Scott County is located in the Missouri Bootheel, the southeastern panhandle of the state that extends south toward the Gulf Coastal Plain. With approximately 38,000 residents and a slowly declining population, the county seat is Benton (a small town of roughly 1,000) while Sikeston — the county’s largest city at approximately 16,000 — serves as the commercial and economic hub for a multi-county region that includes parts of southeast Missouri, western Kentucky, and southern Illinois. All evictions file with the 33rd Judicial Circuit at the Scott County Courthouse, 131 South Winchester Street, Benton, MO 63736. Civil division phone: (573) 545-3596. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A critical geographic note: the courthouse is in Benton, not in Sikeston — Sikeston landlords must make the approximately 15-mile drive to Benton for all eviction filings. County median household income is approximately $62,782 and the economy is dominated by agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare. All landlord-tenant matters are governed by Missouri state law (RSMo Chapters 441, 534, and 535).
Agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, distribution
Landlord Rating
5/10 — Affordable Bootheel, Declining Population
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
Demand for Rent (no statutory minimum)
Lease Violation Notice
10-Day Notice to Quit
Court
33rd Circuit — 131 S. Winchester St., Benton
Court Phone (Civil)
(573) 545-3596
Court Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00am–4:30pm
Avg Timeline
25–55 days start to finish
Scott County Local Regulations
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. Missouri state law governs all residential rental matters.
Category
Details
Local Ordinances
Scott County has no county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. The City of Sikeston and other municipalities maintain their own property maintenance codes. Sikeston has the county’s most active code enforcement program. Landlords should confirm current requirements with the applicable city.
Rent Control
Prohibited statewide. No municipality in Scott 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 with photos and a signed checklist.
33rd Judicial Circuit
All Scott County evictions file with the 33rd Judicial Circuit at the Scott County Courthouse, 131 South Winchester Street, Benton, MO 63736. Civil division: (573) 545-3596. Probate/Family/Criminal: (573) 545-3511. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Important: The courthouse is in Benton, not in Sikeston. Landlords with Sikeston properties must drive approximately 15 miles to Benton to file. Confirm current filing location and hours before appearing.
Sikeston vs. Benton
Sikeston is the county’s commercial and population center but not the county seat. The county seat is Benton, a small community approximately 15 miles from Sikeston along Highway 61. All circuit court filings, including evictions, go to the Benton courthouse. Do not confuse Sikeston’s size and prominence with it being the courthouse city — it is not.
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
🏛️ Scott County Courthouse
33rd Judicial Circuit — Benton (NOT Sikeston)
🏛️ Courthouse Information and Locations for Missouri
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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 Scott County
Cities and communities
Sikeston Benton Scott City Chaffee Oran Morley
Scott County
Screen Before You Sign
File in Benton, NOT Sikeston — ~15 miles apart. Population declining. Agriculture & manufacturing workforce dominant. Income verification critical at these rent levels. Sikeston is the economic center; Benton is the courthouse city.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Scott County, Missouri
Scott County occupies the Missouri Bootheel — the southeastern panhandle of the state that dips south toward the Gulf Coastal Plain, bordered by the Mississippi River on the east and sharing agricultural landscapes with Arkansas and Tennessee more than with central Missouri. The county’s largest and most economically significant community is Sikeston, a city of approximately 16,000 that functions as the commercial hub for a multi-county regional market drawing from southeast Missouri, western Kentucky, and southern Illinois. The county seat is Benton, a small town of roughly 1,000 residents approximately 15 miles from Sikeston, and the geographic separation between the county’s commercial center and its courthouse is the single most important operational fact for landlords in Scott County to internalize.
The Sikeston-Benton Distinction
Sikeston dominates Scott County’s economic and social life so thoroughly that landlords unfamiliar with the area often assume Sikeston is the county seat. It is not. All Scott County circuit court matters — including all eviction filings — must be filed at the Scott County Courthouse, 131 South Winchester Street, Benton, MO 63736. The civil division phone is (573) 545-3596. From central Sikeston, the drive to Benton is approximately 15 miles south on US Highway 61 and takes roughly 20 minutes. Landlords who arrive at Sikeston City Hall expecting to file an eviction will have to make the round trip. Before any court appearance, confirm current filing procedures with the civil division by phone.
Sikeston’s Economy and Tenant Pool
Sikeston’s economy is shaped by agriculture (the surrounding flat Bootheel land is among Missouri’s most productive farmland), food processing and distribution (Sikeston is a regional hub for agricultural commodity distribution), healthcare (Missouri Delta Medical Center is a significant employer), and retail serving the multi-county region. The tenant pool in Sikeston reflects this economy: agricultural workers, food processing employees, healthcare workers, retail staff, and the tradespeople who support the area’s residential and commercial activity. This is a working-class tenant market with income levels that make rent affordability tight at the lower end. The county’s population has been modestly declining at roughly 0.4% annually, reflecting a broader trend of Bootheel outmigration to regional centers like Cape Girardeau and the St. Louis metro.
The 33rd Judicial Circuit
All Scott County evictions file with the 33rd Judicial Circuit at the Scott County Courthouse, 131 South Winchester Street, Benton, MO 63736. Civil division: (573) 545-3596. Criminal and family court: (573) 545-3511. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. LLCs and business entities must retain a licensed Missouri attorney for all eviction proceedings. Budget the 15-mile drive from Sikeston to Benton for all in-person filings and court appearances.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Scott County, Missouri and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with the 33rd Judicial Circuit Court or a licensed Missouri attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
