Bolthole Index

Harrison County, Mississippi

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in D'Iberville, Mississippi

D'Iberville, Mississippi requires a city Development Permit before construction, site work or changes in land use; normal maintenance and repairs are exempt.1 D'Iberville administers its own zoning inside city limits in Harrison County.2 Septic approvals come from the Mississippi State Department of Health, rather than the city's building or planning office.3

At a glance

Building and development approval
City Development Permit required before construction and site work; normal maintenance and repairs exempt1
Zoning
City zoning applies inside D’Iberville city limits2
Septic approval
MSDH application and Permit/Recommendation required for new onsite systems4
RV parks
Utility-district water and sewer connections required; private wastewater systems prohibited56
Manufactured homes
Permanent residences allowed in specified districts, subject to district and installation standards7
Owner-builder
State residential-builder licensing exemption is separate from city building-permit requirements8

Who to call

Building permits

D’Iberville Building Department

City building and development applications, plan review and inspections

228-273-3391

[email protected]

10383 Automall Parkway, D’Iberville, MS

Zoning

D’Iberville Planning and Zoning and Development

City zoning, subdivision and development review

228-273-3328

[email protected]

Septic permits

Mississippi State Department of Health — On-Site Wastewater

Onsite wastewater applications and site evaluations for D’Iberville

1-855-220-0192

Online permits →

Floodplain permits

D’Iberville Building Department — Flood Risk

City flood-risk and flood-hazard safety questions

228-273-3324

[email protected]

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in D'Iberville means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in D'Iberville, MS?

D'Iberville's Building Department handles building applications, and the city requires a Development Permit before improvements, construction, clearing, grading, filling or a change in land or structure use.1 Normal maintenance and repairs do not require a Development Permit.1 For a manufactured home in a park or subdivision, a building permit must be obtained before water, sewer or electricity is connected.9

The city's current Building Department page lists the 2024 code suite and the 2023 National Electrical Code, with a notice announcing the change effective October 1, 2026.1 Ask the Building Department for the checklist applicable to your proposed home.

Who is D'Iberville's building department, and how do you apply?

Contact the D'Iberville Building Department at 228-273-3391 or [email protected] for building-application status and code questions; the office is at 10383 Automall Parkway, D’Iberville, MS.1 The city offers a downloadable building application and requires proof of ownership, a property-tax receipt, a water-and-sewer payment receipt, the completed application and 2 complete plan sets.1 Plans must include setback and drainage details, and all required documents must accompany the application.1

Mississippi's own-residence exemption concerns residential-builder licensing, rather than exemption from local building permits or inspections.8 D'Iberville's published instructions say only licensed contractors may apply for and receive permits, so an owner-builder should resolve the application route with the city before preparing a submission.1

Does D'Iberville have zoning, and what homes are allowed?

D'Iberville has city zoning, administered by Planning and Zoning and Development, which also administers subdivision regulations and architectural guidelines.210 Ask that office at 228-273-3328 to identify the parcel's zoning district and the applicable lot size, setbacks and permitted uses before choosing a house plan.10

D'Iberville allows manufactured homes as permanent residences on individual lots in AG, R-3, R-4 and R-5, subject to district and exterior-compatibility requirements; mobile homes are limited to R-5 and a mobile-home park or manufactured-home land-lease community.7 Manufactured-home parks, subdivisions and expansions require site-plan review before building-permit issuance.11 We could not confirm a city tiny-home definition or minimum dwelling floor area; ask Planning and Zoning and Development about the specific design.

How do septic permits work inside D'Iberville?

The Mississippi State Department of Health handles onsite wastewater approval for D'Iberville properties using septic rather than approved public sewer service.3 New onsite systems require a complete application, supporting documents and fees, and MSDH's Permit/Recommendation is required to obtain a water meter.4 Call the MSDH Wastewater Call Center at 1-855-220-0192 or use its wastewater application portal to begin the site evaluation.12

Harrison County's soil data rate only 10.3% of soils not limited for conventional septic drain fields; that countywide figure supports getting a parcel evaluation early, rather than treating septic as impossible.13 D'Iberville RV parks must connect to utility-district water and wastewater systems and cannot use private septic systems.5

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in D'Iberville?

We could not confirm a general D'Iberville rule allowing RV occupancy or temporary camping on an ordinary private lot, or a specific tiny-home occupancy provision; take the proposed use and parcel address to Planning and Zoning and Development. D'Iberville's RV-park rules require utility-district water and sewer connections and prohibit private water supplies and private wastewater systems.56

A manufactured home has a separate district-based pathway for permanent residence, with foundation and other residential standards applying in R-3.7 A short-term-rental plan also needs careful zoning review: D'Iberville prohibits short-term rentals in AG, R-E, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-5 and R-O, while allowing them by right in C-1, C-2, C-3 and FMD subject to the ordinance's remaining requirements.1415

What are the steps to building a home in D'Iberville?

  1. Start with city Planning and Zoning and Development for the proposed use and development review.10
  2. Resolve wastewater approval with MSDH if the home will use an onsite system; public-water connection requires prior written approval of the sewage plan.416
  3. Ask the city's flood-risk contact about the parcel before finalizing elevations; designated flood-hazard residential construction generally needs its lowest floor at least 2 feet above base flood elevation, with a separate Longwood Subdivision standard.1718
  4. Submit the city's complete building application and plans, and obtain Development Permit approval before site work; necessary governmental approvals must be obtained before the city issues that permit.1
  5. Follow the approved plans and submit construction changes for plan review.1

What should you check before buying land in D'Iberville?

Confirm the parcel's city-limit status before choosing a permitting office: D'Iberville administers city zoning, while Harrison County Code Administration's building-permit responsibility is expressly for unincorporated land.219 For land outside D'Iberville, use the Harrison County guide.

Within D'Iberville, ask the city's flood-risk office about the parcel and required elevation documentation; properties in special flood-hazard areas require elevation certificates at application, before slab or floor framing, and before the certificate of occupancy.17 If access will be onto a state highway, MDOT requires a driveway permit for new driveways and alterations to existing drives.20 We could not confirm the city's private-well pathway or general building fee schedule; ask the Building Department and MSDH about the proposed water source and application costs.

Watch-outs

  • D'Iberville announced a building-code change effective October 1, 2026; obtain the current construction checklist from the Building Department.1
  • An RV park's public water-and-sewer requirements do not establish permission to live in an RV on an ordinary private lot.5
  • A D'Iberville manufactured home also needs the applicable state installation inspection before occupation.21

Sources

  1. D’Iberville Building Department (diberville.ms.us)
  2. Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Article 4, Section 4.9, General Residential District (R-3) (D'Iberville), quoted and re-checked
  3. Mississippi State Department of Health, On-Site Wastewater (D'Iberville), quoted and re-checked
  4. Mississippi State Department of Health, On-Site Wastewater (D'Iberville), quoted and re-checked
  5. Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Article 13, Section 13.9, Recreational Vehicle Park Utilities (D'Iberville), quoted and re-checked
  6. Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Article 13, Section 13.9, Recreational Vehicle Park Utilities (D'Iberville), quoted and re-checked
  7. Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Article 4, Section 4.12, Manufactured Home District (R-5) (D'Iberville), quoted and re-checked
  8. Mississippi Senate Journal, March 9, 2022 (Mississippi statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Article 4, Section 4.12, Manufactured Home District (R-5) (D'Iberville), quoted and re-checked
  10. D’Iberville Planning and Zoning and Development (diberville.ms.us)
  11. Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Article 4, Section 4.12, Manufactured Home District (R-5) (D'Iberville), quoted and re-checked
  12. Mississippi State Department of Health — On-Site Wastewater (msdh.ms.gov)
  13. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  14. Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Article 5, Section 5.8, Short-Term Rentals (D'Iberville), quoted and re-checked
  15. Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Article 5, Section 5.8, Short-Term Rentals (D'Iberville), quoted and re-checked
  16. Mississippi State Department of Health Current Regulations: On-site Wastewater (Mississippi statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. D’Iberville Building Department — Flood Risk (diberville.ms.us)
  18. Code of Ordinances, Chapter 13, Section 13-42, Specific standards for riverine zones (D'Iberville), quoted and re-checked
  19. A building permit (2026 county census)
  20. Mississippi Access Management Guide (Mississippi statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. MH-5 Uniform Standards Code for Factory-Built Homes Law (Mississippi statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for D'Iberville

D'Iberville’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    A manufactured home located in a manufactured-home park or subdivision inside D'Iberville city limits.

    • The permit must be obtained before connection of water, sewer, or electricity.
    • The owner or authorized representative must apply.
    • Electrical wiring and plumbing connections must comply with applicable city-adopted building codes and be performed by qualified, licensed, and bonded electricians and plumbers.
    • Tie-down standards and applicable building codes also apply.
    “Prior to the connection of utilities (water, sewer, electricity) to serve any manufactured home located in a manufactured home park or subdivision, the owner of the manufactured home, or the owner (or his/her authorized representative) of the manufactured home park in cases where both the space and the manufactured home are leased or rented, shall apply for a building permit.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Short-term rentals inside D'Iberville city limits.

    • Annual Building and Fire inspections are required for short-term rentals.
    • Inspection is by the D'Iberville Fire Department and D'Iberville Building Inspector, or as required by city ordinance.
    “STR shall be subject to annual Building and Fire inspections”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Short-term-rental authorization inside D'Iberville city limits.

    • Short-term rentals also require completion of the zoning conditional-use approval items and payment of the stated annual application fee.
    • The certificate is not transferable to a subsequent owner; change of ownership requires new applications.

    annual application fee: 150 USD (The ordinance text states both one-hundred dollars ($150.00).)

    “Individuals requesting Short-Term Rental authorization shall be required to pay an annual application fee of one-hundred dollars ($150.00); such fee is to be assessed and paid by applicant to the City of D 'Iberville, provide the name(s) of agencies (i.e., Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway, etc.) they are affiliated with and obtain a Certificate of Occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside D'Iberville city limits; the city has an adopted Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance with zoning districts and use regulations.

    “The Planning and Zoning Department and Development is responsible for the administration of the City’s Zoning Ordinances”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    D'Iberville city zoning districts and use regulations.

    • The opened code sections identify AG, R-E, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-O, C-1, C-2, C-3, FMD, and WF districts or district classifications.
    • The complete district schedule and zoning map were not independently opened in this limited research pass.
    “The purpose of this district is to allow the development of manufactured home communities and manufactured home parks, either as subdivisions or as rental parks, in certain areas of the city, where by public hearing it can be shown that a need for this type of use is warranted.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured-home occupancy inside D'Iberville city limits, especially R-3 and R-5 districts.

    • A manufactured home is permitted as a permanent residence on an individual lot in AG, R-3, R-4, and R-5 subject to the stated district and exterior-compatibility requirements.
    • Mobile homes are limited to the R-5 district and a mobile-home park or manufactured-home land-lease community.
    • R-3 manufactured homes must comply with district residential requirements, including lot, yard, spacing, coverage, parking, and foundation requirements.
    “A manufactured home [...] is a permitted use as a permanent residence on an individual lot in the following zoning districts”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Recreational vehicle parks inside D'Iberville city limits.

    • The prohibition covers privies, septic tanks, underground absorption fields, sewerage lagoons, honey wagons, package treatment facilities, and other private wastewater-treatment systems.
    • Private water-supply systems are also prohibited.
    “other types of private wastewater treatment systems are strictly prohibited.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Recreational vehicle parks inside D'Iberville city limits.

    • Private water supplies and private wastewater-treatment systems are prohibited for RV parks.
    • The park must connect to the utility district's water supply and wastewater-disposal systems.
    • Stormwater sewers must be separate from sanitary sewers.
    “connect to the utility district's water supply and waste water disposal systems.”
  • Subdividing landLimited

    New manufactured-home parks or subdivisions and expansions inside D'Iberville city limits.

    • A site plan is required before issuance of a building permit for a new manufactured-home park or subdivision or an expansion by one or more spaces.
    • The MSDH separately reviews subdivision wastewater feasibility.
    “No building permit to construct a new manufactured home park or subdivision or to expand (by the addition of one or more spaces) an existing manufactured home park or subdivision shall be issued until the applicant for the building permit has complied with the provisions of Section 2.4 relative to site plan review.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    New construction and substantial improvements in designated special flood-hazard areas inside D'Iberville city limits.

    • Residential lowest floors, including basements, must be at least two feet above base flood elevation, except Longwood Subdivision has a community base flood elevation of 25 feet above mean sea level.
    • Additional requirements apply to enclosures, encroachments, accessory structures, manufactured homes, and recreational vehicles.
    • Some requirements depend on FEMA zones and whether base-flood data are available.

    minimum residential freeboard: >= 2 feet above base flood elevation (Longwood Subdivision has a community base flood elevation of 25 feet above mean sea level)

    “shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to no lower than two feet above the base flood elevation”
  • Short-term rentalsAllowed (with conditions)

    Short-term rentals in C-1, C-2, C-3, and FMD zoning districts inside D'Iberville city limits.

    • The ordinance states use by right in those districts, but also requires the Section 5.8 application items, certificate of occupancy, privilege-tax license, guest register, parking, annual inspections, and other standards where applicable.
    • Annual application fee is stated as $150.00.

    annual application fee: 150 USD · parking: one space per unit or bedroom, whichever is greater

    “Short-Term Rentals shall be permitted as a Use by Right”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Permit processPartial

    Selected development and occupancy processes inside D'Iberville city limits.

    • Manufactured-home parks and subdivisions require site-plan review before building-permit issuance.
    • Short-term rentals require zoning conditional-use approval, annual application, agency information, certificate of occupancy, and privilege-tax license.
    • The general building-permit application process was not located.
    “No building permit to construct a new manufactured home park or subdivision or to expand (by the addition of one or more spaces) an existing manufactured home park or subdivision shall be issued until the applicant for the building permit has complied with the provisions of Section 2.4 relative to site plan review.”

Rules another office applies inside D'Iberville

D'Iberville does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Who permits septicState

    On-site wastewater systems serving property inside D'Iberville city limits where connection to an approved public sewer system is not used.

    • MSDH identifies Harrison County in its South Region.
    • City zoning separately prohibits private wastewater systems in recreational vehicle parks.
    “The On-site Wastewater program develops policy and regulations”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New on-site wastewater systems and related property approvals affecting property inside D'Iberville city limits.

    • The MSDH page states the permit/recommendation is required to obtain a water meter.
    • A complete application and supporting documents must be submitted; fees apply.
    • The page describes residential and commercial systems and additional review for subdivisions, manufactured homes, multifamily developments, and RV campgrounds.
    “a Permit/Recommendation (required to obtain a water meter)”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Individual on-site wastewater systems, RV campgrounds, and related developments inside D'Iberville city limits.

    • The MSDH program develops policy and provides technical assistance to regional environmentalists who design and inspect these systems.
    • The official page does not state that every existing septic system receives a periodic inspection.
    “designing and inspecting Individual On-site Wastewater Disposal Systems (IOWDS)”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask D'Iberville or Harrison County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from building-permit or contractor requirements inside D'Iberville city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption inside D'Iberville city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in D'Iberville city residential districts.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping outside regulated recreational-vehicle parks inside D'Iberville city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside D'Iberville city limits.
3 more unanswered
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that D'Iberville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Harrison County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Harrison County: county rules, score and offices