The notices and their periods
- Demand for Rent — for nonpayment, Missouri requires a demand for rent (R.S.Mo. § 535.020) rather than a fixed multi-day notice; the landlord can file a Rent and Possession action, and the tenant can pay to stop it. (A 10-day demand is sometimes used in practice but isn't a statutory waiting period.)
- 10-Day Notice to Cure or Quit — for a curable lease violation — ten days to fix it or move out; serious or incurable breaches use a 10-day notice to quit.
- 10-Day Notice (illegal use) — for drugs, gambling, or prostitution on the premises (§ 441.020).
Ending a tenancy and serving notice
To end a month-to-month tenancy, give one month's written notice ending on a rent-paying date (R.S.Mo. § 441.060).
Nonpayment cases are filed as a Rent and Possession action; lease violations and other causes are filed as Unlawful Detainer — both in Circuit Court. St. Louis and Kansas City add local rules.
Two different lawsuits
Missouri splits nonpayment and other causes into two tracks: a Rent and Possession action (nonpayment only, where the tenant can pay to stay) and an Unlawful Detainer action (lease violations and other grounds, which also lets the landlord recover unpaid rent). For nonpayment there's no fixed statutory notice period — a demand for rent is the trigger.
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How much notice for nonpayment in Missouri?
Missouri requires a demand for rent rather than a fixed notice period (R.S.Mo. § 535.020). The landlord files a Rent and Possession action, and the tenant can pay to stop it.
How do I end a month-to-month tenancy in Missouri?
Give one full month's written notice ending on a rent-paying date (R.S.Mo. § 441.060).
What's the difference between Rent and Possession and Unlawful Detainer?
Rent and Possession is for nonpayment only (tenant can pay to stay); Unlawful Detainer covers lease violations and other causes and also lets the landlord recover rent owed.
More notice types: Pay or Quit · Cure or Quit · Unconditional Quit · eviction notices overview. By state: California · Texas · Florida · New York · Illinois · Pennsylvania · Ohio · Georgia · North Carolina · Michigan · New Jersey · Virginia · Washington · Arizona · Massachusetts · Tennessee · Indiana · Maryland · Wisconsin · Minnesota · South Carolina · Alabama · Louisiana · Kentucky · Oregon · Oklahoma · Connecticut · Utah · Nevada · Iowa · Arkansas · Mississippi · Kansas · New Mexico · Nebraska · Idaho · West Virginia · Colorado · Hawaii · New Hampshire · Maine · Montana · Rhode Island · Delaware · South Dakota · North Dakota · Alaska · Vermont · Wyoming · Washington, D.C..
WriteMyNotice.com is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and this page is general information, not legal advice. Eviction rules are strict and vary by state, county, and city — many cities add rent-control or just-cause requirements on top of state law, and an improper or mistimed notice can get an eviction case delayed or dismissed. Verify the current requirements for your property's location and, for contested or high-stakes evictions, consult a landlord-tenant attorney. Statute references verified June 2026.