In Laurel, the City’s Inspection Department at City Hall issues building permits and the separate electrical, gas, HVAC and plumbing permits, reviews plans and inspects the work. Building fees follow the valuation table in section 7-20 of the Code of Ordinances, plan review is free, and the City describes a 24-hour review process.
Who issues building permits in Laurel?
The Inspection Department, led by Superintendent Sandra Hadley, issues building, trade, land clearing, demolition, moving and short-term rental permits, reviews building plans and inspects construction. It works with the Planning Commission on site plans and zoning and with the Historic Preservation Commission on certificates of appropriateness. Under the City’s flood ordinance the Building Inspector is also the floodplain administrator.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Laurel City Hall, 401 North 5th Avenue, Laurel, MS 39440 |
| Phone | 601-428-6438 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| Payment | Checks to the City of Laurel; cards carry a 3% processing fee |
The department’s permits cover property inside Laurel’s corporate limits; Ellisville, Sandersville and Soso are separate municipalities in Jones County.
Laurel permits and when you need one
Laurel requires a permit to build, add rooms, remodel or repair a structure, to demolish one, to build or replace a fence and to install a swimming pool. The Building Project application covers the building work only: electrical, gas, HVAC, plumbing, land clearing and demolition each need their own permit, and the trade permits are issued to licensed professionals on the New Construction application.
Separate permits
- Building project (new work, additions, renovations, repairs)
- Electrical, gas, HVAC/mechanical and plumbing
- Land clearing for new construction, or wherever 10 or more trees are removed
- Demolition (except small accessory structures)
- House moving
- Signs, communication towers and short-term rentals
Usually no permit
- Retaining walls not over 4 feet
- Sheds and decks under 200 sq ft, with a signed statement that no one will live in the shed
- Painting inside, flooring and carpet
- Pools less than 24 inches deep
- Small repairs such as a leaking faucet
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Some projects need site plan, zoning or historic approval before the permit application can be filed, and those approvals have their own fees.
Laurel permit fees
Section 7-20 of the Code of Ordinances (last amended by Ordinance 1705-2021 on March 16, 2021) sets a $25 base fee plus a charge on project value, and there is no charge for plan review. The fee covers one footing, one slab, one framing and one final inspection; each additional or failed inspection is $25, and a $1 records fee is added to every permit. Council agendas and actions from July to October 2026 include no change to these fees.
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1–$500 | $25 |
| $500.01–$2,000 | $25 for the first $500 plus $3 per additional $100 |
| $2,000.01–$40,000 | $69 for the first $2,000 plus $11 per additional $1,000 |
| $40,000.01–$100,000 | $487 for the first $40,000 plus $9 per additional $1,000 |
| $100,000.01–$500,000 | $1,027 for the first $100,000 plus $7 per additional $1,000 |
| $500,000.01–$1,000,000 | $3,827 for the first $500,000 plus $5 per additional $1,000 |
| $1,000,000.01–$5,000,000 | $6,327 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3 per additional $1,000 in the trade tables (the building table prints $300) |
| Over $5,000,000 | $18,327 for the first $5,000,000 plus $1 per additional $1,000 |
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Re-inspection | $25 |
| Gas pressure test (existing building) | $25 |
| Demolition permit | $101 |
| Land clearing permit | $100 |
| House moving permit | $100 |
| Site plan review, general / telecom | $100 / $500 |
| Certificate of Appropriateness | $15 |
| Variance / zoning change petition | $150 / $200 |
| Special exception or conditional use | $100 |
| Short-term rental permit | $350 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Starting work without a permit doubles the permit cost, or the department can issue an Environmental Court ticket with a minimum of $100 plus court costs. Skipping the final inspection brings a fine of $250 or the permit fee, whichever is greater.
Electrical, plumbing, gas and HVAC permits in Laurel
Each trade has its own permit, filed on the City’s New Construction application, which is valid for 30 days from issue. Plumbing work must meet the City’s water and sewer standards, including backflow preventers where required. Master plumbers, master mechanical contractors and master electricians must be at least 21, pass a written examination from an independent testing agency and buy a City privilege licence before they can pull permits. Other building trades and general contractors need a privilege licence; homeowners working on their own homestead are exempt from the licence but not from the permit.
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Electrical (sec. 7-108) | $35 up to $500 of work, then the same value bands as building permits; includes temporary service, rough-in, service and final inspections |
| Mechanical (sec. 7-84) | $35 up to $500, then the building value bands; includes rough-in and final |
| Gas (sec. 7-63) | $25 up to $500, then the building value bands |
| Gas pressure test, existing building | $25, no permit needed |
| Extra or failed inspection | $25 |
The Building Project application reminds applicants that the State Board of Contractors licenses public and commercial work over $50,000, new homes over $50,000 and residential remodeling over $10,000; contractors without a state certificate buy a Laurel privilege licence instead.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →What to file with a Laurel building application
Complete plans are required for all new commercial and residential buildings and for major renovations, repairs and additions; a simple sketch can do for a new door or window. The Building Project application asks for:
- The project address, parcel (PPIN) number, scope of work and setbacks from the property lines
- The zoning district and any overlay (Downtown, Sawmill, Leontyne Price, Tri-Park or Central Business District)
- The flood zone and whether the site is in the historic district, with the Certificate of Appropriateness date
- A plan checklist: plat or site plan, foundation, building, electrical, plumbing and gas, and mechanical plans
- The general contractor and every subcontractor, with state certificate numbers where they apply
A site plan review comes first when a project has 10 or more new homes, more than three stories, more than 3 acres, a commercial use next to residential zoning, a change in land use, a site in the F-1 flood plain district or within 200 feet of an intersection, or a location in an overlay district. The packet and $100 fee go to the commission, which meets on the first and third Thursday of each month.
Six steps to a Laurel building permit
Use the City’s site plan questions and zoning map; historic district exterior work needs a Certificate of Appropriateness first.
The general contractor needs a state certificate or a Laurel privilege licence; trade contractors need Laurel master licences.
Bring complete plans to the Inspection Department at City Hall; the City describes a 24-hour review.
Pay the valuation fee plus the $1 records fee and post the permit on the job site; it is valid for 6 months.
Electrical, gas, HVAC and plumbing contractors file their own permits, each valid 30 days.
Request each inspection 24 hours ahead, pass the final and pay any open fees to receive the certificate.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Laurel
All inspections, including the final, must be requested at least 24 hours in advance by calling 601-428-6438. A Certificate of Occupancy is issued after the final inspection passes and every fee is paid. An electrical inspection of a property that has been vacant for over a year costs $25 and needs no permit.
On October 20, 2026 the City Council ratified a Mayor’s emergency order of October 8, 2026 allowing the Inspection Department to use outside professional services for electrical and building inspections while the electrical inspector’s position is vacant.
Laurel rules that affect a project
Historic districts: under Chapter 10.1 of the Code, no exterior feature of a landmark or of a building in a historic district, including walls, fences, steps, paving, trees and signs, may be built, altered, moved or demolished until the Historic Preservation Commission has reviewed the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness and the City has approved it. No building permit is issued for such work without the certificate, except emergency repairs after a fire, storm or flood. Ordinary maintenance that changes no design, material, color or appearance is exempt. A hearing is set within 15 days of filing unless the chair recommends an exemption, and the Commission acts within 21 days of the hearing. Color changes on houses in the R-1 and R-2 districts are not reviewed, while commercial color changes need pre-approval. The City publishes separate COA forms for additions, alterations, commercial paint, demolition, fences, new construction, siding and signs.
Flood zones: Chapter 9.1 requires a development permit from the floodplain administrator before any development in a special flood hazard area. New and substantially improved homes and non-residential buildings must have the lowest floor 1 foot above the base flood elevation, and dry floodproofing of a post-FIRM home is not allowed.
Sprinklers: Laurel has removed the residential fire sprinkler requirements (sections R313 and P2904) from its adopted codes.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Codes Laurel enforces
Chapter 7 of the Laurel Code adopts the 2018 International Building, Residential, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, Plumbing, Private Sewage Disposal, Property Maintenance, Fire and Energy Conservation Codes, most recently through Ordinance 1705-2021 of March 16, 2021, and the 2014 National Electrical Code.
Some work is exempt statewide: farm structures once the owner files an affidavit (Mississippi Code §17-2-7), and manufactured housing built to federal standards, certain industrial and utility facilities, buildings on non-public fairgrounds and hunting or fishing camps with an owner’s affidavit (§17-2-9). None of these exemptions reaches floodplain rules. The state minimum codes are the Mississippi Building Code and Mississippi Residential Code, the residential code drawn from the 2021 International Residential Code. How building codes apply in Mississippi
Laurel permit FAQs
How much is a building permit in Laurel, MS?
Under Code section 7-20 it depends on project value: $25 up to $500, $487 at $40,000 and $1,027 at $100,000, with $7 per $1,000 added between $100,000 and $500,000. Plan review is free.
Does Laurel’s building permit cover the wiring and plumbing?
No. Electrical, gas, HVAC and plumbing work each needs its own permit from a licensed contractor, and those permits are valid for 30 days.
Do I need a permit for a shed or deck?
Sheds and decks under 200 sq ft may not, but you must sign a statement that no one will live in the shed.
How long is a Laurel building permit good for?
Six months. Demolition permits expire after 30 days.
Can a homeowner pull a permit in Laurel?
Yes, for work on his own homestead. He needs no privilege or trade licence but must get the permit, and the work must meet current codes.
What does a Certificate of Appropriateness cost?
$15, and it is needed before exterior work in a Laurel historic district.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Official Laurel permit resources
- Mississippi Insurance Department: Mississippi Uniform Building Codes
- Laurel Inspection Department and standard fees
- Laurel: Do I need a building permit?
- Laurel site plan review
- Laurel forms and applications
- Laurel Building Project application
- Laurel New Construction (trade) application
- Laurel Code Chapter 7, Buildings (fee tables)
- Laurel Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
- Laurel Code Chapter 10.1, Historic Preservation
- Laurel Code of Ordinances
- Laurel City Council agendas and minutes
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More Mississippi permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Laurel permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.