Pascagoula, MS Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Mississippi delegates zoning authority to municipalities under Miss. Code Ann. Title 17, Chapter 1 (Planning, Zoning and Land Use Regulations). There is no statewide statute mandating that cities permit accessory dwelling units, and no statewide ADU size, parking, or owner-occupancy standard. The City of Pascagoula's primary land-use document is the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), which the Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department lists as the source for zoning, density, parking, landscaping, and other land-use regulations. The Department also administers the City's Comprehensive Plan and a Floodplain Ordinance. Property owners considering an accessory dwelling, garage apartment, mother-in-law suite, or detached guest quarters should confirm in writing with the Planning Division (228-938-6620, 4015 14th Street, Pascagoula, MS 39567) whether the proposed unit is permitted in the underlying zoning district, what setback and accessory-structure dimensional standards apply, whether kitchen facilities are allowed in detached accessory buildings, and whether short-term rental of an accessory unit triggers separate licensing. Building permits, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are required and are issued by the Building and Code Enforcement Division. The Mississippi Building Code (based on the 2018 IBC/IRC family) applies to construction.