Missouri security deposit law
Can I get more than my deposit back in Missouri?
The short answer
Often, yes. Missouri law allows up to 2x the deposit in statutory damages for wrongful withholding in bad faith under RSMo § 535.300, on top of the deposit itself.
Missouri is one of the states where wrongful withholding costs the landlord more than the deposit: RSMo § 535.300 allows courts to award up to 2x the deposit in statutory damages, where the withholding was in bad faith, in addition to returning the deposit itself.
What this means practically: the money at stake is often larger than the deposit, and a landlord facing a potential 2x judgment has a strong incentive to settle when a tenant demonstrates they know the statute.
How tenants actually unlock these remedies: not by mentioning them on the phone, but in a formal demand letter that cites RSMo § 535.300, the missed deadline, and the specific exposure. That letter is usually the moment the landlord's cost-benefit flips.
If it still goes unanswered, Circuit Court — Small Claims is where these damages get awarded, and the demand letter is the exhibit that proves you gave fair notice.
The Missouri rules at a glance. Governing statute: RSMo § 535.300. Return deadline: 30 days. Statutory damages: up to 2x the deposit for wrongful withholding. Court for disputes: Circuit Court — Small Claims, claims up to $5,000.
See what your landlord owes you under Missouri law.
Answer a few questions about your situation and get a Missouri-specific demand letter that applies these rules to your case, ready in about ten minutes.