Regulations relating to beach maintenance.
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 2-53
in effectSec. 2-53. - Regulations relating to beach maintenance.
(a) In order to permit orderly cleaning and maintenance of the beach, vendors shall observe the following rules:
(1) Vehicles, merchandise and all other items shall not be placed so as to hamper maintenance vehicles and equipment in their use of access ramps, or to interfere with regular vehicle movement across the beach.
(2) Each vendor is responsible to see that merchandise is collected and stacked, stored or grouped, and all litter removed, so that beach maintenance vehicles can move freely in the area at night and early morning hours without damage either to the merchandise or property of the vendor, or to the maintenance vehicles.
(3) If complete freedom of movement of maintenance vehicles cannot be provided, the vendor shall so notify the beach patrol, giving his reason for failure to provide freedom of movement.
(b) The right of riparian owners to, at their own risk, leave small boats on the beach anchored to stakes is recognized, subject to such beach use not interfering with regular maintenance and clearing of the beach. In order to ensure such freedom to clear and maintain the beach, riparian owners must observe the following rules:
(1) Boats must not be clustered or grouped and must be separated by a distance of at least forty (40) feet.
(2) Only boats owned or authorized by the riparian owner may be left on the beach.
(3) The anchor or stake to which the boat is affixed shall be of such size and color as to be clearly visible to beach maintenance personnel.
(4) Boats may not be staked or anchored at both ends so as to prevent the boat from being swung to one (1) side to permit maintenance of the area around and under the boat.
(c) When in the judgment of the city council it is necessary to temporarily close any part of the beach for replenishment or heavy maintenance, an order for such closing will be entered on the minutes of the city council specifying the reason for closing and the estimated period of time the affected section of the beach will be closed. Such order shall be entered at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed for closing the beach, and a copy of such order will be published one (1) time in a newspaper having general circulation in the city.
(d) The beach may also be closed by reason of hurricane warnings, on order of the civil defense officials of the city, and in the event of such closing all vendors' merchandise, vehicles and other property, and all movable structures of every kind will be removed from the beach. All persons having no official duties on the beach will be barred from the beach area during such danger periods.
(e) Dumpsters for collection of garbage and trash will be located on the beach only at points approved by the sand beach patrol. No dumpster shall be so placed as to interfere with beach maintenance vehicles and equipment or their access to ramps leading onto the beach.
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_CH2BODOWABE_ARTIISABE_S2-53REREBEMAFetched: 11/1/2026