Greenlee County is Arizona’s least-populous county with approximately 9,500 residents, and it is among the most economically singular counties in the United States: the overwhelming majority of the county’s economic activity and employment is tied directly or indirectly to Freeport-McMoRan’s Morenci copper mine, the largest copper mine in North America. The mine operates continuously, employs several thousand workers, and has sustained the county’s communities — Clifton, the county seat, and Morenci, a company town built and largely owned by Freeport-McMoRan — through copper price cycles that would have eliminated less resource-endowed communities entirely. Duncan, in the county’s eastern end near the New Mexico border, is a small agricultural community on the Gila River.
Greenlee County’s rental market is the most mining-dependent in Arizona. Morenci is largely company-owned housing administered by Freeport-McMoRan for its workforce — a genuine company town in a form that barely exists elsewhere in modern America. The private rental market in Clifton and Duncan is very small. Mining workers and their families, county government employees, and school district staff are virtually the entire rental tenant pool. The Arizona ARLTA governs all residential tenancies on privately owned land. Company-owned housing administered by Freeport-McMoRan may operate under different arrangements — workers in company housing should confirm the governing framework with their employer.
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Clifton (~4,000) — county government; Justice Court; San Francisco River canyon
Major Communities
Morenci (company town; Freeport-McMoRan), Duncan, Clifton, York
Freeport-McMoRan (Morenci mine — dominant employer); Greenlee County government; Clifton-Morenci school district; small local businesses
Median Rent
~$650–$950/mo 2BR — AZ’s most affordable private rental market
Rent Control
None — state preemption applies (A.R.S. § 33-1329)
Company Housing
Morenci company housing administered by Freeport-McMoRan — different framework from private ARLTA tenancies
LLC/Corp Landlord
May appear pro se in Justice Court — no attorney required
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment of Rent
5-Day Written Notice to Pay or Vacate (A.R.S. § 33-1368)
Lease Violation
10-Day Notice to Comply or Vacate (A.R.S. § 33-1368)
Month-to-Month Termination
30-Day Written Notice — no reason required
Fixed-Term Lease End
No notice required — lease expires by its terms
Security Deposit Cap
1.5 months’ rent maximum (A.R.S. § 33-1321)
Deposit Return Deadline
14 business days after move-out with itemized statement
Courthouse
253 5th St., Clifton, AZ 85533
Court Phone
(928) 865-4242
Filing Fee
~$68–$120 depending on claim amount
Greenlee County — Arizona State Law Highlights & Local Notes
Topic
Rule / Notes
ARLTA — Private Land Tenancies Only
The Arizona ARLTA governs residential tenancies on privately owned land in Greenlee County. Company-owned housing administered by Freeport-McMoRan in Morenci operates under a different framework — it is employer-provided housing tied to employment, not a standard market tenancy. Employees in Freeport-McMoRan company housing should review their housing agreement with their employer. Private landlords in Clifton and Duncan operate under the standard ARLTA.
5-Day Nonpayment Notice (A.R.S. § 33-1368)
When rent is unpaid, serve a written 5-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate. State the property address, exact amount owed, and 5-day deadline. Tenant pays in full within 5 days: tenancy continues. If not, file in Greenlee County Justice Court in Clifton. Personal delivery or posting starts the 5-day period immediately; certified mail adds 5 days. Greenlee County’s Justice Court handles one of Arizona’s smallest caseloads.
Morenci Mine — Company Town Dynamics
Morenci is one of the last true company towns operating at scale in the United States. Freeport-McMoRan owns and operates housing, services, and much of the infrastructure for its mine workforce. This creates a rental market dynamic unlike anywhere else in Arizona: the dominant “landlord” in Morenci is the employer itself, and housing is often tied directly to employment. Private landlords in Clifton (which has retained more of its own independent commercial and residential identity) are the primary source of truly independent ARLTA-governed rentals in the area. Mining workers who rent from private landlords in Clifton rather than from Freeport-McMoRan have standard ARLTA tenancies.
For any housing tenancy where occupancy is directly tied to employment as a condition of the employment contract — as may be the case for some Freeport-McMoRan housing arrangements — Arizona law provides a specific termination ground. When employment ends, the employer may serve a 3-day Notice to Vacate for employment-tied housing. This provision applies to the specific category of housing provided as a direct employment benefit or condition, not to arms-length rental arrangements where the landlord happens to also be the employer. The distinction is fact-specific and requires careful legal analysis.
No Rent Control — No Good-Cause Eviction
Arizona’s state preemption (A.R.S. § 33-1329) prohibits any Greenlee County municipality from enacting rent control. Month-to-month tenancies may be terminated with 30 days’ written notice. Fixed-term leases expire by their terms. No good-cause eviction requirement exists.
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.
Self-Help Eviction Prohibited (A.R.S. § 33-1367)
Changing locks, removing belongings, or cutting utilities without a court order is prohibited. Only a Greenlee County constable executing a Justice Court-issued Writ of Restitution may lawfully remove a tenant from an ARLTA-governed tenancy.
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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including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
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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
Clifton (private rental market; mining workers; county employees): Clifton has the county’s primary private rental market. Screen for verified Freeport-McMoRan, county government, or school employment. Mining wages are strong; employment is relatively stable. Very small market; very low vacancy. Rents are the most affordable in Arizona.
Morenci (company housing; employer-tied): Most Morenci housing is administered by Freeport-McMoRan as employer-provided housing. Private ARLTA rentals are rare. If renting a private unit in or near Morenci, screen for verified mine employment. Company housing separation from employment is a legal matter between the employee and employer, not a standard eviction proceeding.
Duncan (agricultural; small community): Duncan is a small Gila River agricultural community near the New Mexico border. Very small rental market. Screen for verified local employment or agricultural income. Extremely affordable rents; stable modest demand from local workers.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Greenlee County Arizona Landlord-Tenant Law: America’s Last Great Company Town and What It Means for Landlords
Greenlee County is Arizona’s least-populous county and one of the most economically concentrated in the nation. With approximately 9,500 residents and an economy overwhelmingly dominated by a single employer — Freeport-McMoRan’s Morenci copper mine — Greenlee County represents something that has virtually disappeared from the American economic landscape: a genuine company town operating at scale in the 21st century. Morenci is not simply a community where the mine is the largest employer; it is a place where the mine is essentially the entire economic reality, where the employer owns much of the housing, provides many of the community services, and where the rhythms of community life are set by the three-shift schedule of copper production rather than by the market dynamics that shape rental markets elsewhere.
For the private landlord operating in Greenlee County — primarily in Clifton, which has retained more of its own independent commercial identity than Morenci — the Arizona ARLTA applies fully with the same statewide provisions. The 5-day nonpayment notice, the 10-day lease violation cure, and the 30-day month-to-month termination are all statewide standards. State preemption prohibits any Greenlee County municipality from enacting rent control. The private rental market in Clifton is tiny by any Arizona standard, but it serves a real need for mining workers and county employees who prefer independent housing to company-provided accommodations, and the legal framework governing those tenancies is clear and well-established.
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Residential evictions in Greenlee County (private ARLTA tenancies) are filed in Greenlee County Justice Court, 253 5th Street, Clifton, AZ 85533, (928) 865-4242. Arizona’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (A.R.S. Title 33, Chapter 10) governs residential tenancies on privately owned land. Company-owned housing in Morenci operates under a different framework — consult the employer. Nonpayment: 5-day written notice. 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). Self-help eviction prohibited (A.R.S. § 33-1367). Consult a licensed Arizona attorney for specific guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Residential evictions (ARLTA tenancies) in Greenlee County are filed in Greenlee County Justice Court, 253 5th Street, Clifton, AZ 85533, (928) 865-4242. Arizona’s ARLTA governs privately owned land tenancies only. Freeport-McMoRan company housing in Morenci operates under a different framework. Nonpayment: 5-day written notice. Month-to-month termination: 30 days. Security deposit cap: 1.5 months’ rent; return: 14 business days. No rent control (A.R.S. § 33-1329). Self-help eviction prohibited (A.R.S. § 33-1367). Consult a licensed Arizona attorney for specific guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
