Security Deposit Law in Missouri (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300): Deadline and Penalty
In Missouri, a landlord has 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) to return a security deposit. 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 penalty 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 |
| 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. Match the date you can prove to the trigger above, then compare the landlord's response to the rule in Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300.
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.
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
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
What happens if a landlord misses the Missouri deposit deadline?
The verified penalty 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. Keep the move-out date, forwarding address records, and any itemized statement before you act.
Does a demand letter change the legal deadline?
No. The deadline is still 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 trigger is 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. A letter documents the timeline and asks the landlord to resolve the deposit before the next step.
If the deadline passed
Send a letter that documents the demand and keeps your record tied to the verified Missouri deadline.
build a Missouri demand letter
If the landlord stays silent, review landlord ignoring the deadline before choosing the next step.