Gulfport, MS Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Gulfport's only encroachment-into-right-of-way permit in the code is geographically limited: it covers property backing onto platted or dedicated alleys in the downtown area bounded by 28th Avenue on the west, 14th Street on the north, 23rd Avenue on the east and 13th Street on the south. Owners inside that box may seek to encroach into the alley immediately adjacent to their structures, under Code § 9-1. The process starts with a letter to the city council explaining the requested encroachment, and that letter must confirm the owner already discussed it with the Department of Urban Development.

Before the request reaches the council agenda, it is routed for comment through the Departments of Urban Development, Police, Fire, Engineering and Public Works, and the council then approves or denies based on how the encroachment affects the alley's functionality plus those department comments. If approved, the owner must execute a Hold Harmless Agreement drafted by the Legal Department before building anything, and bears every construction cost personally. The city retains the right to reverse course: if the governing authorities decide removal serves the city's best interest, the owner gets a written removal demand by personal service or certified mail and has 30 days to comply, again at the owner's own expense.

This section, adopted by Ord. No. 2741 in 2012, does not create a general citywide sidewalk or right-of-way encroachment permit; it addresses only alley encroachments within the defined downtown blocks.