Missouri notice periods
A Missouri landlord must give 30 days’ written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and the tenant must give the same. There is no separate statutory notice period for rent increases; the month-to-month termination notice is the practical minimum. For nonpayment, no statutory pay-or-quit period applies; the landlord may proceed after rent is due and unpaid, subject to the lease.
The Missouri rules in detail
One month's written notice by either party, terminating on a periodic rent-paying date not less than one month after receipt of the notice (§ 441.060.3-.4); 60 days for owner-occupied mobile home lot tenancies
No statutory rent-increase notice requirement; in practice a landlord changes month-to-month terms by giving the one-month notice under § 441.060 (UNVERIFIED as a statutory rule)
No statutory pay-or-quit period. The landlord may proceed under the lease and court rules once rent is unpaid.
Serving the notice
- Notice must be in writing. Text messages and emails count only where the lease or statute allows electronic notice.
- The clock starts when the notice is delivered, not when it is written. Mailed notices usually add days; check the statute’s service rules.
- Termination notices generally take effect at the end of a rental period. Served mid-month, a 30-day notice ends the tenancy at the end of the next full month.
- A fixed-term lease ends on its own date; these periods apply to month-to-month tenancies and to tenancies that continued after a lease expired.
Source: RSMo § 441.060; § 535.020.
Related Missouri rules
- Late fees: No statutory cap or grace period; late fees are enforceable only if provided in the lease and reasonable under general contract (liquidated-damages) principles. Late fee calculator.
- Security deposit: 2 months' rent; returned Within 30 days after the date of termination of the tenancy, return the full deposit or furnish a written itemized list of damages withheld plus the balance; mailing to the tenant's last known address satisfies the duty. Deposit rules.
- All rules on one page: Missouri landlord and tenant law.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice does a landlord have to give a tenant to move out in Missouri?
30 days’ written notice for a month-to-month tenancy. One month's written notice by either party, terminating on a periodic rent-paying date not less than one month after receipt of the notice (§ 441.060.3-.4); 60 days for owner-occupied mobile home lot tenancies
How much notice does a tenant have to give in Missouri?
30 days’ written notice on a month-to-month tenancy. A fixed-term lease ends on its own date unless it says otherwise.
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Missouri?
Missouri has no specific statute. No statutory rent-increase notice requirement; in practice a landlord changes month-to-month terms by giving the one-month notice under § 441.060 (UNVERIFIED as a statutory rule)
How long is a pay-or-quit notice in Missouri?
No statutory notice period for nonpayment; check the lease and local court rules.
Does the notice have to end on the last day of the month?
In most states, yes: a termination notice on a periodic tenancy takes effect at the end of a rental period that is at least the required number of days after service. Serving on the 15th with a 30-day requirement typically ends the tenancy at the end of the following month, not 30 days later. The calculator shows both dates.