Missouri Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
Missouri rules on mold, pests, heat & ac for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: 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. RSMo 441.234; RSMo ch. 441 and 535 (checked)
The rules 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. |
|---|---|
| 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. 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) |
Related questions
- 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?
Missouri vs. neighboring states
| State | Mold | Pests & bed bugs | Heat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | 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 | 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) |
| Arkansas | No statute — Arkansas has no mold disclosure or remediation law for rentals. Arkansas's implied residential quality standards (for leases entered into or renewed after November 1, 2021) require only running hot and cold water, electricity, potable water, code-compliant sewer and plumbing, a functioning roof and building envelope, and working heat and air conditioning if it served the unit when the lease was signed. Mold is not listed. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-502 (added by Act 1052 of 2021) | No statute on pests or bed bugs. They are not among Arkansas's implied quality standards, so the lease and local codes govern who treats them. The tenant must keep the unit reasonably clean and safe and dispose of garbage in a reasonably clean and safe manner. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 18-17-502, 18-17-601(2)-(3) | A functioning heating system is required only to the extent heating served the premises when the lease was signed (leases entered into or renewed after November 1, 2021). State law sets no minimum temperature. If heat fails, the tenant must give written notice; if the landlord does not fix it within 30 days and rent is current, the tenant may end the lease without penalty and get the deposit back. The tenant may not withhold rent. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-502(a)(6), (d) |
| Illinois | No statute — Illinois has no statewide mold disclosure or remediation law for rentals. Mold falls under the landlord's general duty to keep the unit fit to live in, make necessary repairs, and comply with state and local health and housing codes. For small repairs required by the lease or by law (lesser of $500 or half a month's rent), a tenant may use the statutory repair-and-deduct procedure after 14 days' written notice. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, p. 1; 765 ILCS 742/5 | No statute — Illinois has no statewide pest or bed-bug law for private rentals. Infestations are handled under the landlord's duty to keep the unit fit to live in and comply with local health and housing codes. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, p. 1 | No statewide statute sets a heat requirement, minimum temperature, or heating season for private rentals. Heat is generally covered by the landlord's duty to keep the unit fit to live in and by local housing codes, which often set minimum temperatures (for example, in Chicago). Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, p. 1 |
| Iowa | No statute — Iowa has no mold-specific landlord-tenant law. Mold is handled under the landlord's duties to comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety and to make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to keep the premises fit and habitable. Iowa Code § 562A.15(1)(a)(1), (2) | No statute — Iowa does not specifically assign pest or bed-bug treatment or require a bed-bug disclosure. Infestations fall under the landlord's fit-and-habitable and code-compliance duties; tenants must keep their unit clean and dispose of garbage and waste in a clean and safe manner. Iowa Code §§ 562A.15(1)(a)(1), (2), (5); 562A.17(2), (3) | Yes. The landlord must supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat — unless the building is not required by law to be so equipped or the heat/hot water is generated by equipment under the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. Heating facilities supplied by the landlord must be kept in good and safe working order. No numeric minimum temperature is set by state statute. Iowa Code § 562A.15(1)(a)(4), (6) |
| Kansas | No statute — Kansas has no mold-specific landlord-tenant law. Mold is handled under the landlord's duty to comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety and to maintain plumbing, sanitary, and ventilating systems in good and safe working order. K.S.A. 58-2553(a)(1), (3) | No statute — Kansas does not specifically assign pest or bed-bug treatment and has no bed-bug disclosure rule. Infestations fall under the landlord's code-compliance duty; tenants must keep their unit clean and remove garbage and waste in a clean and safe manner, and are responsible for damage they or their guests or animals cause. K.S.A. 58-2553(a)(1), (4); 58-2555(b), (c), (f) | Yes. The landlord must supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat — unless the building is not required by law to be so equipped or the heat or hot water comes from equipment under the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. Heating appliances the landlord supplies must be kept in good and safe working order. No numeric minimum temperature is set by state statute. K.S.A. 58-2553(a)(3), (5) |
| Kentucky | No statute — Kentucky has no mold-specific landlord-tenant law. Where the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA) has been locally adopted, mold falls under the landlord's duties to comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety and to do whatever is necessary to keep the premises fit and habitable. Outside URLTA areas, no statewide habitability statute applies; the lease and local codes govern. KRS 383.595(1)(a), (b); KRS 383.500 | No statute — Kentucky does not specifically assign pest or bed-bug treatment and has no bed-bug disclosure rule. In URLTA areas, infestations fall under the landlord's code-compliance and fit-and-habitable duties and the tenant's duty to keep the unit clean and dispose of garbage properly. Elsewhere, the lease and local codes govern. KRS 383.595(1)(a), (b); KRS 383.605(2), (3) | In URLTA areas, yes: the landlord must supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat between October 1 and May 1 — unless the building is not required by law to be so equipped or heat/hot water is produced by equipment under the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. Heating facilities the landlord supplies must be kept in good and safe working order. No numeric minimum temperature is set. Outside URLTA areas, there is no statewide heat statute. KRS 383.595(1)(d), (e) |
| Nebraska | No statute — general habitability/repair duty applies. After written or actual notice, the landlord must substantially comply with applicable minimum housing codes and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises fit and habitable. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1419(1)(a)-(b) | No pest- or bed-bug-specific statute. The landlord must keep the premises fit and habitable and common areas clean and safe (after notice); the tenant must keep the occupied part of the premises clean and safe and dispose of garbage and waste properly. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1419(1)(b)-(c), 76-1421(2)-(3) | Yes. The landlord must supply reasonable heat (and running water and reasonable hot water at all times) and maintain heating facilities in good and safe working order. No statewide minimum temperature or heating season is set. Exceptions: buildings not required by law to be equipped for heat, or units where heat is generated by an installation in the tenant's exclusive control supplied by a direct public utility connection. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1419(1)(d), (1)(f) |
| Oklahoma | No statute — general habitability/repair duty applies. Oklahoma has no mold disclosure, remediation or exposure-standard law for rentals; the landlord must 'make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the tenant's dwelling unit and premises in a fit and habitable condition.' 41 O.S. § 118(A)(2) | No statute — no bed-bug or pest-specific law. The landlord must keep the unit fit and habitable and (except single-family residences) keep common areas clean, safe and sanitary; the tenant must keep the occupied part of the premises as safe, clean and sanitary as its condition permits and dispose of garbage in a safe, clean and sanitary manner. 41 O.S. §§ 118(A)(1)-(2), 127(1)-(2) | Yes, except in single-family residences or where service comes through direct, independently metered utility connections to the unit: the landlord must supply 'reasonable heat' and running and hot water, and must keep landlord-supplied heating facilities in good and safe working order. No statewide minimum temperature or heating season. If the landlord willfully or negligently fails to supply heat, after written notice the tenant may terminate, procure heat and deduct the cost from rent, recover diminished rental value, or obtain substitute housing and be excused from rent. 41 O.S. §§ 118(A)(3), (A)(5), 121(C) |
| Tennessee | No statute — Tennessee's landlord-tenant law sets no mold disclosure or remediation rule. In counties covered by the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, mold falls under the landlord's general duties to comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety and to make all repairs needed to keep the premises fit and habitable. The tenant must keep the unit as clean and safe as when the tenant took possession. T.C.A. § 66-28-304(a); § 66-28-401 | No statute — no pest or bed-bug provision in the landlord-tenant law. In URLTA counties, infestations fall under the landlord's code-compliance and fit-and-habitable duties; the tenant must keep the unit clean and safe, dispose of garbage properly, and comply with tenant obligations under housing codes. T.C.A. § 66-28-304(a); § 66-28-401(1)-(3) | No minimum temperature or heating season in state law. In URLTA counties, heat is an 'essential service': if the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply it, the tenant, after written notice, may procure heat and deduct the actual reasonable cost from rent, recover damages for reduced rental value, or obtain substitute housing (rent excused) and recover its reasonable value plus attorney's fees. The remedy is unavailable if the tenant, family or guests caused the condition. T.C.A. § 66-28-502(a), (c); § 66-28-304(a)(1)-(2) |
City rules that may add to state law
More Missouri rental law
- Missouri Security Deposit Law
- Missouri Eviction Laws
- Missouri Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Missouri
- Missouri Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Missouri Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in Missouri
- Squatters' Rights in Missouri
- Missouri Rental Fee Rules
- Missouri Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Missouri Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Missouri Landlord Selling the House
- Missouri Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- Missouri Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Missouri landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Missouri
Compare mold, pests, heat & ac in all 50 states and DC →
Missouri Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules FAQ
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))
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.