For land in unincorporated Warren County, permits come from the county Permit Division at 1009 Cherry Street in Vicksburg (601-636-1690). The development permit costs $25, is filled out at the Permit Division office and is paid by cash or check only. Property inside the City of Vicksburg is permitted by the City’s Building & Inspection Department instead.
Who issues permits in Warren County?
Vicksburg is the only incorporated place in Warren County (19,830 residents, Census 2025 estimate), so the county map splits into two permit areas: the city and the unincorporated county.
| Area | Permit office |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated Warren County | Warren County Permit Division, 1009 Cherry Street (PO Box 144), Vicksburg, MS 39183-2539; phone 601-636-1690, fax 601-630-8184; Monday to Friday, hours vary, so call for an appointment |
| City of Vicksburg | Building & Inspection Department (Community Development), 819 South Street, Vicksburg, MS 39180; 601-634-4528; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday |
| Septic systems where there is no sewer | Mississippi State Department of Health, wastewater call center 1-855-220-0192 |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →The Permit Division keeps the county’s Development Permit ordinance, Floodplain ordinance, Subdivision ordinance, Road/Route permit ordinance, Garbage/rubbish ordinance and utility permit policy, and gives out copies on request. The Board of Supervisors adopted the current Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance after a public hearing on June 19, 2017, and the Building Permit and Issuance Ordinance for Outside Flood Areas, which replaced the earlier Board order, after a hearing on July 17, 2017.
What needs a county permit: under the 2017 ordinance, a development permit from the Permit Office is required for any development outside a flood hazard area whose total cost exceeds $500, including building work, grading, filling, paving and the purchase and placement of mobile or manufactured homes; the fee is $25. The Permit Office’s September 2025 letter adds that the unincorporated county has no zoning laws or Southern Building Codes, so no certificates of occupancy or physical inspections are required.
Building codes: on November 3, 2014 the Board voted 4 to 1 for a resolution choosing to opt out of the building code requirements of Senate Bill 2378 (2014), the law that otherwise requires counties to adopt one of the last three editions of the codes adopted by the Mississippi Building Codes Council. A county permit is still required for construction in the unincorporated area under Miss. Code §19-5-9(11).
Warren County permits and forms
| Permit | Cost and how to apply |
|---|---|
| Development permit (work costing more than $500 outside a flood hazard area) | $25, cash or check (no debit or credit cards); the application is filled out at the Permit Division office |
| Mobile or manufactured home bought in place | $25, cash or check; filled out at the Permit Division office |
| Driveway connection to a county-maintained road (and other work in county right-of-way) | Free; required before connecting a driveway to a county road; the owner or the contractor may apply; bring the application to the Permit Division |
| Utility work in county road right-of-way | Use and occupancy permit application, returned to the Permit Division under the county’s utility accommodation policy |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →The Permit Office’s letter of September 2025 states that permits are issued at the Warren County Building Permit Office in the basement of the Warren County Courthouse, and that a permit is required for residential or commercial improvements when grading or construction begins.
Steps for a project in unincorporated Warren County
Inside the city, apply to Vicksburg’s Building & Inspection Department on South Street instead.
Hours vary, so call 601-636-1690 for an appointment and ask whether the site is in a special flood hazard area.
The application has to be completed at the office at 1009 Cherry Street; bring $25 in cash or a check.
A new driveway onto a county-maintained road needs its own free permit, applied for by the owner or the contractor.
Without public sewer, apply to the Mississippi State Department of Health for the onsite wastewater system before building.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Local details: flood maps, the Board and septic systems
Flood zones: FEMA lists both Warren County and the City of Vicksburg as taking part in the National Flood Insurance Program, with flood maps effective July 16, 2013. The county’s floodplain ordinance is one of the ordinances held by the Permit Division, so ask there about elevation rules before you design a building in a mapped flood zone.
Board of Supervisors: the Board meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 9:00 a.m. on the third floor of the new courthouse. To be placed on the agenda, call the Chancery Clerk at 601-636-4415. Its minutes, including the 2017 ordinance hearings, can be searched online.
Septic systems: the Mississippi State Department of Health permits onsite wastewater systems. Applications go in online, by fax, by mail or by e-mail to wastewater@msdh.ms.gov, and the Department e-mails a payment link once the application is complete.
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
Rather not deal with the Warren County building department?
Get a free quote →Official Warren County permit resources
- Warren County Permit Division: permits, forms and ordinances
- Warren County Permit Office letter on zoning and inspections (September 2025)
- Warren County Board of Supervisors
- Warren County Board of Supervisors minutes (searchable)
- FEMA Community Status Book: Mississippi NFIP communities
- Senate Bill 2378 (2014): county and city building code adoption and opt-out
- House Bill 1163 (2022): county permit requirement
- City of Vicksburg Building & Inspection contacts
- Mississippi State Department of Health: On-Site Wastewater
- Mississippi State Fire Marshal: fire code enforcement
- Mississippi Insurance Department: Senate Bill 2378 code opt-out
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Warren County permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Warren County?
Outside Vicksburg, the county Permit Division at 1009 Cherry Street (601-636-1690). Inside Vicksburg, the City’s Building & Inspection Department at 819 South Street (601-634-4528).
How much is a Warren County development permit?
$25, paid by cash or check. Debit and credit cards are not accepted. Outside flood hazard areas it is required for development costing more than $500.
Does Warren County inspect new houses?
No. The Permit Office says there are no zoning laws or Southern Building Codes in the unincorporated county, so no physical inspections or certificates of occupancy are required.
Can I apply for a Warren County development permit online?
No. The Permit Division says the application must be filled out at its office, so call ahead for an appointment.
Do I need a permit for a driveway onto a county road?
Yes. Connecting a driveway to a county-maintained road needs a permit from the Permit Division. It is free, and either the owner or the contractor can apply.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Has Warren County adopted the state building codes?
No. On November 3, 2014 the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution opting out of the building code requirements of Senate Bill 2378 (2014).
Who approves septic systems in Warren County?
The Mississippi State Department of Health, whose wastewater call center is 1-855-220-0192.
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More Mississippi permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Warren County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.