Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri Eviction Risk: Low

Ste. Genevieve County sits in the lower-risk third of Missouri eviction laws's 115 counties, carrying an average eviction risk score of 3.3/10 - a Low rating that reflects relatively stable landlord-tenant conditions across its 7 tracked communities. The county ranks 79th in the state, meaning 78 Missouri eviction laws counties present higher eviction risk for landlords. With a total renter population of roughly 7,568 residents, this is a small rural market where individual city conditions vary more than the county average might suggest.

Average rent in Ste. Genevieve County runs $713 per month, and renters spend an average of 23.9% of their income on housing - a burden rate that falls below the standard 30% distress threshold, which partly explains the county's low overall risk score. About 30.1% of residents rent rather than own, and the average poverty rate sits at 10.5%. The county seat, Ste. Genevieve city (population 5,010), anchors the market with a 3.4/10 score; nearby Bloomsdale (pop. 841) matches that figure. The outlier worth watching is Goose Creek Lake, which scores 3.2/10 - the highest in the county - followed by Grayhawk at 3.1/10. At the low end, St. Mary (pop. 285) posts the county's most landlord-favorable reading at 3.2/10.

Missouri eviction laws governs landlord-tenant relations under RSMo § 441 (Landlord and Tenant). The state has no rent control and its preemption statute bars local governments from enacting caps, so no city in Ste. Genevieve County can impose additional rent restrictions. There is no just-cause-for-eviction requirement statewide. For nonpayment of rent, Missouri eviction laws allows an immediate rent-and-possession action under RSMo § 535.010 with no mandatory cure period before filing. A material lease violation requires a 10-day notice under RSMo § 441.060, and ending a month-to-month tenancy requires 30 days' notice under the same statute. Court filing fees range from $70 to $180, sheriff lockout fees run $40 to $150, and attorney fees for a full contested case typically fall between $500 and $3,000. An uncontested eviction resolves in roughly 21 to 45 days; a contested case can stretch to 120 days. The state's habitability obligations are codified at RSMo § 441.500, and retaliation protections appear at RSMo § 441.020. Fair housing complaints route through the Missouri Commission on Human Rights. Source-of-income (housing voucher) is not a protected class under Missouri eviction laws state law.

Scores across Ste. Genevieve County's 7 cities range from a low of 3.4/10 in St. Mary to a high of 3.2/10 in Goose Creek Lake, a tighter band than many Missouri counties of similar size, reflecting consistent market fundamentals county-wide.