Landlord-tenant law

Missouri Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security deposit limits, eviction notice periods, lease termination requirements, and late fee rules for Missouri.

Not legal advice. Current as of May 2026. Verify with a local attorney before any compliance decision.

$
Security Deposit Max
2 months' rent
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(1)
↩
Deposit Return Deadline
30 days
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(2)
!
Non-Payment Eviction Notice
Notice of demand immediately upon default (no mandatory waiting period before filing). Missouri does not require a cure period — landlord may file for eviction the day after rent is due.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.060
✕
Month-to-Month Termination
30 days (one month)
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.060
¢
Late Fee Cap
No statutory cap (must be reasonable and stated in lease)
⏱
Grace Period
No statutory grace period
Missouri specific notes

Missouri is one of the few states with no mandatory pay-or-quit period before eviction filing. Kansas City, MO adopted a Tenant Bill of Rights but it was largely invalidated by a 2022 Missouri Supreme Court ruling. Verify current local ordinance status.

FAQ

Common Missouri landlord questions

What is the maximum security deposit in Missouri?+
2 months' rent. Governed by Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(1). Deposit must be returned within 30 days after the lease ends.
What notice is required to evict a tenant in Missouri for non-payment of rent?+
Notice of demand immediately upon default (no mandatory waiting period before filing). Missouri does not require a cure period — landlord may file for eviction the day after rent is due.. Per Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.060. This is the notice period before a landlord can file an eviction lawsuit.
How much notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in Missouri?+
30 days (one month). Per Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.060. This applies to no-cause terminations of month-to-month leases.
Are late fees regulated in Missouri?+
No statutory cap (must be reasonable and stated in lease). Grace period: No statutory grace period. Even where no statutory cap exists, late fees must be reasonable and clearly disclosed in the lease.
References

Authoritative sources for Missouri

Compare

See how Missouri stacks up

Deposit Limits — All 50
Side-by-side max deposit and return deadlines.
Eviction Notice — All 50
Notice periods for non-payment and termination.
Late Fee Laws — All 50
Caps and grace periods.
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