Purpose and intent.

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 5-430

in effect

Sec. 5-430. - Purpose and intent. (a) In the development and adoption of this article, it is recognized that rehabilitation health clinics and plasma centers, as such terms are defined herein, can and do have serious objectionable operational characteristics particularly when located in close proximity to residential neighborhoods, public parks, churches, public buildings, schools and other such similar facilities, thereby having a deleterious impact upon the public health, safety and welfare, and that such businesses frequently become places of criminality and bring crime to an area. (b) It has been acknowledged by communities across the nation that state and local governmental entities have a special concern in regulating the operation of such businesses under their jurisdiction to ensure those controls and regulations necessary to preserve the integrity and character of residential neighborhoods, the stability of property values, and impose restrictions and regulations upon those activities that would adversely affect property values, increase crime and violence, and prevent adverse secondary effects that will contribute to the blighting or down grading of adjacent neighborhoods. It is the secondary effects that will contribute to the blighting or down grading of adjacent neighborhoods. It is the further purpose of this article to protect the well-being of the citizens of the community from objectionable operational characteristics of these clinics by regulating and restricting their close proximity to established certain facilities such as, without limitation, churches, parks, schools and residential areas. (c) It is not the intent of this article to inhibit the operation of these clinics or to inhibit the availability of opiod medication to those to whom it is legally prescribed or to inhibit the ability of persons to sell plasma legally. (d) The provisions of this article have neither the purpose nor effect of imposing a limitation or restriction on the ability of one who has been legally prescribed opiod medication to obtain those medications or the ability of one who desires to sell his/her plasma. Similarly, it is neither the intent nor effect of this article to restrict or deny access to opiod medication by those for whom opiod medication has been prescribed or to restrict or deny access to a location where plasma may be sold legally. This article represents a balancing of the legitimate ends of the community by imposing an incidental, content-neutral place, time and manner regulation of rehabilitation health clinics and plasma centers. The regulations deemed necessary to control the undesirable externalities arising from these businesses are set forth in this article. (e) Neither is it the intent nor effect of this article to condone or legitimize the distribution, sale or consumption of opiod medications illegally. (Ord. No. 2904, § A(Exh. A), 5-23-17)

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_ARTXVREHECLPLCE_DIV1PUINFI_S5-430PUINFetched: 11/1/2026