Landlord laws
Missouri landlord-tenant law
Revised Statutes of Missouri chs. 441 (Landlord and Tenant) and 535 (Landlord-Tenant Actions), § 213.040 (official text, revisor.mo.gov)
Last verified Oct 2026
General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.
| Topic | Rule (plain English) | Statute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security deposit cap | Up to 2 months' rent. Pet deposits aren't counted as security deposits. Cities and counties may not set lower deposit limits. | RSMo §§ 535.300.1, 535.300.8, 441.043.2(3) | Verified |
| Deposit return deadline | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, return the full deposit, or mail an itemized list of damages with the balance to the tenant's last known address. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent, restoring the unit (not ordinary wear and tear), and damages from inadequate notice. Give reasonable written notice of the move-out inspection, which the tenant may attend. Wrongful withholding costs twice the amount withheld. | RSMo § 535.300.3–.6 | Verified |
| Deposit holding and interest | Hold deposits in a federally insured bank, credit union or depository institution. Any interest earned belongs to the landlord. | RSMo § 535.300.2 | Verified |
| Late fee cap and grace period | Not specified in state statute. Missouri statutes set no late-fee cap and require no grace period. We checked every section of chs. 441 and 535. Put the fee in the lease and keep it reasonable. Note: Late-fee reasonableness is governed by case law and contract law, not statute. | RSMo chs. 441, 535 | Not in statute |
| Landlord entry notice | Not specified in state statute. No statute sets a notice period for landlord entry during the tenancy. We checked every section of chs. 441 and 535. Set entry terms in the lease. (The move-out inspection does need reasonable written notice, under § 535.300.5.) Note: Entry rights rest on the lease and contract/case law, not statute. | RSMo chs. 441, 535; § 535.300.5 | Not in statute |
| Rent increase notice | Not specified in state statute. No statute sets a rent-increase notice period. We checked chs. 441 and 535. A month-to-month tenancy ends on written notice effective on a rent date at least one month after receipt, so give at least that before changing rent. You can't raise rent mid-lease unless the lease allows it. | RSMo § 441.060.4 | Not in statute |
| Rent control status | Rent control is preempted statewide. No county or city may regulate rent on private residential property. Local laws also can't require landlords to accept housing-assistance income, restrict their screening criteria, limit deposits, or require a right of first refusal (amended 2025). | RSMo § 441.043 | Verified |
| Eviction notice: nonpayment | No set notice period. Demand the rent; if it isn't paid, you may file a rent-and-possession action. The demand is valid any time after rent is due. | RSMo §§ 535.010, 535.020, 535.060 | Verified |
| Eviction notice: lease violation | If the tenant breaks written-lease conditions, assigns without consent, commits waste, or allows illegal gambling or drug activity, give 10 days' notice to vacate before retaking possession through the courts. No cure period is required. | RSMo §§ 441.030, 441.040, 441.020 | Verified |
| Required disclosures | If you know methamphetamine was produced on the premises, disclose it in writing to the prospective tenant (§ 441.236). For pre-1978 housing, give the federal lead-paint disclosure (40 CFR 745.113). No other statewide lease disclosure appears in chs. 441 or 535. | RSMo § 441.236; 40 CFR 745.113 | Verified |
| Fair housing beyond federal law | Missouri adds ancestry to the federal classes (race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, familial status). Local laws may not require landlords to accept housing-assistance income (§ 441.043.2(1)). | RSMo § 213.040; § 441.043.2 | Verified |
Last verified Oct 2026 · Sources are official state legislature sites. Federal rules also apply.
Tools for Missouri landlords
Late fee calculator
Model grace periods and fees.
Open →Prorated rent calculator
Mid-month move-ins.
Open →Rent increase calculator
New rent and annual impact.
Open →General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.