Warren County is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area, situated along Interstate 70 approximately 50 miles west of St. Louis. With approximately 38,500 residents growing at roughly 1.8% annually, the county is one of the faster-growing exurban counties in the STL metro — driven by households seeking lower housing costs and rural character while maintaining I-70 access to St. Louis employment. The county seat is Warrenton (~9,000), and Wright City, in the county’s eastern corner nearest St. Charles County, serves as the primary I-70 corridor community. Warren County also borders the Missouri Rhineland wine country along Route 94, sharing the scenic river corridor with neighboring Franklin and St. Charles counties. All evictions file with the 12th Judicial Circuit at the Warren County Courthouse, 104 West Main Street, Warrenton, MO 63383. Phone: (636) 456-3363. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 12th Circuit also serves Audrain and Montgomery counties; Warren County cases file in Warrenton. All landlord-tenant matters are governed by Missouri state law (RSMo Chapters 441, 534, and 535).
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. Missouri state law governs all residential rental matters.
Category
Details
Local Ordinances
Warren County has no county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. Warrenton and Wright City maintain their own property maintenance codes. Wright City, as the county’s fastest-growing I-70 corridor community and nearest to St. Charles County, has the most active residential development and code enforcement activity. Landlords should confirm requirements with the applicable municipality.
Rent Control
Prohibited statewide. No municipality in Warren County may impose rent caps or stabilization measures.
Security Deposit
Missouri does not cap security deposit amounts. Return within 30 days of move-out with itemized deduction list (RSMo §535.300). Document move-in condition thoroughly, particularly for older rural housing stock common in parts of the county.
12th Judicial Circuit
All Warren County evictions file with the 12th Judicial Circuit at the Warren County Courthouse, 104 West Main Street, Warrenton, MO 63383. Phone: (636) 456-3363. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 12th Circuit also serves Audrain and Montgomery counties. Warren County cases file in Warrenton. From Wright City in the county’s eastern end, the drive to the Warrenton courthouse is approximately 15 miles; budget travel time for in-person appearances.
I-70 Growth Corridor
Warren County’s eastern communities along I-70 — Wright City and Foristell — are functionally part of the St. Charles County suburban growth wave. The American Foods Group beef processing facility announced in 2024 as an $800 million investment is expected to bring significant employment to the area. Landlords in the Wright City and Foristell area should monitor rental demand closely as the facility comes online, as manufacturing employment tends to generate stable, consistent rental demand from workforce households.
Business Entity Requirement
LLCs, corporations, and partnerships must be represented by a licensed Missouri attorney in landlord-tenant proceedings. Individual owners may appear pro se.
Last verified: 2026-04-01
🏛️ Warren County Courthouse
12th Judicial Circuit — Warrenton
🏛️ Courthouse Information and Locations for Missouri
Loading courthouse data
Coming Soon
Courthouse data for Missouri is being compiled. Check back soon!
State statutes that apply throughout Warren County
⚡ Quick Overview
0 (can file immediately when rent is past due)
Days Notice (Nonpayment)
10
Days Notice (Violation)
21-60
Avg Total Days
$$25-75
Filing Fee (Approx)
💰 Nonpayment of Rent
Notice TypeRent and Possession Petition (no advance notice required for nonpayment)
Notice Period0 (can file immediately when rent is past due) days
Tenant Can Cure?Yes - tenant can pay and stay before judgment; also after judgment before writ execution date
Days to Hearing5-21 days
Days to Writ10 days after judgment (appeal period) days
Total Estimated Timeline21-60 days
Total Estimated Cost$100-400
⚠️ Watch Out
CRITICAL: Missouri does NOT require advance notice for nonpayment - landlord can file Rent and Possession immediately after rent is due. No demand required if tenant owes 1+ full month rent (lawsuit itself is deemed sufficient demand). Petition must include: exact street address; lease terms (quote entire lease or attach copy); amount of rent due at time of filing; allegation that rent was demanded and not paid. STRONG pay-and-stay right: before judgment tenant pays rent + costs to stay; after judgment tenant pays full judgment amount before writ execution date. Landlord CANNOT refuse payment. Two separate tracks: Rent-and-Possession (Ch. 535 for nonpayment only) vs. Unlawful Detainer (Ch. 534 for violations). Late charges may be challenged as illegal penalties unless defined as liquidated damages in lease. Entities (LLC/Corp) MUST have attorney.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Associate Circuit Court - Rent and Possession (Ch. 535). Pay the filing fee (~$$25-75).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Missouri eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Missouri attorney or local legal aid organization.
🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease:
Missouri landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly
reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding
tenant screening in Missouri —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need Missouri's
eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
Ready to File?
Generate Missouri-Compliant Legal Documents
AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to Missouri requirements.
Select your state, eviction reason, and the date you plan to serve notice. We'll calculate your earliest filing date and key milestones.
⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Underground Landlord
🏙️ Communities in Warren County
Cities and communities
Warrenton Wright City Marthasville Foristell Innsbrook Truesdale
Warren County
Screen Before You Sign
Wright City (I-70 east) is the hottest rental market — growing fast toward St. Charles County. Warrenton is the courthouse city, ~15 mi from Wright City. Manufacturing workforce incoming from the $800M American Foods Group facility. Commuter income is the dominant tenant profile.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Warren County, Missouri
Warren County occupies a strategic position in the St. Louis metro’s westward growth corridor, positioned along Interstate 70 approximately 50 miles from downtown St. Louis and immediately west of the booming St. Charles County suburban fringe. With approximately 38,500 residents growing at roughly 1.8% annually, the county is one of Missouri’s faster-growing exurban markets — smaller than its STL exurban neighbors Lincoln County (to the north) and Franklin County (to the south), but sharing the same fundamental dynamic: households relocating from the St. Louis metro in search of lower housing costs, land, and rural character within I-70 commuting range.
Two Warren Counties: East and West
Warren County divides into two meaningfully different rental markets. The eastern corridor — Wright City and Foristell, both directly on I-70 and adjacent to the St. Charles County line — is functionally a continuation of the St. Charles County suburban growth wave. Wright City in particular has been one of the county’s fastest-growing communities, attracting households seeking I-70 access to St. Charles County employment at prices that remain below the inner-ring suburbs. This is Warren County’s tightest and most competitive rental market, with demand driven primarily by commuter households and manufacturing workers. The western half of the county — Warrenton, Marthasville, and the Route 94 Missouri Rhineland corridor — is more independently rural, with rental demand driven by local employment, agriculture-related workforce, and retirees attracted by the scenic river corridor and winery country.
Manufacturing Growth: The American Foods Group Effect
In 2024, American Foods Group announced an approximately $800 million beef processing facility for Warren County, one of the largest food manufacturing investments in Missouri in decades. When operational, this facility is expected to create hundreds of direct jobs and a significant supply chain employment footprint in the county. For landlords, this type of large manufacturing investment is a meaningful positive signal for rental demand: manufacturing employment tends to be stable, full-time, and benefits-eligible, producing the income-stable working-class households that are reliable rent payers. The Wright City and Warrenton rental markets are both within reasonable proximity to the expected facility location. Landlords who position properties in advance of a major employment anchor have historically captured occupancy and rent appreciation as the workforce arrives.
Missouri Rhineland Wine Country
The Route 94 corridor along Warren County’s southern edge is part of the Missouri Rhineland wine country, shared with neighboring Franklin and St. Charles counties. This scenic river corridor brings weekend tourism and creates a small but distinct short-term rental opportunity. Landlords with properties near Marthasville and the Route 94 winery corridor should be aware of the distinction between long-term residential rentals (governed by Missouri landlord-tenant law and this page) and short-term vacation rentals (subject to separate tax compliance and local zoning considerations).
The 12th Judicial Circuit
All Warren County evictions file with the 12th Judicial Circuit at the Warren County Courthouse, 104 West Main Street, Warrenton, MO 63383. Phone: (636) 456-3363. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 12th Circuit also serves Audrain and Montgomery counties; all Warren County eviction matters are handled in Warrenton. From Wright City, the drive to the Warrenton courthouse is approximately 15 miles along I-70 and Route 47. LLCs and business entities must retain a licensed Missouri attorney for all eviction proceedings.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Warren County, Missouri and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with the 12th Judicial Circuit Court or a licensed Missouri attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
