Missouri Security Deposit Demand Letter
In Missouri, a landlord has 30 days after move-out to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions (as of 2026; source: Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300). This letter cites that deadline, states the amount and your forwarding address, and gives the landlord a date to respond before you file. Free, no signup.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
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Missouri deposit rules at a glance
- Return deadline
- 30 days after move-out
- Deposit cap
- 2 months' rent
As of 2026. Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300 ↗. Want the exact due date? Use the deposit return calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Missouri landlord have to return the deposit?
30 days after you move out, as of 2026 (source: Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300). Counted in calendar days; check the statute for whether the clock starts at move-out, lease end, or receipt of your forwarding address, and whether a weekend deadline rolls over. Use the deposit return calculator to get the exact date.
Is there a limit on how much deposit a Missouri landlord can charge?
Yes: 2 months' rent (as of 2026; source: Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300). If you paid more than the cap, say so in the letter; the excess is usually recoverable too.
How much can I sue for in Missouri if the landlord ignores this?
$5,000 exclusive of interest and costs (§ 482.305, RSMo). A plaintiff with a bigger claim may still file but waives the excess over $5,000 (§ 482.315). The court is the Small Claims Court — a docket of the Circuit Court heard by an associate circuit judge sitting as the small claims judge, and the filing fee is No statewide flat fee; court costs vary by circuit/county, commonly ~$35-$100 (e.g., Cole County lists $45 for a pro se small claim). Check the local circuit clerk.. As of 2026; source: § 482.305 RSMo; Mo. Sup. Ct. Rules 140-155 (small claims rules).
Do I need a lawyer in Missouri small claims?
Attorneys are Allowed but optional; corporations may appear through an officer or employee in limited circumstances.. Source: § 482.305 RSMo; Mo. Sup. Ct. Rules 140-155 (small claims rules) (as of 2026).
Deposit rules in every state, cited to statute: security deposit limits by state.
How Missouri compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Missouri: Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300 ↗.
- Deposit return deadline
Deposit return deadline: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 26 other states.
Deposit return deadline in neighboring states — Arkansas (60 days), Illinois (45 days), Iowa (30 days), Kansas (30 days), Kentucky (30 days), Nebraska (14 days), Oklahoma (45 days), Tennessee (30 days).
The rest of what Missouri requires
The figures below are Missouri's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Missouri page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- 2 months' rent Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300 ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 10 days Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 441.040, 441.060; ch. 535 ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $5,000 § 482.305 RSMo; Mo. Sup. Ct. Rules 140-155 (small claims rules) ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- Small Claims Court — a docket of the Circuit Court heard by an associate circuit judge sitting as the small claims judge · filing fee No statewide flat fee; court costs vary by circuit/county, commonly ~$35-$100 (e.g., Cole County lists $45 for a pro se small claim). Check the local circuit clerk. § 482.305 RSMo; Mo. Sup. Ct. Rules 140-155 (small claims rules) ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Missouri Revisor ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Missouri DOR (Form 1957) ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required Mo. Rev. Stat. §404.705 ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Required by statute Mo. Rev. Stat. § 347.081.1 (shall adopt); § 347.015(13) (definition) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- Recorder of Deeds (county; duties under RSMo ch. 59) · no witnesses RSMo §§ 442.130, 442.380 ↗
Security deposit demand letter in other states
More Missouri legal forms
Different state? See security deposit demand letters by state →