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Long Beach is a residential Gulf Coast community in Harrison County, Mississippi, situated between Gulfport and Pass Christian along U.S. Highway 90. The city has a modest but growing rental market, and many renters are drawn to the area for its proximity to the coast, Gulfport employment centers, and relatively affordable housing. Like all Mississippi renters, Long Beach tenants are governed by state landlord-tenant law — a framework that is among the thinnest in the United States.
Mississippi has not adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), which means many protections that renters in other states take for granted — such as a statutory implied warranty of habitability, anti-retaliation provisions, or codified security deposit return deadlines — do not exist here in statute. Renters in Long Beach must rely heavily on their individual lease agreements, local housing codes enforced by the City of Long Beach, and common law rights recognized by Mississippi courts.
This page provides a plain-language summary of the tenant rights and responsibilities that apply to Long Beach renters under Mississippi law. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific dispute with your landlord, contact a licensed Mississippi attorney or one of the legal aid organizations listed below.
Long Beach has no rent control, and Mississippi has no statewide rent control law. There is no ordinance in Long Beach limiting how much a landlord may charge for rent or capping annual rent increases. Unlike some states that have enacted preemption statutes to prevent cities from adopting rent control, Mississippi has simply never had any rent stabilization law at the state or local level — meaning no preemption statute is needed because no municipality has ever enacted one.
In practice, this means your landlord may raise your rent by any amount, at any time, as long as they provide the notice required by your lease or by state law. For month-to-month tenants, a landlord must give 30 days written notice before a rent increase or a lease termination takes effect, pursuant to Miss. Code § 89-8-19. For tenants with a fixed-term lease, rent cannot be increased until the lease expires unless the lease itself permits mid-term increases. Once your lease ends, however, there is no cap on what a landlord may offer as a new rent.
Renters facing unaffordable rent increases in Long Beach have no local agency or ordinance to appeal to. Your primary tools are your lease agreement, your ability to negotiate with your landlord, and — if your landlord raises rent as retaliation for a complaint — the general common-law protections that Mississippi courts may recognize, though Mississippi has no codified anti-retaliation statute.
Mississippi's landlord-tenant law is codified primarily in Miss. Code §§ 89-7-1 through 89-8-29. The protections available to Long Beach renters under state law are limited but important to understand.
Habitability (Common Law Only): Mississippi does not have a statutory implied warranty of habitability. Unlike most states, there is no statute requiring landlords to maintain rental units in a habitable condition. However, Mississippi courts have recognized under common law that a landlord who knowingly leases a unit in a dangerous or seriously defective condition may be held liable for resulting harm. Additionally, the City of Long Beach enforces local housing codes (including building, electrical, and plumbing codes) that landlords must comply with, providing a separate avenue for complaints about unsafe conditions.
Notice to Terminate (Miss. Code § 89-8-19): For month-to-month tenancies, either the landlord or the tenant must give at least 30 days written notice before terminating the tenancy. For week-to-week tenancies, 7 days written notice is required. Fixed-term leases expire automatically at the end of the lease period, unless the lease specifies a renewal process.
Security Deposits: Mississippi has no statute governing security deposit collection, maximum amounts, or return deadlines. Your rights regarding your deposit are determined entirely by the terms of your lease. Document the condition of the unit at move-in with photos and a written checklist, and keep copies of all payments and communications.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Miss. Code § 89-7-27): Landlords are prohibited from engaging in self-help eviction — meaning a landlord cannot remove a tenant by changing the locks, removing doors or windows, or shutting off essential utilities to force a tenant out. The landlord must use the formal court eviction process. Violations may support a civil claim against the landlord.
Anti-Retaliation: Mississippi has no specific anti-retaliation statute protecting tenants who complain about conditions or assert legal rights. If you believe your landlord is retaliating against you — for example, by raising rent or filing for eviction shortly after you reported a housing code violation — document everything in writing and consult a legal aid attorney, as common-law arguments may still be available depending on the facts.
Mississippi has no statute governing security deposits. There is no statewide cap on the amount a landlord may collect as a security deposit, no statutory deadline by which the deposit must be returned, and no penalty multiplier for wrongful withholding of a deposit. This stands in contrast to most other states, which specify return deadlines of 14–30 days and impose double or triple damages for bad-faith withholding.
For Long Beach renters, this means your deposit rights are defined entirely by your lease agreement. Read your lease carefully before signing, paying attention to: (1) the dollar amount of the deposit; (2) any conditions under which the landlord may retain all or part of the deposit; (3) the timeframe in which the landlord must return the deposit after move-out; and (4) any requirement to submit a written forwarding address.
Because there is no statutory framework, disputes over security deposit returns must be resolved through negotiation or by filing a small claims lawsuit in Harrison County Justice Court if the amount is within the court's jurisdictional limit. To protect yourself, document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out with dated photographs, a written checklist signed by both parties if possible, and keep copies of all rent receipts. If your landlord fails to return your deposit in accordance with your lease terms, demand a written itemized accounting of any deductions in writing before filing in court.
Landlords in Long Beach must follow the formal eviction process under Mississippi law. Self-help eviction — including changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities — is prohibited under Miss. Code § 89-7-27. A landlord who engages in self-help eviction may face civil liability.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing an eviction lawsuit, the landlord must provide written notice to the tenant. For nonpayment of rent, the landlord must give 3 days written notice demanding payment or vacating the premises (Miss. Code § 89-7-27). For lease violations other than nonpayment, Mississippi law does not specify a separate statutory notice period in the general landlord-tenant statutes, so notice requirements may depend on the lease. For termination of a month-to-month tenancy without cause, 30 days written notice is required under Miss. Code § 89-8-19.
Step 2 — Filing in Justice Court: If the tenant does not pay, cure the violation, or vacate within the notice period, the landlord may file a detainer action (eviction lawsuit) in Harrison County Justice Court. The court will issue a summons requiring the tenant to appear at a hearing, typically scheduled within a few days to two weeks.
Step 3 — The Hearing: At the justice court hearing, both the landlord and tenant may present evidence and testimony. Tenants have the right to appear and contest the eviction. Common defenses include improper notice, payment of rent owed, or landlord misconduct. If the court rules in the landlord's favor, it will issue a judgment for possession.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If the tenant does not vacate after a judgment for possession is entered, the landlord may obtain a writ of possession, which authorizes law enforcement to physically remove the tenant. Only a court officer can carry out a physical eviction — the landlord cannot do so unilaterally.
Tenants facing eviction should seek legal assistance immediately. Mississippi Center for Legal Services (www.mclegal.org) serves Harrison County and may be able to provide representation or advice.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws — including Mississippi statutes, local ordinances, and court interpretations — can change, and individual circumstances vary. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship. If you have a specific dispute with your landlord or questions about your rights as a renter in Long Beach, Mississippi, you should consult a licensed Mississippi attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization. RentCheckMe makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not responsible for any actions taken in reliance on it.
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