Missouri Landlord-Tenant Laws (2026)
Last reviewed: July 2026
Missouri caps deposits at two months' rent and requires return within 30 days. For nonpayment, landlords can demand rent and file a rent-and-possession case without waiting out a fixed statutory notice period, which makes the eviction timeline fast by national standards. Rent control is preempted statewide.
General information, not legal advice. Verify with the current statute or a local attorney before acting.
Missouri landlord-tenant rules at a glance
| Security deposit limit | 2 months' rent |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days |
| Notice to enter | No statute, reasonable notice expected |
| Rent control | Preempted/none |
| Eviction notice (nonpayment) | No fixed statutory notice, landlord may demand rent and file suit once rent is overdue |
| Late fee rule | No statutory cap, must be reasonable and stated in the lease |
| Month-to-month termination | 30 days (one month) |
| Governing statute | Missouri Landlord-Tenant Law (Mo. Rev. Stat. Ch. 441 and 535) |
Security deposits in Missouri
The deposit rule in Missouri is: 2 months' rent. After the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit within 30 days, typically with an itemized statement for any amounts withheld. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and other charges the statute or lease allows — routine repainting and carpet aging from ordinary use generally cannot be charged to the tenant. Both parties should document the unit’s condition at move-in and move-out; disputes usually turn on that evidence.
Landlord entry and tenant privacy
Missouri’s entry rule is: No statute, reasonable notice expected. Entry is generally limited to legitimate purposes such as repairs, inspections, and showings, and emergencies allow immediate entry everywhere. Where the statute is silent or vague, courts fall back on the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment, so landlords should give written notice and enter at reasonable hours regardless of the statutory minimum.
Rent increases and rent control
Rent control status in Missouri: Preempted/none. Even without rent control, a landlord cannot raise rent mid-lease unless the lease allows it, and periodic tenancies require proper advance notice of an increase — commonly the same notice period used to terminate (30 days (one month) in Missouri). Retaliatory increases after a tenant exercises a legal right are prohibited in most states.
Eviction process overview
For unpaid rent, Missouri requires: No fixed statutory notice, landlord may demand rent and file suit once rent is overdue. If the tenant does not pay or leave, the landlord files an eviction case (the name varies: unlawful detainer, summary process, forcible entry and detainer), serves the tenant, and attends a hearing. Only a court judgment followed by a sheriff or constable can remove a tenant — lockouts and utility shutoffs are illegal in every state. Timelines vary from a few weeks to several months depending on court backlog and whether the tenant contests the case.
Late fees
Missouri’s late fee rule: No statutory cap, must be reasonable and stated in the lease. Even where no statutory cap exists, courts can strike down fees that operate as penalties rather than reasonable estimates of the landlord’s actual cost, and the fee must appear in the written lease to be enforceable.
Ending a lease or month-to-month tenancy
To end a month-to-month tenancy in Missouri, the required notice is: 30 days (one month). Fixed-term leases end on their own schedule unless renewed, though some states and cities require just cause or additional notice even at lease end. Notice should always be written, dated, and delivered by a method the statute recognizes.
Is Missouri landlord-friendly or tenant-friendly?
Missouri is generally considered landlord-friendly. Missouri allows immediate rent-and-possession filings for nonpayment without a fixed notice period, has no rent control, and imposes few statutory duties beyond a 2-month deposit cap.
Official source
The governing law is the Missouri Landlord-Tenant Law (Mo. Rev. Stat. Ch. 441 and 535). Read the current text at the state’s official legislative site: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/Home.aspx.
Missouri landlord-tenant law FAQs
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Missouri?
- Security deposits in Missouri are governed by the Missouri Landlord-Tenant Law (Mo. Rev. Stat. Ch. 441 and 535). The deposit rule is: 2 months' rent. After the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit (minus properly documented deductions) within 30 days. Landlords who miss the deadline or take undocumented deductions can owe the tenant damages, so both sides should document the unit's condition at move-in and move-out and keep an itemized statement of any charges. Deposit rules are amended fairly often, so verify the current statute before relying on a specific number.
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in Missouri?
- For nonpayment of rent, Missouri requires: No fixed statutory notice, landlord may demand rent and file suit once rent is overdue. That notice is only the first step, a landlord cannot legally remove a tenant without then filing an eviction case and winning a court judgment, and self-help evictions (changing locks, shutting off utilities) are prohibited. Local courts and city ordinances can add procedural steps, so check the Missouri Landlord-Tenant Law (Mo. Rev. Stat. Ch. 441 and 535) and local rules before starting an eviction.
- Can a landlord enter a rental property without permission in Missouri?
- Missouri's entry rule is: No statute, reasonable notice expected. Genuine emergencies (fire, flooding, gas leaks) are a standard exception in every state, and lease clauses can add detail but generally cannot strip a tenant's right to quiet enjoyment. For ending a month-to-month tenancy, Missouri requires 30 days (one month) of notice. When in doubt, put entry requests and termination notices in writing and confirm the current rule in the Missouri Landlord-Tenant Law (Mo. Rev. Stat. Ch. 441 and 535).
Compare nearby states
Related Lofty resources
- Rental property calculator — model cash flow with Missouri vacancy and eviction-cost assumptions.
- Rental income investing guide — how landlord-tenant rules feed into returns.
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This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change — verify with the current statute or a local attorney before acting. Rules reflect widely documented statutes as of July 2026; cities and counties in Missouri may add their own requirements.