Missouri physician non-compete law
Missouri enforces reasonable physician non-competes.
Missouri treats a reasonable physician non-compete as binding, so assume yours will apply and negotiate the scope down before you sign. Restrictions that tend to stand here run about 25–50 miles and 12–24 months; terms beyond that are the most vulnerable. Narrow the radius to the specific sites where you practiced, shorten the term, and ask for a defined buyout as a release valve.
- Posture
- Enforceable (common-law reasonableness; no physician statute)
- Last reviewed
- 2026-06-10
- Radius that tends to stand
- 25–50 miles
- Term that tends to stand
- 12–24 months
Governing law: No physician-specific statute; governed by common law. RSMo 431.202 is a general non-solicitation safe harbor and, by its own subsection 3, does NOT affect the validity/enforceability of true employer-employee covenants not to compete (those are common-law).
These are the general rules for Missouri. Your contract's exact radius, term, and buyout decide how it actually lands. See how your own clause compares — free.
Check your contract — free →A case that shaped this
Whelan Security Co. v. Kennebrew (2012, Mo. banc (Supreme Court of Missouri)) — Confirmed true non-competes ARE enforceable in Missouri. Held the covenant unreasonable as written but blue-penciled/modified it: upheld a two-year, 50-mile territorial restriction on customer solicitation; narrowed the customer non-solicit to customers the employee actually dealt with.
The detailed picture
As of June 2026 Missouri has NO enacted physician-specific non-compete statute; physician covenants are enforced under general common-law reasonableness (no more restrictive than necessary to protect trade secrets or customer/patient contacts, reasonable in time and geography, and not merely to stifle competition). RSMo 431.202 is a general non-solicitation safe harbor (1-year covenants conclusively presumed reasonable) that expressly disclaims any effect on true non-competes (subsec. 3). Multiple physician-restriction bills have been introduced but NONE enacted: SB1396 (2024); the 'Rural Doctors Act' (HB913/SB383/HB448, 2025 — died); HB2979 (Rural Doctors Act, 2026) which would have capped covenants with nonprofit-hospital employers at 365 days and a 5-mile radius — confirmed DIED in the 2026 session (sponsors say they will refile next session); and HB2184 (Mackey, 2026) which would have voided physician non-competes outright — also did not pass. Missouri remains employer-favorable for enforcement; watch the 2027 session.
Common questions
Are physician non-competes enforceable in Missouri?
Missouri enforces reasonable physician non-competes. Governing law: No physician-specific statute; governed by common law. RSMo 431.202 is a general non-solicitation safe harbor and, by its own subsection 3, does NOT affect the validity/enforceability of true employer-employee covenants not to compete (those are common-law)..
How far and how long can a Missouri physician non-compete reach?
Restrictions that tend to stand here run about 25–50 miles and 12–24 months; terms beyond that are the most vulnerable. The radius and term in your specific contract decide how it lands — check your own clause.
Other states
General legal information, not legal advice. Non-compete enforceability turns on the exact wording of your contract and your circumstances; this page describes the state's general posture as last reviewed 2026-06-10.