Missouri Notice to Vacate: Notice Periods and Rules

In Missouri, tenants give at least 30 days written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and landlords give at least 30 days. For unpaid rent, the law does not require a waiting period before filing. The details, exceptions and statute citations are below.

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Missouri notice periods at a glance

Tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy	30 days Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.060.3-.4
Landlord ending a month-to-month tenancy	30 days Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.060.1, .4(1)
Notice for unpaid rent	No notice period required before filing Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 535.010, 535.020
End of a fixed-term lease	No notice to quit is required when a tenancy is set to end on a certain date, or when the parties agreed to waive notice (§ 441.070).
How notice can be delivered	Must be in writing; the statute sets no delivery method (§ 441.060). Hand delivery with proof of receipt is advisable because the period runs from receipt.

The statute says 'one month' rather than a number of days, and the notice must end the tenancy on a rent-paying date at least one month after the tenant receives it (§ 441.060.4(1)). For nonpayment, the landlord only has to demand the rent and can then file a rent-and-possession case; there is no statutory waiting or cure period, and the 441.060 notice is not required (§ 535.020).

What a Missouri notice to vacate should include

The names of every tenant on the lease and the full address, including unit number
The date you are giving the notice and the date the tenancy ends
A move-out date that gives at least the minimum notice above, counted from the day the notice is delivered
For unpaid rent: the exact amount owed and how to pay it
Your name, signature and contact details
A record of how and when you delivered it (keep a copy)

Many month-to-month notices must also end on the last day of a rental period, so if rent is due on the 1st, the safest move-out date is the end of a month. Giving more notice than the minimum is fine; giving less usually makes the notice invalid.

Missouri notice to vacate FAQ

How much notice does a tenant have to give in Missouri?

For a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days in writing (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.060.3-.4). If you have a fixed-term lease, check the lease: it may require notice before the end date or renew automatically.

How much notice does a landlord have to give in Missouri?

To end a month-to-month tenancy without a specific reason, at least 30 days (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.060.1, .4(1)).

What is the notice period for unpaid rent in Missouri?

Missouri does not require a waiting period before a landlord files for unpaid rent (Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 535.010, 535.020). A landlord still cannot change the locks or remove the tenant without a court order.

How do you deliver a notice to vacate in Missouri?

Must be in writing; the statute sets no delivery method (§ 441.060). Hand delivery with proof of receipt is advisable because the period runs from receipt.

Do I need to give notice at the end of a fixed-term lease in Missouri?

No notice to quit is required when a tenancy is set to end on a certain date, or when the parties agreed to waive notice (§ 441.070).

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Sources

Checked October 2026. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules. This page is general information, not legal advice.