Webster County Landlord-Tenant Law

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

Webster County Rental Market Overview

Webster County is one of Mississippi’s smallest and most rural counties, located in the north-central interior in the Tombigbee Hills region — an area of rolling terrain and mixed forest that is geographically distinct from both the flat Delta to the west and the northeast Mississippi manufacturing corridor to the east. With a population of approximately 9,100, Webster County is anchored by Walthall — its county seat and only significant community, a town of roughly 150 people — making it one of the few Mississippi counties where the county seat is genuinely tiny, without even a full commercial district to serve as an economic anchor. The largest community with meaningful commercial activity is Eupora, in the northeast portion of the county, with a population of about 2,300.

Webster County’s economy is rooted in agriculture, timber, and a thin manufacturing and public sector base. The county is among Mississippi’s poorest, with a poverty rate consistently above 28%, and the rental market is extremely small — limited to Eupora and the handful of smaller communities scattered across the county. The tenant pool is drawn primarily from public sector employment, agriculture, timber, and government transfer income. Webster County does not have a County Court; all eviction proceedings are filed in Justice Court. A notable quirk: because Walthall is so small, some administrative functions may be shared or consolidated — confirm current Justice Court location and clerk contact before filing any action.

Webster County Ordinances & Local Rules

Last verified: March 2026 · Source: Webster County, MS

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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Webster County Mississippi Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Rental Property Owners in Eupora, Walthall, and North-Central Mississippi

Webster County is one of Mississippi’s smallest and most rural counties, a place in the Tombigbee Hills region of north-central Mississippi that most people drive through on their way somewhere else without quite knowing they’ve been there. The county seat of Walthall has a population of roughly 150 people — making it one of the tiniest county seats in the United States, a community so small that the courthouse essentially is the town. The actual commercial center of Webster County is Eupora, about 20 miles to the northeast, a small city of around 2,300 that anchors what little economic activity the county has. For landlords operating here, Webster County offers a very small rental market, a tenant pool shaped by agriculture, timber, and public employment, and a legal framework that is entirely standard Mississippi state law — applied in one of the state’s most remote and intimate small-community settings.

Walthall vs. Eupora: The County Seat Quirk

The most practically important thing for Webster County landlords to understand is the spatial relationship between Walthall and Eupora. Walthall is the official county seat — it is where the courthouse is located, where the Justice Court clerk is based, and where all eviction filings must be made. But Walthall has virtually no population and no commercial district. If you drive through Walthall looking for a courthouse in a thriving small city, you will be surprised at how quiet it is. Eupora, to the northeast, is where most of the county’s residents, businesses, and rental housing stock are actually located. This means that Eupora-based landlords must travel to Walthall to file evictions and attend hearings — a trip of roughly 20 miles across rural county roads. Call the courthouse at (662) 258-4131 before any filing to confirm current operating hours and procedures; in a county this small, staff arrangements can change, and a call ahead prevents a wasted trip.

The Webster County Economy and Rental Market

Webster County’s private economy blends row crop and livestock agriculture, timber harvesting and processing, and a thin manufacturing and commercial services sector concentrated in Eupora. The county has no hospital, no university, and no major industrial anchor. Public sector employment — Webster County School District, county government, Eupora municipal services — provides the most stable and predictable income available in the local workforce. School district employees are the strongest local tenant profile: monthly income from institutional employment, strong community ties to the area, and a predictable payment schedule make them among the most reliable applicants a Webster County landlord will encounter.

Webster County’s position in north-central Mississippi places it within commuting distance of several adjacent counties with stronger employment bases. Residents may commute to Oktibbeha County (Mississippi State University, Starkville manufacturing), Chickasaw County (Houston area manufacturing), Choctaw County, or Montgomery County for employment. These regional commuters often earn wages above what purely local Webster County employers offer, and they tend to be financially more stable than households dependent on local agricultural or timber income alone. Screen all applicants on actual verified income regardless of which county their employer is in.

Mississippi Law and the Eviction Process

Webster County has no local landlord-tenant ordinances, no rent control, and no just-cause eviction requirement. All landlord-tenant relationships are governed by Mississippi state law: the Mississippi Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 89-8-1 through 89-8-29) and the unlawful entry and detainer statutes (§§ 89-7-1 through 89-7-59). Landlords must maintain habitable conditions. Security deposits are not capped and must be returned with itemized written accounting within 45 days of lease termination, delivery of possession, and written tenant demand, with a $200 penalty plus actual damages for wrongful retention under § 89-8-21.

All evictions are filed at Webster County Justice Court, 1 Courthouse Square, Walthall, MS 39771, phone (662) 258-4131. Begin with the appropriate written notice: a 3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate for nonpayment under § 89-7-27, or a 14-Day Notice to Cure or Vacate for lease violations under § 89-8-13. Serve by certified mail with return receipt or personal service with a witness. After the notice period expires, file a sworn Complaint for Unlawful Entry and Detainer. The Webster County Sheriff serves the summons, a hearing is scheduled, and the judge rules. A Writ of Possession is enforced by the Sheriff if the tenant does not vacate. Uncontested evictions in this small-docket court typically resolve within two to six weeks.

This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Landlord-tenant law is subject to change and may vary based on individual circumstances. Consult a licensed Mississippi attorney or contact Webster County Justice Court at (662) 258-4131 for guidance. Last updated: March 2026.