Pedestrian Access and Circulation
Biloxi Land Development Ordinance § 23-6-1(G)
in effect(G) - Pedestrian Access and Circulation
(1) Required Pedestrian Access
a. General
All new development except single-family detached dwellings, two-family dwellings, three- to four-family dwellings, and manufactured homes shall be served by a system of walkways (including sidewalks, pedestrian paths, and trails) that permits safe, convenient, efficient, and orderly movement of pedestrians among the following origin and destination points within the development, as well as between the internal walkway system and the existing or planned external pedestrian circulation system and any adjoining public parks, greenways, schools, community centers, and shopping areas:
1. The primary entrance(s) of buildings;
2. Off-street parking bays serving the buildings;
3. Any designated or planned bus stops and shelters (on-site or on an adjacent road); and
4. Recreation facilities and other common use area and amenities.
b. Sidewalks Required
1. All new development shall install sidewalks on both sides of all roadways (including loop streets, cul-de-sacs, private streets, and road bridges) within the development and along the entire frontage of the development site with an existing public street (unless an existing sidewalk meeting city standards is already in place).
2. Where the development site fronts an existing public street with insufficient right-of-way width to accommodate installation of a required sidewalk along the frontage, the developer may install a sidewalk on the development site, within a public easement running parallel and adjacent to the public street.
(2) Pedestrian Connectivity
a. Pedestrian Cut-Throughs
Pedestrian access easements at least eight feet wide shall be provided between the ends of cul-de-sacs and the nearest existing or proposed sidewalk, pedestrian path, or trail. Such easements shall also be provided through the center of blocks that exceed the maximum block length standards in Section 23-7-3(B), Blocks, where necessary to provide convenient pedestrian access within the development, as well as to adjacent transit stops or stations, community facilities, and shopping areas. (See Figure 23-6-1(G)(2)a, Pedestrian Cut-Through at End of Cul-de-Sac.)
[image omitted; see the official code]
Figure 23-6-1(G)(2)a: Pedestrian Cut-Through at End of Cul-de-Sac
b. Walkway Connections to/from Adjoining Development and Developable Land
1. The pedestrian access and circulation system for a development shall incorporate the continuation and connection of walkways and/or associated rights-of-way or easements extended (or "stubbed out") to the boundary of the development site from existing or approved adjoining developments, and shall provide for the extension or connection of proposed internal walkways and associated rights-of-way or easements to those boundaries of the development site that adjoin potentially developable or redevelopable land.
2. The Director of Community Development may waive or modify the requirements or standards for extension of a walkway from or to adjoining property on determining that such extension is impractical or undesirable because it would require crossing a significant physical barrier or environmentally sensitive area (e.g., railroads, watercourses, floodplains, wetlands).
c. Cross Access between Adjoining Development
All new multifamily, nonresidential, and mixed-use development, except within the Downtown (DT) District, shall comply with the following standards:
1. The internal pedestrian circulation system shall be designed to allow for pedestrian walkway cross-access between the development's buildings and parking areas and those on adjoining lots containing a multifamily, nonresidential, or mixed-use development, or to the boundary of adjoining vacant land zoned to allow multifamily, nonresidential, or mixed-use development.
2. The Director of Community Development may waive or modify the requirement for pedestrian cross-access on determining that such cross-access is impractical or undesirable due to the presence of topographic conditions, natural features, or safety factors.
3. Easements allowing cross-access to and from properties served by a pedestrian cross-access, along with agreements defining maintenance responsibilities of property owners, shall be recorded with the Office of the Chancery Clerk of Harrison County before issuance of a Certificate of Zoning Compliance for the development.
(3) General Walkway Layout and Design
a. General Walkway Standards
Required pedestrian walkways shall:
1. Be at least five feet wide, and meet any additional width requirements set forth elsewhere in this Ordinance;
2. Be distinguishable from traffic lanes they cross by painted markings, a change in pavement material or color, raised paving height, decorative bollards, and/or flashing caution signals;
3. Be emphasized with special design features—such as shade structures (e.g., arcades and porticos), pedestrian light features, bollards, seat walls or benches, drinking water fountains, and landscape planters—that establish them as areas where pedestrians are physically separated from the flow of vehicular traffic and/or are protected from the elements;
4. Have adequate lighting for security and safety;
5. Be centrally located on the subject property;
6. Be ADA accessible; and
7. Not include barriers that limit pedestrian access between the subject property and adjacent properties.
b. Pedestrian Walkways through Parking Areas and Parking Garages
1. All parking lots containing more than 50 parking spaces shall include clearly identified pedestrian routes from the parking stalls to the primary building entrance or to a sidewalk providing direct access to the primary building entrance. At a minimum, walkways shall be provided for every three driving aisles or at intervals not more than 150 feet apart, whichever is less.
2. Pedestrian walkways may not use vehicle entrance or exit driveways from the parking area to a public right-of-way.
3. Pedestrian walkways shall connect from the parking spaces to the primary entrance of the building served by the parking or to a sidewalk with direct access to the primary building entrance.
(See Figure 23-6-1(G)(3)b., Vehicle Use Area Configuration.)
[image omitted; see the official code]
Figure 23-6-1(G)(3)b: Vehicle Use Area Configuration
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_1ACCI_GPEACCIFetched: 11/2/2026