Jackson, MS Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Downtown Design Guide (2026)

01-A. The guidelines require sidewalks on all streets, built with a minimum of two zones: an amenity zone at least three feet wide and a separate walkway or pedestrian zone, with materials conforming to the OCG Design Guidelines and OCG Master Plan. Utilities, including water, sewer, storm water collection, telephone, internet and electrical service, must run underground through duct banks and piping beneath the sidewalks, with site access interconnect boxes spaced every 50 feet along the streets. The same section ties building heights, setbacks, yard requirements and parking to these guidelines, and requires sidewalks, lighting, street trees and street furniture to comply with the OCG Sustainable Design Guidelines and OCG Master Plan.

Any design standard imposed by an outside entity, such as a homeowners' or business association, cannot conflict with the Zoning Ordinance, Sign Ordinance, or any other adopted City standard. 09-A also requires Site Plan Review Committee approval before any demolition, redevelopment or new construction proceeds. These downtown design standards took their current form under the Zoning Ordinance amendments through December 19, 2024, and apply only within the mapped OCG-MUD boundary bounded by the Pearl Street overpass, Jefferson Street, Silas Brown Street and State Street, not citywide.