Webster County, Mississippi Building Permit Guide

For land outside the towns, state law requires Webster County’s Board of Supervisors to require a permit for construction; the Board is reached through the Chancery Clerk at 6333 MS Hwy 9, Suite 123, Walthall (662-258-4131). Inside Eupora, the city’s Building Department charges $3 per $1,000 of value for most home projects, so a $150,000 house costs $450.

Who issues permits in Webster County?

Webster County’s website lists a directory of county offices, a parcel and address map and tax records, but no building, zoning or floodplain office. The Chancery Clerk serves as clerk of the Board of Supervisors, so questions about a county permit or a matter for the Board go there first.

The county lists Willis Engineering of Grenada (662-226-1081) as County Engineer. Septic systems where there is no sewer are permitted by the Mississippi State Department of Health; its Wastewater Call Center is 1-855-220-0192.

Building permits and fees in Eupora

Eupora’s Zoning and Building Ordinance makes the Zoning and Building Administrator the official who issues building permits, and the city lists the 2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Property Maintenance Code as its adopted codes. A permit is needed for any residential addition or alteration over $2,500, every new dwelling unit including accessory dwellings, any work involving electrical, plumbing or structural changes, and any commercial or mixed-use work over $1,000 or demolition.

The city’s January 2026 application form exempts re-roofing, decks, walks and driveways no more than 30 inches above grade, prefabricated above-ground pools under 24 inches deep and no larger than 5,000 gallons, window replacement without structural change (outside the historic district) and finish work such as painting, tile, carpet and cabinets.

The city’s fee calculation sheet (as of January 7, 2025) and its 2025 fine and fee schedule set different lower limits for the $3 rate, so ask the Building Department which applies to a small job. For a typical new house both agree: a $150,000 home pays 150 × $3, or $450.

A permit becomes invalid if work has not started within 90 days or stops for 90 days, and every permit expires one year after it is issued. In the special flood hazard area the city requires the lowest floor to be 1.5 feet above the base flood elevation, with an elevation certificate before the foundation inspection and again before the final inspection. Before a certificate of occupancy, the city’s pre-occupancy checklist calls for working smoke detectors, at least one 5 lb ABC fire extinguisher per residential unit and GFCI outlets within 6 feet of any water source. Work on a property in Eupora’s historic district also needs a Certificate of Appropriateness.

Maben, Mathiston, Mantee and flood maps

Maben: the town’s posted zoning ordinance, an older text prepared with the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District, makes it unlawful to excavate, build, move or alter a building until the Town Clerk has issued a building permit, and a permit expires if work has not begun within 180 days. The Town Clerk is to act on a complete application within seven days. City Hall is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed from noon to 1:00 p.m.

Mathiston: the town takes building permit applications online through its state-hosted online services portal, next to its water and garbage service forms.

Mantee: the Board of Aldermen approved a permit form on March 2, 2026 for each new house and commercial building in town limits. It does not cover outbuildings, additions or renovations. The fee is $10 for a residential permit and $20 for a commercial one, and the form needs a deed or proof of ownership, proof of compliance with water and sewer or septic rules, a sketch of the lot and building, and proof of a Mississippi 811 locate request.

The form carries out Mantee’s Dwelling Ordinance (No. 2601, adopted March 2, 2026). The Mayor and Board of Aldermen must approve each new dwelling at a regular meeting, on a deed, a building permit, proof that the home was or will be built to a nationally recognized building code and proof of water and sewer or septic compliance. A permanent dwelling needs at least 390 square feet of heated living area, only one dwelling, permanent or temporary, is allowed per acre, modular and tiny homes must sit on a permanent foundation such as a concrete slab, and campers and RVs cannot be used as permanent homes. A violation carries a fine of at least $25, and each day counts as a separate offense.

Flood insurance program: FEMA’s Community Status Book lists Webster County, Eupora and Mathiston as participants, each with a January 6, 2010 map on which no base flood elevations were determined. Maben, Mantee and Walthall are not listed.

How to start a project in Webster County

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 Webster County permit resources

• Webster County directory of offices
• Webster County Chancery Clerk (clerk of the Board)
• Mississippi Secretary of State: county officials directory (2025)
• City of Eupora Building Department
• City of Eupora building permit application (January 2026)
• City of Eupora building permit fee calculation
• City of Eupora fine and fee schedule 2025
• City of Eupora pre-occupancy checklist
• Town of Maben zoning ordinance
• Town of Mathiston online services
• Town of Mantee building permits
• Town of Mantee Dwelling Ordinance No. 2601 (2026)
• FEMA Community Status Book: Mississippi
• Mississippi State Department of Health: On-Site Wastewater
• House Bill 1163 (2022): county permit requirement

Webster County permit FAQs

How much is a building permit in Eupora?

For most home projects $3 per $1,000 of value, so $450 for a $150,000 house; small jobs and accessory structures pay a $50 flat fee.

Do I need a permit for a new roof in Eupora?

Re-roofing is on the exempt list of Eupora’s January 2026 building permit application.

How long is a Eupora building permit good for?

It lapses if work does not start within 90 days or stops for 90 days, and expires one year after issue.

Who issues building permits in Maben?

The Town Clerk, under Maben’s zoning ordinance; call City Hall at 662-263-4212.

Who do I call about a permit on county land in Webster County?

The Chancery Clerk, who is clerk of the Board of Supervisors, at 662-258-4131.

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