Harrison County, MS Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- UDC § 826.01
- Permitted categories
- family farms, concentrated feeding ops
- Cross-reference
- § 415 Table of Uses
- Adopted
- *0810HC270, 3/9/09
- Not automatic on
- ordinary residential lots
Summary
Livestock farming is only permitted in unincorporated Harrison County on family farms and concentrated feeding operations as defined in the UDC's Section 415 Table of Uses, under § 826.01. That structure means livestock isn't a by-right use on an ordinary residential lot: it has to fall within a use category the zoning district actually allows.
826.01 Livestock farming is permitted on both family farms and concentrated feeding operations as explained in Section 415 Table of Uses.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
' The provision was adopted by amendment *0810HC270 on March 9, 2009, and it works by cross-reference rather than spelling out its own list of allowed animals or lot sizes, the actual permission, and the zoning districts where it applies, lives in the Table of Uses at § 415, which sorts every land use, including family-farm livestock keeping and concentrated feeding operations, into the districts where each is permitted, permitted with conditions, or not allowed. 01 ties livestock farming to those two specific use categories, a homeowner in a standard residential district cannot assume keeping cattle, goats or hogs is allowed just because the property has enough acreage; the use has to fall within family-farm or concentrated-feeding classification and be located in a district where § 415 lists that use as permitted.
Property owners considering livestock should check their parcel's zoning district against the Table of Uses, or contact the Harrison County Code Office, before bringing animals onto a residential-zoned lot.
Violations & Fines
Keeping livestock outside a district or use category permitted by § 415's Table of Uses is a zoning violation under UDC § 1409: the Zoning Officer can order discontinuance of the use, and a knowing, willful violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $100, with each continuing day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens or livestock on my residential lot in Harrison County?
Where do I check if my property allows livestock?
What's a 'concentrated feeding operation' under the code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harrison County
How Harrison County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Harrison County to another location·View the Mississippi animal ordinances overview
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