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

Rankin County, MS Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

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

Key Facts

Applies to
Medical cannabis establishments only
Standard
No excessive light escapes overnight
Timeframe
Sunset to sunrise
General light-trespass rule
None exists for other uses

Summary

Rankin County's zoning code has no general light-trespass ordinance for homes or businesses: its only lighting-trespass rule applies to licensed medical cannabis establishments, which must keep excessive light from escaping onto neighboring property between sunset and sunrise.

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.

419.08 Lighting: Demonstrate that no excessive light escapes to neighboring property between sunset and sunrise.

View official code

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

Full Breakdown

Section 419.08 of the county's Zoning Ordinance requires every medical cannabis establishment, cultivation, processing, testing, disposal, transportation and dispensary facilities alike, to demonstrate that no excessive light escapes onto neighboring property overnight, between sunset and sunrise, as a condition of its Conditional Use permit. This standard is written specifically for cannabis facilities; the Zoning Ordinance sets no comparable light-trespass limit for other commercial, industrial, or residential uses in unincorporated Rankin County. Homeowners or businesses outside the cannabis industry with a neighbor's floodlight or security light shining onto their property have no zoning-code remedy under this ordinance. This applies only outside Brandon, Pearl, Flowood, Richland, Florence, Puckett, and Star.

Violations & Fines

Failing to control excessive light escaping onto neighboring property can hold up or void a medical cannabis Conditional Use permit; separate zoning violations carry a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to a year in jail under Section 714.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Rankin County regulate light trespass from a neighbor's security light?
Not generally. The county's only zoning light-trespass rule applies to licensed medical cannabis facilities under Section 419.08; there's no comparable standard for ordinary residential or commercial properties.
What lighting standard applies to a cannabis dispensary or cultivation site?
Under Section 419.08, the operator must demonstrate that no excessive light escapes onto neighboring property between sunset and sunrise, as a condition of its Conditional Use permit.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Rankin County

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome 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 outdoor lighting overview

Get notified when Light Trespass & Shielding 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.