Missouri Late Fee Law
No Missouri statute caps residential late fees or requires a grace period; the lease sets both.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Missouri late fee law at a glance
| Late-fee cap | No state capRSMo ch. 441 (silent), RSMo ch. 535 (silent) |
|---|---|
| Grace period | No state grace periodRSMo ch. 441 (silent), RSMo ch. 535 (silent) |
| Notice before filing for unpaid rent | No state ruleRSMo § 535.020, RSMo § 535.010, RSMo § 441.060 |
What Missouri law says
Is there a limit on late fees in Missouri?
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)).
Does Missouri require a grace period before a late fee?
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)).
How much notice must a Missouri landlord give for 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).
How Missouri compares
31 of 51 verified jurisdictions set no statutory cap. 14 require a grace period.
Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky and Nebraska follow the same rule as Missouri; 3 of its 8 neighbors differ.
Local rules in Missouri
Since Aug. 28, 2025, RSMo § 441.043 bars Missouri cities and counties from regulating rent amounts or limiting security deposits.
Other Missouri rules
| Security deposit limit | 2 months' rent (with exceptions)RSMo § 535.300.1, RSMo § 441.043.2(3) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after the lease endsRSMo § 535.300.3 |
| Entry notice | No state ruleRSMo ch. 441 (no landlord-entry provision), RSMo ch. 535 (no landlord-entry provision) |
| Rent-increase notice | No state ruleRSMo § 441.060.4 |
| Month-to-month termination | 30 days (either side)RSMo § 441.060 |