Business Licensing & Operations in Mississippi (2026)
24 rules on the books across Mississippi, 6 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Adult Entertainment
Zoning and licensing rules for adult entertainment establishments under LAMC §12.70, including distance buffers from schools, churches, and residential zones.
Jackson County
Heavy RestrictionsUnincorporated Jackson County bans selling or consuming alcohol, beer or light wine in any commercial venue that…
Read full rule →Gulfport
Significant RestrictionsAdult entertainment businesses may operate only in Gulfport's I-1 and I-2 industrial zones, at least 1,000 feet from…
Read full rule →Hinds County
Significant RestrictionsHinds County confines adult entertainment businesses to I-2 Heavy Industrial districts under Zoning Ordinance Section…
Read full rule →Jackson
Significant RestrictionsOperating a sexually oriented business in Jackson without a city license, or employing an unlicensed worker at one, is…
Read full rule →Rankin County
Significant RestrictionsRankin County confines adult entertainment businesses to the C-4 Adult Entertainment Commercial District and requires…
Read full rule →Massage Establishments
Licensing requirements for massage businesses under LAMC §103.205 and CAMTC certification, including operator background checks and zoning conditions.
Gulfport
Significant RestrictionsMassage parlors in Gulfport pay a $500 annual establishment license plus $25 per massagist, and cannot open before 8:30…
Read full rule →Jackson
Significant RestrictionsOperating a massage parlor or working as a masseur or masseuse in Jackson without a permit from the chief of police is…
Read full rule →Jackson County
Some RestrictionsJackson County allows massage therapy businesses only in the C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District and any district that…
Read full rule →Rankin County
Few RestrictionsRankin County's Zoning Ordinance lists massage spas as a use permitted by right in the C-2 General Commercial district…
Read full rule →Tattoo & Body Modification
Health Department permits and city licensing for tattoo and piercing studios, including bloodborne-pathogen training and inspection requirements.
Gulfport
Significant RestrictionsA tattoo parlor needs Planning Commission approval to operate in Gulfport's B-2 or B-4 business districts and is…
Read full rule →Rankin County
Significant RestrictionsTattoo parlors need a Board of Supervisors conditional use permit in Rankin County's C-2 General Commercial district…
Read full rule →Jackson County
Some RestrictionsTattoo and body piercing establishments are zoned into Jackson County's C-2 Community Commercial District under Table…
Read full rule →Tobacco Retail License
The local license required to sell tobacco and vape products, the conduct rules attached to it, flavored-product bans, self-service and age limits, and the zoning that applies to smoke shops.
Mississippi: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsMississippi regulates the sale of electronic nicotine delivery systems through its tobacco statutes, requiring buyers…
Read full rule →Jackson
Some RestrictionsSelling cigarettes or smoking tobacco at retail in Jackson requires an annual $5.00 privilege license per location…
Read full rule →Secondhand Dealers
LAMC §21.12 + CA Bus & Prof Code requirements for secondhand dealers, including item-reporting to law enforcement and 30-day holding periods.
Gulfport
Some RestrictionsAnyone buying used furniture, household goods, tools or building materials for resale in Gulfport must log every…
Read full rule →Jackson
Some RestrictionsEvery secondhand and junk dealer in Jackson must report each transaction to the police chief within 24 hours under Sec…
Read full rule →Pawnbrokers
State and city pawnbroker licensing, item-holding periods, interest-rate caps, and the LAPD-monitored CalGang/CAPSS reporting system.
Rankin County
Significant RestrictionsPawn shops need a Board of Supervisors conditional use permit in Rankin County's C-2 General Commercial district, and…
Read full rule →Jackson County
Some RestrictionsPawn shops in unincorporated Jackson County are confined to the C-2 Community Commercial District under Table 5-3.12 of…
Read full rule →Auto Repair on Residential Property
Whether commercial auto repair is permitted on residential property under LAMC §12.17.3, exemptions for occasional personal repair, and complaint enforcement.
Jackson
Heavy RestrictionsFixing cars for pay at a City of Jackson house does not qualify as a Home Occupation, so it cannot be run from a…
Read full rule →Harrison County
Significant RestrictionsHarrison County's home-based-business rules single out one automotive use for exclusion: Section 819.05(c) of the…
Read full rule →Hinds County
Significant RestrictionsHinds County's Zoning Ordinance does not license an auto repair business run from a home, and its home occupation rules…
Read full rule →Gulfport
Some RestrictionsGulfport allows vehicle repairs at a house only if the car under repair is registered to the resident doing the work or…
Read full rule →Towing Companies
Permits, fee caps, and notification requirements for tow companies operating in the city, including official police-rotation tow contracts.
Gulfport
Some RestrictionsAny towing service that removes a car from private property in Gulfport without the owner's consent needs a city…
Read full rule →Jackson
Some RestrictionsJackson requires wrecker services storing a towed vehicle more than five days to report it in writing to the police…
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