MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2023 Regular Session

To: Ports and Marine Resources

By: Senator(s) Moran

Senate Bill 2549

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-27-6, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM THE DEFINITION OF "MARINA" WITH FEDERAL REGULATORY AGENCIES AND REQUIRE APPLICATION OF THE USE PLAN; TO CREATE A "PRIVATE SINGLE-FAMILY ONLY" DEFINITION; TO DELETE "PUBLIC MARINA" AND "YACHT CLUB MARINA" AS DEFINITIONS; TO GRANDFATHER MARINAS AND PIERS PERMITTED PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 49-27-6, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     49-27-6.  For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:

          (a)  "Marina" means a facility providing more than * * * twelve (12) ten (10) mooring spaces for boats that may provide supplies and services including electricity, fresh water, fuel or sewage collection facilities.  Marinas include recreational and commercial marinas, and they require a "C" for commercial or "I" for industrial use designation.

 * * *  (b)  "Public marina" means a marina that offers mooring spaces and docking facilities for lease by the general public.  Public marinas include recreational and commercial marinas, and they require a "C" for commercial or "I" for industrial use designation.

          ( * * *cb)  "Private * * * single‑family or multi-family pier" means a pier that is part of an adjacent single-family home subdivision or multi-family condominium or apartment development that provides noncommercial mooring spaces and docking facilities restricted for use by only home owners or tenants of the adjacent development.  Private * * * single‑family and multi-family piers with * * * twelve (12) ten (10) or fewer mooring spaces are compatible with a "G" for general use designation.  Private * * * single‑family and multi-family piers with more than * * * twelve (12) ten (10) mooring spaces require a "C" for commercial use designation. * * *  Commercial vessels may not be moored in a multi‑family pier.

(c)  "Private single-family pier" means a pier that is adjacent to a single-family home that provides recreational mooring spaces and docking facilities restricted for use by only the homeowner or tenant of the adjacent single-family home.  Private single-family piers are compatible with a "G" for general use designation.

 * * *  (d)  "Yacht club marina" means a marina that restricts mooring spaces and docking facilities to members only of a private association organization.  Yacht clubs require a "C" for commercial or "I" for industrial use designation.

(2)  All marinas and piers permitted prior to the effective date of this act are grandfathered under the law prior to the effective date of this act and shall remain in effect.

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

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