Harrison County, MS Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Threshold
- 35 feet before Fire Marshal review is required
- Reviewing official
- Harrison County Fire Marshal
- Flood-zone measurement
- From 2 feet above base flood elevation
- Governing table
- UDC Table 416, Area and Dimensional Requirements
- Amendment dates
- Added Feb. 2, 2009 (0901HC022, 0902HC055)
Summary
In unincorporated Harrison County, the Unified Development Code caps structures at 35 feet before extra review kicks in: any building that exceeds thirty-five feet requires a site plan and sign-off from the Harrison County Fire Marshal confirming local fire equipment and training can fight a fire on the site, per UDC Section 416.06.
Any structure which exceeds thirty-five (35) feet in height will require a site plan and approval from the fire marshal which states that the fire district has reviewed the plans and that the fire department's equipment and training can adequately fight a fire on the site.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Article IV, Section 416 of the Harrison County Unified Development Code (Table 416, Table of Area and Dimensional Requirements) sets a maximum structure height for every zoning district in the unincorporated county, from the A-1 General Agricultural and E-1 Very Low Density Residential districts up through the county's commercial and industrial districts. A footnote to that table, added by amendments 0901HC022 and 0902HC055 (both adopted February 2, 2009), states that structures taller than 35 feet automatically require sign-off from the county Fire Marshal. ' The same section fixes how height is measured on flood-prone lots, where a building sits in a FEMA-mapped flood zone, height is measured from a point two feet above the base flood elevation, provided no habitable space sits below that measurement point, and elevated parking is allowed underneath so long as it doesn't obstruct floodwater flow.
Because fire marshal review is triggered by the 35-foot figure rather than a single county-wide cap, anyone planning a tall house, detached tower, or tall accessory structure should confirm the district limit in Table 416 and budget time for fire marshal sign-off before submitting a building permit.
Violations & Fines
Building permits for structures exceeding 35 feet cannot be issued without the Fire Marshal's written sign-off confirming the fire department can fight a fire at that height; the Harrison County Building/Zoning Department will withhold or deny the permit until that review is complete. Building without an approved site plan exposes the owner to stop-work orders and permit denial until the structure is brought into compliance with Section 416.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a house taller than 35 feet in unincorporated Harrison County?
Does the 35-foot rule apply to accessory buildings and towers too?
How is height measured if my lot is in a flood zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harrison County
Compare Harrison County to another location·View the Mississippi building setbacks & zoning overview
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