County Building Permits
Tunica County, MS - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Tunica County, Mississippi. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All unincorporated areas of Tunica County, including Tunica Resorts casino corridor, Dundee census-designated place, and all other unincorporated communities.
- Department
- Tunica County Planning Commission
- Address
- 1061 South Court Street, Tunica, MS 38676
- Phone
- (662) 363-2515
Online Permit Portal
Platform: RecDesk • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Application Process
- Register an account at tunicacountypc.recdesk.com (or visit Planning Commission office in person).
- Select the appropriate permit type: residential building, commercial building, plumbing, zoning, or county license.
- Complete the permit application form with full project details.
- Submit required documentation: site plan and plot plan showing setbacks and property lines, construction plans and specifications, contractor license information (MSBOC license required for projects $50K+), proof of property ownership or authorization to build.
- Pay applicable permit fees (fee schedule available at the Planning Commission office).
- Planning Commission staff review plans for code compliance, zoning conformance, and completeness.
- Permit issued upon approval; permit must be posted on-site during construction.
- Schedule required inspections through the portal or by contacting the office.
- Obtain Certificate of Occupancy upon passing final inspection.
Typical processing time: Processing time not publicly specified; contact Planning Commission for estimates.
General Requirements
A building permit is required for new residential or commercial construction, additions or expansions to existing structures, electrical installations or upgrades, plumbing system installations, mechanical (HVAC) installations, gas system installations, mobile home or manufactured housing placement or replacement, demolition of structures, and land disturbance (1+ acre subject to MDEQ stormwater requirements).
Required Documents
- Completed permit application
- Site plan and plot plan showing setbacks and property lines
- Construction plans and specifications
- Contractor license information (MSBOC license required for projects $50K+)
- Proof of property ownership or authorization to build
- Permit validity
- Not publicly specified; contact Planning Commission.
- Building code
- Mississippi Code Title 17, Chapter 2 framework; county adopted from 2018 or 2021 IBC/IRC (verify current edition with Planning Commission). State reference standard is 2021 IBC/IRC with state-specific amendments.
- Owner-builder
- Contact Planning Commission for owner-builder requirements.
- Contractor requirements
- MSBOC (Mississippi State Board of Contractors) license required for projects $50K+.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Typically based on construction value or square footage for residential and commercial building permits. Separate fees for plumbing, zoning/variance applications, and county license.
- Payment note
- To obtain current fees: Contact the Tunica County Planning Commission at (662) 363-2515 or access the RecDesk portal at tunicacountypc.recdesk.com after registering an account.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Purely cosmetic work (painting, flooring, cabinet replacement, minor repairs not involving structural, electrical, or plumbing systems)
- Certain farm structures qualifying under Mississippi Code § 17-2-7 agricultural exemption (contact Planning Commission to confirm applicability)
- Manufactured/mobile homes are regulated separately from state IBC/IRC framework and are exempt from State Uniform Construction Code per § 17-2-4 (contact Planning Commission for mobile home placement permit requirements)
Important: Floodplain management requirements remain applicable regardless of building code exemptions. Structures in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas must comply with National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) floodplain management ordinances.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- RecDesk portal (online)
- (662) 363-2515 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Not publicly specified; contact Planning Commission.
- Inspection hours
- Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Time windows
- Not publicly specified; contact Planning Commission.
Typical inspection sequence: Typical inspection stages: foundation/footing (before concrete placement), framing (after rough framing, before insulation), electrical rough-in (before walls closed), plumbing rough-in (before walls closed), mechanical/HVAC (before concealment), insulation (if applicable), final inspection (confirms overall code compliance). Commercial and large-scale projects (including casino resort structures) may require additional inspections and may be subject to Mississippi State Fire Marshal plan review.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Mississippi Code Title 17, Chapter 2 framework; county adopted from 2018 or 2021 IBC/IRC (verify current edition with Planning Commission). State reference standard is 2021 IBC/IRC with state-specific amendments.
- Verify contractor license: Mississippi State Board of Contractors License Lookup
- FEMA Flood Maps
- MDEQ Interactive Flood Map Portal
- 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 Tunica County Planning Commission before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tunica County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Tunica County, MS?
- A building permit is required for new residential or commercial construction, additions or expansions to existing structures, electrical installations or upgrades, plumbing system installations, mechanical (HVAC) installations, gas system installations, mobile home or manufactured housing placement or replacement, demolition of structures, and land disturbance (1+ acre subject to MDEQ stormwater requirements).
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Tunica County, MS?
- Fees are calculated as: Typically based on construction value or square footage for residential and commercial building permits. Separate fees for plumbing, zoning/variance applications, and county license..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Tunica County, MS?
- 1. Register an account at tunicacountypc.recdesk.com (or visit Planning Commission office in person). 2. Select the appropriate permit type: residential building, commercial building, plumbing, zoning, or county license. 3. Complete the permit application form with full project details. 4. Submit required documentation: site plan and plot plan showing setbacks and property lines, construction plans and specifications, contractor license information (MSBOC license required for projects $50K+), proof of property ownership or authorization to build. 5. Pay applicable permit fees (fee schedule available at the Planning Commission office). 6. Planning Commission staff review plans for code compliance, zoning conformance, and completeness. 7. Permit issued upon approval; permit must be posted on-site during construction. 8. Schedule required inspections through the portal or by contacting the office. 9. Obtain Certificate of Occupancy upon passing final inspection.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Tunica County, MS?
- Typical processing time is Processing time not publicly specified; contact Planning Commission for estimates..
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Tunica County, MS?
- The following work is generally exempt: Purely cosmetic work (painting, flooring, cabinet replacement, minor repairs not involving structural, electrical, or plumbing systems); Certain farm structures qualifying under Mississippi Code § 17-2-7 agricultural exemption (contact Planning Commission to confirm applicability); Manufactured/mobile homes are regulated separately from state IBC/IRC framework and are exempt from State Uniform Construction Code per § 17-2-4 (contact Planning Commission for mobile home placement permit requirements). Note: Floodplain management requirements remain applicable regardless of building code exemptions. Structures in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas must comply with National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) floodplain management ordinances.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Tunica County, MS?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: RecDesk portal, (662) 363-2515. Not publicly specified; contact Planning Commission..
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