Lauderdale County occupies Mississippi’s eastern border with Alabama, anchored by Meridian — the county seat and the region’s dominant city. Meridian is one of Mississippi’s largest cities, with a population around 33,000 and a metropolitan footprint that extends well into the surrounding rural county. It was once Mississippi’s largest city in the early 20th century, when its position as a major railroad junction made it a genuine commercial powerhouse. That era passed with the decline of the railroads, and Meridian has spent subsequent decades adapting — transitioning from manufacturing and logistics to a more diversified economy built on healthcare, military employment, education, and public services. Today’s Lauderdale County economy is stabilized by two military anchors: Naval Air Station Meridian and Key Field Air National Guard base, which together represent some of the most consistent employment in the region.
The rental market reflects Meridian’s affordability and its population trends. The city’s population has declined gradually from a peak of roughly 45,000 in the 1970s to around 33,000 today, and median rents — approximately $591 per month at the county median — are among the lower tiers in the state. More than half of Meridian’s occupied housing units are renter-occupied, a high share driven by a mix of lower-income households, military personnel seeking off-base housing, students at Meridian Community College and MSU Meridian Campus, and healthcare and service workers. Lauderdale County has a County Court, which holds exclusive jurisdiction over eviction proceedings. The courthouse complex is on Constitution Avenue in Meridian, where the County Court clerk and Circuit Clerk operate.
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Meridian
Population
~73,000 (2020 census)
Key Communities
Meridian, Marion, Collinsville, Toomsuba, Lauderdale, Russell
Court System
County Court & Justice Court
Median Contract Rent
~$591/mo (county median)
Rent Control
None
Just-Cause Eviction
Not required
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate
Lease Violation
14-Day Notice to Cure or Vacate
Month-to-Month Term.
30-Day Written Notice
Filing Fee
~$75–$100 (confirm with clerk)
Hearing Set
3–5 days from summons
Max Timeline
45 days from filing (hard cap)
Security Deposit Return
45 days after demand
Statute
Miss. Code Ann. §§ 89-7-27, 89-8-13
Lauderdale County Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Rental Licensing
No county-level rental license required. Mississippi has no statewide landlord licensing statute. Properties within the City of Meridian may be subject to local code enforcement and habitability inspections — verify with the City of Meridian’s code enforcement office. Unincorporated county properties are not subject to city codes.
Rent Control
None. Mississippi has no statewide rent control and Lauderdale County has no local rent control ordinance. Landlords may raise rents freely at lease renewal.
Security Deposit
No statutory cap under Mississippi law. Return with itemized written accounting within 45 days after termination, delivery of possession, and written tenant demand. Wrongful retention: $200 plus actual damages (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21).
Court Filing — County Court (Primary Venue)
Lauderdale County Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over unlawful entry and detainer (eviction) proceedings. The Circuit Clerk, Donna Jill Johnson, oversees County Court operations. Address: 500 Constitution Ave (P.O. Box 1005), Meridian, MS 39302. County Court Clerk direct: (601) 482-9715 · countycourt@lauderdalecounty.org / countycourtclerk@lauderdalecounty.org. Main courthouse phone: (601) 482-9731. Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Also referenced as 2600 Courthouse Blvd for some divisions — confirm filing location with the clerk.
Justice Court
Lauderdale County Justice Court: 410 Constitution Ave, Meridian, MS 39301, phone (601) 482-9875. Also a Marion location at 6021 Dale Dr, Marion, MS 39342, phone (601) 482-9830. Justice Court handles civil claims under $3,500 and some landlord-tenant matters. County Court has exclusive eviction jurisdiction — confirm venue before filing.
Military Tenant Market — NAS Meridian & Key Field
Naval Air Station Meridian and Key Field Air National Guard base are among the county’s largest employers and generate steady off-base housing demand. Military tenants are subject to the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which provides significant lease termination and eviction protections. Landlords renting to active-duty personnel should review SCRA requirements carefully before serving any notice or filing any eviction — violations carry federal liability.
Higher Education Rental Demand
Meridian Community College and the MSU Meridian Campus generate modest student rental demand in the city. These are commuter-dominant institutions with limited off-campus student housing footprint compared to four-year residential campuses, but proximity to campus is a meaningful marketing factor for certain properties.
Source of Income
No state or local source of income protections. Landlords are not required to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. Meridian’s high poverty rate (34%+ in the city) means HCV participation is common and can significantly reduce vacancy for landlords with qualifying properties.
Self-Help Eviction
Mississippi permits self-help eviction only if: (1) the written lease explicitly reserves this right, and (2) it is accomplished without a breach of the peace. Lockouts are always prohibited. County Court proceedings are the safest path.
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.
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 / County Court. Pay the filing fee (~$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 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.
🔍 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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⚠️ 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.
Military tenants: NAS Meridian and Key Field generate stable demand but require SCRA compliance. Verify active-duty status at lease signing and review SCRA termination protections before serving any notice on a military tenant.
City of Meridian: High renter concentration with elevated poverty. Healthcare, government, and military employee incomes are the most reliable. Screen at 3x rent minimum and run full eviction history — Meridian’s court volume is higher than most comparable Mississippi markets.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Lauderdale County Mississippi Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Meridian and East Mississippi Rental Property Owners
Lauderdale County is the commercial and governmental heart of east Mississippi, anchored by Meridian — a city with deep roots in the railroad era that has spent decades remaking itself around healthcare, military employment, and higher education. For landlords, Meridian presents a large, accessible rental market with low entry costs, strong renter demand, and a diverse tenant base ranging from military personnel and healthcare workers to students and Housing Choice Voucher recipients. The challenge in this market is selectivity: with a city poverty rate over 34%, thorough screening is non-negotiable, and understanding the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act is essential for anyone renting near NAS Meridian or Key Field.
Meridian’s Economy and the Rental Tenant Pool
Meridian’s largest employment sectors are healthcare and social assistance, accommodation and food services, and manufacturing. The city’s two military installations — Naval Air Station Meridian, a primary jet pilot training facility, and Key Field Air National Guard base — are consistently among the county’s largest employers and have historically insulated the local economy from the sharper downturns that have hit comparable Mississippi cities. Military tenants bring reliable income but also bring SCRA obligations that landlords must understand before signing any lease with active-duty personnel.
Healthcare employment at Anderson Regional Medical Center and the surrounding network of clinics, Meridian Community College, the MSU Meridian Campus, and Peavey Electronics — the nationally known audio equipment manufacturer headquartered in Meridian — round out a workforce that is salaried and relatively stable at the upper end, but heavily service- and hourly-dependent in the broader economy. Downtown Meridian has seen genuine revitalization in recent years, with new restaurants, arts venues, and commercial investment reversing the decay that defined it for decades. Landlords with properties in or near downtown are seeing renewed interest from young professionals and working adults.
Filing Evictions: Lauderdale County Court in Meridian
Lauderdale County has a County Court with exclusive jurisdiction over unlawful entry and detainer proceedings. Circuit Clerk Donna Jill Johnson oversees County Court operations. The filing address is 500 Constitution Avenue (P.O. Box 1005), Meridian, MS 39302, main phone (601) 482-9731. The County Court clerk direct line is (601) 482-9715. Email: countycourt@lauderdalecounty.org. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some county divisions are referenced at 2600 Courthouse Blvd — confirm the exact filing counter with the clerk before appearing.
All evictions begin with written notice. For nonpayment, serve a 3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate under Miss. Code Ann. § 89-7-27. For lease violations, a 14-Day Notice to Cure or Vacate is required under § 89-8-13. After the notice period expires, file a sworn Complaint for Unlawful Entry and Detainer. The court schedules a hearing within days of summons service, and the entire proceeding is capped at 45 days from filing. The Lauderdale County Sheriff enforces Writs of Possession. Keep complete documentation of all notices with proof of delivery — in a market with Meridian’s eviction volume, judges expect organized, properly served paperwork.
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: What Lauderdale County Landlords Must Know
Because NAS Meridian and Key Field are major employers, a meaningful share of Lauderdale County tenants are active-duty military. The federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides these tenants with significant legal protections that override standard Mississippi landlord-tenant law. Under the SCRA, an active-duty servicemember who receives orders for a permanent change of station (PCS), deployment of 90 days or more, or release from service can terminate a lease with 30 days written notice plus a copy of the orders — regardless of what the lease says. Landlords cannot charge early termination fees in these situations. Additionally, the SCRA restricts evictions of servicemembers for nonpayment of rent if the monthly rent is below a certain threshold (adjusted periodically), and courts may stay eviction proceedings involving active-duty personnel. Before serving a notice to quit or filing an eviction against any tenant who may be on active duty, landlords should verify military status through the Defense Manpower Data Center’s SCRA database at scra.dmdc.osd.mil. Proceeding against an active-duty servicemember without SCRA compliance can result in federal civil liability.
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Mississippi attorney or contact the Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk at (601) 482-9731 for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page 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 Lauderdale County Court for specific guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
