Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Rankin County

Rankin County, MS Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)

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

Key Facts

Freeboard
24 inches above base flood elevation
Floodway
All development prohibited
Applies to
Unincorporated county only, not city limits
Citation
Zoning Ordinance Art. XXXI, § 3100
Penalty
Up to $1,000 fine or jail

Summary

In FEMA Flood Zone A within unincorporated Rankin County, Mississippi, new structures must have a finished floor 24 inches above the base flood elevation, and undeveloped BFE areas need a flood study first.

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.

Any structures which are approved to be constructed in this designated area will be required to have a finished floor elevation twenty-four (24) inches above the base flood elevation.

View official code

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

Full Breakdown

Rankin County's Flood Preservation Overlay District (Article XXXI) covers the 100-year flood area shown on FEMA's Flood Hazard Boundary and Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Approved structures must have a finished floor elevation 24 inches above the base flood elevation, and no development is allowed in the designated floodway. Where no base flood elevation has been established for a FEMA Zone A parcel, a Detailed Base Flood Elevation Study is required before construction: the property owner provides it for a metes-and-bounds tract, the developer for a platted subdivision. This applies only in unincorporated Rankin County, not inside Brandon, Pearl, Flowood, Richland, Florence, Puckett or Star.

Violations & Fines

Building without meeting the 24-inch freeboard or in the floodway violates the Zoning Ordinance; under Section 714, knowing violations are a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to one year in jail, or both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this flood rule apply inside Brandon or Pearl?
No. It only governs unincorporated Rankin County. Brandon, Pearl, Flowood, Richland, Florence, Puckett and Star each enforce their own municipal codes for flood construction requirements.
How high above base flood elevation must my house sit?
The finished floor must be at least 24 inches above the base flood elevation for any approved structure in the Flood Preservation Overlay District, per Article XXXI, Section 3100.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Rankin County

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsFlood ZonesSignificant RestrictionsStormwater ManagementSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions

All Rankin County rules

Compare Rankin County to another location·View the Mississippi environmental rules overview

Get notified when Flood Elevation Requirements 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.