Missouri Landlord-Tenant Law

Maximum deposit

Landlords may not demand or receive a security deposit of more than two months' rent, though a deposit denominated as a pet deposit is excluded from the cap (RSMo § 535.300.1, .8). (RSMo § 535.300.1, RSMo § 441.043.2(3))

Return deadline

Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, landlords must return the full deposit or mail an itemized list of damages along with any remaining balance (RSMo § 535.300.3). (RSMo § 535.300.3)

Itemized deductions

Landlords who keep any part of the deposit must give the tenant a written itemized list of damages within 30 days after the tenancy ends (RSMo § 535.300.3(2)). (RSMo § 535.300.3(2))

Interest on deposits

Missouri landlords do not owe tenants interest on deposits, because any interest earned belongs to the landlord, but deposits must be held in a federally insured institution (RSMo § 535.300.2). (RSMo § 535.300.2)

Penalty for wrongful withholding

A landlord who wrongfully withholds any part of the deposit owes the tenant twice the amount wrongfully withheld (RSMo § 535.300.6). (RSMo § 535.300.6)

Late-fee limit

Missouri has no statute capping residential late fees, so the fee is set by the lease but should be reasonable (RSMo chs. 441 and 535 contain no late-fee limit). (RSMo ch. 441 (silent), RSMo ch. 535 (silent))

Grace period

Missouri law does not require a grace period before a late fee may be charged, so any grace period comes from the lease (RSMo chs. 441 and 535 contain no grace-period rule). (RSMo ch. 441 (silent), RSMo ch. 535 (silent))

Missouri has no statute requiring a landlord to give notice before entering a rented home, so access is governed by the lease (RSMo chs. 441 and 535). (RSMo ch. 441 (no landlord-entry provision), RSMo ch. 535 (no landlord-entry provision))

Either a Missouri landlord or tenant may end a month-to-month tenancy with written notice that the tenancy ends on a rent due date at least one month after the notice is received (RSMo § 441.060.4(1)). (RSMo § 441.060)

Missouri has no rent-increase notice statute; the Attorney General advises that without a written lease a landlord may raise rent on one month's notice, mirroring the month-to-month termination rule (RSMo § 441.060.4). (RSMo § 441.060.4)

Missouri has no rent control, and state law bars cities and counties from regulating rent amounts or capping security deposits on private rental property (RSMo § 441.043). (RSMo § 441.043)

• In effect since August 28, 2025.

Missouri adds one statutory lease disclosure: a landlord who knows the premises were used to make methamphetamine must disclose that in writing to the prospective tenant; pre-1978 housing also needs the federal lead-paint disclosure (RSMo § 441.236; 40 CFR 745.107). (RSMo § 441.236, 40 CFR 745.107)

• Lead-based paint disclosure, lead warning statement and EPA pamphlet (Housing built before 1978 (unless exempt under 40 CFR 745.101)) — 42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart F (§ 745.107)
• Written disclosure that methamphetamine was produced on the premises (Before leasing, if the landlord knows of prior production (conviction not required)) — RSMo § 441.236

Unpaid rent

Missouri sets no waiting period before a rent-and-possession suit: the landlord must demand the unpaid rent, and may then file once it is not paid, with no separate notice to quit required (RSMo §§ 535.010, 535.020). (RSMo § 535.020, RSMo § 535.010, RSMo § 441.060)

Lease violations

If a tenant breaks a condition of a written lease, assigns without written consent, commits waste, or allows illegal gambling or drug activity, the landlord may give 10 days' notice to vacate and then recover possession through court; the statute gives no cure right (RSMo §§ 441.030, 441.040, 441.020). (RSMo § 441.040, RSMo § 441.030, RSMo § 441.020)