Rankin County adopts ordinance targeting long-term RV and temporary dwelling occupancy

The Rankin County Board of Supervisors voted March 16 to adopt a new ordinance aimed at curbing long-term occupancy of recreational vehicles and improvised temporary structures across the county. County staff said existing zoning rules provide lengthy notice and limited remedies, so the proposed ordinance is designed to speed enforcement and add penalties directed at violators rather than only property owners.

County attorney and staff outlined the measure to supervisors, saying it expands enforcement beyond RVs to include tents, lean-tos and structures cobbled from plywood or other materials and allows community development or law enforcement to submit affidavits that can move a case directly to justice court. "This particular ordinance is designed to be more streamlined directly to that behavior," staff said during the presentation and described standards and definitions that would assist prosecutors in determining violations.

Supporters of the ordinance argued it fills a gap where property owners may be absent or deceased and the county has no practical enforcement target under the zoning code. Several supervisors noted that the measure gives justice court more direct authority, and staff said the ordinance includes the possibility of incarceration for violators in the most serious cases.

Supervisor [name used in meeting] moved to adopt the ordinance; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote. The board will circulate the adopted text to frontline supervisors and community development staff for implementation guidance.

The ordinance will be enforced in unincorporated Rankin County. The board did not specify an implementation timeline in the meeting record; additional rulemaking or administrative procedures were not discussed on the record at this session.