General Commercial Design Standards
Biloxi Land Development Ordinance § 23-6-10(D)
in effect(D) - General Commercial Design Standards
All commercial use development subject to this section shall comply with the following standards:
(1) Building Orientation and Entryways
The front façade of buildings, as defined by the primary entrance, shall be oriented towards the street from which the building derives its street address.
(2) Multi-Building Development
a. Development composed of multiple buildings shall be configured to:
1. Break up the site into a series of smaller "blocks" defined by on-site streets, vehicle accessways, pedestrian walkways, or other circulation routes;
2. Frame the corner of an adjacent street intersection or entry point to the development;
3. Frame and enclose a "main street" pedestrian or vehicle access corridor within the development site;
4. Frame and enclose on at least three sides of parking areas, public spaces, or other site amenities; and
5. Frame and enclose outdoor dining or gathering spaces for pedestrians between buildings.
(See Figures 23-6-10(D)(2)a., Multi-Building Framing and 23-6-10(D)(2)a.5., Outdoor Gathering Places.)
[image omitted; see the official code]
Figure 23-6-10(D)(2)a: Multi-Building Framing
b. The primary entrances of the buildings shall be oriented towards a street along the perimeter of the development, towards streets interior to the development, or towards open space areas.
[image omitted; see the official code]
Figure 23-6-10(D)(2)a.5: Outdoor Gathering Places
(3) Outparcel Development
[image omitted; see the official code]
Figure 23-6-10(D)(3): Outparcel Location
a. To the maximum extent practicable, outparcels and their buildings shall be configured and located to define street edges, development entry points, and spaces for gathering or seating between buildings.
b. The even dispersal of outparcel sites in a widely-spaced, uniform pattern along streets is prohibited.
c. To the maximum extent practicable, spaces between outparcel buildings shall be enlivened with pedestrian amenities such as small plazas, seating areas, and gathering spaces.
(See Figure 23-6-10(D)(3), Outparcel Location.)
(4) Façades and Massing
a. Façade Offsets
[image omitted; see the official code]
Figure 23-6-10(D)(4)a: Commercial Building Front Facade Offsets
1. Street-facing front building façades that are more than 60 feet wide shall be articulated with wall offsets (e.g., projections or recesses in the façade plane) that are at least one foot deep, at least ten feet wide, and spaced no more than 40 feet apart.
2. The following alternatives can be used alone or in combination as an alternative to the required front façade offsets:
A. Changes in façade color or material that follow the same dimensional standards as the offset requirements;
B. Pilasters that are at least eight inches deep and at least eight inches wide, and have a height equal to at least 80 percent of the façade's height; or
C. Roofline changes that vertically align with a corresponding wall offset or change in façade color or material, including changes in roof planes and changes in the height of a parapet wall (such as extending the top of pilasters above the top of the parapet wall).
(See Figure 23-6-10(D)(4)a., Commercial Building Front Façade Offsets.)
b. Base and Top Treatment
[image omitted; see the official code]
Figure 23-6-10(D)(4)b: Building Base, Middle, and Top
Buildings of three or more stories shall include a clearly recognizable base, middle, and top configured in accordance with the following standards:
1. Building bases shall incorporate one or more of the following features:
A. Thicker walls, ledges, or sills;
B. Integrally-textured materials such as stone or other masonry;
C. Integrally-colored and patterned materials such as smooth-finished stone or tile; or
D. Lighter or darker colored materials, mullions, or panels.
2. Building tops shall include two or more of the following features:
A. Three-dimensional cornice treatments with integrally-textured materials such as stone or other masonry or differently colored materials;
B. Sloping roof with overhangs and brackets;
C. Stepped parapets; or
D. Aligned openings and articulations.
(See Figure 23-6-10(D)(4)b., Building Base, Middle, and Top.)
c. Side Façades
The street-facing side façades of buildings shall be fully screened from off-site views through fences, walls, or landscaping at least eight feet high, or be configured with the same façade details as provided on the building's front façade.
d. Outbuildings
Outbuildings located in front of other buildings within the same development shall include a consistent level of architectural detail on all four sides of the building.
(5) Window Treatment
a. At least 25 percent of the street-facing façade area of the street-level floor of buildings shall be occupied by windows or doorways.
b. All street-level windows shall be visually permeable between the heights of three and eight feet above the adjacent walkway grade.
(6) Roofs
a. Structures with a flat roof shall include parapet walls with a decorative three-dimensional cornice.
b. All rooftop equipment shall be screened from view from all streets.
(7) Off-Street Parking Location
a. Limited Business and Neighborhood Business Districts
Commercial development consisting of single-story buildings in the LB or NB Districts shall be configured to locate all required off-street surface parking to the side or rear of the building. Buildings of two or more stories may locate up to two rows of off-street surface parking between the primary entrance of the building and the street they face.
b. All Other Zoning Districts
1. A portion of off-street parking for commercial development in all other zoning districts may be located between the building and the street it fronts, in accordance with Table 23-6-10(7), Off-Street Parking Location:
TABLE 23-6-10(7): OFF-STREET PARKING LOCATION co;normal;normal
BUILDING FOOTPRINT SIZE (SQUARE FEET) co;normal;normal | MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARKING BAYS LOCATED BETWEEN BUILDING AND STREET 1, 2,3 co;normal;normal
30,000 or less | 2
30,001 - 60,000 | 4
60,001 or more | 8
NOTES: 1. Parking bays between a building and the street shall not exceed the length of the building. 2. The maximum number of allowable bays located between a building and the street may be doubled for buildings of two or more stories. 3. Buildings with more than 60,000 square feet of gross floor area also may be subject to standards in Section 23-6-10(E)(3) that regulate the location of off-street parking for large retail buildings.
2. All other off-street surface parking shall be located to the side or the rear of the building.
(8) Loading, Storage, and Service Areas
a. Loading, service, and equipment areas shall be located in a manner that minimizes their visibility from off-site areas, to the maximum extent practicable.
b. Outdoor storage areas shall be fully screened from adjacent streets and single-family development.
c. Loading, service, and equipment areas that are associated with an outparcel building shall be screened through the use of structural elements and similar materials attached to and integrated with the building.
(9) Auto-Oriented Uses
Corner lots on all streets except arterials and collectors shall locate automobile-oriented uses or facilities—including but not limited to gas pumps, drive-through ordering points and pick-up windows, or other accessory uses intended for access while inside a vehicle—to the side or rear of the principal building.
Source: City of Biloxi, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances and Land Development Ordinance (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/biloxi/codes/land_development_ordinance?nodeId=ART23-6DEST_10CODEST_DGECODESTFetched: 11/2/2026