Hinds County, MS Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Hinds County ADU rules are entirely local. Mississippi's legislature has not passed statewide ADU pre-emption legislation, unlike California or Oregon, so each municipality controls its own rules. The City of Jackson's zoning ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 118) allows accessory dwelling units as conditional uses in certain residential districts, subject to Board of Zoning Adjustments approval. Common Jackson requirements include: maximum floor area of 600 to 1,000 square feet or a fixed percentage of the primary dwelling (typically 40-50 percent); owner occupancy of either the primary or ADU; off-street parking for the ADU occupant; separate utility metering or sub-metering; and compliance with all setback, height, and lot coverage rules of the underlying zone. ADUs must also meet Mississippi's adopted IRC standards for habitable dwellings, including egress windows, ceiling height, and electrical service. Clinton has taken a more restrictive approach, generally prohibiting detached ADUs in most residential districts. Unincorporated Hinds County, administered from Raymond, is more permissive toward farm-related accessory housing consistent with the county's rural character around Utica and Edwards. Mississippi's Right to Farm Act (MS Code Ann. §95-3-29) protects agricultural operations that may include farm-worker housing. Manufactured homes as ADUs are subject to additional restrictions under local zoning and must meet HUD code.