Bonuses for Additional Sustainable Development Features
Biloxi Land Development Ordinance § 23-6-12(C)
in effect(C) - Bonuses for Additional Sustainable Development Features
(1) Applicability
a. New development in the RM-, Business, and WF Districts that provide sustainable features in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be eligible for bonuses including:
1. An increase in maximum allowable gross residential density or maximum allowable nonresidential floor area by up to 20 percent;
2. An increase in the maximum allowable height to allow up to two additional stories;
3. A reduction in the total amount of required landscaping material for site landscaping and perimeter buffers by up to 20 percent; or
4. A modification to the off-street parking requirements resulting in a reduction in the minimum number of parking spaces requirement by 15 percent, or an increase to the maximum allowable number of spaces by 15 percent.
b. Development may include a sufficient number of sustainable features to take advantage of more than one type of bonus, but in no instance shall the amount of an incentive be increased or decreased (as appropriate) beyond the maximum listed in this subsection.
c. Features provided to satisfy a development's compliance with the requirement in Section 23-6-12(B), Sustainable Development Point Requirement, shall not be counted towards obtaining a bonus in accordance with this subsection.
(2) Conflict with Transitional Standards
Where bonuses in this section conflict with the transitional standards in Section 23-6-11, the transitional standards control.
(3) Procedure
a. Applicants seeking to use the sustainability incentives in the section shall include a written request to do so with the development application.
b. Review of any request for a bonus in accordance with this section, shall occur during review of an application for approval of a PD master plan (Section 23-2-4(C)), Site Plan (Section 23-2-4(E)) or Certificate of Zoning Compliance (Section 23-2-4(L)), as appropriate.
c. The bonus granted shall be based on the number of sustainable features provided, in accordance with Table 23-6-12(C)(3), Sustainability Bonuses, and Section 23-6-12(C)(4), Menu of Sustainable Design Features.
TABLE 23-6-12(C)(3): SUSTAINABILITY BONUSES co;normal;normal
TYPE OF BONUS 1 co;normal;normal | MINIMUM NUMBER OF SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES PROVIDED co;normal;normal
FROM SCHEDULE Aco;normal;normal | FROM SCHEDULE Bco;normal;normal
Increase in gross residential density or nonresidential floor area by up to 10 percent beyond district maximum | 1 | 3
Increase in maximum height to allow one additional story | 1 | 2
Reduction in the amount of landscaping material required for site landscaping and perimeter buffers by up to 10 percent | 1 | 3
Modification in the minimum or maximum number of off-street parking spaces by up to 5 percent | 1 | 2
Increase in gross residential density or nonresidential floor area by between 10 and 20 percent beyond district maximum | 2 | 4
Increase in maximum height to allow two additional stories | 2 | 4
Reduction in the amount of landscaping material required for site landscaping and perimeter buffers of 20 percent | 2 | 3
Modification to the minimum or maximum number of off-street parking spaces by between 5 and 15 percent | 2 | 2
NOTES: 1. In case of conflict between the type of bonus and the minimum required transitional standards, the standards in Section 23-6-11, Transitional Standards, control.
(4) Menu of Sustainable Design Features
One or more of the following sustainable design features may be offered by an applicant for proposed development in accordance with Table 23-6-12(C), Sustainability Bonuses.
TABLE 23-6-12(C)(4): MENU OF SUSTAINABLE FEATURES co;normal;normal
SCHEDULE A co;normal;normal | SCHEDULE B co;normal;normal
ENERGY
Generation of a minimum of 20 percent of the electricity needed by the development from alternative energy sources (solar, wind, geothermal, or biomass) within five years | Building design that can accommodate the installation and operation of solar photovoltaic panels or solar thermal heating devices
Proof of purchase of carbon offsets in an amount equivalent to 15 percent of construction costs within five years
RECYCLING/WASTE REDUCTION
Use of recycled materials for 50 percent of streets, off-street parking, sidewalks, and curbs, and as 25 percent of building materials | Provision of at least one enclosed recycling drop-off station per building that is suitable for storage and collection of recyclables generated on-site
SITE CONFIGURATION
Inclusion of underground parking or a parking structure | Provision of a community garden controlled by a property-owners association and with at least 500 square feet per dwelling unit
Provision for mixed-use structures with active retail or personal service uses on ground floors, and residential uses on upper floors | Use of paving materials in driveways and parking lots that have solar reflectance index (SRI) score of at least 29 (SRI is a measure of pavement's ability to reject solar heat)
Configuration of new buildings with one axis 1.5 times longer than the other, and the long axis oriented in an east-west configuration for solar access
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
Use of only native vegetation for required landscaping | Preservation of 15 percent of the site's existing tree canopy associated with trees 10" or greater in DBH
Use of Low Impact Development (LID) techniques instead of retention or detention ponds for stormwater management
Doubling of the minimum open space set-aside amount
Remediation of site contamination on a documented "brownfield" site (by means of a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment)
TRANSPORTATION
Provision of a network of multipurpose trails with at least one connection to a public greenway or sidewalk system for every acre of land | Inclusion of showering and dressing facilities in nonresidential development for employees using alternative forms of transportation
Provision of on-site transit facilities (e.g., designated park-and-ride parking spaces, bus shelters, water-taxi stops, or similar features)
BUILDING CONFIGURATION
Building design that attains a minimum LEED certification of silver | Building design that attains a minimum LEED certification of bronze
Building design where 25 percent of the residential units are consistent with Universal Design practices | Building design where 10 percent of the residential units are consistent with Universal Design practices
Inclusion of green roofs on at least 30 percent of the roof area within the development | Meet minimum Energy Star (or equivalent) criteria for at least 75 percent of the residential floor area
Inclusion of shade features (e.g., awnings, louvers, shutters, overhangs, etc.) to shade all windows and doors on the southern building façade
WATER CONSERVATION
Inclusion of a recycled or grey water system for landscaping irrigation | Use of xeriscape landscaping techniques with no turf or lawn
HAZARD RESILIENCY
Redevelopment of existing buildings that fail to comply with city flood prevention standards, so as to achieve full compliance with those standards
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_12SUDE_CBOADSUDEFEFetched: 11/2/2026