Mississippi Tenant Rights Guide

Last updated: April 2026

Mississippi has no rent control. The state's landlord-tenant law is minimal — Mississippi is one of the few states without an implied warranty of habitability in statute and without the URLTA framework. Tenant protections are limited; knowing your lease terms is essential.

Mississippi at a Glance

Rent control: None
Statewide rent cap: None — landlords can raise rent by any amount
Preemption: Mississippi has no rent control law and no city has enacted one. Mississippi has not adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act — its landlord-tenant law is among the least comprehensive in the country.

What Protections Mississippi Tenants Do Have

Even without rent control, Mississippi law gives renters meaningful rights in these areas:

Security Deposit

Mississippi has no specific statute governing security deposit return timelines or procedures. Your deposit rights are primarily determined by your lease terms. Keep a copy of your move-in condition checklist.

Notice to Terminate

Mississippi requires 30 days' written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy (Miss. Code § 89-8-19).

Habitability

Mississippi does not have a statutory implied warranty of habitability. However, landlords can be held liable under common law if they lease a unit they know is in a dangerous, defective condition. Local housing codes may provide additional recourse.

Eviction Process

Landlords must provide written notice (3 days for nonpayment) and then file for eviction through the justice court. Self-help eviction is prohibited, though protections are less formalized than in most states (Miss. Code § 89-7-27).

Retaliation

Mississippi has no specific anti-retaliation statute for tenants. Document everything in writing and consult legal aid if your landlord takes action after you raise a complaint.

Check your address to see what tenant protections apply to your rental.

Major Cities in Mississippi

Bay St. Louis — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Biloxi — No rent control; Mississippi state law applies.
Brandon — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Brookhaven — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Byram — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Canton — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Clarksdale — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Cleveland — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Clinton — No — Mississippi has no statewide rent control and Clinton has no local rent stabilization ordinance
Columbus — No — Mississippi has no statewide rent control and Columbus has no local rent stabilization ordinanc
Corinth — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
D'Iberville — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Flowood — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Gautier — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Greenville — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Greenwood — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Grenada — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Gulfport — No rent control; Mississippi state law applies.
Hattiesburg — No rent control; Mississippi state law applies.
Hernando — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Horn Lake — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Jackson — No rent control; Mississippi state law applies.
Laurel — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Long Beach — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Madison — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
McComb — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Meridian — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Moss Point — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Natchez — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Ocean Springs — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Olive Branch — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Oxford — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Pascagoula — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Pearl — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Petal — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Picayune — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Ridgeland — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Southaven — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Starkville — No — Mississippi has no statewide rent control and Starkville has no local rent stabilization ordina
Tupelo — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.
Vicksburg — No rent control; Mississippi state protections apply.

Mississippi Tenant Resources

These organizations offer free or low-cost help to Mississippi renters:

Mississippi Center for Legal Services — Free civil legal aid for low-income residents of South Mississippi, including housing cases.
North Mississippi Rural Legal Services — Free legal help for low-income residents of North and Central Mississippi, including eviction defense.
Mississippi Bar – Lawyer Referral Service — Connects tenants with attorneys who handle landlord-tenant disputes statewide.

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