Building permits and zoning in Biloxi

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Biloxi’s Community Development Department, its planning and zoning page and its building checklist (PDF).

Every building permit, zoning question and historic review in Biloxi goes through one office: the Biloxi Community Development Department, at 676 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Its divisions cover planning, zoning, building permits, inspections, code enforcement, floodplain management, business licensing, historic preservation and tree preservation. The department is open weekdays, and staff answer the phone from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Who to call

• Community Development (main line): 228-435-6280
• Planning and zoning (call before you buy a lot): 228-435-6266
• Building Division (codes and inspections): 228-435-6270
• Engineering (excavation and fill permits): 228-435-6269
• Mail: P.O. Box 508, Biloxi, MS 39533-0508
• Official page: Community Development

Check the zoning first

Start with the city’s GIS map, which shows zoning, flood zones, historic districts and easements. The maps page also has the flood insurance rate map, the height map and the ward map. Then look up your zoning district in Article 23-4 of the Land Development Ordinance to see if the use you want is allowed.

If it is not, you need a rezoning through the Planning Commission and City Council, or a variance from the Board of Zoning Adjustments, before you submit plans. The city’s checklist says short-term rentals are not allowed in single-family zoning.

How to get a residential permit

The city’s building checklist (PDF) lays out the steps:

1. Confirm the zoning, flood zone and any historic district on the city maps.
2. Get a rezoning or variance first if your plans need one.
3. If the house is a landmark, in a historic district or near a landmark, get approval from the Architectural and Historical Review Commission (AHRC).
4. Submit two full sets of 24-by-36-inch construction drawings to the Planning Division, with a site plan showing every structure, setbacks and the driveway, plus a survey if you have one. Drawings need a dimensioned floor plan, foundation plan, elevations, a wall section and electrical, plumbing and HVAC plans.
5. The Planning Division, then the Building Division, review and sign off.
6. You are notified when the permit is approved and pick it up at Community Development.

Site control documents are required for every permit, and some flood zones need more paperwork. A homeowner can pull a permit to build or repair their own home, but every subcontractor must hold a state license.

Commercial projects and new subdivisions go to the Development Review Committee first, then to any board that must approve them, then to Planning, Building and the Biloxi Fire Department for plan review. A licensed contractor picks up the permit.

Forms and fees

The city’s forms and permits page has the residential and commercial permit applications, fence, solar panel, tree and temporary use permits, home occupation and certificate of occupancy forms, rezoning and variance supplements, and short-term rental applications. Fees are on the building permit fee schedule (PDF). Excavation and fill permits come from the Engineering Department.

Who decides

The Planning Commission, AHRC and Development Review Committee meet at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Municipal Building, 676 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Agendas are on the Planning Commission, AHRC and Development Review Committee pages. The Planning Commission agenda goes up a week before each meeting.

Commenting on a case

You do not have to attend to be heard. Send written comments on a Planning Commission or AHRC case to the City Planner’s Office, P.O. Box 508, Biloxi, MS 39533-0508. Comments on a City Council item go to the Clerk of Council, P.O. Box 429, Biloxi, MS 39533-0429. Put the case at the top and your signature, printed name and address at the bottom.

Flood zones

The city’s checklist says a lot’s flood zone can mean more paperwork for a permit. Check the flood zone map (PDF) before you buy, and ask the department’s floodplain staff at 228-435-6280 what your lot requires.

What this means for you

• Call Planning at 228-435-6266 before you buy land or sign a contract.
• Historic district? AHRC approval comes before the permit.
• Homeowners may pull their own permit; subcontractors need state licenses.

More guides: Harrison County property taxes, who to call at City Hall and moving to Biloxi.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I get a building permit in Biloxi?

At the Biloxi Community Development Department, 676 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Staff take calls at 228-435-6280 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Can a homeowner pull a building permit in Biloxi?

Yes. The city says a homeowner can pull a permit to build or repair their own home, but every subcontractor must be licensed by the state.

How do I find my zoning in Biloxi?

Use the city’s GIS map at biloxi.ms.us/gis, which shows zoning, flood zones and historic districts, or call the Planning Division at 228-435-6266.

When does the Biloxi Planning Commission meet?

On the first and third Thursday of each month at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Municipal Building, 676 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Biloxi?

Not in single-family zoning, according to the city’s building checklist. Where they are allowed, the city requires a short-term rental application and certificate of occupancy.