Moving to Biloxi, MS?
Here are the local rules you need to know before you unpack.
Every city has its own set of local ordinances that go beyond state and federal law. From when you can mow your lawn to whether you can park your RV in the driveway, these rules affect daily life in ways most people do not expect. This guide covers the key ordinances in Biloxi across 12 categories and 34 specific rules we track.
๐ Noise Ordinances
Noise rules affect everything from weekend parties to lawn care schedules. Quiet hours, construction restrictions, and barking dog limits vary widely between cities.
Leaf Blower Rules
Few RestrictionsBiloxi regulates leaf blower use primarily through general noise ordinance hours. Mississippi municipalities generally allow gas and electric blowers during daytime hours.
Construction Hours
Some RestrictionsBiloxi limits construction noise to daytime hours, typically 7 AM to 7 PM weekdays and 8 AM to 5 PM Saturdays, under local building and noise ordinances.
Quiet Hours
Some RestrictionsBiloxi MS enforces noise ordinances in this Gulf Coast casino resort city. Twelve casino resorts create 24-hour entertainment noise while Keesler Air Force Base flight operations add military aircraft impacts.
Barking Dogs
Some RestrictionsBiloxi addresses barking dogs as a public nuisance under local animal control ordinances. Continuous or excessive barking complaints are handled through animal control services.
Amplified Music & Events
Some RestrictionsBiloxi regulates amplified music and outdoor sound systems through local noise ordinances. Amplified sound is generally restricted during quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM.
๐ Short-Term Rentals
If you plan to rent out your home on Airbnb or VRBO - even occasionally - you need to know the local STR rules before listing.
Taxes & Fees
Some RestrictionsBiloxi requires STR operators to collect and remit Mississippi sales tax and local tourism taxes. MS Code Ann. ยง27-65-23 governs accommodation tax collection.
Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsBiloxi MS manages STRs in this casino resort destination. Beach tourism, casino visitors, and Keesler AFB military personnel drive strong vacation rental demand along the Gulf Coast beachfront corridor.
Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsBiloxi's Land Development Ordinance Section 23-4-3(D)(10)e requires one on-site parking space per short-term rental unit or per bedroom, whichever is greater. Parking plus all structures on the STR lot may not exceed 60% lot coverage, and parking must be arranged in a style reflective of single-family residential use.
Occupancy Limits
Some RestrictionsBiloxi's Land Development Ordinance Section 23-4-3(D)(10)e limits short-term rentals to a maximum of four (4) units per single tax parcel and caps the cumulative total of STRs in RM-20 and RM-30 multi-family conditional-use zones at 75. The ordinance does not set a numeric per-bedroom guest cap; confirm any owner-imposed limits with Biloxi Planning at (228) 435-6266.
Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsBiloxi applies standard noise ordinance rules to short-term rental properties. STR operators are responsible for ensuring guests comply with local quiet hours.
๐ฅ Fire Regulations
Fire pit rules, fireworks restrictions, and brush clearance requirements are especially important if you are coming from a state with different fire risk profiles.
Fireworks
Few RestrictionsBiloxi follows Mississippi's permissive fireworks laws. MS Code Ann. ยง45-13-7 allows consumer fireworks sales and use with local municipalities setting time and place restrictions.
Brush Clearance
Some RestrictionsBiloxi requires property owners to maintain defensible space and clear excessive vegetation under local property maintenance codes and MS Forestry Commission guidelines.
๐ Parking Rules
Parking rules catch more new residents off guard than almost any other ordinance. RV storage, overnight parking bans, and driveway regulations vary significantly.
Street Parking Limits
Some RestrictionsBiloxi regulates street parking through local traffic and parking ordinances. Time limits, overnight restrictions, and permit parking zones may apply in certain areas.
Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
Some RestrictionsBiloxi restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones through local zoning ordinances. Weight and size limits typically apply to vehicles stored overnight in residential areas.
Driveway Rules
Some RestrictionsBiloxi regulates driveway construction and parking through local zoning and building codes. Vehicles must not block sidewalks or public right-of-way when parked in driveways.
RV & Boat Parking
Some RestrictionsBiloxi regulates RV and boat parking in residential areas through local zoning ordinances. Vehicles must typically be stored in side or rear yards behind the front building line.
๐งฑ Fence Regulations
Planning to put up a fence? Height limits, material restrictions, and permit requirements differ by city - and sometimes by which side of the property the fence sits on.
Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsBiloxi may require permits for fence installation depending on height, location, and type. Permit requirements are established through local building and zoning codes.
Height Limits
Some RestrictionsBiloxi limits fence heights through local zoning ordinances. Front yard fences are typically limited to 4 feet and rear/side yard fences to 6 to 8 feet in residential zones.
Neighbor Fence Rules
Some RestrictionsBiloxi addresses boundary fences and neighbor disputes through local ordinances. Mississippi follows general common law principles for shared fences and property line placement.
๐ Animal Ordinances
Pet owners and aspiring chicken keepers should check local animal ordinances before signing a lease or closing on a home.
Chickens & Livestock
Some RestrictionsBiloxi regulates backyard chickens and livestock through local zoning ordinances. Mississippi municipalities balance agricultural tradition with residential zoning under MS Code Ann. ยง21-19-9.
Breed Restrictions
Some RestrictionsBiloxi may enforce breed-specific or dangerous dog ordinances. Mississippi does not have a statewide breed ban but allows municipalities to adopt local breed restrictions.
Beekeeping
Few RestrictionsBiloxi regulates beekeeping through local zoning and the Mississippi Bee and Honey Law under MS Code Ann. ยง69-39-1 et seq. Mississippi is generally permissive toward apiculture.
Dog Leash Laws
Some RestrictionsBiloxi enforces leash laws and animal control through local ordinances under MS Code Ann. ยง21-19-9. Dogs must be on leash or under control when off owner's property.
๐ฟ Landscaping Rules
From grass height limits to tree removal permits, landscaping rules can surprise new homeowners, especially in drought-prone areas with water restrictions.
Grass Height Limits
Some RestrictionsBiloxi enforces grass height limits through property maintenance codes. Maximum grass height is typically 12 inches before enforcement action under MS Code Ann. ยง21-19-11.
Weed Ordinances
Some RestrictionsBiloxi enforces weed and vegetation control through property maintenance codes under MS Code Ann. ยง21-19-11. Overgrown weeds are treated as nuisances subject to abatement.
๐ผ Home Business
Working from home is common, but running a business from home often requires permits and must comply with zoning restrictions on customer traffic and signage.
๐ Swimming Pools & Spas
Pool ownership comes with safety fencing requirements, permit obligations, and drainage rules that vary by jurisdiction.
Safety Rules
Some RestrictionsBiloxi enforces pool safety requirements including water quality, drain covers, and maintenance standards. The MS State Department of Health oversees public pool safety regulations.
Fencing Requirements
Some RestrictionsMississippi has no statewide residential pool-fence mandate, so Biloxi enforces pool barrier rules through the building code adopted under Miss. Code Ann. ยง17-2-1 et seq. (Mississippi Building Codes Council) and Miss. Code Ann. ยง21-19-25 (municipal code adoption). Biloxi's adopted International Residential Code (IRC) Appendix G / Section R326 requires a 48-inch barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates, no 4-inch openings, and a top latch at 54 inches.
Pool Permits
Some RestrictionsBiloxi requires building permits for swimming pool installation. The Mississippi State Department of Health regulates public and semi-public pools under MS Code Ann. ยง41-26-1.
๐๏ธ Accessory Structures
Thinking about an ADU, shed, or garage conversion? Local rules on accessory structures have changed rapidly in recent years, especially in California.
ADU Rules
Some RestrictionsBiloxi regulates accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and accessory structures through the Land Development Ordinance (LDO), Chapter 23, primarily Article 23-4 (Use Standards). Detached ADUs are limited to 800 square feet and 20 feet in height, must sit in the rear yard on a permanent foundation, and follow district setbacks (typically 5 ft side, 10 ft rear). Mississippi has no statewide ADU mandate; zoning authority flows from Miss. Code Ann. Title 17 (Local Government).
Garage Conversions
Some RestrictionsConverting a garage to habitable space in Biloxi requires a Certificate of Zoning Compliance and a building permit from the Community Development Department. The work must meet the Mississippi-adopted International Residential Code (IRC) and Land Development Ordinance setback, parking, and zoning standards. Loss of required off-street parking is a common denial reason.
Shed Rules
Few RestrictionsBiloxi regulates sheds and outbuildings through local building and zoning codes. Small sheds under 120 to 200 square feet may be exempt from permit requirements in many municipalities.
๐ Environmental Rules
๐ Curfew Laws
Overall: What to Expect in Biloxi
Biloxi has 34 ordinances on file across 12 categories. Of these, 4 are rated permissive, 29 moderate, and 1 strict. This gives you a general sense of how tightly regulated daily life is in Biloxi compared to other cities.
Rules can change, and enforcement varies. Always verify specific requirements with the city directly before making major decisions like building a fence, listing on Airbnb, or starting a home business.