The Missouri timeline, with dates
Here is the order of events when rent due on the 1st goes unpaid. Missouri's rule depends on a condition (or sets no fixed number of days), so we describe the steps rather than put a date on them.
- The 1stRent is due (the example due date used throughout this page).
- Late feeNo statewide statute caps late fees or requires a grace period; a late fee should be written into the lease and reasonable.
- NoticeThe statute sets no fixed notice period. A demand for payment must be made before filing a rent-and-possession action, but no minimum number of days is set (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.020).
The notice for unpaid rent
A demand for payment must be made before filing a rent-and-possession action, but no minimum number of days is set. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.020
Among the 31 states we have verified, none other leave the notice period without a fixed number of days; among states that require a notice, the median is 7 days.
Late fees and the grace period
No statewide statute caps late fees or requires a grace period; a late fee should be written into the lease and reasonable.
Missouri has no statutory dollar or percentage cap. 12 of the 31 verified states cap late fees by statute, and 10 set a grace period before one can be charged.
What else to know in Missouri
Notes from our review: Nolo describes Missouri as allowing an unconditional quit/demand with no fixed period.
Cities and counties can add their own rules on top of the state’s. At “covered properties” under the federal CARES Act — generally those with a federally backed mortgage or federal subsidies — a 30-day notice to vacate for nonpayment is required in every state.
Missouri and its neighbors
| State | Notice | Grace period | Late-fee cap | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | No fixed number of days | None statewide | No statutory cap | Verified |
| Arkansas | 3 days | None statewide | No statutory cap | Unverified |
| Illinois | 5 days | None statewide | No statutory cap | Verified |
| Iowa | 3 days | None statewide | Statutory cap (see guide) | Verified |
| Kansas | 3 days | None statewide | No statutory cap | Verified |
| Kentucky | 7 days | None statewide | No statutory cap | Unverified |
| Nebraska | 7 days | None statewide | No statutory cap | Unverified |
| Oklahoma | 5 days | None statewide | No statutory cap | Unverified |
| Tennessee | 14 days | 5 days | 10% of rent | Under review |
Notice periods across the 31 verified states
| Notice before filing | States |
|---|---|
| No pre-filing notice | 3 |
| 3 days | 10 |
| 5 days | 3 |
| 7 days | 3 |
| 10 days | 5 |
| 14 days | 6 |
| No fixed number | 1 |
Sources
- Notice for unpaid rent: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.020
- Late fees and grace period: no statute found that sets a cap or grace period
- Status: verified — the notice rule was read in statute text (or a verbatim copy of it) for our September 14, 2026 review.