Jackson County, MS Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

09 of the Jackson County Zoning Ordinance is written around mailboxes but reaches any structure, object or vegetation placed in the right-of-way. No mailbox, newspaper delivery box, or other structure or object may be placed within the county right-of-way if it interferes with the safety of the traveling public or the operation of the roadway system or the Jackson County Road Department. S. Postal Service standards: a mailbox sits on the right-hand side in the direction of the delivery route, its bottom set at the elevation USPS establishes, usually 42 to 48 inches above the roadway, and its roadside face offset 8 to 12 inches from the edge of the traveled way or curb.

The enforcement piece is what makes this an obstruction rule: upon notification by the Jackson County Planning Department, an owner whose mailbox or other structure, object or vegetation violates these standards, or otherwise obstructs the public right-of-way, is deemed to have created an unlawful encroachment subject to removal. The Planning Director or a designee weighs the hazard to the public and then gives the responsible owner written notice, not less than 24 hours and not more than 30 days, to remove it. If the owner misses that window, the Department removes the encroachment itself.

The section separately bars any structure, object or vegetation that blocks sight distance to traffic or regulatory signs from sitting between the curb and sidewalk or in the road shoulder and ditch line, regardless of the notice-and-removal process.