Pass Christian, Mississippi

Pass Christian regulates short-term rentals under an ordinance that took effect November 3, 2023. Operating an STR requires a Short-Term Rental License from the Community Development Department plus a separate $20.00 city privilege or business license. The annual STR fee is $400.00, running on a September 30 to September 30 cycle, with late fees for delinquency and possible revocation if the license is not kept active.

There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no stated cap on nights per year. Instead, the city controls saturation through density limits: a citywide maximum of 150 short-term rentals in residential zones, and no more than 20% of homes in any single neighborhood may operate as STRs. Commercial and downtown zones intentionally carry no overall cap to encourage growth there. Permit transfers are prohibited in residential zones where the density cap is already exceeded, and applicants must consult the city planner about current availability before applying for a new license.

Operators must collect Mississippi’s 7.0% state sales and hotel tax, plus any additional Harrison County or Gulf Coast convention and tourism levies, which should be confirmed directly with the Mississippi Department of Revenue.

Enforcement is rated moderate: the city maintains an STR database, requires a designated local contact who must respond within about one hour to non-emergency complaints, and routes safety complaints to the Police Department.