Tenant Rulebook
General information from state law and official guides, not legal advice. Cities and counties can add their own rules.

All states

Landlord and tenant rules in Missouri

The statewide rules on deposits, notice, entry and rent in Missouri, mainly from the Revised Statutes of Missouri chapters 441 and 535. Checked 29 October 2026.

Security deposits and fees

Security deposit limit

2 months' rent1RSMo 535.300.1

A landlord may not charge a security deposit of more than two months' rent.

Deposit return deadline

30 days1RSMo 535.300.3

Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the full deposit or give an itemized list of damages with any balance.

Interest on deposits

Not required1RSMo 535.300.2

Any interest earned on a deposit belongs to the landlord. The deposit must be kept in an insured financial institution.

Late fees

Not yet confirmed

We have not confirmed this from an official source, so we show no figure.

Notice, entry and rent

Tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy

1 month2RSMo 441.060.3

Either side can end a month-to-month tenancy with one month's written notice.

Landlord ending a month-to-month tenancy

1 month2RSMo 441.060.3

A landlord must give the same one month's written notice.

Notice of a rent increase

Not yet confirmed

We have not confirmed this from an official source, so we show no figure.

Statewide rent limits

None statewide, counties and cities barred by law3RSMo 441.043.1

Missouri counties and cities may not pass or enforce rules that regulate rent on private residential or commercial property.

Landlord entry

Not yet confirmed

We have not confirmed this from an official source, so we show no figure.

Notice for unpaid rent

Not yet confirmed

We have not confirmed this from an official source, so we show no figure.

Many cities and counties add their own rules, such as rent stabilization or longer notice periods, and a lease can give a tenant more protection than the law requires. Check your local housing office or a legal aid group before you act.

Sources

  1. RSMo 535.300, Missouri Revisor of Statutes, 2018-08-28official
  2. RSMo 441.060, Missouri Revisor of Statutes, 1997-08-28official
  3. RSMo 441.043, Missouri Revisor of Statutes, 2025-08-28official

"Secondary" sources reproduce the official text. We use them only where the official site could not be read.