How long a landlord has to return your deposit, and what you can claim if they miss it
This page covers residential security deposits in Missouri, where a landlord has kept some or all of a deposit after a tenancy ends.
It does not cover:
Lease terms and local ordinances can change what applies. Where a city has its own deposit rules, those may differ from the state statute below.
Measured from termination of the tenancy.
Within 30 days after termination of the tenancy, the landlord shall return the full amount of the deposit, or furnish a written itemized list of the damages for which any portion is withheld, along with the balance of the deposit.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(3) ↗A landlord who withholds in bad faith may be liable for 2x the portion wrongfully withheld.
If the landlord wrongfully withholds all or any portion of the security deposit in violation of this section, the tenant shall recover as damages twice the amount wrongfully withheld. The basis is the amount wrongfully withheld, not the full deposit.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(6) ↗The clock does not start on the day you decided to leave. In Missouri it starts termination of the tenancy — for most leases that is the date you hand back the keys, not the date your notice period began.
““I kept the deposit for damages.””
Missouri requires return of the full deposit or a written itemized list of damages plus the balance within 30 days. Without that, you have wrongfully withheld, and I am entitled to twice the amount wrongfully withheld.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(3), (6)
““You were not there for the inspection.””
You were required to give me reasonable written notice of the inspection and I had the right to be present. Failure to provide that notice does not defeat my claim.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(5)
““The deposit covered normal wear.””
Ordinary wear and tear is expressly excepted. You may withhold only for rent defaults or restoration beyond ordinary wear.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(4)(2)
Every figure on this page comes from the official text, not from a summary. The table below lists each provision used and the date it was last checked against the source.
| Statute | Last verified | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(3) | 2026-10-15 | official text ↗ |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(6) | 2026-10-15 | official text ↗ |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(3), (6) | 2026-10-15 | official text ↗ |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(1) | 2026-10-15 | official text ↗ |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.110 | 2026-10-15 | official text ↗ |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(2) | 2026-10-15 | official text ↗ |
Primary reference: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300. Where the official text and a secondary summary disagree, this page follows the official text and says so. Amendments are recorded on the site changelog.
A self-help letter is the right starting point for a single deposit you can document. Get legal help if:
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Missouri Security Deposit Rules
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30 days, counted from termination of the tenancy. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(3).
A landlord who withholds in bad faith may be liable for 2x the portion wrongfully withheld. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300(6)
It runs from termination of the tenancy — the date you vacated and returned the keys, not the date your notice period began.
No — Missouri small claims court handles money claims up to $5,000 (exclusive of interest and court costs). Attorneys are generally not permitted.