Jones County Mississippi Landlord-Tenant Law: The Complete Guide for Rental Property Owners in Laurel and Ellisville
Jones County is one of the more economically diverse and culturally interesting rental markets in south Mississippi — a county anchored by Laurel, a city with an architectural heritage rivaling any in the state, a healthcare system that employs thousands, a manufacturing base that provides stable working-class income, and a national profile dramatically elevated by the HGTV series “Home Town” that has made Laurel one of the most talked-about small cities in America. For landlords, Jones County offers a market that is meaningfully more active and financially diverse than the surrounding Piney Woods counties, with a legal framework that is straightforward and solidly landlord-favorable.
Laurel’s Rental Market: The “Home Town” Effect and Beyond
Laurel’s story is one of the more remarkable small-city revival narratives in recent American history. The city was built on the fortunes of the yellow pine lumber industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and its wealthy lumber barons left behind an extraordinary collection of Craftsman, Colonial Revival, and Arts and Crafts architecture that survived the industry’s decline and the city’s subsequent economic challenges. When Ben and Erin Napier began documenting their renovation work in Laurel’s historic neighborhoods for HGTV’s “Home Town,” they brought national attention to a city that had been largely overlooked — and the response was extraordinary. Tourism to Laurel increased dramatically, real estate investment followed, and property values in the historic neighborhoods rose meaningfully.
For landlords, the “Home Town” effect has been a double-edged asset. On the positive side, properties in Laurel’s historic neighborhoods now command rents and valuations that would have seemed unrealistic a decade ago, and the city’s national profile attracts a higher-income tenant demographic — professionals, remote workers, and lifestyle-motivated relocators who are drawn to Laurel’s authenticity and affordability relative to larger coastal markets. On the more complex side, the short-term rental market has grown significantly in Laurel’s historic district, and landlords must be thoughtful about how they position their properties — as long-term residential rentals, as short-term vacation accommodations, or as a combination — and understand the different legal frameworks that govern each arrangement.
Beyond the historic district, Jones County’s rental market reflects the broader economy of a regional center. South Central Regional Medical Center — one of the larger hospitals in south Mississippi — employs thousands of healthcare workers whose stable professional incomes make them an ideal tenant demographic. Sanderson Farms’ operations in the county and surrounding area provide manufacturing and processing employment for a large working-class workforce. Jones County Community College in Ellisville generates modest off-campus housing demand. And the county’s position along the I-59 corridor provides convenient access to Hattiesburg to the south and Meridian to the northeast, creating a commuter tenant segment for workers who prefer Jones County’s lower housing costs while accessing larger employment centers.
Short-Term Rentals in Laurel’s Historic District
Laurel’s growing tourism economy has created a genuine STR market in the historic neighborhoods that surround the downtown arts district. Visitors who come to see the city featured in “Home Town,” to tour the historic architecture, to visit the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, or to experience Laurel’s acclaimed restaurant and retail scene increasingly prefer the experience of staying in a restored historic home to a standard hotel stay. This demand creates real opportunity for landlords with properties in or near the historic district.
However, STR operations in Laurel require compliance with any applicable City of Laurel permit requirements — verify current ordinance requirements with the city before listing, as Gulf Coast and tourism-adjacent Mississippi municipalities have increasingly regulated short-term rentals. Mississippi’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act governs long-term residential tenancies of 30 days or more; short-term lodging arrangements are governed by separate hospitality and lodging regulations. Never allow a short-term rental booking to drift into what functionally becomes a month-to-month residential tenancy without deliberately converting the arrangement and executing a residential lease — a guest who has occupied your property for 30 or more days may acquire residential tenant rights that require the formal eviction process to terminate.
Mississippi Landlord-Tenant Law in Jones County
All residential tenancies in Jones County are governed by Mississippi’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Miss. Code Ann. §§ 89-8-1 through 89-8-29. Mississippi offers one of the most landlord-favorable legal environments in the country — no rent control, no just-cause eviction requirement, no source of income protection, and a hard 45-day cap from eviction filing to writ of possession. Jones County has both a Justice Court and a County Court, giving landlords a meaningful choice of venue for eviction proceedings.
For straightforward nonpayment cases, Jones County Justice Court at the Jones County Courthouse, 415 N. 5th Ave. in Laurel, handles eviction filings efficiently. For cases involving money damages — unpaid rent accumulations at Laurel’s $750 to $1,100 rent levels can be substantial — contested lease disputes, or legal complexity, Jones County Court at the same location provides the better procedural framework. The 45-day hard cap from filing to writ applies in both venues.
For nonpayment, begin with the written 3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate under § 89-7-27. State the exact amount owed, demand payment or surrender within three days, and serve personally, by posting, or electronically with prior written consent. After the notice period expires, file the sworn affidavit. The court issues a summons and sets a hearing within three to five business days. If the landlord prevails, the Jones County Sheriff executes the writ. The tenant retains cure rights under § 89-7-45 until physical execution. For lease violations, the 14-Day Notice to Cure under § 89-8-13. For month-to-month terminations without cause, the 30-Day Notice to Vacate under § 89-8-19. Self-help eviction is prohibited under any circumstance.
Security Deposits and Screening in Jones County’s Growing Market
Mississippi imposes no cap on security deposits. At Jones County’s prevailing rents of $750 to $1,100, a deposit of one month’s rent is standard; two months is appropriate for higher-risk applicants or properties with elevated damage potential. The 45-day return obligation with itemized written accounting under § 89-8-21 applies without exception. Wrongful withholding exposes the landlord to $200 plus actual damages.
In Laurel’s growing market — where properties in the historic district are attracting a more diverse and competitive applicant pool than they would have a decade ago — rigorous, consistent screening is both more important and more feasible. Require 3x monthly rent in documented income, run a full credit check and background check, and verify rental history directly with prior landlords. For historic district properties that may be attracting higher-income applicants from out of state, verify employment with the current employer directly rather than relying solely on offer letters or pay stubs, which may not reflect a relocating applicant’s long-term income stability in a new position. Apply your written screening criteria uniformly to every applicant — Fair Housing compliance is non-negotiable regardless of how competitive the Laurel market becomes.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Landlord-tenant law is subject to change. Consult a licensed Mississippi attorney or contact the Jones County Justice Court or County Court for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: March 2026.
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