St. Francois County Landlord-Tenant Law

Missouri landlord guide — eviction rules, courthouse info & local regulations

Landlord-Tenant Law in St. Francois County, Missouri

St. Francois County is located in the Lead Belt region of southeast Missouri, approximately 70 miles southwest of St. Louis along US Highway 67. With approximately 67,000 residents, the county seat and largest city is Farmington (~18,200), a regional commercial and healthcare hub. The county’s identity is shaped by its mining heritage — the area was historically one of the world’s largest lead-producing regions — and by its ongoing role as a service center for the surrounding rural counties. All evictions file with the 24th Judicial Circuit at the St. Francois County Courthouse, 1 North Washington Street, Suite 102, Farmington, MO 63640. Phone: (573) 756-4551. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 24th Circuit also serves Madison, Ste. Genevieve, and Washington counties. County median household income is approximately $57,477 and median gross rent approximately $755. The county’s poverty rate of approximately 16% is above the state average, and income verification is especially important in the Farmington rental market. Note: the county name is pronounced “FRAN-siss” locally, not “Fran-SWAH.” All landlord-tenant matters are governed by Missouri state law (RSMo Chapters 441, 534, and 535).

St. Francois County Local Regulations

No county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. Missouri state law governs all residential rental matters.

Last verified: 2026-04-01

Missouri Eviction Laws

State statutes that apply throughout St. Francois County

A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in St. Francois County, Missouri

St. Francois County — pronounced “FRAN-siss” locally, not in the French manner — occupies the Lead Belt region of southeast Missouri, a swath of territory that was once the world’s most prolific lead-producing region. The mining industry that shaped the county’s communities in the 19th and 20th centuries has wound down significantly, leaving behind a county that is now primarily a regional service economy centered on Farmington, the county seat and largest city at approximately 18,200 residents. For landlords, St. Francois County offers genuinely affordable entry-level rents — countywide median gross rent around $755, with Farmington closer to $893 — paired with a challenging income environment and a poverty rate near 16% that makes thorough tenant screening essential.

Farmington: The County’s Rental Hub

Farmington is the county’s dominant rental market and its commercial and healthcare center. Parkland Health Center and Mineral Area Regional Medical Center anchor the local healthcare economy, which is the county’s most stable employment sector. The Mineral Area College campus in Park Hills (approximately 5 miles southwest of Farmington) generates modest student rental demand in the county’s secondary rental communities. Farmington’s homeownership rate is approximately 54%, meaning roughly 46% of housing units are rented — a meaningfully higher renter share than many Missouri small cities of similar size. This reflects the city’s role as a regional workforce hub drawing residents from surrounding smaller communities who rent in Farmington for its services and employment access.

Mining Heritage and Older Housing Stock

The Lead Belt’s mining history has left St. Francois County with a notably older housing stock, particularly in communities like Bonne Terre, Desloge, Park Hills, and Leadington. Approximately 12% of county housing units were built before 1940. This has two practical implications for landlords. First, federal law requires landlords of pre-1978 housing to provide tenants with the EPA’s Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home pamphlet and a lead paint disclosure form before the lease is signed. This requirement applies to all pre-1978 residential units regardless of whether the landlord knows of any lead paint, and failure to comply exposes landlords to significant federal liability. Keep signed disclosure forms in your lease file. Second, older housing stock typically requires more active maintenance than newer construction. Budget accordingly and inspect units between tenancies rather than only at move-out.

Income Verification in a Lower-Income Market

With a county poverty rate near 16% and a median household income of approximately $57,477, the income pool for St. Francois County rentals is more constrained than many Missouri markets. The standard three-times-rent income standard is the appropriate threshold — a tenant paying $755 per month should earn at least $2,265 monthly, or roughly $27,180 annually. For many St. Francois County applicants, this bar is achievable but not comfortable, and income volatility in manufacturing, retail, and service employment sectors is real. Verify not just current income but employment stability: how long has the applicant been with the current employer? Is the income hourly or salaried? Does overtime make up a significant portion of the stated income? Overtime income is real but variable — qualify applicants on base wages, not supplemental earnings.

The 24th Judicial Circuit

All St. Francois County evictions file with the 24th Judicial Circuit at the St. Francois County Courthouse, 1 North Washington Street, Suite 102, Farmington, MO 63640. Phone: (573) 756-4551. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 24th Circuit also serves Madison, Ste. Genevieve, and Washington counties, making it a multi-county circuit with a significant geographic footprint. St. Francois County cases file exclusively in Farmington. LLCs and business entities must retain a licensed Missouri attorney for all proceedings.

Neighboring Missouri Counties

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