting off heat-related service for the owner's nonpayment. Tenants may then petition for a receiver, and service may not be cut while the petition is pending. Missouri Public Service Commission cold-weather rules for utility customers are separate and were not verified here. Source: RSMo 441.650; ch. 441 (checked) |
| Air conditioning | No statute — Missouri law does not require landlords to provide air conditioning or set a maximum indoor temperature. Some local codes may require that cooling equipment supplied by the landlord be maintained. Source: RSMo ch. 441 and 535 (checked) |
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Privacy, Guests & Animals in Missouri
| Cameras & privacy | No landlord-specific statute. It is the crime of invasion of privacy to knowingly photograph, film or otherwise create an image of someone, without consent, while they are fully or partly nude in a place where they would reasonably expect privacy. It is also a crime to create images under or through someone's clothing. This is a class A misdemeanor, and a class E felony if the image is distributed, more than one person is captured, or it is a repeat offense. Recording conversations is lawful if the recorder is a party or one party consents (one-party consent). 542.402: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=542.402. Missouri has no statute on landlord entry; the lease governs. Source: RSMo 565.252; RSMo 542.402.2 |
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| Guests & occupants | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits and roommates. Missouri's landlord-tenant chapters don't define guests versus tenants or give roommate rights. Separate expedited eviction procedures allow immediate removal of parties other than the tenant in certain cases involving criminal activity. Occupancy limits come from local housing codes. |
| Service & support animals (state law) | It is a class C misdemeanor (class B for repeat offenses), with civil liability for actual damages, to knowingly misrepresent an animal as an assistance animal to get Fair Housing Act or Rehabilitation Act accommodations. This includes emotional support animals. Misrepresentation includes creating or providing false documents, fitting a vest or sign on an animal that isn't an assistance animal, or lying to a health care provider to get documentation. All assistance-animal documentation must come from a qualified professional as permitted under federal law. Separately, service dogs may not be subject to an extra charge in places like lodging, though the owner is liable for damage. State fair housing law bans disability discrimination. 209.150: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=209.150. 213.040: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=213.040. The misrepresentation provisions were added in 2020 (S.B. 644/656). Federal rules bar pet fees or deposits for assistance animals in housing. |
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How eviction works in Missouri
Eviction cases are heard in: Circuit Court, Associate Circuit Division, in the county where the property is located.
- Nonpayment: landlord demands rent (no fixed notice period). Lease breach, waste, or unauthorized sublet: 10-day notice to vacate (441.040). Holdover/month-to-month: one-month written termination notice (441.060).
- Landlord files a rent-and-possession statement (Ch. 535) or an unlawful detainer complaint (Ch. 534) with an associate circuit judge in the county
- Summons served at least 4 days before the court date, or by posting plus mailing at least 10 days before it. The court date is within 21 business days of issuance.
- Hearing. In a rent case, the tenant may stop it by tendering all overdue rent and costs (535.160).
- Judgment for possession, rent, and costs. Tenant has 10 days to move to set aside or apply for a trial de novo before the judgment becomes final.
- Execution issues. The officer (sheriff) delivers possession to the landlord within 5 days of receiving the execution (535.040).
Court date is no more than 21 business days after the summons is issued (unless the plaintiff consents in writing to later). Personal service is at least 4 days before the court date; posting and mailing at least 10 days before. 10 days after judgment for a trial de novo or a motion to set aside.
Source: RSMo 535.020, 535.030, 535.040, 535.160; 441.040; 441.060
What surprises people about Missouri rental law
- Unauthorized subletting: tenants with a term of two years or less (or month-to-month or holdover) may not assign or transfer the tenancy without the landlord's written consent (RSMo 441.030; https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=441.030). In a case for rent or possession, if the tenant let someone else take sole possession by collusion and without the landlord's permission, the court may award damages of up to twice the rent due, on top of the rent (RSMo 534.347; https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=534.347).
- Interest earned on security deposits belongs to the landlord, not the tenant (RSMo 535.300.2).
- Carpet-cleaning deductions are allowed only if the lease contains the required notice and the landlord provides a receipt (RSMo 535.300.4).
- Wrongful self-help eviction or utility shutoff exposes the landlord to double damages as forcible entry and detainer (RSMo 441.233, 534.330).
- Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking cannot be denied housing or evicted because of that status. A tenant who moved out has an affirmative defense to post-move rent if documentation is provided (RSMo 441.920, eff. 28 Aug 2019).
- Since 28 Aug 2025, cities cannot pass source-of-income protections, tenant-screening limits, deposit caps, or right-of-first-refusal rules (RSMo 441.043 as amended by H.B. 595 & 343).
- Active-duty service members may end a lease with 15 days' notice on PCS orders, deployment-type orders, discharge, or orders to government quarters (Missouri AG guide, revised Sept. 2025).
Federal law that also applies in Missouri
These federal rules apply on top of Missouri law, mostly to discrimination, servicemembers, survivors and federally assisted housing:
- Fair Housing Act: protected classes, covered housing and exemptions: Save every listing, text and email. A discriminatory ad is illegal even when the landlord's unit is otherwise exempt. More
- Assistance animals (service and emotional support animals) in housing: Ask for the accommodation in writing, keep a copy, and if a disability or the need for the animal is not obvious, offer reliable documentation of it. More
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: ending a lease early: Deliver the notice and orders by a method you can prove, such as certified mail with return receipt, and keep copies. More
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: eviction protection: Tell the court in writing that you or your spouse are on active duty and ask for an SCRA stay. More
- VAWA housing protections: Ask the landlord or housing authority for its VAWA emergency transfer plan and request a transfer in writing. More
- CARES Act 30-day notice to vacate (covered dwellings): If your building has a federally backed mortgage or federal subsidy and you received less than 30 days' notice to vacate, raise the CARES Act as a defense. More
- HUD 30-day nonpayment notice (public housing and project-based Section 8): If you pay the full amount listed in the notice within 30 days, the landlord cannot file for eviction over that rent. More
- Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) basics for private landlords: If a voucher landlord asks for 'side payments' above your share of the rent, refuse and report it to your PHA. More
- Lead-based paint disclosure (pre-1978 housing): If your pre-1978 lease came with no lead disclosure form and pamphlet, ask for them in writing before signing. More
- FCRA tenant screening: adverse action notices and disputes: Request your free report from the screening company within 60 days of a denial and dispute any errors in writing with supporting documents. More
- Rental 'junk fee' rulemaking and enforcement (FTC/CFPB): Before paying an application fee, ask in writing for the total monthly cost including every mandatory fee. More
- Federal eviction moratoria: Check your state and city rules, since any eviction pause now comes from local, not federal, law. More
City rules in Missouri
These cities add their own tenant protections on top of state law:
Eviction by county in Missouri
Which court hears evictions, filing fees, local rent levels and help:
- Eviction in St. Louis County
- Eviction in Jackson County (Kansas City)
- Eviction in St. Louis City
- Eviction in Greene County (Springfield)
- Eviction in Boone County (Columbia)
- Eviction in St. Charles County (St. Charles, O'Fallon, St. Peters)
- Eviction in Clay County (Liberty, North Kansas City, part of Kansas City)
For landlords
How to evict a tenant in Missouri — steps, cost, timeline and forms.
Common Missouri questions
- Can a landlord enter without notice or permission?
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?
- Can a landlord evict you without going to court, change the locks or shut off utilities?
- Can I withhold rent for repairs?
- How long does an eviction take?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before an eviction?
- Can a landlord raise the rent in the middle of a lease?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give to end a lease or not renew?
- How much can a landlord charge for a late fee?
- Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining?
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit?
- How long does a landlord have to sue for unpaid rent or damages?
- Can a landlord accept rent during an eviction?
- Can you be evicted in the winter?
- Can a landlord give an eviction notice by text or email?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent?
- Does a landlord have to give you a copy of the lease?
- What happens to tenants if the landlord goes into foreclosure?
- How long does a landlord have to keep a tenant's belongings?
- How do you remove a squatter?
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
- What rental fees are illegal (junk fees)?
- Can I break my lease because of domestic violence?
- Can I break my lease for military orders, medical reasons or a death?
- Can a landlord refuse Section 8?
- Can an eviction be removed from your record?
- Do tenants get a free lawyer for an eviction?
- What are my rights without a written lease?
- Does a landlord have to fix mold?
- Who pays for pest control and bed bugs in a rental?
- Does a landlord have to provide heat?
- Does a landlord have to provide air conditioning?
- What can a landlord charge for at move-out (cleaning, painting, carpet)?
- Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental?
- Can a landlord limit overnight guests or roommates?
- Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal?
- Can a landlord evict you for no reason?
Free calculators
- Notice Deadline Calculator
- Security Deposit Deadline Calculator
- Late Fee Checker
- Rent Increase Calculator
How Missouri compares to neighboring states
| State | Security deposit limit | Deposit return deadline | Notice for unpaid rent |
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| Missouri | Landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit of more than two months' rent. RSMo 535.300.1 | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the full deposit or send an itemized list of damages along with any remaining balance. Mailing to the tenant's last known address satisfies the duty. RSMo 535.300.3 | No fixed pay-or-quit notice period. Landlord must demand the rent; if it is unpaid, landlord may file a rent-and-possession statement. The one-month termination notice of 441.060 is not required before filing. RSMo 535.020 |
| Arkansas | Two months' rent. Example: with rent of $500, the maximum deposit is $1,000. The deposit rules apply only to landlords who rent six or more dwellings. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 18-16-303, 18-16-304 | Within 60 days after the tenant moves out. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-305 | For a civil unlawful detainer, the landlord must give three days' written notice to vacate before filing. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-60-304 |
| Illinois | No statewide legal limit on the amount of a security deposit. Illinois AG fact sheet 'Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws' (01/24) | If the landlord withholds anything for damage, an itemized statement with estimated or actual repair costs and paid receipts is due within 30 days after the tenant vacates (or possession ends, whichever is later); if no statement is given, the full deposit must be returned within 45 days after the tenant vacates. 765 ILCS 710/1 | Written demand giving not less than 5 days after service to pay; if unpaid, landlord may end the lease and file for eviction. To keep partial payments from invalidating the notice, it must state that only FULL PAYMENT waives the right to terminate. 735 ILCS 5/9-209 |
| Iowa | Two months' rent. Iowa Code § 562A.12(1) | Within 30 days after termination of the tenancy and receipt of the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions, return the deposit or give a written statement of the specific reasons for withholding. If no address is provided within one year, the deposit reverts to the landlord. Iowa Code § 562A.12(3)-(4) | 3 days' written notice of nonpayment and of the landlord's intent to terminate if rent is not paid within that period. After that notice, no separate 3-day notice to quit is required before filing. Iowa Code § 562A.27(2); § 648.3(1) |
| Kansas | Unfurnished unit: one month's rent. Furnished: 1.5 months' rent. If pets are allowed, an additional pet deposit of up to one-half month's rent. K.S.A. 58-2550(a) | Balance due within 14 days after the landlord determines deductions, and in no event more than 30 days after termination of tenancy, delivery of possession and the tenant's demand. If the tenant makes no demand within 30 days, the landlord must mail the amount due to the tenant's last known address. K.S.A. 58-2550(b) | 3 days' written notice to pay or the lease terminates (three consecutive 24-hour periods from delivery or posting; add 2 days if mailed). Before filing, a 3-day notice to leave the premises is also required; it may be combined with the RLTA notice. K.S.A. 58-2564(b); K.S.A. 61-3803 |
| Kentucky | No statutory cap (statewide or under URLTA). KRS 383.580 | Non-URLTA areas: no statute. URLTA areas: no fixed refund deadline; if the tenant leaves owing no rent with a refund due, the landlord must send notice of the refund amount to the tenant's last known address and may keep the deposit if the tenant does not respond within 60 days. If the tenant leaves without paying the last month's rent and does not demand the deposit, the landlord may apply it after 30 days. KRS 383.580(6)-(7) | URLTA areas: 7 days' written notice to pay or the lease terminates. Non-URLTA areas: no statutory pre-filing notice period for nonpayment was found; terms are governed by the lease. KRS 383.660(2) |
| Nebraska | One month's periodic rent (any security however labeled). A separate pet deposit of up to one-fourth of one month's periodic rent may also be charged. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 | 14 days after the tenancy terminates (balance plus written itemization delivered or mailed; if no forwarding address is given, mail first-class to the last-known address). Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 | 7 calendar days' written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate; landlord may terminate if rent is not paid within that time. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1431(2) |
| Oklahoma | No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit. 41 O.S. § 115 | 45 days after the tenancy ends, possession is delivered AND the tenant makes a written demand for the deposit. 41 O.S. § 115(B) | 5 days' written notice demanding payment. If rent is not paid within 5 days after the notice, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement. The demand counts as a demand for possession; no further notice to quit is required. 41 O.S. § 131 |
| Tennessee | No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit. T.C.A. 66-28-301 | No fixed number of days for returning the deposit. In URLTA counties, if the tenant leaves owing no rent and is due a refund, the landlord must send notice of the refund amount to the tenant's last known or reasonably determinable address. If the tenant does not respond within 60 days of that notice, the landlord may keep the deposit. Move-out inspection: on the move-out day or within 4 calendar days after it. T.C.A. 66-28-301(b)(1)(A), (f) | 14 days. URLTA counties: written notice that the lease will end unless the rent is paid within 14 days after the tenant receives the notice. The tenant can cure by paying. Notice may be waived only by a waiver in 12-point or larger bold type in the lease, and the 5-day late-fee grace period still applies. Non-URLTA counties: 14 days' notice for rent that is due and in arrears, upon demand. The lease does not end if the tenant pays before the date in the notice. T.C.A. 66-28-505(a)(2), (b); 66-28-201(c); 66-7-109(a) |
Missouri landlord-tenant FAQ
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Missouri?
Landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit of more than two months' rent. (RSMo 535.300.1)
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Missouri?
Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the full deposit or send an itemized list of damages along with any remaining balance. Mailing to the tenant's last known address satisfies the duty. (RSMo 535.300.3)
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Missouri?
No interest owed to tenant. Deposits must be held in an insured bank, credit union, or similar depository institution, and any interest earned belongs to the landlord. (RSMo 535.300.2)
Does a landlord in Missouri have to give an itemized list of deposit deductions?
Required. Withholding must be listed in a written itemized list of damages. Allowed deductions: unpaid rent; restoring the unit beyond ordinary wear and tear; carpet cleaning if the lease contains the required notice and a receipt is provided within 30 days; actual losses from the tenant's inadequate termination notice if the landlord tried to mitigate. (RSMo 535.300.3-.4)
What happens if a landlord in Missouri wrongfully keeps a security deposit?
Tenant may recover twice the amount wrongfully withheld. (RSMo 535.300.6)
How much notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in Missouri?
No fixed pay-or-quit notice period. Landlord must demand the rent; if it is unpaid, landlord may file a rent-and-possession statement. The one-month termination notice of 441.060 is not required before filing. (RSMo 535.020)
How much notice is required to evict for a lease violation in Missouri?
10 days' notice to vacate for breach of a written lease condition, unauthorized assignment/sublet, or waste (violations of 441.030), and for illegal use under 441.020 (gambling, bawdyhouse, controlled substances). The statute provides no right to cure. (RSMo 441.030, 441.040, 441.020)
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Missouri?
Either landlord or tenant may terminate with written notice setting a termination date that falls on a periodic rent-paying date at least one month after the notice is received. Unwritten city/town residential leases are month-to-month. (RSMo 441.060.3-.4(1))
Can a landlord enter without notice in Missouri?
No statute — entry and notice before entry are governed by the lease. (RSMo Chs. 441, 534 and 535 (no section on landlord entry))
Is there a limit on late fees in Missouri?
No statute — no cap or grace period; late fees are governed by the lease. (RSMo Chs. 441, 534 and 535 (no section on late fees))
Can a tenant repair and deduct from rent in Missouri?
Allowed in narrow cases: tenant must have lived there 6 consecutive months, be current on rent, and have no uncured written lease-violation notice. The condition must affect habitability, sanitation, or security and violate a local housing/building code. Reasonable repair cost must be under $300 or one-half month's rent, whichever is greater, but never more than one month's rent. Tenant gives written notice; landlord has 14 days (or promptly in an emergency) to fix. Tenant then gives an itemized statement with receipts. Total deductions are capped at one month's rent in any 12-month period. (RSMo 441.234)
Can a tenant withhold rent for repairs in Missouri?
No general right to withhold rent. The AG says a tenant who withholds rent may be evicted. Exceptions: repair-and-deduct under 441.234, and court-ordered rent payments in a deficient-housing/nuisance receivership action, which are a defense to eviction for nonpayment. (RSMo 441.234; 441.570-441.580)
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Missouri?
No general statewide anti-retaliation statute for residential tenants. (RSMo Chs. 441, 534 and 535 (no section on retaliation))
Is there rent control or a limit on rent increases in Missouri?
Statewide preemption. Counties and cities, including charter governments, may not enact, maintain, or enforce ordinances regulating the rent charged for privately owned residential or commercial rental property. Exceptions: property the locality owns, voluntary agreements for subsidized properties, and CDBG-assisted properties. (RSMo 441.043)
Can a landlord change the locks or shut off utilities in Missouri?
Prohibited. A landlord who removes or excludes a tenant or the tenant's property without judicial process and court order, or removes doors or locks, is guilty of forcible entry and detainer. The same applies to willfully interrupting essential services (electric, gas, water, sewer) unless done for health or safety reasons. Tenant can sue under Ch. 534, which awards double damages and double monthly rents/profits until restitution. (RSMo 441.233; 534.330)
What is the small claims court limit in Missouri for a deposit dispute?
$5,000 (exclusive of interest and costs) (RSMo 482.305)
How do you remove a squatter in Missouri?
Expedited court process (since 28 Aug 2024). The owner or an authorized agent files a verified petition in the county where the property is. The petition must state, among other things: the property includes a residential dwelling and was not open to the public when the occupants entered; the occupants are not guests, current or former tenants, or immediate family of the owner; the owner told them to leave and they refused; the property has not been leased to anyone for three consecutive months; and no related litigation is pending. On good cause the court must immediately issue an ex parte removal order, with a hearing within 48 hours of filing. The sheriff enforces the order and may stand by while the owner changes the locks and moves the occupants' belongings to or near the property line. Violating the order is a class A misdemeanor. A person removed without just cause may sue for restored possession, actual damages to personal property, $1,000 statutory damages, and court costs. (RSMo 534.602, 534.604 (L. 2024 H.B. 2062))
What can a landlord do with a tenant's abandoned property in Missouri?
After the tenant abandons the premises, the landlord may remove or dispose of property left behind without liability. The premises count as abandoned only if: (1) the landlord reasonably believes the tenant has moved out and does not intend to return; (2) rent has been due and unpaid for 30 days; (3) the landlord posts a written notice on the premises and mails it to the tenant's last known address by both first-class and certified mail (return receipt requested), using the statutory wording that the landlord may declare the property abandoned and dispose of the tenant's possessions unless the tenant responds in writing within 10 days; and (4) the tenant does not pay rent or respond in writing within 10 days after both the posting and the mailing. No storage period or sale procedure is required by the statute. (RSMo 441.065)
Is there a limit on rental application fees in Missouri?
No statute. Missouri statutes do not cap or regulate rental application or screening fees. Since 28 Aug 2025, cities and counties may not restrict a landlord's use of credit scores, credit reports, eviction or property damage history, or criminal history in screening. (RSMo Ch. 441, 534, 535 (no fee section); RSMo 441.043.2(2))
What rental fees are banned or limited in Missouri?
No statute. No Missouri statute limits move-in, convenience, or online-payment fees or requires all-in rent disclosure. In a rent-and-possession case, other lease charges may be joined to the claim but are not treated as rent and cannot by themselves support an order for possession. (RSMo Ch. 441, 535 (no fee section); RSMo 535.020)
Can a domestic violence survivor break a lease in Missouri?
Limited. Missouri has no notice-based lease-break procedure. Instead, in a landlord's action under Ch. 441, 534 or 535, a tenant who has moved out has an affirmative defense and is not liable for rent after vacating if the court finds (by a preponderance of the evidence) that the tenant was, or was in imminent danger of becoming, a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and the tenant notified the landlord and gave any requested documentation. Documentation can be a statement signed under penalty of perjury by a victim-service, health-care, or mental-health professional (also signed by the victim), or a police, court, or administrative agency record. The landlord may charge a reasonable termination fee. Victims also cannot be denied tenancy, evicted, or found in violation of a lease because of the abuse. (RSMo 441.920)
When can a tenant break a lease without penalty in Missouri?
Military: an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces, or a Missouri Army or Air National Guard member on full-time duty or serving as a civil service technician, may end a residential lease on 15 days' written notice after receiving permanent change of station orders, temporary duty orders over 90 days to a location at least 25 miles away, discharge or release from duty, or orders to live in government quarters. A copy of the orders (or a commanding officer's letter) must be given before the termination date. Rent is due through the termination date, and the deposit and pet deposit must be refunded in full if the tenant otherwise complied with the lease and 535.300. No state statute was found for medical/disability, senior, or tenant-death terminations. (RSMo 41.944)
Can an eviction record be sealed or removed in Missouri?
No statute found. No section of RSMo Chapters 441, 534 or 535 provides for sealing, masking, or expunging eviction court records. (RSMo Ch. 441, 534, 535 (section lists reviewed))
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 vouchers in Missouri?
No. Missouri has no statewide ban on refusing voucher holders. Since 28 Aug 2025, cities and counties (including charter governments) are also barred from enacting, keeping, or enforcing ordinances that stop landlords from refusing tenants whose rent is paid partly with federal or other housing assistance. Local ordinances protecting recipients of veterans' benefits remain allowed. (RSMo 441.043.2(1), .4 (as amended by L. 2025 H.B. 595 & 343))
Do tenants have a right to a free lawyer in eviction cases in Missouri?
No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases found. (RSMo Ch. 441, 534, 535 (no counsel provision))
What does a Missouri notice to pay rent or quit have to include?
No statutory pay-or-quit form or waiting period. Before filing a rent-and-possession case, the landlord (or agent) must demand the rent from the tenant or occupant; the demand is valid any time after the rent becomes due. The statute does not prescribe wording, a writing requirement, or a delivery method for the demand. The landlord's sworn statement to the court must set out the rental terms, the rent actually due, that rent was demanded and not paid, and a description of the property. The one-month termination notice of 441.060 is not required. (RSMo 535.020, 535.060)
What does a Missouri notice to end a month-to-month tenancy have to include?
Must be in writing and state that the month-to-month tenancy will end on a periodic rent-paying date at least one month after the other party receives the notice. Either landlord or tenant may give it. Mobile-home owners renting a lot get at least 60 days from the next rent due date. The statute does not prescribe a delivery method. (RSMo 441.060.1, .3, .4)
What must a Missouri security deposit itemization include?
Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must either return the full deposit or give the tenant a written itemized list of the damages for which any part is withheld, together with the balance. Mailing the statement and any payment to the tenant's last known address satisfies the requirement. Withholding is limited to unpaid rent, restoring the unit beyond ordinary wear and tear, carpet cleaning if the lease has the required notice and a receipt is provided, and actual losses from inadequate termination notice. (RSMo 535.300.3-.4)
How long does a landlord have to sue for unpaid rent in Missouri?
10 years for an action upon a writing for the payment of money (a written lease's promise to pay rent); 5 years for other contract actions, including oral leases and lease claims not 'for the payment of money' (e.g., some damage/covenant claims). (RSMo 516.110(1); RSMo 516.120(1))
Can a landlord accept rent during an eviction in Missouri?
No statute addresses whether accepting rent after a notice waives an eviction. By statute, in a rent-and-possession case (ch. 535), if the tenant tenders all rent in arrears plus costs on the date the money judgment is entered, the case stops; paying the judgment and costs before it becomes final stays execution for possession. Otherwise waiver is left to case law and the lease. (RSMo 535.160; ch. 441, 534 and 535 checked)
Can you be evicted in the winter in Missouri?
No state statute limits winter evictions. For master-metered multi-unit buildings, the utility must post notice 5 days before cutting heat-related service for the owner's nonpayment, and tenants can petition for a rent receiver; while that petition is pending (with 24 hours' written notice to the utility) the utility may not cut service. (RSMo 441.650)
Can a landlord give notice by text or email in Missouri?
Termination notices must be in writing (month-to-month: written notice, effective on a rent day at least one month after receipt); the statute gives no delivery method and does not address email or text. If the owner/agent named for notices has only a P.O. box, notices can go by first-class mail. A foreclosure buyer's notice to tenants must go by certified/registered mail (regular mail to 'Occupant' if the name is unknown) and also be posted on the door. (RSMo 441.060.1, .4; RSMo 535.185.1(2); RSMo 534.030.3)
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Missouri?
No statute sets a rent-increase notice period. In practice, a month-to-month tenancy can only be changed by ending it with at least one month's written notice, effective on a rent day (RSMo 441.060.4). During a fixed term, the lease controls. Local rent control is preempted. (RSMo 441.060.4; RSMo 441.043.1)
Does a landlord have to give a copy of the lease in Missouri?
No statute requires giving the tenant a copy of the lease. The landlord must disclose in writing, at or before the start of the tenancy, the name and address of the property manager and of the owner (or the owner's agent for service of process and notices), and keep it current. If not, whoever is managing the property becomes the landlord's agent for service and notices. (RSMo 535.185)
What are tenants' rights in a foreclosure in Missouri?
After a foreclosure sale, the new owner must give the residential tenant written notice (certified/registered mail, plus posting on the door) that the sale happened, who the new owner is, and that the tenant has at least 10 business days to leave. No eviction case can be filed within those 10 business days. The notice does not create a tenancy with the new owner. Federal PTFA rights are separate. (RSMo 534.030.2-.3)
Does a landlord have to fix mold in Missouri?
No statute — Missouri has no mold disclosure or remediation law. Missouri courts recognize an implied warranty of habitability as case law, not statute. Local housing codes set specific standards. If a condition that detrimentally affects habitability or sanitation violates a local housing or building code, an eligible tenant may use the statutory repair-and-deduct remedy. To qualify, the tenant must have lived there 6 consecutive months, be current on rent, and have no uncured lease-violation notices. (RSMo 441.234; RSMo ch. 441 and 535 (checked))
Who pays for pest control and bed bugs in Missouri?
No statute — no state law assigns pest or bed bug treatment or requires disclosure. The lease, local housing codes and the case-law implied warranty of habitability govern. Where an infestation violates a local housing code, an eligible tenant may use the repair-and-deduct remedy. (RSMo ch. 441 and 535 (checked); RSMo 441.234)
Does a landlord have to provide heat in Missouri?
No statewide minimum temperature or heating season for rentals. Heat requirements come from local housing codes and the lease. By statute, in master-metered multi-unit buildings, the utility must post notice 5 days before shutting off heat-related service for the owner's nonpayment. Tenants may then petition for a receiver, and service may not be cut while the petition is pending. (RSMo 441.650; ch. 441 (checked))
Does a landlord have to provide air conditioning in Missouri?
No statute — Missouri law does not require landlords to provide air conditioning or set a maximum indoor temperature. (RSMo ch. 441 and 535 (checked))
What can a landlord deduct from a deposit for cleaning or damage in Missouri?
A deposit may be withheld only for amounts reasonably necessary to cover unpaid rent, to restore the unit to its condition at the start of the tenancy ('ordinary wear and tear excepted'), or for actual damages from the tenant's failure to give proper notice (with reasonable efforts to mitigate). Carpet cleaning: the lease may set amounts or fees for carpet cleaning, and amounts actually spent may be withheld if the lease also tells the tenant they may be liable for actual carpet-cleaning costs beyond ordinary wear and tear. The landlord must give a receipt for actual carpet-cleaning costs within 30 days after the tenancy ends. 'Ordinary wear and tear' is not defined. (RSMo 535.300.4)
Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental in Missouri?
No landlord-specific statute. It is the crime of invasion of privacy to knowingly photograph, film or otherwise create an image of someone, without consent, while they are fully or partly nude in a place where they would reasonably expect privacy. It is also a crime to create images under or through someone's clothing. This is a class A misdemeanor, and a class E felony if the image is distributed, more than one person is captured, or it is a repeat offense. Recording conversations is lawful if the recorder is a party or one party consents (one-party consent). (RSMo 565.252; RSMo 542.402.2)
Can a landlord limit guests or roommates in Missouri?
No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits and roommates. Missouri's landlord-tenant chapters don't define guests versus tenants or give roommate rights. Separate expedited eviction procedures allow immediate removal of parties other than the tenant in certain cases involving criminal activity. (RSMo ch. 441 and 535 (checked); RSMo 441.710-441.880)
Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal in Missouri?
It is a class C misdemeanor (class B for repeat offenses), with civil liability for actual damages, to knowingly misrepresent an animal as an assistance animal to get Fair Housing Act or Rehabilitation Act accommodations. This includes emotional support animals. Misrepresentation includes creating or providing false documents, fitting a vest or sign on an animal that isn't an assistance animal, or lying to a health care provider to get documentation. All assistance-animal documentation must come from a qualified professional as permitted under federal law. Separately, service dogs may not be subject to an extra charge in places like lodging, though the owner is liable for damage. State fair housing law bans disability discrimination. (RSMo 209.204.3; RSMo 209.150.3; RSMo 213.040)
Official resources for Missouri
- Missouri Attorney General - Missouri's Landlord-Tenant Law (revised Sept. 2025)
- Missouri Revisor of Statutes - Chapter 441 Landlord and Tenant
- RSMo 535.300 Security deposits
- Missouri Courts: Civil Forms (includes CV380 Petition for Rent and Possession: Verified Statement of Landlord, June 12, 2026)
- Missouri Courts: Case.net (public case records search)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.