Laws by state / Missouri

Missouri landlord and tenant rules

The figures that decide most disputes between Missouri landlords and tenants, each with a calculator and the statute behind it.

Verified against the statutes 2026-10-22By RentByState Research

Rule	Missouri	Statute	Tool
Maximum security deposit	2 months' rent	RSMo § 535.300	Deposit rules
Deposit return deadline	Within 30 days after the date of termination of the tenancy, return the full deposit or furnish a written itemized list of damages withheld plus the balance; mailing to the tenant's last known address satisfies the duty	RSMo § 535.300	Deposit rules
Interest on the deposit	Not required	RSMo § 535.300
Maximum late fee	No statutory cap	No statute (RSMo chs. 441 and 535 contain no late-fee limit)	Late fee calculator
Landlord notice, month-to-month	30 days	RSMo § 441.060; § 535.020	Notice calculator
Tenant notice, month-to-month	30 days	RSMo § 441.060; § 535.020	Notice calculator
Rent increase notice	No statute	RSMo § 441.060; § 535.020	Notice calculator
Pay-or-quit notice	No statutory period	RSMo § 441.060; § 535.020	Notice calculator
Rent increase cap	None statewide

Security deposits in Missouri

Missouri limits security deposits to 2 months' rent. The deposit must be returned within 30 days after the date of termination of the tenancy, return the full deposit or furnish a written itemized list of damages withheld plus the balance; mailing to the tenant's last known address satisfies the duty. No interest is owed on the deposit under state law. Deposit must be held in a federally insured bank/credit union/depository; any interest earned is the property of the landlord (§ 535.300.2). Housing authorities/government landlords exempt from the holding rule. Tenant recovers twice the amount wrongfully withheld. Current text effective 28 Aug 2018 (L. 1983 H.B. 175; A.L. 2016 H.B. 1862; A.L. 2018 S.B. 581); no 2024-2026 amendments found. Official revisor.mo.gov text was read via a Sept 2026 Wayback snapshot (live site refused connections); cross-checked against FindLaw (current through 1 Jan 2025). Full deposit rules and move-out checklist.

Late fees in Missouri

Missouri sets no statutory cap on late fees. The amount is whatever the lease says, subject to the general rule that it must not be an unconscionable penalty. There is no statutory grace period, so the lease controls when the fee starts. Calculate the maximum fee.

Notice periods in Missouri

A Missouri landlord must give 30 days’ written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and the tenant must give the same. There is no separate statutory notice period for rent increases; the month-to-month termination notice is the practical minimum. For nonpayment, no statutory pay-or-quit period applies; the landlord may proceed after rent is due and unpaid, subject to the lease. Calculate the effective date of a notice.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Missouri?

2 months' rent. Deposit must be held in a federally insured bank/credit union/depository; any interest earned is the property of the landlord (§ 535.300.2). Housing authorities/government landlords exempt from the holding rule. Tenant recovers twice the amount wrongfully withheld. Current text effective 28 Aug 2018 (L. 1983 H.B. 175; A.L. 2016 H.B. 1862; A.L. 2018 S.B. 581); no 2024-2026 amendments found. Official revisor.mo.gov text was read via a Sept 2026 Wayback snapshot (live site refused connections); cross-checked against FindLaw (current through 1 Jan 2025).

What is the maximum late fee for rent in Missouri?

There is no statutory maximum in Missouri. No statutory cap or grace period; late fees are enforceable only if provided in the lease and reasonable under general contract (liquidated-damages) principles. The most common lease figure nationally is 5% of monthly rent, and courts in no-cap states generally accept fees in that range while rejecting ones that look like penalties.

How much notice does a landlord have to give a tenant to move out in Missouri?

30 days’ written notice for a month-to-month tenancy. One month's written notice by either party, terminating on a periodic rent-paying date not less than one month after receipt of the notice (§ 441.060.3-.4); 60 days for owner-occupied mobile home lot tenancies

How long is a pay-or-quit notice in Missouri?

No statutory notice period for nonpayment; check the lease and local court rules.