Overview and City-Level Permission

• Are short-term rentals allowed in Wiggins, MS?
  • There is no city‑specific ordinance in the provided materials addressing short-term rentals. The current City of Wiggins Code of Ordinances (via the Municode link) is referenced but no section relating to STRs was found in the search results. In the absence of city-level prohibitions, property owners may operate STRs subject to applicable state and county regulations. You should verify that the property is legally permitted for the intended use (e.g., no HOA restrictions, deed covenants, or zoning prohibitions). If city rules do not specifically address STRs, operation must still comply with Mississippi lodging regulations and Stone County rules. (Source: Wiggins Code of Ordinances) [library.municode.com/ms/wiggins/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_APXALADECO]

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Wiggins, MS

• Step 1: Confirm zoning/land use eligibility
  • Ensure the property can legally be used as lodging/transient occupancy under zoning, HOA covenants, and deed restrictions. Confirm the number of guests, parking, and occupancy are compliant.
• Step 2: Register your business
  • Register a business name and structure (e.g., LLC) with the Mississippi Secretary of State if needed.
  • Obtain a general business privilege license from the City of Wiggins (contact City Hall to confirm requirements). Typically, this covers operating a business within city limits.
• Step 3: Tax setup and lodging compliance
  • Register for Mississippi sales tax and any applicable local lodging taxes through the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR).
  • Set up collection/remittance for lodging taxes for guest invoices; implement accounting/bookkeeping for tax filings.
• Step 4: Insurance and safety
  • Obtain liability insurance appropriate for transient lodging. Verify smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors (if applicable), fire extinguishers, safe egress, and local fire code compliance.
• Step 5: Registration on platforms and tax handling
  • If you use booking platforms, ensure you meet any platform registration or licensing requirements and handle tax collection/remittance.
• Step 6: Ongoing obligations
  • Keep records of bookings, guest logs, tax filings, and inspections. Comply with local health, building, and fire safety requirements.

Note: Mississippi enforces lodging operator responsibilities under state lodging laws; operators must obtain a Mississippi Sales Tax Account and comply with lodging tax requirements (including transient lodging tax). Since local occupancy tax specifics are not provided, investors should verify whether Wiggins or Stone County imposes an additional lodging/occupancy tax.

Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Based on the provided materials and standard Mississippi requirements in the absence of city-specific STR rules:

• City of Wiggins
  • General business privilege license (confirm scope and fee structure with City Hall).
• State of Mississippi (Department of Revenue)
  • Sales tax account registration.
  • Compliance with Mississippi lodging/transient lodging tax rules and lodging operator responsibilities.
• Stone County
  • Verify county-level lodging permits or zoning compliance letters if required. Check whether county issues any specific lodging-related permits for STRs.
• Health and safety
  • Proof of compliance with state and local fire and life safety standards (e.g., working smoke detectors, egress plans).
• Insurance
  • Liability insurance certificate(s).
• Operational records
  • Guest logs, booking records, tax filings, safety certifications, and routine maintenance logs.

Specific Regulations (City, County, and State)

• City of Wiggins (provided content)
  • No STR-specific ordinance was found in the referenced Wiggins Code. Investors must rely on state laws and county rules and ensure no HOA/covenant or zoning conflict.
• Stone County (provided content)
  • No county-specific short-term rental rules were found in the provided materials. Check directly with Stone County for any lodging permits or zoning conditions.
• State of Mississippi (general lodging obligations)
  • Short‑term rental operations must comply with Mississippi lodging laws and Department of Revenue requirements:
    • Registration for sales tax and lodging taxes.
    • Collection/remittance of applicable taxes on transient lodging.
    • Compliance with lodging operator requirements (recordkeeping, guest logs, and tax reporting as required by state law).
  • The Municode link is the best source to search for any future city-specific changes.

Contact Information

Use these primary contacts for licensing and tax compliance:

• City of Wiggins (general business licensing)
  • Phone: Contact City Hall to confirm the current number (no phone listed in the provided materials).
  • Email: Not listed in the provided materials.
  • Website: www.cityofwiggins.org (general municipal site; verify for any business licensing guidance).
• Stone County (verify lodging/zoning compliance)
  • Contact details not provided in the materials; check the county website/phone directory for planning, zoning, or health department contacts.
• Mississippi Department of Revenue (state lodging and sales taxes)
  • Phone: Contact DOR general line for sales/lodging tax assistance (number not provided).
  • Email: Not listed in the provided materials.
  • Website: www.dor.ms.gov (official tax portal with lodging tax instructions).

Important Notes and Cautions

• No local STR ordinance was found; compliance depends on state lodging laws and county rules. Always verify with the City and County for any new or unpublished rules.
• If the property is within a homeowners association or subject to deed restrictions, STR activity may be prohibited or limited; obtain written confirmation.
• Check whether any local occupancy or lodging taxes apply beyond the state transient lodging tax.
• Maintain thorough records and proactively communicate with local authorities to prevent enforcement issues.

Sources

• City of Wiggins Code of Ordinances (search reference for STRs; no STR sections found in provided results): library.municode.com/ms/wiggins/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_APXALADECO
• Note: The Committee of the Whole draft report on DC short-term rental regulation (Bill 22‑92) is included in the provided materials but pertains to Washington, DC; it is not applicable to Wiggins or Mississippi and should not be relied on for local compliance. It is provided only to demonstrate the absence of Wiggins-specific data in the results.