MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2023 Regular Session

To: Municipalities

By: Representative Bennett

House Bill 1256

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 17-1-27, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD ADMINISTRATIVE OR CIVIL PENALTIES AS AN OPTION THAT LOCAL GOVERNING AUTHORITIES MAY PURSUE WHEN A LOCAL ZONING ORDINANCE IS VIOLATED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 17-1-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     17-1-27.  Any person, firm or corporation who shall knowingly and * * *wilfully willfully violate the terms, conditions or provisions of a zoning ordinance adopted under the authority of Sections 17-1-1 through 17-1-25, inclusive, for violation of which no other administrative, civil or criminal penalty is prescribed by state or local law, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction therefor shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), and in case of continuing violations without reasonable effort on the part of the defendant to correct same, each day the violation continues thereafter shall be a separate offense.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.