Marshall County Mississippi Landlord-Tenant Law: A Complete Guide for Rental Owners in Holly Springs and the Memphis Commuter Zone
Marshall County sits at the northern edge of Mississippi, sharing a border with Tennessee and positioned firmly within the Memphis metropolitan orbit. Named for Chief Justice John Marshall and founded in 1836, the county grew into one of the most prosperous in antebellum Mississippi before the Civil War reduced it — Holly Springs alone endured more than fifty Union raids, and Union General Earl Van Dorn’s destruction of Grant’s supply depot here in December 1862 temporarily set back the Vicksburg campaign. Today Holly Springs carries that history in its remarkable collection of antebellum architecture and its identity as one of north Mississippi’s most historically layered small cities. The county’s modern character is shaped by two forces: its deep local roots in agriculture, timber, and county-seat commerce, and its geographic proximity to Memphis — a relationship that has made Marshall County a bedroom community for Tennessee workers and created rental demand dynamics not typical of most Mississippi counties.
The Memphis Effect: Marshall County as a Commuter Market
Marshall County’s membership in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area is not merely a statistical designation — it reflects a real economic relationship. Holly Springs is roughly 45 to 50 miles from downtown Memphis via U.S. Highway 78 (now upgraded to Interstate 22 in Mississippi) and U.S. Route 72, a corridor that has made northern Marshall County a genuine residential alternative for workers who find Memphis housing costs high, Mississippi’s property taxes lower, and the daily commute manageable. Byhalia, a community in the northeastern corner of the county near the Tennessee line, has grown steadily as a Memphis bedroom community. Rental properties in Byhalia and the northeastern county consistently attract tenants with Memphis-area employment — often stronger income profiles than the Holly Springs local market alone would generate.
For landlords, this means the county effectively contains two rental submarkets: the Holly Springs core, where rents reflect local income levels and the tenant pool is primarily drawn from county government, healthcare, Rust College, and manufacturing employment; and the Byhalia/northeastern corridor, where the Memphis commuter dynamic supports higher rents and more competitive tenant qualification. Positioning a property appropriately for its submarket — and screening applicants using the right income baseline for each zone — is the key management insight for Marshall County landlords.
Rust College and the Holly Springs Educational Economy
Rust College — a historically Black liberal arts college founded in 1866 by the Freedmen’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church — has been a continuous presence in Holly Springs for more than 150 years. The college is one of the oldest HBCUs in Mississippi and generates a modest but meaningful off-campus rental market in Holly Springs. Faculty and staff represent some of the most stable tenant profiles in the county: salaried, professionally credentialed, and generally motivated to maintain good housing histories. Student tenants require co-signers; verify guarantor income at three times the annual rent before executing any lease with a student applicant. The Holly Springs National Forest, which covers a substantial portion of eastern Marshall County, does not itself generate rental demand but provides the outdoor recreation context that makes the county’s rural residential properties appealing to a specific tenant demographic.
Filing Evictions: Marshall County Justice Court
Marshall County does not have a County Court. All unlawful entry and detainer (eviction) proceedings are filed in Marshall County Justice Court, located at 819 West Street (P.O. Box 729), Holly Springs, MS 38635, phone (662) 252-3585. Judge Mae Garrison presides over the North District. The main Marshall County Courthouse — housing Circuit Court and Chancery Court — is at 128 East Van Dorn Avenue (P.O. Box 459), Holly Springs, phone (662) 252-3434. Eviction filings go to the Justice Court address on West Street, not the Van Dorn Avenue courthouse.
Begin every eviction with proper written notice. For nonpayment of rent, a 3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate is required under Miss. Code Ann. § 89-7-27. For lease violations, a 14-Day Notice to Cure or Vacate under § 89-8-13. After the notice period, file a sworn Complaint for Unlawful Entry and Detainer with the Justice Court clerk. The court schedules a hearing, the Marshall County Sheriff serves the summons and enforces any Writ of Possession, and an uncontested case typically resolves in two to eight weeks from filing. Keep complete documentation of all notices with delivery confirmation — in any eviction action, the court will want to see evidence of proper notice service.
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Mississippi attorney or contact Marshall County Justice Court at (662) 252-3585 for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: March 2026.
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