For AI agents: read the machine-readable documentation index at /llms.txt or the single-file full reference at /llms-full.txt.
Form a Business

ZONING REGULATIONS

Gulfport Code of Ordinances ch. 5, art. XIV, div. 3
in effect

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 5-341 Nonconforming uses.

Sec. 5-341. - Nonconforming uses. (a) Any business lawfully operating on the effective date of this article that is in violation of the location or structural configuration requirements of this article shall be deemed a nonconforming use. Such nonconforming uses shall not be increased, enlarged, extended or altered except that the use may be changed to a conforming use. If two (2) or more adult entertainment businesses are within one thousand (1,000) feet of one another and otherwise in a permissible location, the adult entertainment business that was first established and continually operated at a particular location is the conforming use and the later-established business(es) is nonconforming. (b) An adult entertainment business lawfully operating as a conforming use is not rendered a nonconforming use by the location, subsequent to the grant or renewal of the adult entertainment business license, of a church, synagogue, or regular place of religious worship, public or private elementary or secondary school, licensed day-care center, liquor store, freestanding lounge, night club, dance hall, park, or residential district within one thousand (1,000) feet of the adult entertainment business. This provision applies only to the renewal of a valid business license, and does not apply when an application for a business license is submitted after an operator's license has expired or has been revoked. (Ord. No. 2679, § 2(Exh. A, art. III, § A), 6-22-10)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 5-342 Location restrictions.

Sec. 5-342. - Location restrictions. Adult entertainment businesses shall be permitted in I-1 and I-2 zoning districts as a matter of right provided that: (a) The adult entertainment business may not be operated within one thousand (1,000) feet of: 1. A church, synagogue, mosque, temple or building which is used primarily for religious worship and related religious activities, to include funeral homes. 2. A public or private educational facility, including, but not limited to, child day-care facilities, nursery schools, preschools, kindergartens, elementary schools, private schools, intermediate schools, junior high schools, middle schools, high schools, vocational schools, secondary schools, continuation schools, special education schools, alternative schools, junior colleges and universities; school includes the school ground, but does not include the facilities used primarily for another purpose and only incidentally as a school. 3. A liquor store, freestanding lounge or tavern, or other same or similar establishment or use as a night club and/or dance hall. 4. A public park or recreational area which is used for park or recreational activities, including, but not limited to, a park, playground nature trials, swimming pool, reservoir, athletic field, basketball or tennis courts, skating rink, pedestrian/bicycle paths, wilderness areas or other similar land. 5. The property line of a lot zoned for residential use and devoted to a residential use as defined in the zoning code. 6. The property line of a lot used for a private or public hospital. 7. Another adult entertainment business. (b) An adult entertainment business may not be operated within two hundred (200) feet of a Mississippi Scenic Byway as such term is described and defined in MCA 1972, § 65-41-1 et seq. (as amended). The distance shall be measured in a direct line from the edge of the pavement on the same side of the road as the adult entertainment business to the parking lot or structure, whichever is closer. (c) An adult entertainment business may not be operated in the same building, structure, or portion thereof, containing another adult entertainment business as defined herein. (d) For the purpose of this article, measurement shall be made in a straight line, without regard to intervening structures or objects, from the closest point on structure to closest point on structure or closest point on parking lot or space to closest point on parking lot or space, whichever is closer. The applicant must provide written certification that the proposed adult entertainment business meets the distance requirements set forth herein. (Ord. No. 2679, § 2(Exh. A, art. III, § B), 6-22-10)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 5-343 Exterior portions of adult entertainment businesses.

Sec. 5-343. - Exterior portions of adult entertainment businesses. (a) It shall be unlawful for an owner or operator of an adult entertainment business to allow the merchandise or activities of the establishment to be visible from any point outside the establishment. (b) It shall be unlawful for the owner operator of an adult entertainment business to allow the exterior portion of the adult entertainment business to have flashing lights, or electronic message boards or any words, lettering, photographs, silhouettes, drawings, or pictorial representations of any manner except to the extent permitted by the provisions of this article. (c) It shall be unlawful for the owner or operator of an adult entertainment business to allow exterior portions of the establishment to be painted any color other than a single achromatic color. This provision shall not apply to an adult entertainment business if the following conditions are met: (1) The establishment is a part of a commercial multiunit center greater in cumulative floor space than forty thousand (40,000) square feet; and (2) The exterior portions of each individual unit in the commercial multiunit center, including the exterior portions of the business, are painted the same color as one another or are painted in such a way so as to be a component of the overall architectural style or patter [pattern] of the commercial multiunit center. (d) Nothing in this article shall be construed to require the painting of an otherwise unpainted exterior portion of an adult entertainment business. (e) A violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor. (Ord. No. 2679, § 2(Exh. A, art. III, § C), 6-22-10)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 5-344 Signage.

Sec. 5-344. - Signage. (a) Notwithstanding any other city ordinance, code, or regulation to the contrary, it shall be unlawful for the operator of any adult entertainment business or any other person to erect, construct, or maintain any sign for the adult entertainment business other than the one (1) primary sign and one (1) secondary sign, as provided here. (b) Primary signs shall have not more than two (2) display surfaces. Each such display surface shall: (1) Not contain any flashing lights or electronic messages. (2) Be a flat plane, rectangular in shape, (3) Not exceed seventy-five (75) square feet in area, and (4) Not exceed ten (10) feet in height or ten (10) feet in length. (c) Primary signs shall contain no photographs, silhouettes, drawings or pictorial representations in any manner and may contain only the name of the enterprise. (d) Each letter forming a word on a primary sign shall be of solid color, and each such letter shall be the same print type, size and color. The background behind such lettering on the display surface of a primary sign shall be of a uniform and solid color. (e) Reserved. (f) Secondary signs shall have only one (1) display surface. Such display surface shall: (1) Be a flat plane, rectangular in shape; (2) Not exceed twenty (20) square feet in area; (3) Not exceed five (5) feet in height and four (4) feet in width; and (4) Be affixed or attached to any wall or door of the enterprise. (g) The provisions of item (1) of subsection (b), subsection (c), and subsection (d) shall also apply to secondary signs. (h) Violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor. (Ord. No. 2679, § 2(Exh. A, art. III, § D), 6-22-10)
Source: City of Gulfport, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/gulfport/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH5LIBURE_ARTXIVADENBU_DIV3ZOREFetched: 11/1/2026

Starting a business in Mississippi? Mississippi LLC guide: costs and requirements