Clinton, MS Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Clinton regulates accessory structures under Article IV, Section 401.06 of the Zoning Ordinance (Dec 2023 working copy on clintonms.org). Section 401.06(A) prohibits accessory buildings or uses in the front and side yards of any district; (B) requires at least a 5-foot setback from rear and side property lines when located in the rear yard; (C) caps total accessory-building coverage at 10 percent of the rear yard or 750 square feet, whichever is less, in any residential district; (D) limits accessory-building height to 12 feet (20 feet for a private garage as defined in Section 201) unless the Mayor and Board of Aldermen approve more; (E) requires the exterior and materials to be compatible with surrounding structures; (F) prohibits using any accessory building as a residence except in the Olde Towne Clinton (OTC) District, and prohibits garage apartments outside the OTC District; (G) requires a building permit for all accessory buildings; and (H) requires permits for any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work on an accessory structure. Section 405 separately governs home occupations and limits any accessory building used for the home occupation to 150 square feet. Mississippi law (Miss. Code Ann. §17-1-3) gives municipalities broad zoning authority to regulate dwellings, and Mississippi has not enacted statewide ADU preemption. Property owners interested in a garage apartment must either own a property zoned within the OTC District or pursue a rezoning or text amendment. Hinds County zoning applies outside the city limits.