Simpson County, MS — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Office of Community Development

Street address

111 West Pine Avenue, P.O. Box 367, Mendenhall, MS 39114

Phone

(601) 675-2366

communitydevelopment@co.simpson.ms.us

Coverage

All unincorporated portions of Simpson County. Incorporated municipalities (Mendenhall, Magee, D'Lo, Braxton, Mount Olive) administer their own permits independently.

Website

Department website

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Simpson County

All new residential and commercial buildings or remodeling projects in unincorporated Simpson County. Permits are also required for HVAC installers, electricians, and plumbers operating in the county. Manufactured/mobile homes placed in unincorporated areas require a separate factory-built home permit.

Note: No specific exemptions for owner-builders, agricultural buildings, or small accessory structures are documented in publicly available materials as of March 2026; confirm with office.

Required documents

Completed permit application
911 address printout from county 911 department
Solid Waste Management account number
MSDH Soil and Site Evaluation form (if septic system required)
Water Service Application (if applicable)
Property deed or legal description
Three complete sets of plans (site plan, foundation, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, elevations)
MSBOC contractor license (for residential projects over $50,000 or remodeling over $10,000; for commercial projects over $50,000)
$5,000 performance bond per contractor
Proof of general liability insurance ($300,000 minimum per occurrence)

Building code: 2021 International Building Code (IBC) and 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), effective with the January 6, 2025 ordinance.
Permit validity: Contact Office of Community Development for specific permit validity and expiration details.
Owner-builder: Owner-builder rules not published; contact office directly at (601) 675-2366.
Contractor requirements: Contractors must register annually with the Office of Community Development and pay a $50 annual registration fee. Must provide a $5,000 performance bond and proof of general liability insurance ($300,000 minimum per occurrence). MSBOC license required for applicable thresholds.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Contact office directly at (601) 675-2366 for processing time estimates.

01

Obtain a 911 address printout from the Simpson County 911 Department.
02

Obtain a Solid Waste Management account number from the appropriate county office.
03

Obtain a Soil and Site Evaluation form from the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) for any project requiring an onsite wastewater system.
04

If applicable, obtain a Water Service Application from the relevant water provider.
05

Prepare a property deed or legal description.
06

Prepare three complete sets of detailed plans, including: site plan, foundation drawings, electrical layout, plumbing layout, mechanical/HVAC details, and elevation drawings.
07

Submit all documents plus the completed permit application in person at the Office of Community Development.
08

Contractors must register annually with the Office of Community Development and pay the $50 annual fee.
09

Receive county building inspector approval before occupancy.
10

A Mississippi State Fire Marshal inspection and decal is required before permanent power will be supplied to any new structure.

Typical processing time: Contact office directly at (601) 675-2366 for processing time estimates.

Source: Office of Community Development ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Simpson County building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Permit fee formula

Not published as of March 2026; contact Office of Community Development at (601) 675-2366 for current fee schedule.

Reinspection fee

$150 per occurrence when inspection cannot be completed due to contractor non-compliance

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

(601) 675-2366 (phone)

Scheduling deadline: Contact office directly.
Inspection hours: Contact Office of Community Development for hours.

Typical sequence: All new structures require inspection by the County Building Inspector prior to occupancy. A Mississippi State Fire Marshal inspection is required for all new structures before permanent power is supplied; a decal must be affixed to the home/structure. For electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical work: individual trade permits are required; inspections are conducted by the county building inspector or designee.

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Simpson County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Simpson County, MS? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Simpson County, MS? ▸

Building permit fees in unincorporated Simpson County, MS are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. Fees are calculated as: Not published as of March 2026; contact Office of Community Development at (601) 675-2366 for current fee schedule..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Simpson County, MS? ▸

To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Simpson County, MS, follow these steps: 1. Obtain a 911 address printout from the Simpson County 911 Department. 2. Obtain a Solid Waste Management account number from the appropriate county office. 3. Obtain a Soil and Site Evaluation form from the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) for any project requiring an onsite wastewater system. 4. If applicable, obtain a Water Service Application from the relevant water provider. 5. Prepare a property deed or legal description. 6. Prepare three complete sets of detailed plans, including: site plan, foundation drawings, electrical layout, plumbing layout, mechanical/HVAC details, and elevation drawings. 7. Submit all documents plus the completed permit application in person at the Office of Community Development. 8. Contractors must register annually with the Office of Community Development and pay the $50 annual fee. 9. Receive county building inspector approval before occupancy. 10. A Mississippi State Fire Marshal inspection and decal is required before permanent power will be supplied to any new structure.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Simpson County, MS? ▸

Building permit processing times in unincorporated Simpson County, MS typically run Contact office directly at (601) 675-2366 for processing time estimates.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Simpson County, MS? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Simpson County, MS via: (601) 675-2366. Contact office directly..

last verified April 2026 source Office of Community Development ↗ entry id permits/mississippi/simpson/unincorporated

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Office of Community Development before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Unincorporated Simpson County