Squatters' Rights in Missouri
Missouri rules on squatters & abandoned property for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: Expedited court process (since 28 Aug 2024). The owner or an authorized agent files a verified petition in the county where the property is. RSMo 534.602, 534.604 (L. 2024 H.B. 2062)
The rules 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Related questions
Missouri vs. neighboring states
| State | Squatters / unauthorized occupants | Belongings left behind |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 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 |
| Arkansas | Unlawful squatting is a crime (Act 238 of 2025, new Ark. Code § 5-39-215). A person commits it by knowingly entering and residing on another's premises (dwelling, commercial building, or vacant land) without lawful authority when: the premises were not open to the public; the person cannot produce a deed or mortgage statement in their name, a lease signed by the owner or the owner's representative, a written or electronic agreement authorizing entry, or a rent receipt dated within the last 60 days; the owner has told the person to leave or reported the squatting to police; and no litigation is pending between owner and occupant. Police may accept a report only from the owner or the owner's authorized representative, and officers acting in good faith are immune. Penalties: first offense Class B misdemeanor, second Class A misdemeanor, third Class D felony. Producing a false document is a Class D felony, and so is a false report of squatting. The owner also has a private cause of action for damages, restitution, and attorney's fees. Current tenants, people with a valid occupancy agreement, and the owner's immediate family are excluded. Ark. Code § 5-39-215 (Act 238 of 2025, HB 1049); § 5-54-122(c)(1)(G) | When a lease ends, voluntarily or involuntarily, any property the tenant leaves on the premises is treated as abandoned, and the landlord may dispose of it as the landlord sees fit without liability to the tenant. The statute requires no notice, storage period, or sale procedure. Property the tenant places on the premises is also subject to a landlord's lien for payments the tenant agreed to make. Ark. Code § 18-16-108 |
| Illinois | No special affidavit or fast-track removal statute. The owner uses the regular eviction (forcible entry and detainer) case, which covers peaceable entry with possession unlawfully withheld and entry into vacant or unoccupied property without right or title. Since Jan. 1, 2026, the eviction article expressly says it does not stop police from enforcing criminal trespass (720 ILCS 5/21-3) or removing persons or property when there is a criminal trespass. 735 ILCS 5/9-102(a)(2)-(3), (e) (as amended by P.A. 104-29, eff. 1-1-26); 720 ILCS 5/21-3 | No statute — Illinois has no general statewide procedure (notice, storage period, sale) for belongings a residential tenant leaves behind. The eviction article (735 ILCS 5/Art. IX, Part 1) and the Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705) contain no such section; the lease and local ordinances (e.g., Chicago) govern. 735 ILCS 5/Art. IX, Part 1; 765 ILCS 705 (checked) |
| Iowa | No special affidavit or police-removal statute. The owner uses the summary forcible entry and detainer (FED) action, which lies where the defendant entered the owner's prior actual possession 'by force, intimidation, fraud, or stealth' and keeps possession. For that ground, the 3-day written notice to quit otherwise required before filing is not required. Thirty days' peaceable possession with the plaintiff's knowledge after the cause of action accrues bars the FED action, so owners should act promptly. Iowa Code §648.1(1); §648.3(1); §648.18 | No statute — the residential landlord-tenant law (ch. 562A) has no procedure for belongings left in an apartment or house; §562A.29 covers only re-renting an abandoned unit, and the FED judgment/execution sections (§648.22) are silent on personal property. Iowa Code ch. 555B sets a removal, storage, sheriff-notice, and court abandonment process only for abandoned mobile homes and the owner's personal property in or around them. Iowa Code §562A.29; §648.22; ch. 555B (mobile homes) |
| Kansas | Removal of Squatters Act (2026). A squatter is someone occupying a dwelling who is not entitled to occupy it under a lease or rental agreement and lacks a tenant's authorization (periodic holdover tenants are excluded). The owner or agent posts a notice at the unit that the occupant has no right to stay and must vacate immediately (giving the address where the affidavit will be delivered), then delivers a notarized affidavit to the county law enforcement agency stating: affiant is the owner/agent; a person entered and remains unlawfully; the person was not authorized to enter; is not a tenant or holdover tenant; was asked to leave and has not; and is not the owner's immediate family member. After verifying ownership and at least 24 hours after receiving the affidavit, an officer serves a notice to vacate immediately (hand delivery or posting), may charge up to $50, and tries to identify all occupants. A knowingly false affidavit is a class A nonperson misdemeanor. A wrongfully removed person may sue the affiant for restored possession, actual costs and damages, punitive damages of three times the fair market rent, and attorney fees. Squatter occupancy is excluded from the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, so no eviction case is required. K.S.A. 2026 Supp. 58-5401 to 58-5407 (2026 Kan. Sess. Laws ch. 56, HB 2378) | If the tenant abandons or surrenders the unit, or is removed by a forcible detainer judgment, and leaves personal property, the landlord may take possession and store it at the tenant's expense and may sell or dispose of it after 30 days, provided that at least 15 days before the sale the landlord publishes once in a county newspaper a notice of intent to sell/dispose, and within 7 days after publication mails a copy to the tenant's last known address. The notice must state the tenant's name, a brief description of the property, and the approximate sale/disposal date. Until sale, the tenant may redeem by paying the landlord's reasonable taking/holding/sale-prep costs and amounts owed. Proceeds go first to those expenses, then to amounts the tenant owes; the landlord may keep any balance. Abandonment may be presumed if the tenant is 10 days behind on rent and has removed a substantial portion of belongings, unless the tenant notifies otherwise. K.S.A. 58-2565(b), (d)-(f) |
| Kentucky | Police removal by petition (since June 27, 2025). An owner or authorized agent may ask a law enforcement officer to immediately remove people unlawfully occupying real property if: the occupant is not and never was a tenant and never had a written or oral agreement with the owner to occupy; the property was not open to the public when they entered; the owner told them to leave; they are not the owner's immediate family; and no litigation about the property is pending between them. The owner presents a sworn 'Petition to Remove Persons Unlawfully Occupying Real Property' (statutory form, initialed statements, with government ID or proof of agency). After verifying the petitioner's identity, the officer must without unnecessary delay serve a notice to immediately vacate (hand delivery or posting) and put the owner in possession; the officer may arrest for trespass or other cause. Sheriff/constable fee: $20. The officer may stay to keep the peace while the owner changes locks and moves the occupants' belongings to or near the property line. A wrongfully removed person may sue within 60 days for restored possession, costs, and attorney's fees. The procedure cannot be used against current or former tenants. KRS 383.290 (2025 Ky. Acts ch. 63, eff. 6-27-25) | No statute — no Kentucky statute sets a notice/storage/sale procedure for a residential tenant's belongings left after move-out or eviction. KRS 383.670 (URLTA, only where locally adopted) covers re-renting an abandoned unit but not personal property; the forcible detainer sections (KRS 383.200-.285) are silent on belongings. KRS 383.670; KRS Chapter 383 (section list checked) |
| Nebraska | No squatter-specific statute. An owner removes a non-tenant occupant through a forcible entry and detainer action in county or district court: the owner must first serve a written notice to leave at least 3 days before filing (by handing it to the occupant or leaving it at their usual place of abode; if neither can be found in the county, by leaving or posting it on the premises). If the court finds the entry or holding unlawful, it orders restitution of the property. This procedure does not apply to possession cases covered by the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-21,219, 25-21,221 | Governed by the Disposition of Personal Property Landlord and Tenant Act. The landlord must give the former tenant (and anyone the landlord believes owns the property) a written Notice of Right to Reclaim Abandoned Property describing the property, where to claim it, and a deadline at least 7 days after personal delivery or at least 14 days after mailing; the notice must also say whether the property will be sold at public sale or, if worth under $2,000, may be kept, sold or destroyed. The tenant gets the property back by paying reasonable storage (and advertising) costs before the deadline. Unclaimed property must be sold at a public sale after newspaper notice once a week for two weeks, unless the landlord reasonably believes it is worth less than $2,000, in which case the landlord may keep or dispose of it. Sale proceeds, less storage, advertising and sale costs, go to the State Treasurer as unclaimed property within 30 days. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 69-2301 to 69-2314 (esp. 69-2304, 69-2305, 69-2307, 69-2308) |
| Oklahoma | Sheriff removal without a court case. The owner or an authorized agent gives the county sheriff a verified Complaint to Remove Persons Unlawfully Occupying Residential Real Property, signed under penalty of perjury on the form set out in the statute, with ID or proof of agency attached. All of these must be true: the property was not open to the public when the occupants entered; the owner told them to leave; they are not current or former tenants; they cannot produce a lease signed by the owner, or a government document showing the address as their address of record within the past 12 months; they are not immediate family of the owner; and no related lawsuit is pending. The sheriff verifies ownership, serves a notice to immediately vacate by hand or by posting, puts the owner in possession, and may stand by (at an hourly fee) while the locks are changed. Penalties: damaging the dwelling by $1,000 or more is a felony (up to 3 years and/or $10,000). Presenting a fake lease or deed is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $1,000). Someone wrongfully removed may sue for restored possession, actual damages, 3x the fair market rent, costs, and attorney fees. Separately, under the landlord-tenant act a landlord may demand that an occupant with no rental agreement leave without filing an eviction. Failing to leave within a reasonable time is trespass, with a fine of up to $500. 21 O.S. §§ 1354-1357; 41 O.S. § 111(G) | Applies after the tenant abandons or surrenders the unit or is lawfully evicted. Property the landlord judges to have no apparent value, and perishables, may be disposed of right away without liability. For property with apparent value, the landlord must send written notice by certified mail to the tenant's last-known address saying the property will be deemed abandoned if it is not removed by the date in the notice. Property left with the landlord 30 days or longer is conclusively abandoned and may be disposed of in any reasonable manner. While storing it, the landlord must use reasonable care. Storage in the unit may cost no more than the fair rental value; commercial storage costs the actual charges. A tenant who reclaims the property in time pays storage and other accrued costs. A landlord who deliberately or negligently violates these rules is liable for actual damages. 41 O.S. § 130 |
| Tennessee | Since July 1, 2024, an owner or authorized agent may ask the county sheriff to immediately remove an unlawful occupant of a residential dwelling, without a court case, by submitting a verified 'Complaint to Remove Persons Unlawfully Occupying Residential Real Property' (statutory form). Conditions: the property includes a residential dwelling; an unauthorized person entered and remains; the property was not open to the public at entry; the owner told the person to leave; the person is not a current or former tenant under a written or oral rental agreement authorized by the owner and is not an immediate family member (spouse, parent, sibling, child); and no litigation is pending between owner and occupant about the property. The sheriff verifies ownership, serves a notice to immediately vacate (hand delivery or posting on the front door), puts the owner in possession, may arrest for trespass or warrants, and may stand by (hourly fee) while locks are changed and belongings moved to the property line. A wrongfully removed person may sue (expedited hearing) for possession, actual damages, statutory damages of triple the fair market rent, costs and attorney fees. T.C.A. § 29-18-135 (added by 2024 Pub. Ch. 1009, SB 795 / HB 1259) | URLTA counties: 30+ days' unexplained absence without paying rent is prima facie abandonment, and the landlord may re-enter. Alternatively, rent 15 days late plus other signs of permanent move-out (e.g., removal of substantially all belongings or tenant shutting off utilities) is prima facie abandonment, but the landlord must first post a notice at the unit and mail it by regular mail to the unit address stating: the landlord believes the unit is abandoned; will re-enter unless the tenant makes contact within 10 days; will then remove belongings and re-rent; and will dispose of belongings not reclaimed within 30 days - with a phone number and mailing address. If the tenant responds and wants to stay, the landlord must go to court. In either case the landlord must remove and store the belongings for at least 30 days; unclaimed property may then be sold or disposed of, with proceeds applied to rent, damages, storage, sale costs and attorney fees, and any balance held 6 months. T.C.A. 66-28-405 |
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
- Missouri Rental Fee Rules
- Missouri Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Missouri Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- 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 squatters & abandoned property in all 50 states and DC →
Squatters' Rights in Missouri FAQ
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)
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.