Whether a Missouri city official can be recalled by voters depends on the type of city. In a third class city, any elected officer can be recalled after holding office for at least six months, by a petition signed by at least 25% of the registered voters entitled to vote for a successor and filed within 60 days of the earliest signature (RSMo 77.650). Commission form cities also allow recall by a 25% petition (RSMo 78.260). Fourth class cities do not have a voter recall petition at all; RSMo 79.240 instead allows removal for cause by the mayor with the board's consent, or by two-thirds of the board of aldermen.
Fire protection districts and ambulance districts have their own recall procedures, and charter cities set their own rules in their charters. This explainer goes through each one, then covers the campaign finance and communication rules that apply to a recall committee. For the broader picture of local office in Missouri, see our guide to running for local office in Missouri.
First, find out what kind of city you live in
Missouri cities are organized under different chapters of state law, and recall works differently under each. The main types are:
- Third class cities (chapter 77).
- Fourth class cities (chapter 79).
- Commission form and council-manager cities (chapter 78).
- Charter, or home rule, cities, which write their own rules in a city charter.
Your city clerk can tell you which type your city is. Start there, because the rest of this page depends on the answer.
Third class cities
Recall in third class cities is set out in RSMo 77.650, 77.655 and 77.660.
Who can be recalled, and when
Any elective officer of a third class city may be recalled after holding office for at least six months. Only one recall petition may be filed against an officer during a two-year term.
Grounds
The petition must state its reasons in 200 words or fewer. The grounds allowed are misconduct in office, incompetence, or failure to perform duties prescribed by law. Disagreement with an official's votes, without more, is not listed as a ground.
Signatures and the 60-day window
The petition must be signed by registered voters equal to at least 25% of the registered voters entitled to vote for a successor to the officer. It must be filed with the county clerk or election authority within 60 days of the earliest signature on it. Plan the drive around that window: a signature collected on day one is the start of the clock.
Review, the question and the result
- The clerk checks whether the petition is sufficient within 10 days (RSMo 77.655).
- If it is found insufficient, there is one 10-day window to amend it.
- If it is sufficient, the council orders the recall question placed before the voters.
- If a majority votes for removal, the office becomes vacant (RSMo 77.660).
The recalled officer may not run in the election to fill the vacancy and may not be appointed to fill it (RSMo 77.650).
Commission form cities
In commission form cities organized under chapter 78, a recall petition must be signed by at least 25% of the registered voters entitled to vote for a successor. It includes a general statement of the grounds and is filed with the city clerk (RSMo 78.260, 78.270).
The process differs from third class cities in one important way. The removal election also elects a successor, and the incumbent may run in it (RSMo 78.290). In practice, the official's opponents need both a petition and a candidate.
Fourth class cities: removal by the board, not a voter recall
Many smaller Missouri cities are fourth class cities. We found no voter recall statute for them in chapter 79. What RSMo 79.240 provides is removal for cause, in one of two ways:
- By the mayor, with the consent of the board of aldermen, or
- By a two-thirds vote of the board of aldermen.
This works more like an impeachment than a recall. Residents of a fourth class city who are concerned about an official can raise it with the mayor and the board, speak at public meetings, and support candidates at the next election. Aldermen in fourth class cities are elected every two years on municipal election days (RSMo 79.030), so the next election is never far off. If you are thinking about running yourself, our post on how to run for city council or alderman in Missouri covers the steps.
Fire protection district directors
Recall of a fire protection district director follows RSMo 321.701 and 321.711:
- The process begins with a notice of intent.
- No recall proceedings may take place during the first 180 days of a director's term, during the last 180 days, or after a recall election that went in the director's favor during that term.
- The petition is due within 180 days of the notice of intent.
- It needs signatures equal to at least 25% of the number of people who voted in the most recent election for governor in the district.
Note the base for the 25%. It is the turnout in the last governor's race in the district, not the number of registered voters.
Ambulance district directors
Ambulance districts follow the same structure under RSMo 190.056: 25% of the votes cast for governor in the election district, the same 180-day limits, and statements of 200 words or fewer.
Charter cities
Charter cities, such as Kansas City, set their own initiative, referendum and recall rules in their charters. We have not reviewed individual charters for this guide. If you live in a charter city, read the recall section of your city charter and confirm the process with your city clerk before collecting any signatures.
Recall committees and campaign finance
A group that raises or spends money on a recall is a committee under Missouri campaign finance law. Recall committees must file campaign disclosure reports, including an initial report 15 days after they begin to raise or spend money (RSMo 130.046.2).
Two 2026 changes also apply to anyone raising money:
- Every request for contributions must carry a disclaimer naming the committee or committees that benefit and the percentage split (RSMo 130.031.13).
- Recurring contributions require affirmative consent and receipts (RSMo 130.031.14).
If the recall is about a special district, remember that public funds may not be used to advocate for or against a candidate or ballot measure, and that rule now covers special districts (RSMo 115.646). Our post on campaign committees for Missouri local candidates explains committee formation, treasurers and reports in more detail. An election attorney can tell you how these rules apply to your committee.
Keeping petition volunteers and supporters organized
Recall petitions have short windows: 60 days in a third class city and 180 days after the notice of intent in fire and ambulance districts. Organizing volunteers quickly is often the hard part.
Coordinate volunteers by text with CampaignCNX+
A recall committee that has formed and is on file can use CampaignCNX+ to coordinate the people working on the drive. Add your volunteers and supporters who gave written permission to receive texts, and record where that permission came from. Tag them into groups such as "circulators" (the people who collect the signatures), "notary help" or "phone bank," and send each group only what applies to it, such as a weekend signature schedule. Replies come into a shared inbox that your team can work together, and opt-outs are handled automatically.
Before the committee can text, it needs Campaign Verify, a check that confirms to the carriers (the mobile phone companies) that the sender is a real political committee. Campaign Verify is for 527 committees (527 is the tax status of a political committee) with an EIN (the committee's federal tax ID number) and a filing published online by an election authority. Check that your committee's filing can be viewed online before you request it, and ask Campaign Verify Support if it cannot. Our guide to political texting covers the registration steps.
Do not text everyone who signs the petition. A petition signature is not permission to receive texts. A sign-up sheet counts as consent only if it says so plainly and the date is recorded.
Frequently asked questions
Can voters recall an alderman in a fourth class Missouri city?
We found no voter recall statute for fourth class cities. RSMo 79.240 allows removal for cause by the mayor with the board's consent, or by two-thirds of the board of aldermen.
How many signatures does a third class city recall petition need?
At least 25% of the registered voters entitled to vote for a successor to the officer, filed with the county clerk or election authority within 60 days of the earliest signature (RSMo 77.650).
Can a recalled official run again in the same election?
In a third class city, no: the recalled officer cannot run in or be appointed to fill the vacancy. In a commission form city, the removal election elects a successor and the incumbent may run.
When can a fire district director be recalled?
Not during the first or last 180 days of the term, and not after a recall election in the director's favor during that term. The petition is due within 180 days of the notice of intent (RSMo 321.701, 321.711).
Set up your committee's texting account
Open an account, add your opted-in volunteers, and choose your number when the committee is on file. 100 free SMS included. Your number is $5 a month.