Natchez, Mississippi Building Permit Guide

In Natchez, the City’s Office of Inspections issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits, while the Planning Department and the Engineering Department review building and land development applications first. Building fees are set by project value, starting at $45 for work up to $5,000, and in the historic districts exterior work needs a Certificate of Appropriateness before a permit.

Who issues building permits in Natchez?

The Office of Inspections, headed by Building Official Jody Rutter, administers the City’s building codes, issues permits and inspects construction. It works with the Fire Marshal on the fire code, with the City Engineer on flood insurance program requirements, with Natchez Water Works on water and sewer taps, and with Entergy on electrical service. The Planning and Zoning Department, directed by Mingo Tingle, handles zoning, site plans, business licences and exterior work in the historic districts.

The Office of Inspections’ permits apply to property inside the city of Natchez.

Natchez permit types

The City’s FAQ says non-structural work such as painting or new flooring needs no permit, but any structural work does, including new construction, additions, porch repairs, siding and roofing. Separate permits are needed for new wiring, electrical installations, service upgrades and repairs; for new or repaired HVAC systems; and for new or repaired water and gas lines.

Once approved, the permit must be obtained from the Inspection Department before work starts, and it expires after six months without activity.

Natchez building permit fees

The City Code leaves permit fees to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, and the Office of Inspections publishes its Building Permit Fee Schedule, which is undated. Board agendas from July to October 2026 include no change to permit fees.

For example, a $30,000 repair falls in the $29,001–$30,000 row and pays $170. The Board may waive building permit fees for bona fide non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity; for other projects a discount is possible only if the project is worth $40 million or more and adds at least 100 jobs, and then it may not exceed 15%.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work in Natchez

Contractors who pull building, electrical, mechanical or plumbing permits in Natchez must hold a licence issued by the Inspection Department. Under Chapter 90 of the City Code, master mechanical, electrical, plumbing and gasfitting contractors qualify by examination before the City’s board of examiners, or by transfer ($75) of a licence earned by written exam in another Mississippi city or county after two years in business and one year holding it. Before the licence is delivered they post a $5,000 surety bond and show at least $300,000 of general liability insurance and a state sales tax permit number. Licences renew on January 2 for $35, a $10 penalty applies after January 31, and an unrenewed licence is revoked after February 28. General contractors on work under $10,000 get a City licence after a board interview, with $300,000 of liability insurance, for $100 a year. Trade permit fees follow a schedule the Board of Aldermen approves, kept on file at the City Clerk’s office and the inspection department.

A homeowner may do work on his own primary residence, but still has to pull the permits and have the work inspected. The permit application lists the general, mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors on each job.

Electrical inspections are booked by calling 601-445-7512. Before Entergy sets a new meter or transfers service, the City inspects the meter installation; those Entergy inspections are scheduled at 601-445-7518 or at the second floor of City Hall. Water and sewer taps are coordinated with Natchez Water Works.

Plans and site plan review in Natchez

Plans and specifications that match the scope of the project must accompany every permit application. All plans for new construction, additions and changes of land use go through site plan review: the Site Plan Review Committee meets every Wednesday, and plans must be in at least 2 weeks before the meeting. Projects that also need the Planning Commission, which meets on the third Thursday of each month at 115 South Pearl Street, should allow for its advertising deadline; late revisions can push an item past the next meeting.

The application asks for the job address and proposed use, the cost evaluation used for the fee, the owner, applicant and contact person, and each contractor with address and phone.

How to get a building permit in Natchez

Inspections in Natchez

The Inspection Department inspects work both during construction and after it is finished, and electrical inspections are scheduled at 601-445-7512. The Fire Marshal administers the fire code, and the Office of Inspections coordinates with the City Engineer so that construction meets the flood insurance program’s requirements.

Natchez historic districts and flood rules

Historic districts: Natchez has seven local review historic districts, guided since 1999 by the Historic Natchez Design Guidelines. Under the preservation ordinance, no exterior feature of a resource may be altered, relocated or demolished, and no construction affecting it may start, until the Natchez Preservation Commission approves a Certificate of Appropriateness; ordinary maintenance and repair is exempt. In-kind repairs with matching materials can be approved administratively by the Planning Director, but new construction, demolition, additions and exterior alterations go to the Commission. Supporting documents must be in within 14 days of the hearing, the Commission decides within 45 days after the hearing, and a decision not reached within 60 days of filing counts as approval. A certificate expires after 24 months, or after 6 months if work has not begun. Repainting has its own paint application.

Flood zones: Chapter 98 of the City Code (Ordinance 04-04-2017(1), adopted April 4, 2017) requires a development permit before any development in a special flood hazard area and sets an 18-inch freeboard: new and substantially improved homes and commercial buildings must have the lowest floor at least 18 inches above the base flood elevation, with heating, electrical and other service equipment at least that high; non-residential buildings may be floodproofed instead. The Public Works Superintendent is the floodplain administrator, and the Office of Inspections works with the City Engineer on National Flood Insurance Program compliance.

Codes Natchez enforces

The Office of Inspections lists the 2009 International Building Code and the 2011 National Electrical Code as the City’s adopted building codes, with the 2009 International Fire Code administered with the Fire Marshal. In the codified City Code, section 90-26 (last amended in 2013) adopts the International Building Code by reference, while the electrical section, 90-176, still names the 2002 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

Natchez permit FAQs

How much is a building permit in Natchez?

It follows the City’s fee schedule by project value: $45 up to $5,000, $170 for a $29,001–$30,000 job and $270 at $49,001–$50,000.

Do I need a permit to replace my roof or siding in Natchez?

Yes. The City lists siding and roofing work, porch repairs, additions and new construction as needing a building permit.

Can a homeowner pull a permit in Natchez?

Yes, for work on his own primary residence, with the required permits and inspections.

Is my house in a Natchez historic district?

Natchez has seven local review districts; the Planning Department (601-445-7518) and the City’s historic district map show the boundaries. Exterior work there needs a Certificate of Appropriateness.

When does the Site Plan Review Committee meet?

Every Wednesday, with plans due at least 2 weeks before the meeting.

How high must a new house be in a Natchez flood zone?

At least 18 inches above the base flood elevation, under Chapter 98 of the City Code.

How long is a Natchez permit valid?

It expires after six months without activity. A Certificate of Appropriateness lasts 24 months, but lapses after 6 months if work has not started.

Official Natchez permit resources

• Mississippi Insurance Department: Mississippi Uniform Building Codes
• Natchez Office of Inspections
• Natchez Building Permit Fee Schedule
• Natchez Inspection Department permit application
• Natchez inspections FAQs
• Natchez site plan committee FAQs
• Natchez City Planning
• Natchez site plan review application
• Natchez Certificate of Appropriateness application
• Natchez Preservation Ordinance
• Historic Natchez Design Guidelines
• Natchez Code of Ordinances (Municode)
• Natchez Code Chapter 98, Flood Damage Prevention (Municode)
• Natchez agendas and minutes

Simplify Natchez permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Mississippi. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Natchez permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.