Monroe County occupies the northeastern corner of Mississippi along the Alabama border, named for President James Monroe and anchored by two distinct urban centers: Aberdeen, the county seat and historic Tombigbee River port city, and Amory, the county’s largest community, which grew up around the railroad in the 1880s and houses the county’s governmental complex and Justice Court. Aberdeen is one of Mississippi’s most architecturally remarkable small cities — once Mississippi’s second-largest city during its antebellum cotton-trading peak, it retains an extraordinary collection of Victorian and antebellum homes along its Tombigbee River streets. Today Aberdeen is a certified retirement community drawing new residents from across the South. Amory, by contrast, is a working railroad and manufacturing town with a more economically active rental market.
Monroe County is strategically positioned halfway between Tupelo (roughly 20 miles northwest) and Columbus (roughly 20 miles south), placing it within commuting range of both the Lee County and Lowndes County employment bases. The county sits on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, which passes through Amory and Aberdeen, providing industrial water access that has supported manufacturing along the corridor. Monroe County does not have a County Court — eviction proceedings are filed in Justice Court, which is located not in Aberdeen but in Amory at the Monroe County Government Complex.
No county-level rental license required. Mississippi has no statewide landlord licensing statute. Verify with the City of Aberdeen or City of Amory for any local code enforcement requirements within city limits. Unincorporated rural properties are not subject to city codes.
Rent Control
None. Mississippi has no statewide rent control and Monroe 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 — Justice Court in Amory (Eviction Venue)
Monroe County does not have a County Court. All unlawful entry and detainer (eviction) proceedings are filed in Monroe County Justice Court — located in Amory, not Aberdeen. Address: Monroe County Government Complex, 1619 Highland Drive (P.O. Box 518), Amory, MS 38821. Phone: (662) 256-3041 (also referenced as (662) 256-8493). Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Note: The Aberdeen Justice Court District 2 is closed; all records and filings are handled in Amory.
Aberdeen Courthouses (Circuit & Chancery)
Main courthouse: 301 S. Chestnut Street (P.O. Box 843), Aberdeen, MS 39730. Circuit Clerk: (662) 369-8695. Chancery Courthouse: 201 W. Commerce Street (P.O. Box 578), Aberdeen, MS 39730, phone (662) 369-8143. These handle Circuit and Chancery matters. Eviction filings go to the Amory Justice Court. Aberdeen is also home to the U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Mississippi.
Amory vs. Aberdeen Rental Dynamics
Amory (est. pop. ~6,700) is the county’s most economically active rental market, built around railroad, manufacturing, and county government employment. Aberdeen (est. pop. ~4,800) has a smaller, historically driven rental market with strong heritage tourism appeal and growing retiree migration. Properties in Aberdeen’s historic district can command modest premiums for the architectural character and retirement-community positioning.
Regional Commuter Context
Monroe County sits 20 miles from both Tupelo (Lee County) and Columbus (Lowndes County), positioning it as a lower-cost residential option for workers in either metro. This commuter dynamic — similar to Marshall County’s relationship with Memphis — adds depth to the Monroe County rental pool beyond strictly local employment.
Source of Income
No state or local source of income protections. Landlords are not required to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. Aberdeen’s poverty rate (~28%) means HCV demand is present in the affordable segment.
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. Justice Court proceedings are the safest remedy.
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.
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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.
Amory market: Railroad, manufacturing, and county government employment. Most active rental market in the county. Screen at 3x rent; verify annual earnings for hourly manufacturing workers.
Aberdeen market: Heritage tourism, retirees, Pioneer Community Hospital staff, and Tupelo/Columbus commuters. Lower turnover; longer tenancies. Historic properties can command modest premiums for the right tenant profile.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Monroe County Mississippi Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Rental Owners in Aberdeen, Amory, and Northeast Mississippi
Monroe County is a study in contrasts. Aberdeen, the county seat, sits along the Tombigbee River with one of the most remarkable collections of Victorian and antebellum architecture in Mississippi — a city that was once the state’s second-largest during the cotton-trading era and today markets itself as a certified retirement community with a Southern heritage tourism identity. Amory, the county’s largest city, is a working railroad and manufacturing town that grew up around the Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham Railroad in the late 1880s and today serves as the administrative center for the county’s Justice Court and government complex. These two cities — different in character, similar in scale — define the two main rental submarkets that Monroe County landlords navigate, set against the backdrop of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway that flows through both communities.
Aberdeen: Heritage, Retirement, and the Tombigbee Waterway
Aberdeen’s positioning as a certified retirement community is not merely marketing — it reflects a genuine influx of retirees drawn by affordable property prices, historic home stock, mild climate, and a quality of life that larger cities at equivalent cost cannot match. The city’s median rent is around $600 per month, and the housing stock includes an unusual proportion of historic Victorian homes that can be attractive to tenants seeking character at affordable prices. Pioneer Community Hospital provides stable healthcare employment in Aberdeen, and the city’s role as the home of the U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Mississippi brings legal professionals and federal employees to the local economy. Properties near Aberdeen’s historic district — particularly the antebellum home corridor along Commerce and Van Dorn streets — can command modest premiums over the county median for the right tenant profile: retirees, court-affiliated professionals, or heritage-conscious renters who value the architectural environment.
Amory: Railroad, Manufacturing, and the Active Rental Market
Amory is the county’s commercial and industrial hub, with a more active rental market than Aberdeen driven by manufacturing employment, the railroad, county government, and its position midway on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe mainline between Memphis and Birmingham. Rents in Amory for standard single-family homes run somewhat above the county median — in the $700–$850 range for well-maintained units. The tenant base is working-class and mixed: manufacturing workers, railroad employees, county and city government staff, and some commuter tenants who work in Tupelo (roughly 20 miles northwest via US-45) or Columbus (roughly 20 miles south). Income verification should focus on annual earnings rather than any single pay stub, as manufacturing employment can fluctuate with overtime and shift changes.
Filing Evictions: Justice Court in Amory — Not Aberdeen
The single most important practical detail for Monroe County landlords is the eviction filing location. Monroe County does not have a County Court, and all unlawful entry and detainer proceedings are filed in Monroe County Justice Court — which is located in Amory, not Aberdeen. The filing address is the Monroe County Government Complex, 1619 Highland Drive (P.O. Box 518), Amory, MS 38821, phone (662) 256-3041. Note that the former Aberdeen Justice Court District 2 has been closed; all filings and records are now consolidated at the Amory location. Do not attempt to file an eviction at the Aberdeen Circuit Courthouse (301 S. Chestnut Street) or the Chancery Courthouse (201 W. Commerce Street) — those handle Circuit and Chancery matters only.
Every eviction begins with proper written notice: a 3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate for nonpayment (§ 89-7-27), or a 14-Day Notice to Cure or Vacate for lease violations (§ 89-8-13). After the notice period, file a sworn Complaint for Unlawful Entry and Detainer at the Amory Justice Court. The Monroe County Sheriff serves the summons and later enforces any Writ of Possession. An uncontested case typically resolves in two to eight weeks from filing. Mississippi imposes no cap on security deposits — collect one to one-and-a-half months’ rent and document property condition at move-in with signed photos and a written checklist for deposit return purposes.
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Mississippi attorney or contact Monroe County Justice Court at (662) 256-3041 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 Monroe County Justice Court for specific guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
