Building permits in Biloxi, Mississippi are issued by the city’s Department of Community Development for work in Biloxi city limits; its Planning Division and Building Division each review and sign off a permit. The department is at 676 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Biloxi (228-435-6280; Building Division 228-435-6270), open weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
This guide covers what requires a permit, how to apply on paper at the Community Development counter, permit fees, trade permits, contractor licensing, inspections, and Mississippi-specific review issues - so your project can move from submittal to approval with fewer correction cycles.
Confirm the authority having jurisdiction before filing. This guide is for projects in Biloxi city limits. Mississippi permits can split among city building departments, county departments, the State Fire Marshal, health departments, fire districts, floodplain administrators, public works, utilities, and special review authorities depending on scope and location.
Mississippi combines local permit enforcement with statewide code and fire-safety touchpoints. Mississippi permitting is driven by the local authority having jurisdiction, but the State Uniform Construction Code framework and State Fire Marshal requirements can still affect scope, plan review, and inspections. The Mississippi Insurance Department notes that, under Senate Bill 2378 of 2014, counties and municipalities must enact uniform building codes unless they opted out before 30 November 2014. That opt-out never applied to Biloxi: the cities in the five coastal counties have had to enforce wind and flood code requirements since 2006 (Mississippi Code §17-2-1(1)). Separately, the State Fire Marshal adopted the 2024 International Fire Code and International Building Code for its fire marshal scope as of July 1, 2024. Local jurisdictions may enforce their own adopted building, residential, fire, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, energy, floodplain, zoning, and land-development requirements, so every project should confirm the current local code edition and amendments before filing.
Biloxi projects frequently involve coastal floodplain and wind design, hospitality and casino-area work, residential repairs, historic review by the Architectural & Historical Review Committee, fire review, utilities and drainage.
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Get a free quote →What requires a building permit in Biloxi?
Under local Mississippi ordinances and adopted codes, a permit is required before most construction, alteration, demolition, repair, relocation, occupancy change, and trade work begins.
Permit required
- New residential and commercial construction, additions, remodels, and tenant improvements
- Structural changes, foundations, load-bearing work, decks, porches, stairs, garages, accessory buildings, and shell work
- Electrical service changes, panel work, generators, solar, EV chargers, new circuits, and most wiring
- Plumbing, water heaters, sewer and water connections, gas piping, backflow, and fixture relocations
- HVAC installations, furnace or AC replacements, ductwork, ventilation, and fuel-gas appliances
- Roofing, siding, windows, signs, pools, fences, demolition, grading, floodplain, stormwater, and right-of-way work where regulated
Typically exempt
- Painting, wallpaper, flooring, trim, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
- Minor repairs replacing existing materials in kind with no structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or fire-code change
- Small detached accessory structures below local thresholds when allowed by zoning and without utilities
- Portable equipment or temporary work that the local code specifically exempts
Exemptions are narrow and local. Always verify with the building inspector or permit counter before starting work.
Get the permit before work begins. Starting without approval can lead to stop-work orders, double fees, correction orders, delayed occupancy, and problems with resale, financing, or insurance.
Who handles permitting in Biloxi?
Biloxi Community Development oversees development in the city, including building projects, code enforcement, plan review, building permits, inspections, zoning, and related development functions. Residential applications go first to the Planning Division, which checks zoning, the flood zone and any historic review by the Architectural & Historical Review Committee; the Building Division then reviews and signs off. Commercial projects start at the Development Review Committee, then go to Planning, and the Building Division and the Biloxi Fire Department review the plans.
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Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Primary authority | City of Biloxi Department of Community Development (Planning Division and Building Division) |
| Office | 676 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39533 (mail: P.O. Box 508) · 228-435-6280 · Building 228-435-6270 · Planning 228-435-6266 · weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Apply | Paper residential or commercial building permit application from the city’s Forms / Permits page, with two full sets of 24x36 construction drawings and a site plan; no online permit portal; fees paid by check |
| State / local code basis | Local adopted building, residential, existing building, fire, energy, mechanical, fuel gas, plumbing, electrical, floodplain, zoning, and land-development requirements; the Biloxi Fire Department reviews commercial plans with the Building Division, and the State Fire Marshal must review plans for state-owned and state-funded buildings. Ask the Building Division (228-435-6270) which code editions are in force. |
| Common overlays | Zoning, coastal wind, floodplain, drainage, stormwater, fire, utilities, right-of-way, health department, state fire marshal, historic district, and public works review |
| Contractor credentials | MSBOC licensing by project value; the application asks for the contractor’s City of Biloxi licence number, and the city requires every subcontractor to be licensed by the state, even when a homeowner pulls the permit |
Apply in person, on paper. Biloxi has no online permit portal. Download the residential or commercial building permit application from the city’s Forms / Permits page, submit it with two full sets of 24x36 drawings at the Department of Community Development, pay by check, and pick up the issued permit there. Schedule inspections before covering work.
Biloxi building permit cost
Biloxi sets its building permit fee by project cost, and the fee includes electrical, mechanical and plumbing work: $25 for the first $1,000 plus $5 for each additional $1,000 up to $100,000; $520 for the first $100,000 plus $4 for each additional $1,000 up to $500,000; and $2,120 for the first $500,000 plus $3 for each additional $1,000 above that. Plan review costs half the building permit fee, residential or commercial. Work started without a permit pays double, and all fees are paid by check to The City of Biloxi.
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|---|---|
| Residential building permit | By project cost on the city schedule: $45 for a $5,000 job, $270 for $50,000, $520 for $100,000 |
| Commercial building permit | Same project-cost schedule: $2,120 for $500,000, $3,620 for $1,000,000 |
| State / local plan review | Half the building permit fee; Biloxi Fire Department review on commercial work; State Fire Marshal review for state-owned or state-funded buildings |
| Trade permits | Electrical, mechanical and plumbing work is included in the building permit fee; subcontractors file the city’s Building Permit Subcontractor application |
| Zoning / access / utilities | Planning, right-of-way, driveway, utility, floodplain, health department, drainage, or public works review fees may apply |
| Re-inspections / revisions | Re-inspections $30, $60, $90 and $100; permit extension $50; change of contractor $50; work without a permit pays double |
Need a precise number for a specific Biloxi project? Send us the scope, address, and valuation and we can help estimate the filing path, likely reviews, and permit fee categories.
Biloxi trade permits
In Biloxi the building permit fee already covers electrical, mechanical and plumbing work, so on a building project these trades are not separate fee lines. Each subcontractor files the city’s Building Permit Subcontractor application, and the city requires all subcontractors to be licensed by the state, even when a homeowner pulls the permit.
Electrical permits
Required for service upgrades, panels, new circuits, solar PV, EV chargers, generators, lighting retrofits, and most wiring work. Electrical work may require a qualified contractor and must comply with the local adopted electrical code and inspection process.
Plumbing & gas permits
Required for new plumbing, fixture relocations, water heaters, sewer and water connections, backflow, gas piping, fuel-gas appliances, and private or public utility connections where applicable.
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Get a free quote →Mechanical / HVAC permits
Required for furnaces, boilers, AC units, heat pumps, ductwork, commercial kitchen hoods, ventilation, combustion air, exhaust, and major equipment replacements.
Fire, occupancy, and specialty permits
Commercial projects may require fire alarm, sprinkler, suppression, hood, hazardous-material, sign, demolition, floodplain, right-of-way, grading, erosion control, and certificate of occupancy approvals before final use.
Credential check: Commercial contractors, residential contractors, and roofers in Mississippi are generally licensed through the Mississippi State Board of Contractors, with thresholds, classifications, and exemptions depending on the work. Local jurisdictions can also require contractor registration, privilege licenses, business licenses, bonds, insurance certificates, trade permits, and inspection sign-offs before permits are issued or closed.
How to get a building permit in Biloxi
Confirm jurisdiction & zoning
Verify the parcel, city or county limits, zoning district, floodplain status, coastal or wind exposure, fire district, utility availability, access, and whether state or local plan review applies.
Prepare your application package
Assemble the permit form, site plan, construction drawings, valuation, scope, MSBOC license information, local registrations, trade licenses, energy documentation, engineering details, and any zoning or fire forms.
Submit application & plans
Submit the paper application with two full sets of 24x36 construction drawings and a site plan to the Planning Division at the Department of Community Development, 676 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Confirm first that the site is inside Biloxi city limits.
Plan review & corrections
Staff reviews for local code compliance plus zoning, fire, floodplain, coastal wind, access, public works, stormwater, erosion, accessibility, energy, and local development standards. Respond quickly to correction comments.
Pay fees & receive permit
Pay the permit and plan review fees by check to The City of Biloxi and pick up the permit at Community Development. Post the permit and keep approved plans on site.
Schedule inspections
Schedule footing, foundation, rough framing, rough electrical/plumbing/mechanical, flood or elevation checks, insulation, fire, final trade inspections, final building inspection, and occupancy inspections as required.
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Inspections verify that work matches approved plans and applicable Mississippi/local code requirements. Standard checkpoints may include erosion control, footing, foundation, slab, framing, rough trades, roof and wind-resistant details, insulation, drywall, fire systems, final trade inspections, final building inspection, and occupancy.
Do not cover work before the required inspection is approved. Keep the issued permit, approved plans, flood or elevation documentation, energy documentation, product approvals, contractor license information, and correction responses available on site.
Official Biloxi permitting resources
- 🏢 Biloxi Community Development
- 🏢 Biloxi forms and permits
- 🏢 Biloxi flood and zoning maps
- 🏢 Harrison County building permits
- 📄 Mississippi State Fire Marshal - Uniform Building Codes
- 📄 Mississippi State Fire Marshal
- 📄 Mississippi State Fire Marshal - building plan review request
- 📄 Mississippi State Board of Contractors
- 📄 MSBOC contractor license applications
- 📄 Mississippi.gov - State Board of Contractors
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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Biloxi permitting requires the right jurisdiction, complete drawings, clean contractor credential information, accurate valuation, and careful inspection coordination. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Biloxi - our permit expediting services in Mississippi pair AI-driven document review with experts who understand Mississippi local filing paths, State Fire Marshal touchpoints, contractor licensing, and correction cycles.
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Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Biloxi because we deliver:
- Jurisdiction accuracy - we identify the correct city, county, state fire marshal, fire district, floodplain, utility, and public works review path before submittal.
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
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More Mississippi permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, codes, portals, contractor licensing, and review timelines change; always confirm current details with the local permit authority before filing. This is not legal advice.