Leake County Landlord-Tenant Law

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

Leake County Rental Market Overview

Leake County sits at the literal geographic center of Mississippi — in 2010, the state’s population center was located in Leake County near the town of Lena. The county spans 585 square miles of central Mississippi, bordered by Attala and Scott counties to the north and south and Madison and Neshoba counties to the west and east. Carthage, the county seat and only city, is a community of roughly 4,800 that serves as the commercial, governmental, and judicial hub for the county’s approximately 21,300 residents. The county is 100% rural by census classification and has one of Mississippi’s most demographically distinctive profiles: roughly 47% White, 39% Black or African American, and 6.7% American Indian or Alaska Native — reflecting the significant presence of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, whose reservation lands and tribal community are centered in the Standing Pine and Tucker areas of the county. A notable Hispanic and Latino population of about 5.8%, largely tied to poultry processing and manufacturing employment, further distinguishes Leake County’s demographics from most of its neighbors.

The rental market is modest in scale and concentrated in Carthage, with about 25% of occupied housing units in the county renter-occupied. The local economy centers on forestry, agriculture, manufacturing — including poultry processing and food production — and county government employment. Leake County does not have a County Court, so all eviction proceedings are filed in Justice Court at the Carthage courthouse complex.

Leake County Ordinances & Local Rules

Last verified: March 2026 · Source: Leake County Justice Court

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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Leake County Mississippi Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Rental Property Owners in Carthage and Central Mississippi

Leake County occupies the precise geographic center of Mississippi — a distinction that speaks to its position as a crossroads county connecting the Jackson metro area, the Choctaw Nation lands to the east, and the rural central counties stretching north and south. Carthage, the county seat and largest city, is a community of roughly 4,800 people sitting on Mississippi Highway 16 at the intersection of several county roads that feed in from the surrounding agricultural and timber-producing hinterlands. The county’s population of about 21,300 reflects one of Mississippi’s more demographically complex profiles — a roughly even three-way split between White, Black, and combined Native American and Hispanic residents that gives the county a cultural character quite distinct from its neighbors. The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians maintains reservation lands and tribal communities in the Standing Pine and Tucker areas of the county, and a significant Hispanic and Latino workforce tied to poultry processing and food manufacturing has established a foothold in Carthage and the surrounding rural county.

The Leake County Economy and Rental Landscape

Leake County’s economy is built on forestry, agriculture, small manufacturing, and public sector employment. The county’s forest-related industries — timber harvesting, processing, and related supply chains — account for a meaningful share of private employment. Poultry processing and food production represent the county’s manufacturing base and draw a significant portion of the Hispanic and Latino workforce resident in Carthage and the surrounding area. County government, the Leake County School District, and healthcare services provide the most stable salaried employment, generating the most reliable tenant incomes in the rental market.

The rental market is concentrated almost entirely in Carthage, where approximately 25% of occupied housing units are renter-occupied. The rest of the county is heavily owner-occupied, with a homeownership rate above 74% countywide. Rents for single-family homes in Carthage typically run $500 to $750 per month, with some variation based on age, condition, and proximity to the commercial center on Court Square. The Natchez Trace Parkway passes through the western portion of the county, and properties near the Trace can carry a modest premium for tenants who value the outdoor recreation access — fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing — that the Parkway corridor provides.

Eviction in Leake County: Justice Court in Carthage

Leake County does not have a County Court. All unlawful entry and detainer proceedings are filed in Leake County Justice Court, located at P.O. Box 69, Carthage, MS 39051, phone (601) 267-5677. The main Leake County Courthouse — housing the Circuit Clerk, Chancery Court, and other county offices — is at 101 Court Square, Carthage, with Circuit Clerk Viktorea Pace reachable at (601) 267-8357. Eviction filings go to the Justice Court, not the Circuit Clerk’s office.

Every eviction must begin with written notice properly delivered. For nonpayment of rent, a 3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate under § 89-7-27 is required. For other lease violations, a 14-Day Notice to Cure or Vacate under § 89-8-13 applies. After the notice period expires without resolution, file a sworn Complaint for Unlawful Entry and Detainer with the Justice Court. The court schedules a hearing, typically within one to two weeks, and the Leake County Sheriff serves the summons and later enforces any Writ of Possession. An uncontested case generally resolves in two to eight weeks from filing.

Tribal Jurisdiction: A Unique Local Consideration

Leake County is one of a small number of Mississippi counties where tribal land jurisdiction is a genuine legal issue for landlords. The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians holds reservation and trust lands in several areas of the county, most prominently in and around Standing Pine and Tucker. Properties located within tribal trust lands are generally subject to the jurisdiction of the Choctaw Tribal Court, not the Leake County Justice Court, and standard Mississippi landlord-tenant statutes may not apply in those areas. Before executing any lease for a property in the eastern or central portions of the county near the Choctaw communities, a landlord should confirm the property’s jurisdictional status. For properties located in unincorporated Leake County on non-trust land, the standard Mississippi eviction process through Justice Court applies without modification.

This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Mississippi attorney or contact Leake County Justice Court at (601) 267-5677 for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: March 2026.