Jackson, MS Accessory Structures: ADU Permits (2026)

Jackson's zoning is governed by the City of Jackson Zoning Ordinance adopted September 20, 2018, administered by the Office of City Planning (Department of Planning and Development) and codified through the City's planning portal. The Mississippi Legislature has not enacted statewide ADU legislation comparable to California's Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2 or Oregon's HB 2001 — Mississippi cities retain full traditional zoning authority under the home-rule and planning provisions of Miss. Code Ann. Title 17 (Local Government; Planning, Zoning), particularly Miss. Code Ann. §§17-1-1 through 17-1-31. The Jackson Zoning Ordinance treats accessory living quarters — garage apartments, servant's quarters, guest houses — as an accessory use to the principal single-family dwelling, permitted in defined residential districts subject to district-specific setback, height, lot-coverage, and one-dwelling-per-lot rules. Each lot in single-family districts is generally limited to one principal dwelling; a separate independent dwelling unit on the same lot typically requires district reclassification or special exception from the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Building permits are issued by the Building Inspection Division under Code of Ordinances Chapter 26 (Buildings and Building Regulations). Mississippi's adopted building code framework (Miss. Code Ann. §17-2-1 et seq.) authorizes municipalities to adopt the International Codes; Jackson currently enforces the 2018 International Building Code with local amendments, plus the International Residential Code, IFC, IPC, IMC, and NEC. Historic district properties (Belhaven, Belhaven Heights, Farish Street, Greater Belhaven Historic District, etc.) require Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before exterior alterations.