Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Byram, Mississippi

Byram’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, repair, relocation, removal, or demolition of a building or structure inside Byram.

  • Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work each need a separate trade permit.
  • Work may not legally begin before the permit is obtained and is on the work site.
  • Permit price is calculated from construction cost.

  “You need a building permit for all construction that involves the construction, repair, movement to another site, removal, or demolition of any building or structure.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction governed by the City of Byram's adopted International Codes.

  • The International Codes prevail over contrary existing City ordinances except when the conflict is with the official zoning ordinance adopted October 8, 2009.
  • The adoption ordinance states that it takes effect following publication and 30 days after passage.

  “the following codes published in cooperation with the INTERNATIONAL CODE CONGRESS and NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION ASSOCIATION are hereby adopted by reference as though they were copied herein fully:”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Manufactured homes permitted by the City of Byram.

  • Certification must occur before expiration of the manufactured-home permit.
  • Certification includes electric, water, and public or private sewer connections.

  “All manufactured homes permitted by the Building Official of the City of Byram Mississippi shall be certified for occupancy by the Building Official prior to the expiration of the manufactured home permit.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the City of Byram, Mississippi.

  • The city webpage cautions that posted ordinances may have been amended and directs users relying on them to obtain a hard copy from City Hall.

  “The City of Byram is hereby divided into zones or districts and the aforesaid zoning districts are identified and delineated on a map entitled "Official Zoning Map: City of Byram, Mississippi””

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts and the official zoning map for land inside Byram.

  • The official map maintained in the Byram Planning and Zoning Department is final authority on the zoning status of land, water areas, buildings, and structures.
  • The map is available for public inspection during normal City Hall business hours.

  “the Official Zoning Map bearing the certificate specified under Section 4.101.1 and located in the Byram and Zoning and Planning Department shall be the final authority as to the zoning status of land and water areas, buildings, and other structures in the City of Byram.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Residential dwelling units in the R-1 Single-Family Residential District.

  • The requirement applies only to subdivisions in which no residential construction had occurred as of November 26, 2017.
  • Only heated living space counts; outside/open patios, porches, garages, carports, and similar structures are excluded.

  minimum home size: >= 1650 square feet (Only for subdivisions with no residential construction as of November 26, 2017.)

  “Each residential dwelling unit in residential zone R-1 shall contain a minimum of 1,650 square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  A-1 Agricultural District land inside Byram.

  • Two acres applies where City sanitary sewer service is unavailable and is subject to State Board of Health and Hinds County Health Department approval of onsite wastewater systems.
  • Where City sanitary sewer service is available, the minimum is one acre; livestock or fowl conditions may also apply.

  minimum lot area: 2 acres (Where City sanitary sewerage service is unavailable.) · minimum lot area: 1 acres (Where City sanitary sewerage service is available.)

  “For lots where City of Byram sanitary sewerage service is not available: Two acres, subject to State Board of Health and Hinds County Health Department approval of all on-site wastewater disposal systems. For lots where City of Byram sanitary sewerage service is available: one acre.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 Single-Family Residential District land inside Byram.

    “C. Minimum Lot Area: 12,000 square feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  A-1 Agricultural District land inside Byram.

  • The 150-foot minimum yard applies where Section 4.150.3(A) and (B) requires it for livestock or fowl.

  front yard: 40 feet (Measured from existing right-of-way line to building setback line.) · side yard: 25 feet (Except where Section 4.150.3(A) and (B) requires 150 feet.) · rear yard: 25 feet (Except where Section 4.150.3(A) and (B) requires 150 feet.)

  “Minimum Yards: 1. Front yard: 40 feet from the existing right-of-way line to the building setback line. 2. Side yard and rear yards: 25 feet, except where Section 4.150.3 (A) and (B). requires a minimum yard of 150 feet from any adjoining property line.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 Single-Family Residential District land inside Byram.

    “Minimum Yards: 1. Front yard: 30 feet from the street right-of-way line to the building setback line. 2. Side yard: 10 feet. 3. Rear yard: 25 feet.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  A-1 Agricultural District structures inside Byram.

  • No height limit applies only to barns and agricultural-storage buildings that contain no space intended for human occupancy.
  • Other structures are subject to the International Building Code.

  maximum building height: no height limitations (Barns and agricultural storage buildings without space intended for human occupancy.)

  “Maximum Building Height: There shall be no height limitations for barns and agricultural storage buildings provided they do not contain space intended for human occupancy. See the International Building Code for other structures.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R-1 Single-Family Residential District structures inside Byram.

    “A. Maximum Building Height: See International Building Code.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes inside Byram city limits.

  • Manufactured homes must be installed by a licensed State Fire Marshal installer/transporter and tied down.
  • Outside prior-platted subdivisions, a manufactured home in a permitted zoning district must be double-wide and no more than 10 years old at permit application.
  • No more than one manufactured home or modular residential unit may be installed on a parcel, lot, or manufactured-home space, subject to a possible caretaker conditional use.
  • Final city inspection is required before occupancy.

  minimum lot area: >= 6000 square feet (Except in subdivisions platted before Byram's incorporation.) · minimum lot width: >= 60 feet (Except in subdivisions platted before Byram's incorporation.)

  “All Manufactured Homes placed within the corporate limits of Byram Mississippi shall be located on a lot of not less than 6,000 square feet with a minimum width of 60 ft., (Except in sub-divisions platted prior to the incorporation of Byram Mississippi).”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  A-1 Agricultural District lots where City of Byram sanitary sewer service is unavailable.

  • Minimum lot area is two acres.
  • All onsite wastewater disposal systems are subject to State Board of Health and Hinds County Health Department approval.

  minimum lot area: 2 acres (Where City of Byram sanitary sewerage service is not available.)

  “For lots where City of Byram sanitary sewerage service is not available: Two acres, subject to State Board of Health and Hinds County Health Department approval of all on-site wastewater disposal systems.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  R-1 Single-Family Residential District land inside Byram.

  • No R-1 district may be located in an area without public sewer.
  • All family dwellings must have a concrete or asphalt driveway.

  “No R-1 districts shall be located in areas that do not have public sewer.”

• Subdividing landRegulated

  Subdivision development in the A-1 Agricultural District inside Byram.

  • A proposed subdivision must be rezoned to a more appropriate zoning district.

  “Development of subdivisions in this district is not permitted. Any proposed subdivision must be rezoned to a more appropriate zoning district.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Family dwellings in the R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside Byram.

  • The ordinance specifies driveway surface material but does not state an access-permit procedure in the opened material.

  driveway surface: concrete or asphalt

  “All family dwellings shall have drive ways made of concrete or asphalt.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building and zoning-related actions inside Byram.

  • Building and zoning-related actions are initiated through Planning and Zoning.
  • The office coordinates activities with applicable city officials, boards, and commissions.

  “All actions with regard to the IBC, this Ordinance or the Development Ordinance shall be initiated through the Planning and Zoning Department.”

Rules another office applies inside Byram

Byram 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 septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private waste-treatment systems serving manufactured homes inside Byram city limits.

  • The homeowner must give Byram documented proof that the manufactured home is connected to an approved sewage elimination/treatment system.

  “Private waste treatment systems must be installed and approved by the Hinds County Board of Health; it shall be the home owner’s responsibility to provide the City of Byram with documented proof that the manufactured home is properly connected to an approved sewage elimination/treatment system.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Byram or Hinds County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Byram city limits.
• Lot coverage — Residential land inside Byram city limits.
• Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Byram city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Byram city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Byram city limits.

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.