🏠 MISSOURI · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Missouri
In Missouri, Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of what was withheld.
The deposit itself is capped at 2 months' rent. If the landlord wrongfully withholds any of the deposit, you recover twice the amount wrongfully withheld (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300.6).
The Missouri statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300
A landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit in excess of two months’ rent. Within 30 days after the date the tenancy terminates the landlord must return the full deposit, or withhold only amounts the statute allows and give the tenant a written itemized list of the damages claimed. The deposit must be held for the tenant in a federally insured bank, credit union or depository institution. Verified against primary statute text (revisor.mo.gov) 2026-08-26.
Read the Missouri source text →Missouri deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Missouri requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 30 days after the tenancy ends |
| Maximum deposit | 2 months' rent |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | If the landlord wrongfully withholds any of the deposit, you recover twice the amount wrongfully withheld (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300.6). |
| Governing statute | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 |
Every figure here was read from the Missouri statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in Missouri
The 30 days clock in MissouriMo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 sets Missouri's deadline at 30 days from the end of the tenancy.
Missouri caps the deposit at 2 months' rentA Missouri landlord may not demand more than 2 months' rent as a security deposit under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300. A deposit collected above the cap is recoverable even if you agreed to it in the lease.
Itemization is the condition of keeping anythingWithholding any part of the deposit in Missouri requires a written, itemized statement within the 30 days window. A lump-sum "cleaning and repairs" line is the kind of entry that fails the statute — and ordinary wear and tear is not deductible.
What missing the deadline costs in MissouriIf the landlord wrongfully withholds any of the deposit, you recover twice the amount wrongfully withheld (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300.6). Whether a remedy applies can turn on the dates, so keep proof of the day you moved out and the day you gave a forwarding address.
What to do in Missouri, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in Missouri the 30 days clock runs from that date.
- Document the unit on move-out day: video every room, appliance, and wall, and keep the file timestamped.
- Send your forwarding address in writing and keep proof — several statutes start or extend the clock from it.
- If 30 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 and the remedy described above.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Missouri small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — ask for the deposit and any amount the statute allows on top of it.
Common questions about security deposits in Missouri
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Missouri?
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld.
What happens if my Missouri landlord misses the deadline?
If the landlord wrongfully withholds any of the deposit, you recover twice the amount wrongfully withheld (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300.6). You generally have to claim it, and small claims court is where deposit cases of this size are decided.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Missouri?
Missouri caps it at 2 months' rent under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300. A lease term purporting to charge more does not make the excess lawful.
Can my Missouri landlord keep the deposit for cleaning?
Only to return the unit to its move-in cleanliness, and any deduction must appear in the itemized statement due within 30 days. Routine turnover cleaning and ordinary wear — faded paint, traffic-worn carpet — are generally the landlord's cost, not yours.
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Run the Lease Analyzer — free →This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes change and have exceptions; the linked primary source controls. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.