City Building Permits
Houston, MS - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Houston, Mississippi. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All properties within the incorporated City of Houston.
- Department
- City of Houston Building and Permits Department
- Address
- 120 East Madison Street, PO Box 548, Houston, MS 38851
- Phone
- 662-456-2554
Application Process
- Visit City Hall at 120 East Madison Street during business hours
- Complete building permit application
- Submit application with building plans and specifications
- Pay permit fee (calculated based on construction cost)
- Permit issued or denial/revision request provided
Typical processing time: Contact city office for processing timeline
General Requirements
Required for new construction, additions, renovations involving structural changes, and demolitions.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application
- Building plans
- Project specifications
- Permit validity
- Contact city for permit expiration requirements
- Building code
- Specific code editions not detailed online. Contact City of Houston Building Department for current adopted IBC/IRC version.
- Owner-builder
- Contact city for owner-builder requirements
- Contractor requirements
- Contractors must meet MSBOC licensing requirements if project exceeds state thresholds ($50,000+ for residential; $50,000+ for commercial).
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $5.00
- Permit fee formula
- $1.00 per $1,000 of construction cost, minimum $5.00
- Payment note
- Privilege License (business license) also required for business operation within city limits; contact city for fee amount
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the City of Houston Building and Permits Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Inspection hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: Specific inspection stages and timeline not published online.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Specific code editions not detailed online. Contact City of Houston Building Department for current adopted IBC/IRC version.
- Verify contractor license: MSBOC License Lookup
- City of Houston Permits and Licenses
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- License lookup guide: Mississippi Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Mississippi Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Mississippi hub: Mississippi Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the City of Houston Building and Permits Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Houston, MS?
- Required for new construction, additions, renovations involving structural changes, and demolitions.
- How much does a building permit cost in Houston, MS?
- The minimum permit fee is $5.00. Fees are calculated as: $1.00 per $1,000 of construction cost, minimum $5.00.
- How do I apply for a building permit in Houston, MS?
- 1. Visit City Hall at 120 East Madison Street during business hours 2. Complete building permit application 3. Submit application with building plans and specifications 4. Pay permit fee (calculated based on construction cost) 5. Permit issued or denial/revision request provided
- How long does it take to get a building permit in Houston, MS?
- Typical processing time is Contact city office for processing timeline.
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