Tree Preservation Incentives
Biloxi Land Development Ordinance § 23-6-4(G)
in effect(G) - Tree Preservation Incentives
(1) Tree Preservation Credits
To encourage the preservation of as many trees as practical on a development site, credit towards the minimum landscaping requirements shall be applied to all existing trees retained on a site that are not protected trees. Credits are offered only for trees that are not required to be retained by other sections of this Ordinance. Credits shall be designated on the landscape plan for the development, and shall be granted in accordance with the following standards:
a. A credit for trees that are not protected trees shall be credited and applied towards the vehicular use landscaping standards in Section 23-6-3(D) and the perimeter buffer standards in Section 23-6-3(E) when the trees that are saved are:
1. Deciduous or evergreen canopy trees of four inches in caliper or greater, measured at DBH (54 inches) above ground level; or
2. Deciduous or evergreen understory or ornamental trees of three inches in caliper or greater, measured at DBH (54 inches) above ground level.
b. In no case shall credits substitute for more than 75 percent of the required site or vehicular use area landscaping material.
(2) Reduction in the Minimum Number of Required Parking Spaces
Up to a ten percent reduction in the number of off-street parking spaces required on a development site shall be allowed if the reduction in the amount of required pavement will preserve the root zones of existing healthy trees with a DBH of eight inches or greater. The amount of reduction can be determined only after taking into consideration any unique site conditions and the impact of the reduction on parking needs for the use, and must be agreed upon by both the applicant and the Director of Community Development. Alternative paving materials (see Section 23-6-2(C)(4), Alternative Materials) may be allowed by the Director of Community Development in cases where required parking areas encroach upon root zones.
(Ord. No. 2475, 2-1-2022; Ord. No. 2606, 7-28-2026)
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_4TRPR_GTRPRINFetched: 11/2/2026