Jackson, MS Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)

Jackson's Zoning Ordinance ties accessory dwelling units to common ownership within the Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) District. 01(1)(B) states that no more than one accessory dwelling shall be permitted one lot, and that the accessory dwelling shall be owned by the same person as the principal dwelling. That single-ownership rule prevents a TND lot's guest cottage or garage apartment from being sold or held separately from the main house, distinguishing it from a true second, independently owned residential lot. The same subsection also restricts site access: the accessory dwelling cannot use a driveway separate from the one serving the principal dwelling, unless the accessory unit is reached from a rear alley while the principal dwelling still fronts a street.

Read together with subsection A, which allows attached-or-detached construction but requires the lot's principal use to stay a detached single-family dwelling, and subsection C's 650-square-foot footprint cap, the ownership rule confirms the accessory unit is meant to remain subordinate housing tied to the main residence rather than an independent rental parcel. This standard applies only within the mapped TND District created under Article 709-A of the Zoning Ordinance, last amended December 19, 2024; Jackson's standard residential districts, R-1 through R-6, are governed by separate provisions in Article VI and are not subject to this TND-specific ownership condition.