County Building Permits
Pearl River County, MS - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Pearl River County, Mississippi. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All unincorporated areas of Pearl River County, including Carriere, Henleyfield, McNeill, Nicholson, and Caesar.
- Department
- Planning and Building Department, Building Division
- Address
- 100 S Main Street, Poplarville, MS 39470
- Phone
- 601-403-2202
Online Permit Portal
Platform: FormCenter • Account required: No • Submission: Online only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Determine property type and permit type needed (Building, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC/Mechanical, Mobile Home placement, Utility Building/Additions/Remodeling, Tiny House, or Detached Garage).
- Submit online via FormCenter or in person at 100 S Main Street, Poplarville.
- Provide applicant information, contractor license number (if contractor is used), property/parcel details, and a detailed description of work.
- Upload or submit supporting attachments (plans, surveys, plot plans as required by category).
- If property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), provide an elevation certificate from a licensed land surveyor before permit issuance.
- Pay applicable fees (contact office for fee information).
- Permit is reviewed and issued; post permit on job site.
- Schedule required inspections through the Building Division.
Typical processing time: Processing time varies by project type and completeness; contact the office for estimates.
General Requirements
Building permits are mandatory for all construction in unincorporated areas of Pearl River County. Pearl River County has opted in to mandatory building permitting under Mississippi Code § 17-2-1 et seq.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application
- Detailed description of work
- Property/parcel information
- Contractor license number (if contractor is used)
- Plans, surveys, or plot plans (as required by permit category)
- Elevation certificate (for properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas)
- Permit validity
- Permit validity period not explicitly stated; contact office for details.
- Building code
- 2018 International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), and International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted by county ordinance.
- Owner-builder
- Owner-builders are permitted; consult local ordinance for any limitations.
- Contractor requirements
- Contractors performing work must hold appropriate state licensure under MSBOC requirements and comply with Pearl River County's Contractor Licensing Ordinance (2006).
Fees
- Payment note
- Fees must be obtained by contacting the Building Division directly at 601-403-2202 (Poplarville) or 601-749-7731 (Picayune satellite). No fee schedule is published online.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Farm structures (barns, sheds, poultry houses, and other non-residential farm structures) are exempt from building code requirements under Miss. Code § 17-2-7.
Important: Farm structure exemption from building code requirements does not override floodplain management ordinances. All structures in designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) must comply with NFIP-required floodplain standards, including farm structures.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Poplarville office: 601-403-2202 (phone)
- Picayune satellite: 601-749-7731 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Contact Building Division for inspection scheduling requirements.
- Inspection hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (closed daily 12:00 PM–1:00 PM)
- Time windows
- Inspection windows vary by inspection type; contact the office for details.
Typical inspection sequence: Typical residential inspection sequence: Foundation/footing (before pour), Framing/rough-in, Mechanical/electrical/plumbing rough-in, Insulation (if applicable), Final inspection and certificate of occupancy.
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2018 International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), and International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted by county ordinance.
- Verify contractor license: Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC)
- Flood Zone Viewer (MDEQ)
- MSDH On-Site Wastewater Program
- Pearl River County GIS Maps
- 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 Planning and Building Department, Building Division before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearl River County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Pearl River County, MS?
- Building permits are mandatory for all construction in unincorporated areas of Pearl River County. Pearl River County has opted in to mandatory building permitting under Mississippi Code § 17-2-1 et seq.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Pearl River County, MS?
- 1. Determine property type and permit type needed (Building, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC/Mechanical, Mobile Home placement, Utility Building/Additions/Remodeling, Tiny House, or Detached Garage). 2. Submit online via FormCenter or in person at 100 S Main Street, Poplarville. 3. Provide applicant information, contractor license number (if contractor is used), property/parcel details, and a detailed description of work. 4. Upload or submit supporting attachments (plans, surveys, plot plans as required by category). 5. If property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), provide an elevation certificate from a licensed land surveyor before permit issuance. 6. Pay applicable fees (contact office for fee information). 7. Permit is reviewed and issued; post permit on job site. 8. Schedule required inspections through the Building Division.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Pearl River County, MS?
- Typical processing time is Processing time varies by project type and completeness; contact the office for estimates..
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Pearl River County, MS?
- The following work is generally exempt: Farm structures (barns, sheds, poultry houses, and other non-residential farm structures) are exempt from building code requirements under Miss. Code § 17-2-7.. Note: Farm structure exemption from building code requirements does not override floodplain management ordinances. All structures in designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) must comply with NFIP-required floodplain standards, including farm structures.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Pearl River County, MS?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Poplarville office: 601-403-2202, Picayune satellite: 601-749-7731. Contact Building Division for inspection scheduling requirements..
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