DIMENSIONAL CONTROL

Ridgeland Zoning Ordinance § 31

in effect

DIMENSIONAL CONTROL DIMENSIONAL CONTROL SECTION 31 31.01 REDUCTION OF YARDS AND LOTS OF RECORD BELOW MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS PROHIBITED: No yard or lot of record existing at the time of passage of this Ordinance shall be reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements set forth herein. Yards or lots of record created after the effective date of this Ordinance shall meet at least the minimum requirements established by this Ordinance. 31.02 FRONT YARDS ON CORNER OR DOUBLE FRONTAGE LOTS: On corner lots or double frontage lots ("through lots"), each side fronting on a street shall be considered a front yard, and the required front yard setback shall be measured from each existing or proposed (on the adopted Thoroughfares Plan) right-of-way upon which the lot abuts. In accordance with the Subdivision Regulations of the City of Ridgeland, the front yard setbacks of all lots shall be shown as a dashed line on all preliminary and final subdivision plats. 31.03 DETERMINATION OF SETBACKS: In measuring a required front yard (i.e., setback), the minimum horizontal distance between the existing or proposed right- of-way line and the main structure shall be used. The required setback line shall be measured from the existing or proposed right-of-way line (or lines for corner lots and double frontage lots), which shall be determined by the adopted Thoroughfares Plan of the City of Ridgeland. If a proposed street is not functionally classified (as a local, collector or arterial street) by the adopted Thoroughfares Plan, the functional classification of said street shall be determined by the City Engineer during the sketch plat review process for the proposed subdivision or during the site plan review process (for developments not involving a subdivision of land). 31.04 VISIBILITY AT INTERSECTIONS: On a corner lot in any district, nothing shall be erected, placed, planted, or allowed to grow in such a manner as to materially impede the vision of motor vehicle operators between a height of two and one-half (2-1/2) and ten (10) feet above the center line grades of the intersecting streets (or the existing grades on the side of the intersecting street, whichever is greater) and within a triangular area bounded by the rights-of-way lines for a distance of twenty (20) feet from the intersection and a straight line connecting said points twenty (20) feet from the intersection of the rights-of-way lines. 31.05 ACCESSORY STRUCTURES OR USES: Accessory structures(s) or use(s) shall comply with the following regulations: A. Accessory structures(s) or use(s) for Agriculture, Residential Estate, Single- Family, Zero Lot Line, and Townhouse Residential Districts may be placed in the required rear or side yard of any principle dwelling provided that the accessory structure(s) or use(s) are at least ten feet from the side and/or rear property line(s). No accessory structure or use shall be placed within the required front yard of any principle dwelling except where provided as a Conditional Use in certain zones. Accessory structure(s) or use(s) must be located on the same lot of record as the principle dwelling except as follows: 1. Accessory structure(s) or use(s) may be located on an adjoining lot of record (sharing a common lot line with the principle dwelling lot) within the same platted subdivision or neighborhood; or accessory structure(s) or use(s) may be located on an adjacent lot of record if both lots of record are not part of a platted subdivision or neighborhood; and 2. Yards shall be determined based on the position of the principle dwelling and street; and 3. Safeguards must be in place so that ownership cannot be separated from the adjacent lot(s) unless the accessory structure is removed. B. Accessory structure(s) or use(s) for Multi-Family Residential, Mobile Home Park Residential, Mixed-Use, Commercial, and Industrial districts shall be located a minimum of ten feet from any property line and shall be incidental to a primary structure or use. Yard requirements for accessory structure(s) or use(s) in these districts shall be subject to site plan approval. C. Accessory structure(s) shall not be utilized for human habitation without strict adherence to Section 31.06, which regulates secondary attached/detached dwelling units. D. Reference Section 40 regarding nonconforming regulations for accessory uses and/or accessory structures. 31.06 SECONDARY ATTACHED/DETACHED DWELLINGS: Secondary attached/detached dwellings may be permitted by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen as a Conditional Use in certain zones. In addition, secondary attached/detached dwellings shall comply with the following regulations: A. The principle single-family dwelling unit must be occupied by the owner and not a rented or leased dwelling unit as defined in Article II of this ordinance. If, at any time, the principle dwelling is not owner-occupied, then the secondary attached/detached structure shall not be occupied as a secondary dwelling unit. B. Secondary attached/detached dwellings shall not be rented, leased, or utilized except in accordance with the provisions related to the single-family residential zone within which it is located. C. Secondary detached dwellings shall only be permitted on lots with a one (1) acre minimum. D. Secondary attached dwellings shall only be permitted on lots with a one-half (1/2) acre minimum. E. The setback/minimum yard requirements for the secondary detached dwelling shall be the same as the principle dwelling. F. Secondary attached/detached dwellings shall not have utility service connections separate from the principle dwelling. G. Secondary attached/detached dwellings shall not have separate street address(s). H. Secondary attached/detached dwellings shall utilize the same driveway as the principle dwelling. I. Secondary attached/detached dwellings shall be architecturally compatible with the principle dwelling. J. Secondary attached/detached dwellings shall be limited to 30% of the total square footage of the heated/cooled space of the principle dwelling. K. Secondary attached/detached dwellings shall be limited to one per principle dwelling. L. Minimum spacing between secondary detached dwellings shall be 10 feet. 31.07 EXCEPTIONS TO HEIGHT REGULATIONS: The height regulations contained in the District Regulations of this Ordinance do not apply to appurtenances as defined in Section 21. However, any person proposing to erect such an appurtenance to exceed (5) feet above the district’s specified maximum building height shall apply for a conditional use permit in accordance with Section 600.09 of this Ordinance. 31.08 RAILROAD SETBACKS: A setback of one hundred (100) feet shall be required between all proposed residential main buildings and railroad tracks (i.e., measured from the metal track, not the railroad right-of-way line, to the nearest exterior limits of the proposed residential building). The side or rear yard setback required within the district where residential structures are permitted may be included within this 100-foot setback. Accessory buildings, such as garages or carports where detached from the main residential buildings or laundry rooms and recreational club houses (in apartment or condominium complexes) may be located within the 100-foot setback provided that the builder of such accessory structures complies with the required side or rear yard setback within the subject district.

Source: Official City of Ridgeland published zoning PDFURL: https://www.ridgelandms.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Official-Zoning-Ordinance-Codified-2026_0507-2.pdf#page=45Fetched: 11/14/2026