Business Licensing & Operations in Jackson, MS (2026)
6 verified business licensing & operations rules for Jackson, Mississippi, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Operating a sexually oriented business in Jackson without a city license, or employing an unlicensed worker at one, is a misdemeanor under City Code § 30-277, with a $275.00 new-application fee, a $100.00 annual license fee, and at least four police inspections a year.
Jackson Sexually Oriented Business License Requirement
Significant RestrictionsJackson, MS Code of Ordinances § 30-277(a)-(b)
(a)No person shall:(1)Operate a sexually oriented business without a valid sexually oriented business license issued by the city pursuant to this article.(2)In connection with operating a sexually oriented business, retain the services of a person as an employee, as defined in section 30-252 of this article, who is not licensed as a sexually oriented business employee by the city pursuant to th...
Massage Establishments
Operating a massage parlor or working as a masseur or masseuse in Jackson without a permit from the chief of police is unlawful under City Code § 30-131, and the annual permit costs $175.00 and requires a criminal-background investigation plus a yearly county health certificate.
Jackson Massage Parlor Permit Requirement
Significant RestrictionsJackson, MS Code of Ordinances §§ 30-131, 30-138
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the operation of a massage parlor or to operate as a masseur/masseuse without having first obtained a permit so to do. ... No permit issued under the terms of this article shall be valid for a period of more than one year following the date of the issuance of such permit, and any applicant applying for a permit to either operate a massage parlor ...
Tobacco Retail License
Selling cigarettes or smoking tobacco at retail in Jackson requires an annual $5.00 privilege license per location under City Code § 114-41(b), issued by the Director of Revenues and Assessments before the store opens. Separately, § 30-4 bars any tobacco sale within 500 feet of a school, with already-licensed stores grandfathered.
Jackson's Tobacco Retail Privilege License
Some RestrictionsJackson, MS City Code § 114-37; § 114-41(b); § 30-4
Upon payment of the municipal privilege license tax levied by this article, the director of revenues and assessments shall issue a license for such privilege. Each person shall procure the license and pay such tax to the city before commencing business for which such license is required. ... There is hereby levied and imposed an annual privilege tax of $5.00 upon each person selling cigarettes ...
Secondhand Dealers
Every secondhand and junk dealer in Jackson must report each transaction to the police chief within 24 hours under Sec. 98-1(b), including the seller's name and address, a full description and serial number of the item, and the purchase price. Garage sales, nonprofits, used-car dealers, and antique dealers are excluded from the definition.
Jackson Secondhand & Junk Dealer Reporting
Some RestrictionsCity of Jackson, MS Code of Ordinances § 98-1
Sec. 98-1. - Reports generally. (a) Definitions... Secondhand dealer means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or organization of any kind which to any degree buys and sells secondhand articles. It shall not apply to a private citizen who has a garage and yard sale, a nonprofit organization, a used car dealer, or an antique dealer, unless purchasing from a private ...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Fixing cars for pay at a City of Jackson house does not qualify as a Home Occupation, so it cannot be run from a residential lot under a Home Occupation Permit. The Zoning Ordinance instead treats automotive service and repair as a commercial use requiring its own permit in a commercial district.
Jackson Home Auto Repair Not Allowed
Heavy RestrictionsJackson, MS Zoning Ordinance §§ 202.73, 702.04.1(a)(5)
202.73 Home Occupation: ... in which there is no mechanical equipment used, other than that normally permitted for household purposes and no person employed, other than a member of the family residing on the premises, offering services to the general public ... 702.04.1(a) Uses Which May Be Permitted as Use Permits: ... 5. Automotive service and repair establishments, but excluding major repair...
Towing Companies
Jackson requires wrecker services storing a towed vehicle more than five days to report it in writing to the police department's auto theft division, keep storage records open to inspection, and mark every tow truck door with the company's name, address, and phone number in six-inch letters.
Jackson Wrecker Service Reporting Rules
Some RestrictionsJackson, MS Code of Ordinances § 126-419
Whenever any motor vehicle of a type subject to registration in this state has been towed by a wrecker service and stored, parked, or left at a wrecker service lot or storage facility in excess of five days, the owner of the wrecker service shall report in writing to the city police department, auto theft division, the make, model, vehicle identification number (VIN), license numbers and the da...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Jackson city rules.
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