Marion County Landlord-Tenant Law

Mississippi landlord guide — county ordinances, courthouse info & local rules

Marion County Rental Market Overview

Marion County sits in the Pine Belt of south Mississippi, just north of the Louisiana state line, bordered by the Pearl River to the east and flanked by Lamar, Forrest, and Covington counties. Columbia, the county seat, carries an outsized history for its modest size — it served briefly as Mississippi’s state capital in 1821–1822, and the county itself was named for General Francis Marion, the Revolutionary War’s famous “Swamp Fox.” The county is perhaps best known nationally as the birthplace of Walter Payton, the NFL Hall of Fame running back whose roots in Columbia have made the city a point of local pride. Today Columbia is a small city of about 5,600 people that functions as the governmental, commercial, and healthcare center for a rural county of 24,400.

The rental market in Marion County is modest and concentrated in Columbia. About 22% of occupied housing units countywide are renter-occupied, with the Columbia city market somewhat higher at roughly 42% of occupied units. The economy runs on timber and wood products, furniture manufacturing, natural gas and petroleum, county government, healthcare, and service employment. Pearl River Community College, headquartered in Poplarville (Pearl River County) but with a Columbia campus, provides modest educational employment in the county. A notable feature of the market: Columbia is approximately 30 miles from Hattiesburg along U.S. Highway 98, making it a viable commuter community for Hattiesburg-area workers who prefer lower housing costs. Marion County has a County Court, which holds exclusive jurisdiction over eviction proceedings.

Marion County Ordinances & Local Rules

Last verified: March 2026 · Source: Marion County Courts

Mississippi State Law Framework

⚡ Quick Overview

3

Days Notice (Nonpayment)

14

Days Notice (Violation)

14-28

Avg Total Days

$75

Filing Fee (Approx)

💰 Nonpayment of Rent

Notice Type 3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate

Notice Period 3 days

Tenant Can Cure? Yes

Days to Hearing 3-7 days

Days to Writ 3-5 days

Total Estimated Timeline 14-28 days

Total Estimated Cost $75-$200

⚠️ Watch Out

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.

📜 Eviction Laws Main 📊 Compare This State

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📝 Mississippi Eviction Process (Overview)

1. Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
2. Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
3. File an eviction case with the Justice Court / County Court. Pay the filing fee (~$75).
4. Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
5. Attend the court hearing and present your case.
6. If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
7. 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.

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Underground Landlord

🔍 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.

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Marion County Mississippi Landlord-Tenant Law: A Complete Guide for Rental Owners in Columbia and the Pine Belt South

Marion County occupies the pine-forested terrain of south-central Mississippi, named for the Revolutionary War’s General Francis Marion and seated in Columbia — a small city with deep historical credentials. Columbia served as the Mississippi state capital briefly in 1821–1822, and the Pearl River Convention that negotiated Mississippi’s terms of statehood assembled in Marion County in 1816. The county is best known nationally as the birthplace of Walter Payton, the NFL Hall of Fame running back who grew up in Columbia before starring at Jefferson High School and Jackson State University and then with the Chicago Bears. That local identity — deep-rooted, proud, and distinctly south Mississippi in character — shapes the community that landlords in Marion County are serving.

Columbia’s Economy: Timber, Manufacturing, and the Hattiesburg Connection

Marion County’s economy has historically been built on timber, natural gas and petroleum (oil was discovered on the Marion-Lamar County line in 1945), agriculture, and manufacturing — primarily furniture and wood products. Today the county’s employment profile includes county government, healthcare at Marion General Hospital, retail services, and a manufacturing base that draws on the Pine Belt’s timber supply. Natural gas and petroleum production continue in the county, contributing royalty income to some rural landowners and providing a segment of extraction-industry workers to the rental market.

The most significant external influence on the Columbia rental market is proximity to Hattiesburg. U.S. Highway 98 connects Columbia to Hattiesburg in approximately 30 miles — a reasonable commute that makes Columbia a viable lower-cost residential option for workers employed in the Hattiesburg metro area. Forrest County and Lamar County (where West Hattiesburg sits) are among the faster-growing areas in the state, and the housing cost differential between those markets and Columbia is substantial enough to drive meaningful commuter demand into Marion County’s rental stock. Landlords in Columbia should position their properties to attract this commuter segment, which tends to produce more stable income profiles than purely local-economy tenants.

Pearl River Community College

Pearl River Community College, headquartered in Poplarville in Pearl River County, operates educational programming in the Columbia area through outreach and extension activities. While not a full residential campus, PRCC’s presence contributes some employment demand from faculty and staff in the region. The county is within PRCC’s service area, and its students and personnel are part of the regional economic fabric — though not at the scale that a full residential college campus would generate.

Filing Evictions: Marion County Court in Columbia

Marion County has a County Court, which holds exclusive jurisdiction over unlawful entry and detainer (eviction) proceedings under Mississippi Code § 9-9-21. The County Court is located on the second floor of the Marion County Courthouse at Courthouse Square, Columbia, MS 39429. The Circuit Clerk — who also serves as the County Court clerk — is reached at 250 Broad Street, Suite 1, Columbia, MS 39429, phone (601) 736-8246, email circuitclerk@marioncountyms.gov. Confirm the current judge assignment, filing counter location, and hearing schedule with the clerk before appearing.

The Marion County Justice Court (500 Courthouse Square, Suite 2, Columbia, (601) 736-2572, Judges Rowell and Broom) handles misdemeanors and civil matters under $3,500, but County Court has exclusive statutory jurisdiction over eviction actions. Do not file evictions in Justice Court — they belong in County Court. Marion County is part of the 15th Circuit Court District, which also includes Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Lawrence, and Pearl River counties.

Every eviction must begin with properly delivered written notice. For nonpayment of rent, serve a 3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate (§ 89-7-27). For lease violations, a 14-Day Notice to Cure or Vacate (§ 89-8-13). After the notice period, file a sworn Complaint for Unlawful Entry and Detainer with the County Court clerk. The court sets a hearing within days, the Marion County Sheriff serves the summons and later enforces any Writ of Possession, and the entire proceeding is capped at 45 days from filing under Mississippi statute.

Practical Landlord Notes for Marion County

Marion County’s rental market is small, stable, and predominantly single-family. With a countywide homeownership rate above 78%, the rental segment is relatively thin — which means vacancies can take longer to fill and landlord reputation matters more than in higher-volume markets. At the same time, the modest rent levels ($550–$850 per month being typical) attract a broad cross-section of the workforce. The most stable tenant profiles are county and city government employees, hospital staff from Marion General, and established manufacturing workers with multi-year employment histories. Hattiesburg commuters, when they can be identified and verified, typically carry better income documentation than purely local applicants.

Mississippi imposes no cap on security deposits. Collecting one to one-and-a-half months’ rent as a deposit is standard and appropriate for this market. Document property condition at move-in with dated photographs and a written checklist signed by the tenant — the 45-day itemized accounting requirement for deposit returns (§ 89-8-21) is enforced, and adequate documentation is the only protection against a wrongful retention claim. In a small county where community reputation circulates quickly, maintaining clean documentation practices and treating deposit disputes professionally protects against both legal liability and reputational harm.

This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Mississippi attorney or contact the Marion County Circuit Clerk at (601) 736-8246 for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: March 2026.