Chickasaw County is a small rural county in north-central Mississippi, named for the Chickasaw Nation whose ancestral territory encompassed this region of the state before the 1832 Treaty of Pontotoc Creek. The county seat of Houston is home to one of Mississippi’s most architecturally distinguished courthouses — a grand neoclassical structure with a high portico, four columns, and a silver dome topped with a gold eagle, designed by noted architect Ruben Harrison Hunt. The county has two judicial districts: the 1st District centered on Houston, and the 2nd District centered on Okolona in the county’s eastern portion. With approximately 17,000 residents, Chickasaw County has a modest rental market supported by agriculture, timber, light manufacturing, and local government.
Houston and Okolona are the county’s primary rental markets. Houston, with around 3,500 residents, is the larger commercial center, while Okolona (about 2,500) anchors the eastern district. Prevailing rents run $600 to $900 per month for single-family homes. Chickasaw County does not have a County Court — Justice Court handles all eviction proceedings in both districts. File in the district where the rental property is located. All residential tenancies are governed by Mississippi’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Houston
Population
~17,000
Key Communities
Houston, Okolona, Houlka, Woodland
Court System
Justice Court (2 districts — file by property location)
Median Rent
~$600–$900/mo
Rent Control
None
Just-Cause Eviction
Not required
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate
Lease Violation
14-Day Notice to Cure or Vacate
Month-to-Month Term.
30-Day Written Notice
Filing Fee
~$50–$100
1st District (Houston)
(662) 456-2878
2nd District (Okolona)
(662) 447-3402
Max Timeline
45 days from filing (hard cap)
Security Deposit Return
45 days after demand
Chickasaw County Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Rental Licensing
No county-level rental license required. No known municipal rental registration programs in Houston or Okolona. Mississippi state law governs exclusively.
Rent Control
None. Mississippi has no statewide rent control and no Chickasaw County ordinance restricts rents. Landlords may set and adjust rents freely.
Security Deposit
No statutory cap. Return with itemized accounting within 45 days after termination, delivery of possession, and written tenant demand. Wrongful retention: $200 plus actual damages (§ 89-8-21).
Court Filing — Two Districts
1st District (Houston area): Justice Court, Houston, MS 38851, (662) 456-2878. Courthouse: grand neoclassical building with dome and gold eagle — one of MS’s finest courthouse structures. 2nd District (Okolona area): Justice Court, (662) 447-3402. File in the district where the rental property is located. No County Court in Chickasaw County.
Source of Income
No state or local source of income protections. Landlords are not required to accept Housing Choice Vouchers.
Manufacturing Workforce
Chickasaw County has light manufacturing employment — verify employer stability and length of service during screening. Manufacturing tenants typically provide consistent, documentable pay stub income. Screen at 3x monthly rent minimum.
Self-Help Eviction
Prohibited under Mississippi law. Justice Court is the only lawful eviction remedy.
Mississippi has two parallel eviction frameworks: Chapter 7 (§89-7-27, general/non-residential) and Chapter 8 (§89-8-13, Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). For RESIDENTIAL tenants, §89-8-13(5) provides the 3-day notice for nonpayment. Tenant can stop the eviction by paying all unpaid rent and costs by the court-ordered move-out date. After judgment, court orders tenant to vacate within 7 days (§89-8-39(1)). Tenant has 72 hours after writ execution to remove personal property (§89-7-31). Filing fees typically $75-$100 depending on county. Notice can be delivered via email/text if tenant agreed in writing to receive notices that way.
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 Justice Court / County Court. Pay the filing fee (~$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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi attorney or local legal aid organization.
🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease:
Mississippi landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly
reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding
tenant screening in Mississippi —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need Mississippi's
eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
Ready to File?
Generate Mississippi-Compliant Legal Documents
AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to Mississippi requirements.
Select your state, eviction reason, and the date you plan to serve notice. We'll calculate your earliest filing date and key milestones.
⚠️ 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.
Two-district county: Know your district before filing. Houston-area properties file in the 1st District, (662) 456-2878. Okolona-area properties file in the 2nd District, (662) 447-3402. Filing in the wrong district delays the case.
Healthcare, school, and manufacturing employees provide the most stable tenant income profiles in this market. Verify pay stubs and employment length at the 3x rent threshold.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Chickasaw County Mississippi Landlord-Tenant Law: Complete Guide for Rental Owners in Houston and Okolona
Chickasaw County takes its name from the Chickasaw Nation, one of the Five Civilized Tribes whose ancestral homeland encompassed much of north-central Mississippi before the 1832 Treaty of Pontotoc Creek ceded the territory to the United States. Today it is a quiet rural county of approximately 17,000 residents anchored by Houston in the west and Okolona in the east, governed by a two-district court system and operating under Mississippi’s straightforwardly landlord-favorable legal framework. The grand courthouse in Houston — a neoclassical structure with four columns, a prominent dome, and a gold eagle finial — is one of the most architecturally distinguished county seats in north Mississippi.
Market Overview and Screening
Houston and Okolona together anchor the county’s rental activity, with single-family home rents running $600 to $900 per month. The local economy is driven by agriculture, timber, light manufacturing, healthcare, and local government. The most stable tenant income profiles come from healthcare workers, government and school employees, and manufacturing plant workers — all of whom provide consistent, documentable pay stubs. Agricultural and timber workers require annual income verification to assess income stability across seasonal variations. Screen every applicant at a minimum of 3x monthly rent, apply criteria uniformly, and document all screening decisions in writing.
Eviction in Chickasaw County — Two-District Filing
The critical operational detail for Chickasaw County landlords is the two-district court structure. File all eviction actions in the Justice Court district where the rental property is located: 1st District (Houston area) at (662) 456-2878, or 2nd District (Okolona area) at (662) 447-3402. Filing in the wrong district can require refiling and restart the timeline. Confirm the correct district with the clerk before filing. Begin with a written 3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate (§ 89-7-27) for nonpayment or a 14-Day Notice to Cure (§ 89-8-13) for lease violations. File a sworn affidavit after the notice period. The court sets a hearing 3 to 5 days from the summons date. The entire proceeding is capped at 45 days from filing. The Chickasaw County Sheriff enforces the removal warrant. Self-help eviction is absolutely prohibited — never change locks, remove belongings, or shut off utilities outside the court process.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Mississippi attorney or contact Chickasaw County Justice Court for guidance specific to your tenancy. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Mississippi attorney or contact Chickasaw County Justice Court for specific guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
