Missouri Security Deposit Demand Letter
Direct answer
In Missouri, the landlord must return the deposit within 30 calendar days or 30 calendar days (when carpet-cleaning costs are withheld under a lease clause allowing carpet cleaning charges; landlord must provide a receipt for actual carpet cleaning costs within 30 days of end of tenancy). The deadline is measured from this trigger: 30 calendar days: after the date of termination of the tenancy; 30 calendar days (when carpet-cleaning costs are withheld under a lease clause allowing carpet cleaning charges; landlord must provide a receipt for actual carpet cleaning costs within 30 days of end of tenancy): after the end of the tenancy. The verified state formula is if landlord wrongfully withholds all or any portion of the deposit, tenant recovers twice the amount wrongfully withheld under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300.
Key facts
| Deadline | 30 calendar days; trigger: after the date of termination of the tenancy |
|---|---|
| Deadline (branch 2) | 30 calendar days (when carpet-cleaning costs are withheld under a lease clause allowing carpet cleaning charges; landlord must provide a receipt for actual carpet cleaning costs within 30 days of end of tenancy); trigger: after the end of the tenancy |
| Penalty formula | if landlord wrongfully withholds all or any portion of the deposit, tenant recovers twice the amount wrongfully withheld |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Itemization required | Yes |
| Interest on deposit | No |
| Maximum deposit | Not more than two months' rent. Pet deposits denominated as pet deposits are excluded from the 'security deposit' definition. |
| Forwarding address required | No |
| Small claims limit | $5,000 (statewide small claims) in Small Claims Division of the Circuit Court |
| Statute citation | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 |
Statute says
Within thirty days after the date of termination of the tenancy, the landlord shall: (1) Return the full amount of the security deposit; or (2) Furnish to the tenant a written itemized list of the damages for which the security deposit or any portion thereof is withheld, along with the balance of the security deposit. The landlord shall have complied with this subsection by mailing such statement and any payment to the last known address of the tenant.
What this means
Read the deadline, trigger, and penalty together before sending a letter. Match the dates in your documents to the trigger listed above, then cite Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 and request the deposit amount supported by your records.
Worked example
Use your actual deposit amount when you write the letter. For context, median rent in Missouri is $1,033 according to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates data as of .
- Jackson County: $1,197
- St. Charles County: $1,370
- Greene County: $989
- Clay County: $1,243
Example demand basis: a deposit equal to the state median rent starts at $1,033 before applying the state formula: if landlord wrongfully withholds all or any portion of the deposit, tenant recovers twice the amount wrongfully withheld.
County small claims courts
| County | Court and city | Limit | Filing fee | E-filing | Court link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | St. Louis County Circuit Court - Small Claims, Clayton | $5,000 (statewide small claims only) | County filing fee: $20.50 filing fee; certified-mail or sheriff service is extra | No | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
| Jackson County | 16th Judicial Circuit Court - Small Claims, Kansas City and Independence | $5,000 (statewide small claims only) | County filing fee: $27.50 filing fee; service is extra | No | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
| St. Charles County | 11th Judicial Circuit Court - Small Claims, St. Charles | $5,000 (statewide small claims only) | County filing fee: $20.50 filing fee; service is extra | No | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
See all 115 county small claims courts and filing fees
Free Missouri template, built from verified state data
I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Missouri law (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 30 calendar days after the date of termination of the tenancy.
Before you send
- Collect your lease, deposit receipt, and move-in records.
- Save photos, videos, and messages about move-out condition.
- Write down the move-out date you can prove.
- Confirm the forwarding address you gave the landlord.
- Send by certified mail when appropriate, and keep a copy of the final letter and delivery proof.
Typical mistakes
- Sending a letter before organizing the documents that prove the timeline.
- Demanding an amount that does not match the payment records.
- Leaving out the forwarding address or preferred response method.
- Mixing repair complaints into a deposit letter without separating the issues.
Local ordinances
- Kansas City: Kansas City Code Sec. 34-848.1 - security-deposit limit for residential leasesFor residential leases first entered after the ordinance's effective date, Kansas City bars a security deposit (however named) larger than two months' rent, charged only once. The city section does not add a local return clock, interest, or itemization duty.
FAQ
Does Kansas City have its own security deposit law?
For residential leases first entered after the ordinance's effective date, Kansas City bars a security deposit (however named) larger than two months' rent, charged only once. The city section does not add a local return clock, interest, or itemization duty. Kansas City security deposit rules
Does St. Louis have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Missouri law.
Does Springfield have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Missouri law.
Does Columbia have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Missouri law.
What is the small claims limit in Missouri?
See the applicable court limits and jurisdictions in the state court guide. Missouri small claims courts and filing fees
Can I use this if I do not know the exact deposit amount?
Use the amount shown in your lease, receipt, or move-in records. If records conflict, keep copies and avoid guessing in the letter.
Should I send evidence with the first letter?
Attach copies when they prove the basic facts, such as payment, move-out condition, forwarding address, or prior messages.
Can this page replace legal advice?
No. This page is self-help information for organizing a demand letter and checking the cited data before you act.
City data on this page currently includes Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, Independence, Lee's Summit, O'Fallon, St. Joseph.
When this letter will NOT work
- The dispute is not about return of a security deposit.
- You need urgent court relief instead of a demand letter.
- You cannot identify the landlord or property manager to contact.
- Your documents point to a different state or a different kind of claim.
Tenant resources
- Legal Services of Eastern Missouri - housing lawlegal aid in St. Louis
- Legal Aid of Western Missouri - apply for legal helplegal aid in Kansas City
- KC Tenantstenant union in Kansas City
- Missouri Attorney General - Landlord-Tenant Law guideag consumer
- Missouri Courts - Small Claims Court Handbookcourt self help