Short-Term Rentals in Harrison County, MS (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Harrison County, Mississippi.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Before renting a house short-term in unincorporated Harrison County, the owner must obtain both a Short-Term Rental Permit and a county Tax Privilege "Business" License under UDC Section 834.01. The owner, not a manager or tenant, must file the application, and violations draw a Cease and Desist Order under Section 1409.
Harrison County STR Permit Required
Significant RestrictionsHarrison County Unified Development Code, Art. VIII, § 834.01(a) (Short Term Rentals) (as amended through Dec. 12, 2022)
The following is the minimum list of requirements necessary to obtain a Harrison County Tax Privilege “Business” License and Short-Term Rental Permit. Violations of this section will be issued a Cease and Desist Order as described in Section 1409 of the Unified Development Code. ... Short Term Rental Permit and the County Tax Privilege “Business” License application must be made by the by the o...
Noise Rules
Harrison County's short-term rental section requires vacation rentals in the unincorporated county to be operated so they don't create noise, parking, garbage or activity nuisances for neighbors. There's no decibel limit or curfew: the standard is a general duty to minimize disturbances, backed by the same Cease and Desist enforcement as the rest of Section 834.01.
Harrison County STR Nuisance/Noise Rule
Light RestrictionsHarrison County Unified Development Code, Art. VIII, § 834.01 (Short Term Rentals) (as amended through Dec. 12, 2022)
Vacation rentals shall be used in a way that minimizes potential nuisances to neighbors such as noise, off premises overflow parking, overflow garbage and activities otherwise not consistent with what typically occurs in the neighborhood. A short-term rental unit is not a boarding home, personal care home, banquet hall, resort, private club, a place for parties or receptions.
Taxes & Fees
Short-term rental operators in unincorporated Harrison County must carry a Harrison County Tax Privilege 'Business' License and prove they are registered for Mississippi's state room tax before the county will issue a Short-Term Rental Permit. UDC § 415's Table of Uses and § 834.01(d) both tie the license and the state sales-tax ID directly to permit eligibility.
Harrison County STR Tax & License Rule
Some RestrictionsHarrison County Unified Development Code § 415 (Table of Uses — Short Term Rentals, item e) and § 834.01(d) (as amended through Dec. 12, 2022)
Short term rentals are subject to all state "room sales" taxes based on per room occupancy. Additionally, a Harrison County Tax Privilege "Business" License is required. See Section 834 for complete regulations. ... d. Provide Mississippi sales tax ID number and proof of registration of the Short-Term Rental with the Mississippi Tax Commission to demonstrate compliance with Mississippi Room Taxes.
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Harrison County's short-term rental permit application requires an on-premises parking plan of one car space for every two overnight guests. UDC Section 834.01(a) makes this part of the scaled site plan owners must file to get the county's Short-Term Rental Permit.
Harrison County STR Parking Requirement
Some RestrictionsHarrison County Unified Development Code, Art. VIII, § 834.01(a) (Short Term Rentals) (as amended through Dec. 12, 2022)
a. Site plan of the subject property, drawn to scale, showing the unit being rented, the on premises parking spaces (one car for every two overnight guests) with a description of maximum overnight occupancy for the unit including the number of full bathrooms and bedrooms.
Occupancy Limits
Harrison County's Unified Development Code bars any unincorporated-area short-term rental from exceeding the occupancy allowed under "Owner Occupied" IBC construction standards. Section 834.01 sets a ceiling of more than 10 overnight guests and requires the permit site plan to state a maximum of 10 or 16 guests based on bedroom and bathroom count.
Harrison County STR Occupancy Cap
Some RestrictionsHarrison County Unified Development Code, Art. VIII, § 834.01 (Short Term Rentals) (as amended through Dec. 12, 2022)
No houses or duplexes built to “Lodging House (Transient)” minimum standards of the IBC which would potentially allow an occupancy of more than 10 overnight guests shall be permitted to be used as a vacation rental. ... The maximum is 10 or 16.
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