Missouri legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Missouri HB2856: Sets a cap on rental application fees charged by a landlord from a prospective tenant
Status: In committee, May 15, 2026
What the bill says
To amend chapter 441, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to rental application fees. Section A. Chapter 441, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 441.007, to read as follows: 441.007. 1. For purposes of this section, the following terms (2) "Rental agreement", any agreement, written or oral, between a landlord and a tenant embodying the terms and conditions concerning the use and occupancy of premises; (3) "Rental application", any information, written or oral, submitted to a landlord by a prospective tenant for the purpose of entering into a.
From the introduced text:
To amend chapter 441, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to rental application fees. Section A. Chapter 441, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 441.007, to read as follows: 441.007. 1. For purposes of this section, the following terms (2) "Rental agreement", any agreement, written or oral, between a landlord and a tenant embodying the terms and conditions concerning the use and occupancy of premises; (3) "Rental application", any information, written or oral, submitted to a landlord by a prospective tenant for the purpose of entering into a rental agreement; (4) "Rental application fee", any sum of moneys, however denominated, that is charged or accepted by a landlord from a prospective tenant in connection with the prospective tenant's submission of a rental application or any nonrefundable fee that precedes the beginning of tenancy. "Rental application fee" does not include a refundable security deposit or any rent that is paid before the tenancy begins; (5) "Tenant", a person under a rental agreement to occupy the premises with the landlord's consent to the exclusion of others. 2. A landlord shall not charge a prospective tenant a rental application fee unless the landlord uses the fee to cover the landlord's costs in processing the rental EXPLANATION -- Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] …