Union County, Mississippi Building Permit Guide

For land outside New Albany and the smaller towns, Union County’s offices at 114 East Bankhead Street, New Albany (662-534-1902, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) are the place to start. The county’s published permit rule is its November 17, 2025 ordinance for mobile homes, portable homes, campers and RVs, with a $50 home permit. Inside New Albany, the City lists the 2024 International Building, Residential, Fire, Existing Building, Mechanical and Plumbing Codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code, and every contractor must be licensed and bonded with the City.

Who issues building permits in Union County?

The five-member Board of Supervisors governs unincorporated Union County, and its Enforcement Officer administers the county’s mobile home and RV ordinance. State law (Miss. Code §19-5-9(11)) requires a county permit for construction in the unincorporated area; the county’s contact list has no separate building department, so ask the Board’s main line about a permit for a house, shop or commercial building.

Cities and towns in Union County

Union County permit fees

Fees are paid before the county acts on an application and are not refunded. The county has not posted a fee for site-built construction.

How to start a project in Union County: 5 steps

Mobile homes, RVs and other local rules

The county’s ordinance makes it unlawful to place a mobile or portable home in the unincorporated county without the $50 permit from the Enforcement Officer. Its main requirements:

• A deed, or a notarized affidavit from the landowner, with the application
• At least half an acre, 70 feet from the centerline of any public road and 20 feet from adjoining property
• No home more than 30 years old and none under 480 square feet
• Wheels, axle and tongue removed, tie-downs, skirting on all sides, a pad, two exits and steps or landings at every door
• A plan for electrical, water, sewage and HVAC approved before the permit is issued, and a county permit for the water supply
• A State Department of Health permit or letter of intent for sewage disposal before the home is placed
• No more than three homes on one tract without site plans approved by the Board of Supervisors, and no more than three on 5 acres or less of contiguous land unless all the owners are related by blood or marriage and each home has at least half an acre; none of those homes may be rented

Homes and lots may not be in a flood plain, and must also be permitted under the county’s flood management ordinance. Campers and RVs may not be permanent homes outside licensed campgrounds, but a temporary permit of up to six months is available while a house is built, with the house plan and a notarized affidavit. Appeals of the Enforcement Officer’s decisions go to the Board within 15 days.

Septic systems for any home are permitted by the Mississippi State Department of Health (call center 855-220-0192).

Mississippi building 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

Official Union County resources

• Union County, Mississippi government website
• Union County ordinances (RV, camper, portable and mobile home ordinance)
• Union County office contacts
• Union County cities and towns
• City of New Albany Zoning & Ordinances (building codes, contractor licensing)
• City of New Albany Code Chapter 7, Buildings (codified through 2022)
• Mississippi State Department of Health: On-Site Wastewater
• House Bill 1163 (2022): county and city permit requirement
• Mississippi State Fire Marshal: Fire Code Enforcement
• Mississippi Insurance Department: Mississippi Uniform Building Codes

Union County permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Union County?

Inside New Albany, the City. In the unincorporated county, the Board of Supervisors’ office (662-534-1902); mobile home permits have their own line, 662-534-1903.

How much is a mobile home permit in Union County?

$50, under the ordinance adopted on November 17, 2025.

How old can a mobile home be?

No more than 30 years old when the permit is applied for, and at least 480 square feet.

Can I live in an RV while I build?

Yes, with a temporary permit of up to six months, the house plan and a notarized affidavit that you will not live in the RV permanently.

Which building code applies in New Albany?

The City lists the 2024 International Building and Residential Codes (with the 2024 fire, existing building, mechanical and plumbing codes) and the 2023 National Electrical Code; ask the building department for the City’s amendments.

Simplify Union County 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 Union County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.