Garage conversion rules in Ocean Springs, MS — sometimes called garage-to-ADU or accessory living unit conversions — govern permits, ceiling height, egress, and parking replacement.
Ocean Springs' Unified Development Code permits one internal, attached, or detached accessory dwelling unit per single-family lot, which is the typical pathway for legal garage conversions. A building permit and zoning compliance review are required, plus coastal wind-load engineering for Jackson County.
Converting an Ocean Springs garage into habitable space is regulated as an accessory dwelling unit under the Unified Development Code, which permits one internal, attached, or detached ADU per single-family dwelling, with use-specific standards covering scale, design, occupancy, parking, and utilities. Conversions must meet the Mississippi-adopted IRC for ceiling height, light, ventilation, egress windows, and smoke and CO alarms, and must satisfy ASCE 7 coastal wind-load design for Jackson County. Properties in FEMA AE or VE zones must also meet the city's flood damage prevention standards, including finished-floor elevation above base flood elevation. A separate building permit is required, and converted square footage may not be used as a short-term rental unless an STR permit is approved.
Occupying converted space without a permit, failing required wind or flood elevation standards, or exceeding the one-ADU-per-lot limit can result in stop-work orders, permit revocation, and required removal of unpermitted construction. Confirm fine amounts with Community Development at 228-875-4415.
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