Jackson's Rental Property Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles rental property rules a little differently. In Jackson, Mississippi, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Rental Registration

Every rental housing unit in Jackson must be registered with the department of planning and development under City Code § 26-524, on a schedule staggered by portfolio size that ran from March through August 2023, with a $50.00 per-unit fee under § 26-527.

Key details: Registration deadline, 100+ units: March 30, 2023. Registration deadline, under 50 units: August 30, 2023. Registration fee: $50.00 per unit, includes first inspection. Certificate validity: 1 year from issuance. Failure-to-register penalty: $500.00 per unit.

Failing to register a rental unit by the applicable deadline carries a $500.00 penalty per unit, and allowing occupancy without a certificate of compliance carries a $150.00 penalty per unit, both under § 26-528. An owner who fails to remove an evicted tenant's property or trash from the curb within five days after a removal warrant is executed, as required by § 26-526(c), faces an additional $500.00 penalty.

This is one of the stricter rules in Jackson's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Repairs & Habitability

Jackson enforces rental habitability through the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code as locally amended by City Code § 26-512, which bans storing hazardous materials that endanger occupants and caps occupancy so that no boarding house, rooming house, or similar unit exceeds twelve persons under amended IPMC § 404.5.

Key details: Code adopted: 2018 International Property Maintenance Code. Hazardous materials ban: IPMC § 301.5, added locally. Occupancy cap: 12 persons max in boarding/rooming houses, IPMC § 404.5. Weed height limit: 18 inches, IPMC § 302.4. Maximum penalty: $1,000.00 fine or 90 days jail.

A property owner, tenant, corporation, or other entity that fails to correct a Property Maintenance Code violation after notice and a reasonable time to fix it faces a fine of up to $1,000.00 or up to 90 days imprisonment, or both, under amended IPMC § 106.4, with each additional day the violation remains uncorrected charged as a separate offense under MCA 1972 §§ 21-13-1 and 21-17-5.

The Bottom Line

Jackson's rental property rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Jackson is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Jackson can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.