Gila County occupies a dramatic slice of central Arizona geography, running from the Mazatzal Mountains and the Tonto Basin in the west through the Globe-Miami mining district to the eastern White Mountains foothills along the New Mexico border. The county’s landscape encompasses the Tonto National Forest — the most visited national forest in the United States — Roosevelt Lake, the Salt River Canyon, and the rugged terrain that separates the Phoenix metro’s sprawl from the high-country communities to the northeast. Globe, the county seat, is a former copper mining boomtown with a historic downtown and a reviving economy anchored by continued copper production from Freeport-McMoRan’s Miami operations and government employment. Payson, at the base of the Mogollon Rim, is the county’s fastest-growing community and functions primarily as a Phoenix-area second-home and weekend escape destination at 5,000 feet elevation.
Gila County’s rental market is small and split between the Globe-Miami mining corridor and the Payson-Rim Country area. The Globe-Miami market serves mining workers, county and healthcare employees, and the working-class community that has anchored the Copper Corridor for over a century. The Payson market has grown with the influx of Phoenix retirees and second-home buyers seeking a cooler, less crowded alternative to the metro, and has seen rents increase as demand from remote workers and lifestyle migrants has outpaced the limited housing supply. The Arizona ARLTA governs all residential tenancies with standard statewide provisions.
Payson, Miami, Young, Claypool, Winkelman, Kearny, Wheatfields, Tonto Basin, Star Valley
Population
~55,000 (2023) — one of AZ’s smaller counties; Tonto NF surrounds most communities
Top Employers
Freeport-McMoRan (copper mining, Miami); Gila County government; Banner Payson Medical Center; Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center; tourism/recreation
14 business days after move-out with itemized statement
Landlord Entry Notice
2 days advance notice (A.R.S. § 33-1343)
Courthouse
1400 E. Ash St., Globe, AZ 85501
Court Phone
(928) 425-3231
Filing Fee
~$68–$120 depending on claim amount
Gila County — Arizona State Law Highlights & Local Notes
Topic
Rule / Notes
5-Day Nonpayment Notice (A.R.S. § 33-1368)
When rent is unpaid, serve a written 5-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate stating the property address, exact amount owed, and 5-day deadline. If the tenant pays in full within 5 days, the tenancy continues. If not, file in Gila County Justice Court in Globe. Personal delivery or posting starts the clock immediately; certified mail adds 5 days. For landlords managing Payson properties from Phoenix, budget for the extra 5 days if using certified mail.
Globe-Miami Copper Corridor
Globe and Miami have been copper mining towns since the late 19th century and remain active today through Freeport-McMoRan’s operations at the Miami copper mine complex. Mining workers are a stable tenant segment with industry wages above the county median. Mining employment is cyclical with commodity prices — screen for current employment status and be aware that copper price downturns can affect employment levels. County government and healthcare (Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center) provide additional stable employment anchors for the Globe rental market.
Payson — Rim Country Growth
Payson sits at the base of the Mogollon Rim at 5,000 feet, approximately 90 miles northeast of Phoenix on State Route 87. The town has grown steadily as Phoenix-area residents seek affordable second homes, retirement relocation options, and weekend escape properties. Banner Payson Medical Center, the school district, and local government anchor year-round employment. Remote workers have increasingly chosen Payson for full-time primary residence. No rent control; growing demand in a supply-constrained market. Screen for verified healthcare, remote work, or local government employment.
No Rent Control — No Good-Cause Eviction
Arizona’s state preemption (A.R.S. § 33-1329) prohibits any Gila County municipality from enacting rent control. Month-to-month tenancies may be terminated with 30 days’ written notice for any reason. Fixed-term leases expire by their terms. Landlords have full discretion in pricing and renewal decisions.
Security Deposit Rules (A.R.S. § 33-1321)
Maximum 1.5 months’ rent. Return with itemized statement within 14 business days after vacating. Deductions for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and cleaning. Failure to return within 14 business days forfeits all deduction rights. Wrongful withholding: 2x the amount plus attorney’s fees. Document all pre-existing conditions thoroughly at move-in including well/septic systems common in rural Gila County.
Well & Septic & Rural Habitability
Much of Gila County’s rural and semi-rural rental stock relies on private wells and septic systems. Test well water quality before each tenancy; inspect septic before each new tenant. Document all findings at move-in. Payson’s mountain climate also creates winter heating obligations — service heating systems annually and address heating failures as emergencies.
Self-Help Eviction Prohibited (A.R.S. § 33-1367)
Changing locks, removing belongings, cutting utilities, or otherwise forcing a tenant out without a court order is prohibited. Only a Gila County constable executing a Justice Court-issued Writ of Restitution may lawfully remove a tenant.
Arizona has one of the fastest eviction timelines in the country. Tenant must pay full rent owed within 5 days or face immediate filing. Special detainer actions have expedited hearings.
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. Pay the filing fee (~$35-75).
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 Arizona 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 Arizona attorney or local legal aid organization.
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⚠️ 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.
Underground Landlord
🏘️ Communities & Screening Tips
Globe & Miami (mining; healthcare; county workers): Screen for verified Freeport-McMoRan, Cobre Valley Medical, or county government employment. Mining income is solid but cyclically sensitive — verify current employment status. Affordable rents; consistent local demand. Document all move-in conditions thoroughly.
Payson (Rim Country; Phoenix second-home; healthcare): Banner Payson Medical Center and remote workers drive the strongest demand. Screen for verified healthcare, remote work, or retirement income. Growing market with limited supply; well-maintained units lease quickly at above-Globe rents. Winter maintenance obligations apply at 5,000 feet.
Star Valley & Tonto Basin (rural; well/septic): Rural properties require well and septic documentation. Very small market; consistent local demand from workers and retirees. Screen carefully; document all property conditions at move-in.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Gila County Arizona Landlord-Tenant Law: Copper Country, the Mogollon Rim, and a Tale of Two Markets
Gila County’s rental landscape divides cleanly along US-60 and State Route 87 — the two highways that connect its communities to the Phoenix metro and to each other. In the Globe-Miami corridor, the rental market is shaped by a copper mining economy that has been operating continuously for over 130 years, a working-class community with deep roots in the Copper Corridor, and rents that reflect the modest incomes of a rural Arizona mining town. Ninety miles to the northwest along SR-87, Payson’s rental market increasingly looks like a smaller, more affordable version of the White Mountains communities in neighboring Navajo County — a mountain-climate destination drawing Phoenix-area remote workers and retirees who have decided that 5,000 feet and ponderosa pines are worth a longer drive to the city.
The Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies uniformly across both markets. The 5-day nonpayment notice, 10-day lease violation cure, 30-day month-to-month termination, 1.5 months’ deposit cap, and 14-business-day deposit return deadline are identical whether the property is a Globe apartment near the courthouse or a Payson cabin with a Rim Country view. No rent control exists anywhere in Gila County. No good-cause eviction requirement constrains landlord decisions. The legal simplicity of operating in Arizona is fully present in both of Gila County’s distinct rental markets.
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Residential evictions in Gila County are filed in Gila County Justice Court, 1400 E. Ash Street, Globe, AZ 85501, (928) 425-3231. Arizona’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (A.R.S. Title 33, Chapter 10) governs all residential tenancies. Nonpayment: 5-day written notice (A.R.S. § 33-1368). Lease violations: 10-day notice to comply. Month-to-month termination: 30-day written notice, no cause required. Security deposit cap: 1.5 months’ rent; return deadline: 14 business days. No rent control permitted statewide (A.R.S. § 33-1329). Well/septic habitability obligations apply to rural properties. Self-help eviction prohibited (A.R.S. § 33-1367). Consult a licensed Arizona attorney for specific legal guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Residential evictions in Gila County are filed in Gila County Justice Court, 1400 E. Ash Street, Globe, AZ 85501, (928) 425-3231. Arizona’s ARLTA (A.R.S. Title 33, Chapter 10) governs all residential tenancies. Nonpayment: 5-day written notice. Lease violations: 10-day notice to comply. Month-to-month termination: 30 days, no cause required. Security deposit cap: 1.5 months’ rent; return deadline: 14 business days. No rent control permitted statewide (A.R.S. § 33-1329). Self-help eviction prohibited (A.R.S. § 33-1367). Consult a licensed Arizona attorney for specific legal guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
