Hattiesburg building department

Permits, inspections, planning, zoning, code enforcement, and the Action Center all sit in Hattiesburg’s Department of Urban Development, on the first and second floors of City Hall at 200 Forrest Street. The Building Division handles permit questions, fee quotes, and inspection scheduling at (601) 554-1003. Applications for minor routine repairs can be made online. All other permit applications are made in person at the Land Development Division.

When a permit is required

Hattiesburg generally requires a permit to build a new building or to repair or alter an existing one. Some routine repairs are exempt; the city asks applicants to call the Building Division when unsure rather than guess.

Adopted codes

Discipline	Code
Zoning	City of Hattiesburg Land Development Code (with the Midtown Form-Based Code for that district)
Building	2018 International Building Code
Residential	2018 International Residential Code
Electrical	2017 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code
Mechanical	2018 International Mechanical Code
Plumbing	2018 International Plumbing Code
Fuel gas	2018 International Fuel Gas Code

Plans and submittals

Most applications need construction documents. Plans should be drawn to scale by a registered architect or design professional, with the designer’s name, address, and phone number on every sheet. For commercial buildings of 5,000 square feet or more in total area, a Mississippi-registered architect or qualified design professional must prepare the plans, regardless of the project’s size. Plan sets typically include:

• A site (plot) plan for new construction and additions, showing lot lines, existing and new footprints, rights-of-way, streets, easements, a north arrow, a vicinity map, and utilities
• A floor plan with existing and proposed construction so egress can be checked
• Foundation plan and details
• Electrical, HVAC, and plumbing plans

Extensive grading or site preparation may require a separate grading plan and a Land Disturbance Permit.

Commercial, industrial, and multifamily projects

Before a commercial building permit is issued, the applicant must hold a pre-application meeting and site plan review with the Planning Division ((601) 545-4599). Most commercial projects also need Site Plan Review Committee approval in addition to building plan review.

Fees

For a new single-family residence, the city lists a $50 plan review fee and a $500 permit and inspections fee. Other projects are charged by total project cost under the city’s Permit Fee Ordinance. Building permit fees do not include plan review or public-hearing application fees.

Inspections

Work must be inspected at every stage before it is covered, and inspection requests need at least 24 hours’ notice by phone at (601) 554-1003. Typical inspections for a new house:

Trade	Inspections
Building	Footing, foundation, framing, final
Electrical	Temporary pole, rough-in, building service, final
Mechanical	Rough-in, final
Plumbing	Under-slab, stack-out, sewer tap/water connection, final

Remodels may not need every stage, and some projects need additional inspections.

Owner-builders and contractor licensing

Homeowners may act as their own contractor on most single-family, owner-occupied homes, except for electrical and gas piping work. The city warns that owner-builders take on all site liability and may be subject to the Mississippi Home Warranty Act, which can require warranting the home for up to seven years after a sale.

Contractors and subcontractors working in Hattiesburg need both a city license and a Mississippi State Board of Contractors license. State licensing applies to new homes over $50,000, residential remodeling or roofing over $10,000, and commercial work over $50,000. Some licensed subcontractors transferring from another Mississippi city or county may qualify without the state license. A city license application includes:

• A Mississippi Certificate of Responsibility for each applicable classification
• A liability insurance certificate naming the City of Hattiesburg as certificate holder (the required amount varies by classification)
• A Hattiesburg privilege tax license application, or a privilege license from another Mississippi city or county
• A color copy of a photo driver’s license and a workers’ compensation certificate
• Details of all projects completed in the last 12 months
• A signed affidavit from a licensed contractor attesting to five years of experience in the trade

The Contractor Review Board reviews applications on the third Wednesday of each month.

Historic districts

The Historic Conservation Commission reviews exterior work in five districts: Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood, North Main Street, The Oaks, Newman-Buschman Railroad, and Parkhaven. A Certificate of Appropriateness is needed for window or door changes, additions or new buildings, tree removal, fence, walkway, or driveway changes, roof material or style changes, and other major exterior alterations. Interior remodeling, repainting previously painted surfaces, and minor landscaping do not need one, and roof repairs can be handled with a Letter of Compliance. The commission meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Applications are due by noon on the Friday 12 days before the meeting, after a required pre-application meeting with the Historic Preservation Planner.

Floodplain rules

Any development in the floodplain needs a permit, including grading, paving, excavating, and other site work as well as buildings. Hattiesburg uses the September 2021 FEMA flood map and has adopted higher standards than the federal minimum. It also applies a cumulative substantial-improvement rule: if improvements total 50% of a structure’s market value within 10 years, the whole building must meet current flood regulations. A structure damaged to 50% of its pre-damage value must be elevated above the base flood elevation. The city participates in the NFIP Community Rating System.

Other Urban Development contacts

Office	Phone
Urban Development main office	(601) 545-4609
Planning Division	(601) 545-4599
Code Enforcement	(601) 554-1027
Action Line (service requests)	(601) 545-4500