Moving to Long Beach, 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 Long Beach 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.
Barking Dogs
Some RestrictionsLong Beach addresses barking dogs as a public nuisance under local animal control ordinances. Continuous or excessive barking complaints are handled through animal control services.
Leaf Blower Rules
Few RestrictionsLong Beach regulates leaf blower use primarily through general noise ordinance hours. Mississippi municipalities generally allow gas and electric blowers during daytime hours.
Quiet Hours
Some RestrictionsLong Beach MS is a small Gulf Coast community between Gulfport and Pass Christian. University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park campus and beach tourism create moderate seasonal activity in this residential community.
Construction Hours
Some RestrictionsLong Beach 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.
Amplified Music & Events
Some RestrictionsLong Beach 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.
Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsLong Beach may require registration or permits for short-term rental properties. Mississippi law leaves STR regulation primarily to local municipalities under home rule authority.
Taxes & Fees
Some RestrictionsLong Beach requires STR operators to collect and remit Mississippi sales tax and local tourism taxes. MS Code Ann. ยง27-65-23 governs accommodation tax collection.
Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsLong Beach regulates short-term rentals through Section 131 of Zoning Ordinance #598, originally established by Ordinance #622 (effective October 27, 2016) and amended by Ordinance #660. Parking must be provided on site in a configuration consistent with the surrounding single-family residential character. Confirm exact space ratios and tandem-parking allowances with the Building Department at (228) 863-1554 before applying for an STR permit.
Occupancy Limits
Some RestrictionsLong Beach caps short-term rental occupancy through Section 131 of Zoning Ordinance #598, established by Ordinance #622 (Oct. 27, 2016) and amended by Ordinance #660. Maximum overnight guest counts are set on the STR permit issued by the Building Department and tied to bedroom count, with Mississippi Building Code life-safety considerations applying. Confirm the exact per-bedroom multiplier with Zoning Enforcement at (228) 863-1554.
Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsLong Beach 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 RestrictionsLong Beach 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 RestrictionsLong Beach 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 RestrictionsLong Beach regulates street parking through local traffic and parking ordinances. Time limits, overnight restrictions, and permit parking zones may apply in certain areas.
RV & Boat Parking
Some RestrictionsLong Beach 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.
Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
Some RestrictionsLong Beach 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 RestrictionsLong Beach 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.
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 RestrictionsLong Beach 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 RestrictionsLong Beach 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 RestrictionsLong Beach 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.
Beekeeping
Few RestrictionsLong Beach 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.
Chickens & Livestock
Some RestrictionsLong Beach regulates backyard chickens and livestock through local zoning ordinances. Mississippi municipalities balance agricultural tradition with residential zoning under MS Code Ann. ยง21-19-9.
Dog Leash Laws
Some RestrictionsLong Beach 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.
Breed Restrictions
Some RestrictionsLong Beach may enforce breed-specific or dangerous dog ordinances. Mississippi does not have a statewide breed ban but allows municipalities to adopt local breed restrictions.
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.
Weed Ordinances
Some RestrictionsLong Beach 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.
Grass Height Limits
Some RestrictionsLong Beach 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.
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.
Pool Permits
Some RestrictionsLong Beach 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.
Fencing Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsThe William Lee Montjoy Pool Safety Act (Miss. Code ยง45-43-1 et seq.) sets statewide minimum pool barrier rules that Long Beach enforces in addition to local code. Outdoor residential pools deeper than 24 inches must be enclosed by a fence or wall at least four feet high with no gaps that pass a 4-inch sphere. Gates must be self-closing, self-latching, open outward from the pool, and have latches at least 60 inches above the ground or with locking hardware. State law expressly does not exempt pool yards from additional local ordinance requirements.
Safety Rules
Some RestrictionsLong Beach enforces pool safety requirements including water quality, drain covers, and maintenance standards. The MS State Department of Health oversees public pool safety regulations.
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 RestrictionsLong Beach Zoning Ordinance defines a garage apartment as a dwelling unit erected above a private garage, regulated as an accessory use subordinate to the principal dwelling. Comprehensive Land Use Ordinance #676 (effective Aug 11, 2025) is the controlling instrument; it replaces the 2013 Unified Land Use Ordinance #598. Accessory structures must be on the same zoning lot as the principal building and be subordinate in area, extent and purpose. Mississippi has no statewide ADU preemption, so Long Beach permitting standards (setbacks, height, parking, owner-occupancy) govern.
Garage Conversions
Some RestrictionsGarage conversions in Long Beach require a building permit from the Building Department under Mississippi Building Code (IRC-based) and must comply with Zoning Ordinance #598 setbacks, lot coverage, and required off-street parking replacement. Coastal AE/VE flood zone properties face additional elevation and wind-load standards. Confirm details with Building Official Mike Gundlach at (228) 669-9855.
Shed Rules
Few RestrictionsLong Beach 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 Long Beach
Long Beach has 34 ordinances on file across 12 categories. Of these, 4 are rated permissive, 28 moderate, and 2 strict. This gives you a general sense of how tightly regulated daily life is in Long Beach 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.