Last Updated 08/24/2026
EXCERPT- Storm Water Quality Management Ordinance
SECTION 3 AUTHORITY AND RIGHT OF ENTRY
3.1 Hinds County staff shall have right-of-entry on or upon the property of any person subject to this ordinance and any permit/document issued hereunder. The County staff shall be provided ready access to all parts of the premises for the purposes of inspection, monitoring, sampling, inventory, records examination and copying, and the performance of any other duties necessary to determine compliance with this ordinance.
3.5 The Director of the Hinds County Department of Public Works or his designee may inspect the facilities of any user in order to ensure compliance with this ordinance. Such inspection shall be made with the consent of the owner, manager, or signatory official. If such consent is refused, denied or not promptly addressed, the Designated County staff may seek issuance of an administrative search warrant.
SECTION 4 STORMWATER PERMIT PROCEDURE
4.1 Two permits are required for construction and site disturbance regulated by this ordinance:
A. Perimeter /Outfall Protection Permit
B. Storm Water Quality Management Permit
4.2 Both permits are applied for simultaneously before site disturbance. The Storm Water Quality Management Permit is not issued until compliance with the perimeter/outfall protection permit.
SECTIONS 6 STORMWATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PERMIT
6.6 LANDSCAPING PLAN
A. Landscaping Plan is required for all commercial, industrial and multifamily residential developments.
B. General Regulations
2. Any alteration to existing building(s), development(s), or construction that increases the amount of gross floor area of the structure or building shall be required to come into compliance with landscaping requirements as follows: a. Any alteration to existing building(s), development(s), or construction that increases the amount of gross floor area of the structure or building shall require a minimum of ten (10) points of landscaping be installed, plus two (2) points of landscaping for every additional parking space provided for the building addition.
d. If the site has insufficient green space to provide required landscaping, options are as follows:
1) Optional Planting Areas: Landscaping may be installed in aboveground planters (built-in or moveable), decorative pots, or hanging baskets provided all irrigation requirements are met.
2) Substitution of Landscaping for Parking Spaces: Up to 10% of the number of parking spaces required for a building addition may be used for landscaping, however point values increase from two (2) to ten (10) points for each substituted parking space.
e. The property owner is responsible, in perpetuity, for maintaining all landscaping by keeping lawns mowed, all plants properly groomed and maintained as disease-free, and planting beds groomed, except in naturally occurring dense growths of underbrush or shrubs
D. Landscape Requirements:
1. Planting Requirements/Point System:
a. The Owner may use any combination of plantings to obtain the necessary number of points required for the development. Different lots and landscapes will lend themselves to different types of plantings. These regulations attempt to encourage creativity and diversity in landscaping.
b. Landscaping within any Developed Area must equal or exceed a minimum number of points in order to obtain approval. Site Points are determined by the size of the Developed Area, and Parking Lot Points are determined by the number of parking spaces. c. Number of Points Required for the Developed Area:
| Size of Developed Area | Number of Points Required |
| 1-5,000 sq. ft. | Site Points = 25
Parking Lot Points = Two (2) points per required parking space and one (1) point for each proposed additional parking space |
| More than 5,000 sq. ft. | Site Points = 25, plus one (1) point for each additional 200 sq. ft. of developed area |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What stormwater regulations apply to properties in Hinds County?
Hinds County operates under the Storm Water Quality Management Ordinance, which is designed to comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) through the county’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. The county administers and enforces stormwater discharge permits to reduce pollutants and protect water quality. Property owners subject to the ordinance are required to maintain compliance on an ongoing basis, not just at the time of construction.
Can Hinds County inspect my property for stormwater compliance?
Yes. Under Section 3 of the ordinance, Hinds County staff have right-of-entry to any property subject to the ordinance for inspection, monitoring, sampling, records review and other compliance-related duties. The Director of Public Works, or a designee, typically conducts these inspections with the property owner’s consent. If consent is refused or not promptly granted, the county can pursue an administrative search warrant to gain access.
What permits do I need before starting construction in Hinds County?
Two permits are required for construction and site disturbance: a Perimeter/Outfall Protection Permit and a Storm Water Quality Management Permit. Both are applied for at the same time, but the county will not issue the Storm Water Quality Management Permit until the site is in compliance with perimeter and outfall protection requirements. Building this sequence into your project timeline early can prevent delays before ground gets broken.
Does my property need a landscaping plan under Hinds County's stormwater ordinance?
If your property is commercial, industrial or multifamily residential, the answer is generally yes. Section 6.6 of the ordinance requires a landscaping plan for these property types, and it applies not just to new construction but to alterations that increase a building’s gross floor area. Expanding a building typically triggers a minimum landscaping requirement, plus additional points for each new parking space added.
How does Hinds County's landscaping point system work?
Hinds County uses a point-based system to determine how much landscaping a developed site needs. For developed areas up to 5,000 square feet, sites must earn 25 site points, plus points tied to the number of required and proposed parking spaces. Larger sites need 25 site points plus one additional point for every 200 square feet of developed area beyond that threshold. Property owners have flexibility in how they earn points, since the ordinance allows a mix of plantings to meet the total.
What if my site doesn't have enough green space for the required landscaping?
Hinds County builds in some flexibility here. Property owners can install landscaping in aboveground planters, decorative pots or hanging baskets if irrigation requirements are met. Owners can also substitute a limited number of parking spaces for landscaping, though this comes at a cost: substituted spaces require five times the point value of a standard parking space allocation.
Who is responsible for maintaining landscaping once it's installed?
The property owner. The ordinance places ongoing maintenance responsibility on the owner in perpetuity, which includes keeping lawns mowed, plants disease-free and groomed, and planting beds maintained. Naturally occurring dense underbrush or shrub growth is exempt from this standard, but installed landscaping is expected to be actively maintained for the life of the property.
Where can I find the full text of Hinds County's stormwater ordinance?
The complete ordinance is available directly from AQUALIS, along with a link to the Hinds County stormwater management program. Mississippi’s statewide requirements, including the Stormwater General Permit and the Mississippi Handbook for Construction Sites and Urban Areas, are also worth reviewing for context beyond the county level
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Regulations change frequently — AQUALIS makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this content, and any reliance on it is at your own risk. Consult a qualified professional or your local regulatory authority to confirm requirements applicable to your specific property.
