Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Rankin County, MS Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

R-1 front yard
30 feet
R-1 side yards
8 feet
R-1 rear yard
25 feet
A-1 side/rear yards
5 feet
Applies only in
unincorporated county

Summary

Rankin County sets minimum yard setbacks by zoning district: in the R-1 Single-Family district, 30 feet in front, 8 feet on the sides, and 25 feet in back, measured from the road right-of-way to the structure.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Rankin County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

1303.04 Minimum Yards: A. Front yard: 30 feet. B. Side yards: 8 feet, except where a larger side yard is required to meet buffer yard standards as set forth in Section 404. C. Rear yard: 25 feet.

Source: Rankin County Zoning Ordinance § 1303 / § 401.05View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.

Full Breakdown

Under Section 401.02, a front setback is measured as the horizontal distance from the existing road right-of-way line to the main structure, not from the property line. Each zoning district then sets its own minimum yard table in its own Article. R-1 Single-Family (Art. XIII, §1303.04) requires 30 feet front, 8 feet side, 25 feet rear, while A-1 Agricultural General (Art. IX, §903.04) requires 30 feet front but only 5 feet side and rear. These rules apply only in unincorporated Rankin County; Brandon, Pearl, Flowood, Richland, Florence, Puckett, and Star each enforce their own municipal zoning code.

Violations & Fines

Knowingly and willfully violating a setback is a misdemeanor under Miss. Code §17-1-27, punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to one year in jail, or both, in addition to any building-permit denial or stop-work order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these setbacks apply inside Brandon or Pearl?
No. This Zoning Ordinance governs only unincorporated Rankin County. Brandon, Pearl, Flowood, Richland, Florence, Puckett, and Star each have their own municipal zoning code with separate setback rules.
How is the front setback measured?
Per Section 401.02, from the existing road right-of-way line to the nearest point of the main structure, not from the edge of pavement or the platted lot line.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Rankin County

All Rankin County rules

Compare Rankin County to another location·View the Mississippi building setbacks & zoning overview

Get notified when Setback Rules in Rankin County, MS changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.