Cal. Civ. Code § 19-3-40
Power of board to adopt, modify, alter, or repeal orders, resolutions or ordinances not inconsistent with law.
Operative Text
(1) The board of supervisors of any county shall have the power to adopt any orders, resolutions or ordinances with respect to county affairs, property and finances, for which no specific provision has been made by general law and which are not inconsistent with the Mississippi Constitution, the Mississippi Code of 1972, or any other statute or law of the State of Mississippi; and any such board shall likewise have the power to alter, modify and repeal such orders, resolutions or ordinances. Except as otherwise provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the powers granted to boards of supervisors in this section are complete without the existence of or reference to any specific authority granted in any other statute or law of the State of Mississippi. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, such orders, resolutions or ordinances shall apply countywide unless the governing authorities of any municipality situated within a county adopt any order, resolution or ordinance governing the same general subject matter. In such case the municipal order, resolution or ordinance shall govern within the corporate limits of the municipality. (2) In any county where U.S. Interstate 20 and U.S. Highway 49 intersect, having a population of greater than one hundred forty-one thousand (141,000) but less than one hundred fifty-one thousand (151,000) according to the 2010 federal decennial census, the board of supervisors may adopt orders, resolutions and ordinances under subsection (1) of this section for a clearly defined geographic area. The order, resolution or ordinance shall describe the affected geographic area by zoning district, section lines or other discernable boundaries. The order, resolution or ordinance also shall state specific findings to support its purpose and need within the geographic area. (3) This section shall not authorize the board of supervisors of a county to (a) levy taxes other than those authorized by statute or increase the levy of any authorized tax beyond statutorily established limits, (b) issue bonds of any kind, (c) change the requirements, practices or procedures for county elections or establish any new elective office, (d) use any public funds, equipment, supplies or materials for any private purpose, (e) regulate common carrier railroads, (f) grant any donation, or (g) without prior legislative approval, regulate, directly or indirectly, the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential property in which the county does not have a property interest; unless such actions are specifically authorized by another statute or law of the State of Mississippi. History Laws, 1988 Ex Sess, ch. 14, § 60; Laws, 1989, ch. 526, § 2; reenacted, Laws, 1990, ch. 418, § 2; Laws, 2012, ch. 478, § 1, eff from and after July 1, 2012.
Miss. Code Ann. § 19-3-40 grants county boards of supervisors broad authority to adopt, modify, or repeal local orders, resolutions, and ordinances on county matters not already addressed by state law, provided they do not conflict with the Mississippi Constitution or state statutes. However, the provision explicitly lists actions that fall outside this authority, including rent regulation: without prior legislative approval from the state, a county board may not directly or indirectly regulate the amount of rent charged for private residential property in which the county holds no ownership interest. Where a municipality within the county enacts its own ordinance on the same subject, the municipal ordinance controls within city limits.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Miss. Code Ann. § 19-3-40, Mississippi county governments are expressly prohibited from imposing rent control or rent stabilization measures on private residential property without prior approval from the state legislature. Property owners and managers operating in unincorporated Mississippi counties can generally rely on the fact that county-level rent regulation is not a legally available tool for local boards of supervisors. Operators should still monitor any municipal ordinances adopted by cities within a given county, as those govern within incorporated limits and may address related subject matter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Miss. Code Ann. § 19-3-40 makes clear that Mississippi county boards of supervisors cannot regulate residential rent amounts on private property without prior state legislative authorization, which means county-level rent control protections are not currently a legal avenue available to renters in unincorporated areas. Tenants should be aware that any rent-related protections would need to originate from state law or, within city limits, from a municipal ordinance rather than county action. Those with questions about what local rules may apply to their rental situation can consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Mississippi housing law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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