Jackson building department

Building permits in Mississippi’s capital come from the Building Permits Division of the Office of Code Services, part of the city’s Department of Planning and Development at City Hall, 219 S. President Street. Code Services has three divisions: Building Permits (structural and life-safety review), Community Improvement (code compliance), and Rental Registration. City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the permit and license line is (601) 960-0794.

What the Building Permits Division handles

The division accepts and reviews permit applications and plans, issues permits and certificates of occupancy, and performs inspections. It issues construction, demolition, and sign permits, and also investigates citizen complaints and reviews requests for new or brighter street lights.

When Jackson requires a permit

A permit is needed whenever an owner or the owner’s agent (usually a contractor) proposes to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to install or alter:

• Electrical, plumbing, or gas systems
• Heating and air-conditioning equipment
• Fire sprinkler and extinguishing systems
• Elevators
• Incinerators, furnaces, and boilers

Separate permits are also required for fences, tents, satellite dishes, and portable storage buildings. For houses, the city’s residential guidance names building, roofing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and accessory-structure permits (garages, decks, sheds) as the common types.

Applying through OpenGov

Jackson takes permit and license applications online through its OpenGov portal (jacksonms.portal.opengov.com). Building permit applications are under the building permit category in the portal, and historic preservation applications are filed there too. The Hinds County land roll lookup, linked from the city’s permit pages, is a quick way to confirm parcel ownership and details before applying.

Adopted codes

The city’s building permit page lists these codes, most with local amendments:

Code	Edition
International Building Code	2018, amended
International Residential Code	2018, amended
International Existing Building Code	2018
International Mechanical, Plumbing, and Fuel Gas Codes	2018, amended
International Fire Code	2018, amended
International Property Maintenance Code	2018, amended
National Electrical Code	2017

Jackson remains on the 2018 I-Code cycle, which is older than some other Mississippi cities. Check the amended sections in Chapter 26 of the Code of Ordinances before relying on model-code language.

Site plan review

New development and redevelopment projects go through site plan review with the Office of City Planning before building permits. The site plan has to show property boundaries, building locations, parking and access, landscaping, drainage, utilities, and signage. Staff check it against zoning and city standards, route it to other departments as needed, and may send back revision comments. The city says most reviews take 30 to 45 days, depending on project size. Use Permits (for uses allowed only with conditions) and variances (relief from rules like setbacks or height limits) are separate zoning approvals.

Historic districts

Jackson has five local historic districts: Farish Street, Medgar Evers Neighborhood, Morris, Belhaven Heights, and Belhaven. The city has also designated fourteen individual historic sites. Exterior work beyond routine maintenance in these areas needs Historic Preservation Commission review, and a pre-application meeting with the Historic Preservation Planner is required first ((601) 960-1857).

Historic application	Fee
Compliance Agreement (routine maintenance approved at the pre-meeting)	$15
Certificate of Appropriateness	$40, plus $40 per additional 5,000 sq ft

Like-for-like roof, fascia, and small siding replacements may not need commission review, but staff decide that at the pre-application meeting. Legal notice runs at least 15 days before the public hearing. A denied applicant can reapply within six months or appeal to the City Council within ten days.

Rental registration

Jackson has relaunched its rental registration program. Owners of rental housing units must register and name a local agent who acts for the owner on property-maintenance matters, and registration results in a Rental Certificate.

Contractor licensing

Mississippi State Board of Contractors licenses are required for new residential construction over $50,000, residential remodeling, additions, or roofing over $10,000, and commercial work over $50,000.