The rule in Missouri
Missouri limits a residential security deposit to 2 months' rent. The wording in RSMo § 535.300: “in excess of two months' rent.”
The return deadline is 30 days, counted after the tenancy ends. The text reads: “Within thirty days after the date of termination of the tenancy.”
Of the 44 jurisdictions verified here, 15 give landlords less time and 9 give more; the median is 30 days. 19 others also allow 30 days, among them Iowa, Kansas, Maine and Massachusetts.
What the cap means in dollars: $1,000 rent: up to $2,000, $1,500 rent: up to $3,000 and $2,000 rent: up to $4,000.
Worked date: if the clock starts on November 30, 2026, the deadline falls on December 30, 2026.
In neighbouring states with verified rules: Arkansas allows 60 days and caps deposits at two months' rent, Illinois allows 45 days and sets no cap, Iowa allows 30 days and caps deposits at two months' rent, Kansas allows 30 days and caps deposits at one month's rent, Nebraska allows 14 days and caps deposits at one month's rent and Oklahoma allows 45 days and sets no cap.
If a deposit is not returned, the small claims limit in Missouri is $5,000 (small claims rules); at the cap, a full-deposit claim fits whenever rent is $2,500 a month or less.
Source: Missouri Revisor of Statutes, § 535.300 · last checked October 20, 2026.
If the deposit does not come back
The statute above sets the deadline; what happens after it passes is covered in general terms in the guide on a deposit that is not returned, and the way each state starts and counts the clock is compared in how deposit deadlines are counted.
Questions
How much can a landlord charge as a security deposit in Missouri?
2 months' rent, under RSMo § 535.300.
How long does a landlord in Missouri have to return a deposit?
30 days: “Within thirty days after the date of termination of the tenancy” (RSMo § 535.300).
When does the Missouri deadline start?
The clock runs after the tenancy ends.