Missouri Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
Missouri rules on lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: A landlord or agent who removes or shuts out a tenant or the tenant's belongings without court process and a court order, or removes the doors or locks, is deemed guilty of 'forcible entry and detainer' under RSMo chapter 534 (except as allowed by RSMo 441.065). RSMo 441.233.1; RSMo 441.060.5
The rules in Missouri
| Lockouts and illegal eviction | A landlord or agent who removes or shuts out a tenant or the tenant's belongings without court process and a court order, or removes the doors or locks, is deemed guilty of 'forcible entry and detainer' under RSMo chapter 534 (except as allowed by RSMo 441.065). After an eviction judgment, if the officer does not deliver possession within seven days of receiving the writ, the landlord may, within 60 days of the judgment and in the presence of a law enforcement officer, break and remove locks and take possession without breach of the peace. Source: RSMo 441.233.1; RSMo 441.060.5 |
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| Landlord shutting off utilities | A landlord or its agent who willfully cuts services to a tenant by interrupting or causing the interruption of essential services - including electric, gas, water or sewer service - to the tenant or the premises is deemed guilty of 'forcible entry and detainer' under RSMo chapter 534, unless the landlord did so for health or safety reasons. Source: RSMo 441.233.2 |
| Landlord retaliation | 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. |
Related questions
Missouri vs. neighboring states
| State | Lockouts and illegal eviction | Landlord shutting off utilities | Landlord retaliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | A landlord or agent who removes or shuts out a tenant or the tenant's belongings without court process and a court order, or removes the doors or locks, is deemed guilty of 'forcible entry and detainer' under RSMo chapter 534 (except as allowed by RSMo 441.065). After an eviction judgment, if the officer does not deliver possession within seven days of receiving the writ, the landlord may, within 60 days of the judgment and in the presence of a law enforcement officer, break and remove locks and take possession without breach of the peace. RSMo 441.233.1; RSMo 441.060.5 | A landlord or its agent who willfully cuts services to a tenant by interrupting or causing the interruption of essential services - including electric, gas, water or sewer service - to the tenant or the premises is deemed guilty of 'forcible entry and detainer' under RSMo chapter 534, unless the landlord did so for health or safety reasons. RSMo 441.233.2 | No general statewide anti-retaliation statute for residential tenants. RSMo Chs. 441, 534 and 535 (no section on retaliation) |
| Arkansas | Not verified yet | Not verified yet | No statute — Arkansas has no landlord anti-retaliation statute. The Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (Ch. 17) and the deposit subchapter contain no retaliation provision or presumption period. Ark. Code Ann. Title 18, Ch. 17 (§§ 18-17-101 et seq.); §§ 18-16-301 to -306 |
| Illinois | Illinois landlords must file a lawsuit to evict. The Illinois Attorney General states that a landlord may not evict a tenant by locking the tenant out, changing the locks, or removing the tenant's belongings, and that only a sheriff can physically remove a tenant after a court order. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws (fact sheet, 01/24), pp. 2-3 | According to the Illinois Attorney General, a landlord must go to court to evict a tenant and cannot make a tenant move by turning off the utilities. Under the Illinois Rental Property Utility Service Act, if the landlord fails to pay a utility bill the landlord is legally responsible for, the tenant may pay the bill and deduct the payment from the rent. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws (fact sheet, 01/24), p. 2 | Landlord may not knowingly terminate, raise rent, decrease services, sue or threaten to sue for possession, or refuse to renew because the tenant in good faith complained of code violations to government or a community organization, requested repairs, joined/organized a tenants' union, testified about conditions, or exercised any legal right. Rebuttable presumption of retaliation if protected activity occurred within one year before the landlord's act. Remedies: defense to eviction, termination, recovery of possession, and the greater of 2 months' rent or 2 times damages, plus attorney's fees. 765 ILCS 721/5-20 (Landlord Retaliation Act) |
| Iowa | A landlord may not recover or take possession except after abandonment or surrender or as the landlord-tenant law permits (such as a court eviction). If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease, and in either case recover actual damages, punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rent, and reasonable attorney fees. If the lease ends, the landlord must return all prepaid rent and the security deposit. Iowa Code §§ 562A.26, 562A.33 | A landlord may not take possession by willfully interrupting electric, gas, water or other essential service, except after abandonment, surrender or as the law allows. If the landlord willfully cuts essential services, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease, and in either case recover actual damages, punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rent, and reasonable attorney fees. Separately, if the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply heat, running water, hot water or essential services, the tenant may give written notice and buy them and deduct the cost from rent, or recover reduced rental value. Iowa Code §§ 562A.33, 562A.26, 562A.23 | Landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten an action for possession after the tenant complains to a code-enforcement agency about a health/safety violation, complains to the landlord about a § 562A.15 violation, or organizes or joins a tenants' union. A good-faith complaint within one year before the alleged retaliation creates a presumption of retaliation. Tenant may recover actual damages and attorney fees and has a defense to eviction. Iowa Code § 562A.36 |
| Kansas | Self-help eviction is barred: a landlord may not recover or take possession of a home except after abandonment or surrender or as the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act allows. If a landlord unlawfully removes or locks out a tenant, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease and, either way, recover up to 1.5 months' rent or the actual damages, whichever is greater, plus the recoverable part of the deposit if the lease ends. K.S.A. 58-2569, 58-2563 | A landlord may not take possession by willfully interrupting electric, gas, water or other essential service, except after abandonment or surrender or as the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act otherwise allows. If the landlord willfully cuts essential services, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease and, either way, recover up to 1.5 months' rent or the actual damages, whichever is greater. If the lease ends, the landlord must return the recoverable part of the security deposit. K.S.A. 58-2569, 58-2563 | Landlord may not retaliate by increasing rent or decreasing services after a tenant complains to a code-enforcement agency about a health/safety violation, complains to the landlord about a K.S.A. 58-2553 violation, or organizes or joins a tenants' union. Remedies: those in K.S.A. 58-2563 (recover possession or terminate, plus the greater of 1.5 months' rent or actual damages) and a defense to eviction. No statutory presumption period. K.S.A. 58-2572 |
| Kentucky | In areas that have adopted Kentucky's landlord-tenant act, a landlord who unlawfully removes or shuts out a tenant (for example by changing the locks) faces the tenant's choice to recover possession or end the lease, plus up to three months' periodic rent and a reasonable attorney's fee; if the lease ends, all prepaid rent must be returned (KRS 383.655). KRS 383.655 | In areas that have adopted Kentucky's landlord-tenant act, if a landlord willfully cuts off or interrupts heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas or another essential service, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease, and in either case recover up to three months' rent plus reasonable attorney's fees; if the lease ends, the landlord must return all prepaid rent (KRS 383.655). Separately, if the landlord willfully fails to supply those services, after written notice the tenant may buy the service and deduct the cost from rent, recover damages for the reduced rental value, or move to substitute housing and pay no rent for that time (KRS 383.640). KRS 383.655; KRS 383.640 | URLTA areas: landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten eviction after a tenant complains to a code agency, complains to the landlord about KRS 383.595 maintenance duties, or joins/organizes a tenants' union. A complaint within one year before the act creates a presumption of retaliation. Remedies: those in KRS 383.655 (up to 3 months' rent plus attorney fees) and a defense to eviction. Non-URLTA areas: no statute. KRS 383.705 |
| Nebraska | Self-help eviction is banned. A landlord may not recover or take possession of the unit by action or otherwise, except after abandonment, surrender, or as the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act permits. If a landlord unlawfully removes or shuts out the tenant, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease and recover three months' periodic rent as liquidated damages plus a reasonable attorney's fee. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1436, 76-1430 | No. A landlord may not take possession by willfully interrupting electric, gas, water, or other essential services. If the landlord willfully and wrongfully cuts those services, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease and, either way, recover three months' periodic rent as liquidated damages plus a reasonable attorney's fee; if the lease ends, the landlord must return all prepaid rent and recoverable security. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1436, 76-1430, 76-1427 | Landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring/threaten a possession action because the tenant complained to a government agency about a housing-code violation affecting health and safety, or organized/joined a tenants' union. Tenant may use § 76-1430 remedies and raise retaliation as a defense. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439 |
| Oklahoma | If a landlord wrongfully removes or locks a tenant out of the unit, the tenant may go to court to recover possession, or give notice and end the lease. In either case the tenant may recover up to twice the average monthly rent or twice the actual damages, whichever is greater. If the lease ends, the landlord must return all recoverable deposits and all prepaid, unearned rent. 41 O.S. § 123 | If, contrary to the lease or the landlord's legal duties, the landlord willfully or negligently fails to supply heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas or another essential service, the tenant may give written notice and then (1) end the lease immediately on written notice, (2) buy reasonable amounts of the service and deduct the actual, reasonable cost from rent, (3) recover damages for the reduced rental value, or (4) on written notice, get substitute housing and owe no rent while the problem lasts. A landlord who removes or excludes a tenant from the unit is liable under the wrongful-exclusion rule. 41 O.S. §§ 121(C), 123 | No general anti-retaliation statute. The Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act does not protect tenants who complain about conditions or exercise other rights. One narrow exception: a landlord may not deny a tenancy to, or retaliate against, a tenant because the tenant previously ended a rental agreement as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking (§ 113.3). 41 O.S. §§ 101-136 (no general retaliation section); 41 O.S. § 113.3 |
| Tennessee | If a landlord unlawfully removes or shuts out a tenant (a 'self-help' eviction), the tenant may get back possession or end the lease. In either case the tenant may recover actual damages, punitive damages where appropriate, and a reasonable attorney's fee. If the lease ends, the landlord must refund all prepaid rent and security deposits. Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-504 | No. A landlord may not take back a unit by deliberately cutting off, or causing the cutoff of, electricity, gas or another essential service, unless the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the unit. If the landlord willfully cuts off essential services the lease requires, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease, and in either case may recover actual damages, punitive damages where appropriate, and reasonable attorney's fees. If the lease ends, the landlord must return all prepaid rent and security deposits. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 66-28-504, 66-28-517(d) | URLTA counties: a landlord may not retaliate by raising rent, cutting services, or bringing or threatening an eviction because the tenant complained to the landlord of a violation under 66-28-301 or used remedies under the URLTA. Exceptions: the landlord may still seek possession if the tenant's household caused the code violation, the tenant is behind on rent, or code compliance requires work that would effectively deprive the tenant of the unit. The statute sets no time-based presumption of retaliation. T.C.A. 66-28-514 |
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Missouri Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation FAQ
Can a landlord change the locks without a court order in Missouri?
A landlord or agent who removes or shuts out a tenant or the tenant's belongings without court process and a court order, or removes the doors or locks, is deemed guilty of 'forcible entry and detainer' under RSMo chapter 534 (except as allowed by RSMo 441.065). After an eviction judgment, if the officer does not deliver possession within seven days of receiving the writ, the landlord may, within 60 days of the judgment and in the presence of a law enforcement officer, break and remove locks and take possession without breach of the peace. (RSMo 441.233.1; RSMo 441.060.5)
Can a landlord shut off utilities in Missouri?
A landlord or its agent who willfully cuts services to a tenant by interrupting or causing the interruption of essential services - including electric, gas, water or sewer service - to the tenant or the premises is deemed guilty of 'forcible entry and detainer' under RSMo chapter 534, unless the landlord did so for health or safety reasons. (RSMo 441.233.2)
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))
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.