Callaway County — historically nicknamed “The Kingdom of Callaway” after a Civil War standoff in which county residents bluffed Union troops into a ceasefire — is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area, positioned directly north of the Missouri River from the state capital. With approximately 45,000 residents and a median household income of approximately $74,176, the county’s economy is shaped by three distinct forces: Jefferson City government employment (many county residents commute to the capital), the educational institutions in the county seat of Fulton (Westminster College and William Woods University), and the Callaway Nuclear Generating Station, Missouri’s only commercial nuclear power plant. All evictions file with the 13th Judicial Circuit at the Callaway Justice Center, 5 East 2nd Street, Fulton, MO 65251. Circuit Clerk phone: (573) 642-0780. The 13th Circuit also serves Boone County (Columbia). Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All landlord-tenant matters are governed by Missouri state law (RSMo Chapters 441, 534, and 535).
Jefferson City govt, Callaway Nuclear Plant, colleges
Metro
Jefferson City MSA
Landlord Rating
6/10 — Stable Capital-Adjacent Market
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
Demand for Rent (no statutory minimum)
Lease Violation Notice
10-Day Notice to Quit
Court
13th Circuit — 5 E. 2nd St., Fulton
Court Phone
(573) 642-0780
Court Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00am–4:30pm
Avg Timeline
25–55 days start to finish
Callaway County Local Regulations
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. Missouri state law governs all residential rental matters.
Category
Details
Local Ordinances
Callaway County has no county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. The City of Fulton maintains its own property maintenance codes. Landlords should confirm current requirements with the City of Fulton or any other municipality where their property is located.
Rent Control
Prohibited statewide. No municipality in Callaway 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). College student tenants at Westminster and William Woods require co-signer agreements and thorough move-in documentation.
13th Judicial Circuit
All Callaway County evictions file with the 13th Judicial Circuit at the Callaway Justice Center, 5 East 2nd Street, Fulton, MO 65251. Circuit Clerk phone: (573) 642-0780. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 13th Circuit also serves Boone County (with the main courthouse in Columbia at 705 E. Walnut St.). Callaway County cases file in Fulton at the Justice Center, not in Columbia. Free parking is available in the Justice Center lot.
Nuclear Plant Workforce
The Callaway Nuclear Generating Station, located approximately 10 miles southeast of Fulton near Reform, is Missouri’s only commercial nuclear power plant and one of the county’s largest employers. Nuclear plant workers — engineers, operators, and technical staff — tend to have stable, well-compensated employment and represent a premium tenant profile in the Fulton rental market. Income verification for nuclear plant employees is typically straightforward; verify employment through Ameren Missouri (the plant operator).
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
🏛️ Callaway Justice Center
13th Judicial Circuit — Fulton
🏛️ Courthouse Information and Locations for Missouri
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State statutes that apply throughout Callaway 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.
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⚠️ 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 Callaway County
Cities and communities
Fulton New Bloomfield Auxvasse Mokane Tebbetts
Callaway County
Screen Before You Sign
Three tenant types: Jefferson City government commuters (most stable), college students (need co-signers), and nuclear plant workers (premium earners). File at Callaway Justice Center, 5 E. 2nd St., Fulton — NOT at the Boone County courthouse in Columbia.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Callaway County, Missouri
Callaway County — “The Kingdom of Callaway,” a nickname earned during a Civil War standoff so audacious it reportedly secured a separate peace treaty for a single Missouri county — occupies the north bank of the Missouri River directly across from the state capital. Part of the Jefferson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, the county draws its rental demand from three distinct sources that create meaningfully different tenant profiles within the same small geographic area: state government workers commuting from Fulton to Jefferson City, students attending Westminster College and William Woods University, and technical workers at the Callaway Nuclear Generating Station.
The Jefferson City Government Commuter
A significant portion of Callaway County residents work in Jefferson City — the state capital across the Missouri River in Cole County — but choose to live in Fulton and other Callaway County communities for their lower housing costs, quieter character, and proximity to the county’s rural environment. These government-employee commuters represent Callaway County’s most financially stable long-term tenant profile: state employment offers reliable income, good benefits, and low turnover risk. Government employees who have worked for the state for several years are among the most dependable tenants a landlord can place. Income verification for state employees is straightforward — pay stubs from the State of Missouri are standard and easily verified.
The College Market: Westminster and William Woods
Fulton is home to two small private colleges that together represent a meaningful but modest rental demand segment. Westminster College (approximately 750 students) is best known as the site where Winston Churchill delivered the 1946 “Iron Curtain” speech — an episode now commemorated on campus by a rescued portion of the Berlin Wall. William Woods University (approximately 2,200 students, including online) is a larger institution with strong equestrian and allied health programs. Together they generate student rental demand near campus in Fulton, but at a scale that requires the standard college-market lease protocols: co-signers, academic-year lease structures, and thorough move-in documentation. Both colleges also employ faculty and staff who represent a stable professional rental segment within the city.
The Nuclear Plant Workforce
The Callaway Nuclear Generating Station, located approximately 10 miles southeast of Fulton near Reform, is Missouri’s only commercial nuclear power plant and one of the county’s largest private employers. Operated by Ameren Missouri, the plant employs hundreds of licensed operators, engineers, and technical staff at compensation levels well above county median. Nuclear plant employees represent a premium tenant tier — high income, stable employment, professional norms, and low eviction risk. Properties within reasonable commuting distance of the plant (roughly a 15-mile radius of Fulton) benefit from steady demand from this workforce. Verify plant employment through Ameren’s HR processes.
The 13th Judicial Circuit in Fulton
All Callaway County evictions file with the 13th Judicial Circuit at the Callaway Justice Center, 5 East 2nd Street, Fulton, MO 65251. Circuit Clerk phone: (573) 642-0780. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 13th Circuit also serves Boone County, with a separate courthouse in Columbia. Callaway County matters file exclusively at the Fulton Justice Center, not in Columbia. Free parking is available in the Justice Center parking lot. LLCs and business entities must retain a licensed Missouri attorney for all proceedings.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Callaway County, Missouri and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with the 13th Judicial Circuit Court or a licensed Missouri attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
