All Laws Decoded

Eviction in St. Louis City, Missouri

Where eviction cases are filed in St. Louis City, what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.

Quick facts: eviction in St. Louis City

Eviction court
Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis (22nd Judicial Circuit), associate circuit division — Associate circuit court (division of the state circuit court); St. Louis is an independent city with its own circuit Court page
Filing fee
$93.50 Associate Civil Case deposit (rent-and-possession / unlawful detainer cases are associate civil cases) + sheriff service fee per City defendant ($36.00 in the 2021 order) 22nd Judicial Circuit Amended Administrative Order re: Court Costs and Sheriff's Fees Effective July 1, 2021
Notice before filing (state law)
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. Missouri rules
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
$1,218/month HUD
Renter households
79,279 (55% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024

Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-22

Where eviction cases are filed in St. Louis City

Eviction cases in St. Louis City are heard by the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis (22nd Judicial Circuit), associate circuit division (Associate circuit court (division of the state circuit court); St. Louis is an independent city with its own circuit).

Court eviction page · E-filing · Search court records · Self-help center

The court's Landlord & Tenant Resources page posts a Landlord Tenant Handbook and answer/affirmative-defense templates for rent-and-possession and unlawful detainer cases. Main phone (314) 622-4500. The site does not say which courtroom hears landlord dockets.

How much it costs to file an eviction in St. Louis City

$93.50 Associate Civil Case deposit (rent-and-possession / unlawful detainer cases are associate civil cases) + sheriff service fee per City defendant ($36.00 in the 2021 order)

From the court's official fee schedule PDF (rev. date July 1, 2021), linked as 'Filing Fees' from the Circuit Clerk page. This is the only schedule the court posts; it is dated 2021 and does not list landlord cases separately, so the sheriff fee in particular may have changed - confirm with the Circuit Clerk (314-622-4044). Trial de novo $45.

Source: 22nd Judicial Circuit Amended Administrative Order re: Court Costs and Sheriff's Fees Effective July 1, 2021

The Missouri eviction process

Missouri state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including St. Louis City:

  1. 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).
  2. Landlord files a rent-and-possession statement (Ch. 535) or an unlawful detainer complaint (Ch. 534) with an associate circuit judge in the county
  3. 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.
  4. Hearing. In a rent case, the tenant may stop it by tendering all overdue rent and costs (535.160).
  5. 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.
  6. Execution issues. The officer (sheriff) delivers possession to the landlord within 5 days of receiving the execution (535.040).

Full Missouri eviction rules with sources →

Rent in St. Louis City

HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the St. Louis, MO-IL HUD Metro FMR Area (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):

Studio$955
1 bedroom$995
2 bedrooms$1,218
3 bedrooms$1,568
4 bedrooms$1,812

Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation

Median gross rent in St. Louis City: $997/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

HUD designates this metro a Small Area FMR area: Housing Choice Voucher programs here use ZIP-code-level Small Area FMRs; figures shown are the metro-wide FMRs used for other programs.

County tenant ordinance

St. Louis City is an independent city (county-equivalent); its city ordinances (e.g. Ordinance 71694, Right to Counsel) are recorded above / on the city page rather than as a county ordinance.

Eviction help in St. Louis City

Free legal help

Right to counsel: Housing Eviction Law Program (HELP STL City / Right to Counsel), created by City Ordinance 71694 (Board Bill #59): free legal representation for eligible low-income city residents at risk of eviction, delivered by Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. Started August 2024. Call Dept. of Human Services (314) 657-1671 or (314) 657-1654. Source

Rental assistance

City rules in St. Louis City

Other Missouri counties

Related

Frequently asked questions

Where do I file an eviction in St. Louis City?
Eviction cases in St. Louis City are filed with the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis (22nd Judicial Circuit), associate circuit division.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in St. Louis City?
$93.50 Associate Civil Case deposit (rent-and-possession / unlawful detainer cases are associate civil cases) + sheriff service fee per City defendant ($36.00 in the 2021 order)
Where can I get help with an eviction in St. Louis City?
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri - Housing Law Program; City of St. Louis Housing Help (Department of Human Services).
What is the fair market rent in St. Louis City?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit is $1,218 per month (1-bedroom: $995).

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.