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Harrison County, MS Business Licensing & Operations: Auto Repair on Residential Property (2026)

Significant Restrictions

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

Key Facts

Excluded use: Auto wrecking (§ 203 definition)
Section: UDC § 819.05(c)
Business tier affected: Rural home business
Employee limit (if permitted): Up to 2 non-resident employees
Hours (if permitted): 7 a.m.–7 p.m.

Summary

Harrison County's home-based-business rules single out one automotive use for exclusion: Section 819.05(c) of the Unified Development Code states that auto wrecking, as defined in Section 203, cannot qualify as a rural home business, even though other home-based commercial activity is permitted on rural residential lots.

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

c. Auto wrecking, as defined in Section 203, shall not be considered a rural home business.

View official code

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

Full Breakdown

05. ' Section 203 defines auto wrecking broadly, collecting, burning out, dismantling or wrecking used motor vehicles, or storing, selling or dumping dismantled or wrecked vehicles or parts, including the dismantling of more than one vehicle at a time as a principal use, or even storing a single partially dismantled vehicle. A home-based operation that meets that definition cannot be approved under any of the county's home-business tiers, regardless of lot size or district. , and accessory buildings used for the business remain subject to the Section 815 size and height limits.

Violations & Fines

Operating an auto wrecking, dismantling, or vehicle-salvage business from a residential or rural lot is not a permitted home business under Section 819.05(c) regardless of zoning district; the Harrison County Zoning Office can deny or revoke the business license and conditional-use approval, and the county can require the operation to relocate to a district where it's permitted outright.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run a car repair or salvage business from my rural property in Harrison County?

Not if it involves auto wrecking. Section 819.05(c) of the Unified Development Code specifically excludes auto wrecking, defined in Section 203 as collecting, dismantling, or wrecking used motor vehicles, from qualifying as a rural home business, no matter how large the lot or how it's zoned.

What counts as 'auto wrecking' under the county code?

Section 203 defines auto wrecking broadly: collecting, dismantling or wrecking used motor vehicles, dismantling more than one vehicle at a time as a principal use, and even storing a single partially dismantled vehicle. Section 819.05(c) bars any of that from operating as a home-based business.

Are other kinds of home-based auto work allowed on rural lots?

The code doesn't list a separate carve-out for minor repair work, but any permitted rural home business under Section 819.05 is capped at 600 square feet or 25% of the home's floor area, 2,000 square feet of parking, and 7 a.m.–7 p.m. hours, with no more than two non-resident employees.

Sources & Official References

[1]Harrison County Unified Development Code

Other rules in Harrison County

Animal Ordinances: Chickens & LivestockSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant Restrictions

All Harrison County rules

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