✓ Law Verified June 2026
This guide explains missouri security deposit law in plain English — how much your landlord can charge, when they must return it, what they can and cannot deduct, and what to do if they do not give it back. All figures are from Missouri law, verified as of June 2026.
In This Missouri Guide:
Missouri Security Deposit Rules at a Glance
| Maximum deposit | 2 months’ rent. Missouri law (RSMo 535.300) prohibits a landlord from demanding or receiving a security deposit in excess of two months’ rent. There is no separate dollar cap — the limit is always calculated from your monthly rent amount. Note that pet deposits may be charged separately and are not subject to this cap. |
| Return deadline | 30. The landlord must return the full deposit or provide an itemized list of deductions within 30 days after the date of termination of the tenancy (RSMo 535.300). Missouri courts treat this deadline strictly with no grace period. |
| Itemized deductions required | YES. If the landlord withholds any portion of the deposit, they must provide the tenant with a written, itemized list of damages and the actual costs associated with each deduction within the same 30-day window. The list must be specific enough to identify what was damaged and how much each repair cost. For carpet cleaning specifically, the landlord must also provide a receipt for the actual cleaning costs. Failure to provide proper itemization may be treated as wrongful withholding. |
| Interest on deposit required | NO. Missouri does not require landlords to place security deposits in interest-bearing accounts. Under RSMo 535.300, any interest earned on a security deposit is the property of the landlord. Tenants have no right to interest on their deposit in Missouri. The one exception is that a housing authority created under section 99.040 or any other government entity acting as a landlord is not subject to this provision. |
| Penalty for late/bad-faith return | If the landlord wrongfully withholds all or any portion of the security deposit, the tenant shall recover twice the amount wrongfully withheld (RSMo 535.300). This is mandatory — the statute uses “shall,” meaning the court must award double damages upon finding a violation. The penalty applies whether the landlord missed the 30-day deadline, failed to provide a proper itemized list, or withheld funds for items that do not qualify as legitimate deductions. Even if some deductions were valid, procedural failures (late notice, insufficient detail, wrong mailing address) can trigger the double-damages penalty. |
Move-in/move-out walkthrough: YES — Missouri law requires the landlord to perform a walk-through inspection after the tenant moves out. The landlord must notify the tenant in writing of when the inspection will take place, and the tenant has the right to be present during the walk-through.
The inspection must be scheduled at a reasonable time. Missouri law does not mandate a move-in inspection or checklist, but tenants are strongly encouraged to document the unit’s condition at move-in with dated photos and a written checklist to protect themselves in any future deposit dispute.
Separate deposit account: YES. Under RSMo 535.300, all security deposits must be held by the landlord in a bank, credit union, or depository institution that is insured by an agency of the federal government. The deposit must be held for the tenant who is a party to the rental agreement.
While the statute requires the funds be kept in an insured financial institution, it does not require a completely separate account for each tenant’s deposit.
What Your Landlord Can and Cannot Deduct in Missouri
A Missouri landlord may deduct from the security deposit for: (1) unpaid rent; (2) damage to the rental unit beyond normal wear and tear caused by the tenant, their guests, or pets; (3) cleaning costs to restore the unit to its condition at move-in (beyond normal wear); (4) carpet cleaning — but only if the lease specifically includes a provision notifying the tenant about potential carpet cleaning charges, and the landlord must provide the tenant with a receipt for the actual carpet cleaning costs within 30 days.
A landlord cannot deduct for normal wear and tear under any circumstances.
Normal wear and tear vs damage: Missouri does not have a statutory definition of normal wear and tear. Courts treat it as an “issue of fact” decided by the judge or jury on a case-by-case basis. Generally, normal wear and tear means the minor deterioration that occurs from standard, non-abusive use over time — such as faded paint, gently worn carpets, small nail holes, lightly dirtied grout, minor scuffs on flooring, loose door handles, and stained bath fixtures.
Damage beyond normal wear includes things like cigarette burns in carpet, large holes in walls, broken windows, pet stains or odors, and excessive filth. Because there is no bright-line rule, tenants benefit from taking dated photos at move-in and move-out to document the unit’s condition.
How to Get Your Deposit Back in Missouri
If you believe your Missouri landlord wrongfully withheld your deposit, you may take these steps: (1) Send a written demand letter to the landlord via certified mail, requesting the return of the deposit and citing RSMo 535.300. Keep a copy for your records.
(2) If the landlord does not respond or refuses, you may file a claim in Missouri small claims court. The small claims filing fee is typically between 20 and 50 dollars depending on the county, and the jurisdictional limit is 5000 dollars.
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(3) In your claim, you may seek twice the amount wrongfully withheld as required by RSMo 535.300. (4) Bring all documentation — your lease, move-in and move-out photos, copies of correspondence, the landlord’s itemized list (or proof none was provided), and any receipts.
(5) You may also contact the Missouri Attorney General’s office or Missouri Legal Services (lsmo.org) for guidance. Many tenants handle deposit disputes successfully in small claims court without an attorney.
Other Missouri deposit rules: (1) Carpet cleaning deductions have a special rule: a landlord may only withhold carpet cleaning costs if the lease includes a specific provision notifying the tenant about potential carpet cleaning charges, AND the landlord must provide the tenant with a receipt for the actual carpet cleaning costs within 30 days.
Without both of these, the carpet cleaning deduction is not permitted. (2) Pet deposits may be charged separately from the security deposit and are not subject to the two-month cap.
(3) Missouri courts classify RSMo 535.300 as a consumer protection statute and enforce it strictly — procedural errors by the landlord (even minor ones) can trigger the double-damages penalty. (4) Government entities acting as landlords (housing authorities under section 99.040) are exempt from the interest-ownership provision.
(5) The tenant’s forwarding address matters — the landlord must send the deposit or itemized list to the tenant’s last known address, so tenants should always provide a forwarding address in writing at move-out.
Your landlord’s insurance won’t cover your stuff
Renters insurance protects your belongings for a few dollars a month.
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Official Missouri Sources & Resources
- Missouri Attorney General: https://ago.mo.gov/get-help/programs-services-from-a-z/landlord-tenant-law/
- Missouri Security Deposit Statute: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=535.300
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: hud.gov
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex
Understanding Missouri Security Deposit Law
Your Missouri security deposit is your money until the landlord proves a lawful deduction. Missouri security deposit law sets clear limits on how much can be charged, what can be deducted, and when the balance must be returned. If your landlord misses the Missouri security deposit return deadline or takes deductions that are not allowed, you may be entitled to penalties.
Document the condition of your unit at move-in and move-out — photos are the best protection for your Missouri security deposit.
This Missouri security deposit guide was last verified against official sources in June 2026. Laws change — verify with your state or a local legal-aid office.
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Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal advice. Landlord-tenant laws change and vary by city and county within a state. Verify current rules with your state, your local court, or a free legal-aid office before acting. If you are facing eviction, contact a local tenant attorney or legal-aid organization right away.