How Long Beach Handles Short-Term Rentals: A Practical Guide

Long Beach maintains 34 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with short-term rentals. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Long Beach falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Permit Requirements

Long Beach may require registration or permits for short-term rental properties. Mississippi law leaves STR regulation primarily to local municipalities under home rule authority.

Key details: Permit Type: Business license + STR permit. Renewal: Annual. Local Contact: May be required. Authority: MS Code Ann. §21-19-1.

Operating without permit: $250 to $500 fine. Daily fines of $100 to $250 for continued operation. Business license revocation possible for repeat violations.

Taxes & Fees

Long Beach requires STR operators to collect and remit Mississippi sales tax and local tourism taxes. MS Code Ann. §27-65-23 governs accommodation tax collection.

Key details: State Sales Tax: 7%. Local Tourism Tax: 1%-3% varies. Registration: MS Dept of Revenue. Authority: MS Code Ann. §27-65-23.

Failure to collect taxes: back taxes plus 10% penalty. MS DOR may assess additional fines. Interest accrues on unpaid taxes. Business license may be suspended.

Parking Rules

Long Beach regulates short-term rentals through Section 131 of Zoning Ordinance #598, originally established by Ordinance #622 (effective October 27, 2016) and amended by Ordinance #660. Parking must be provided on site in a configuration consistent with the surrounding single-family residential character. Confirm exact space ratios and tandem-parking allowances with the Building Department at (228) 863-1554 before applying for an STR permit.

Key details: Governing Ordinance: #622 / amended by #660. Zoning Section: Sec. 131, Ord. #598. Parking Location: On-site required. Permit Type: Short-Term Rental Permit. Building Dept: (228) 863-1554.

Operating an STR without the on-site parking shown on the approved site plan, blocking sidewalks or hydrants, or relying on neighborhood street parking instead of providing dedicated spaces violates Section 131 of Ordinance #598 and is enforced by the Building Department and Zoning Enforcement Officer. Repeated violations can support permit non-renewal or revocation.

Occupancy Limits

Long Beach caps short-term rental occupancy through Section 131 of Zoning Ordinance #598, established by Ordinance #622 (Oct. 27, 2016) and amended by Ordinance #660. Maximum overnight guest counts are set on the STR permit issued by the Building Department and tied to bedroom count, with Mississippi Building Code life-safety considerations applying. Confirm the exact per-bedroom multiplier with Zoning Enforcement at (228) 863-1554.

Key details: Governing Ordinance: #622 / amended by #660. Zoning Section: Sec. 131, Ord. #598. Cap Basis: Bedroom count + permit. Permit Type: Short-Term Rental Permit. Building Code: Mississippi (IRC-based).

Listing or hosting more guests than the maximum occupancy printed on the Long Beach STR permit, or splitting a single dwelling into multiple simultaneous rental agreements, violates Section 131 of Ordinance #598 (as amended by Ord. #660) and can support code-enforcement penalties or non-renewal of the STR permit by the Building Department.

Noise Rules

Long Beach applies standard noise ordinance rules to short-term rental properties. STR operators are responsible for ensuring guests comply with local quiet hours.

Key details: Quiet Hours: 10 PM to 7 AM. Operator Liability: Yes, for guest noise. Strike Policy: 3 strikes typical. House Rules: Must be posted.

First offense: warning to operator. Second offense: $200 to $500 fine. Third offense: permit suspension or revocation. Operators liable for guest violations.

The Bottom Line

Long Beach's short-term rentals 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 Long Beach is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Long Beach's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.