Mississippi Code
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-5 (2026)
Definitions
✓ current as of July 2026
As used in this chapter:
- (a) "Agency" means any department, agency or instrumentality of the state or of a political subdivision of the state, or any department, agency or instrumentality of two (2) or more political subdivisions of the state, or any person who has the authority to acquire property by eminent domain under the laws of this state, that implements a project financed in whole or in part by public funds.
- (b) "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, or association.
- (c) "Displaced person" means, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (c), any person who moves from real property, or moves his personal property from real property, as a direct result of a written notice of intent to acquire or the acquisition of other real property in whole or in part for a program or project undertaken by an agency with public financial assistance; or real property on which such person is a residential tenant or conducts a small business, a farm operation or a business as defined in this section, as a direct result of rehabilitation, demolition or such other displacing activity as the displacing agency may prescribe, under a program or project undertaken by a displacing agency with public financial assistance in any case in which the head of the displacing agency determines that such displacement is permanent; and solely for the purposes of Sections 43-39-7 and 43-39-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, any person who moves from real property or moves his personal property from real property as a direct result of a written notice of intent to acquire or the acquisition of other real property, in whole or in part, on which such person conducts a business or farm operation, for a program or project undertaken by a displacing agency with public financial assistance; or as a result of rehabilitation, demolition or such other displacing activity as the displacing agency may prescribe, of other real property on which such person conducts a business or a farm operation, under a program or project undertaken by a displacing agency with public financial assistance where the displacing agency determines that such displacement is permanent. In the case of a partial acquisition, the displacing agency shall make the determination whether the person is displaced.
The term "displaced person" does not include a person who has been determined, according to criteria established by the head of the agency, to be either in unlawful occupancy of the displacement dwelling or to have occupied such dwelling for the purpose of obtaining assistance under this title, nor, in any case in which the displacing agency acquired property for a program or project, any person (other than a person who was an occupant of such property at the time it was acquired) who occupies such property on a rental basis for a short term or a period subject to termination when the property is needed for the program or project.
- (d) "Business" means any lawful activity, excepting a farm operation, conducted primarily:
- (i) For the purchase, sale, lease and rental of personal and real property, and for the manufacture, processing or marketing of products, commodities or any other personal property;
- (ii) For the sale of services to the public;
- (iii) By a nonprofit organization; or
- (iv) For the purposes of subsection (1) of Section 43-39-7, for assisting in the purchase, sale, resale, manufacture, processing or marketing of products, commodities, personal property or services by the erection and maintenance of an outdoor advertising display or displays, whether or not such display or displays are located on the premises on which any of the above activities are conducted.
- (e) "Farm operation" means any activity conducted solely or primarily for the production of one or more agricultural products or commodities, including timber, for sale or home use, and customarily producing such products or commodities in sufficient quantity to be capable of contributing materially to the operator's support.
- (f) "Comparable replacement dwelling" means any dwelling that is decent, safe and sanitary; adequate in size to accommodate the occupants; within the financial means of the displaced person; functionally equivalent; in an area not subject to unreasonable, adverse, environmental conditions; and in a location generally not less desirable than the location of the displaced person's dwelling with respect to public utilities, facilities, services and the displaced person's place of employment.
- (g) "Displacing agency" means the state, a state agency or an authorized political subdivision, or any person carrying out a program or project with public financial assistance which causes a person to be a displaced person.
- (h) "Appraisal" means a written statement independently and impartially prepared by a qualified appraiser setting forth an opinion of defined value of an adequately described property as of a specific date, supported by the presentation and analysis of relevant market information.
- (i) "Lead agency" means the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
Codes, 1942, § 2749-72; Laws, 1972, ch. 526, § 2; Laws, 1989, ch. 421, § 1; Laws, 1996, ch. 445, § 2, eff. 3/29/1996.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5
cases, 1986–1999 · leading case: Beaty v. Imperial Irrigation Dist., 186 Cal. App. 3d 897 (Cal. Ct. App. 1986).
Beaty v. Imperial Irrigation Dist., 186 Cal. App. 3d 897 (Cal. Ct. App. 1986). “79A, § 1; Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-5 , subd. (c); Mont.”
Lamar Corp. v. State High. Com'n, 684 So. 2d 601 (Miss. 1996). “Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-5 (d) (1993). The statute that requires relocation costs to be paid, states, inter alia, that: (1) If a displacing agency acquires real property for public use, it shall make fair and reasonable relocation payments to displaced persons and businesses as…”
Brown v. Mississippi Transp. Com'n, 749 So. 2d 948 (Miss. 1999). “Additionally, the Browns argue that Hazel Brown, as a displaced person or business as described in § 43-39-5 is entitled to the additional $25,000 payment under § 43-39-9.”
Lamar Corp v. Mississippi State High. Comm'n (Miss. 1993). “Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-5 (d)(1993). ¶25.”
Wendell L. Brown v. Mississippi Transp. Comm'n (Miss. 1998). “Additionally, the Browns argue that Hazel Brown, as a displaced person or business as described in § 43-39-5 is entitled to the additional $25,000 payment under § 43-39-9.”
— Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-5(d) — 2 cases
Lamar Corp. v. State High. Com'n, 684 So. 2d 601 (Miss. 1996). “Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-5 (d) (1993). The statute that requires relocation costs to be paid, states, inter alia, that: (1) If a displacing agency acquires real property for public use, it shall make fair and reasonable relocation payments to displaced persons and businesses as…”
Lamar Corp v. Mississippi State High. Comm'n (Miss. 1993). “Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-5 (d)(1993). ¶25.”
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