Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Caledonia, Mississippi

Rules another office applies inside Town of Caledonia

Town of Caledonia 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 (with conditions)

  Individual on-site wastewater systems inside Caledonia town limits.

  • Applies to individual on-site wastewater disposal systems.
  • MSDH investigates certain wastewater complaints within city limits only between the main sewer line and the individual residence.

  “State law requires you have permanent sewage disposal solution available to receive a permanent water meter. Permanent sewage disposal solutions can be a sewer line or septic system.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system inside Caledonia town limits.

  • The permit is also required for a water meter.

  “The Permit is required for a water meter and the installation of an on-site wastewater disposal system.”

• Septic inspectionLimited

  New single-family residences installing a septic system for the first time inside Caledonia town limits.

  • The exemption is limited to the first residence on a single parcel of two or more acres or a second residence on a single parcel of five or more acres.
  • Commercial property and replacement of an existing system are not eligible for the exemption.
  • Under the exemption MSDH does not go out to approve the installation.
  • A permit, licensed installer, and required paperwork remain required.

  first-residence parcel size: >= 2 acres (single parcel) · second-residence parcel size: >= 5 acres (single parcel)

  “The exemption application is exclusively for new, single-family residences installing a septic system for the first time. Any property that is commercial or replacing an existing system are not eligible. It may be applied for the first residence on a parcel of land of two (2) or more acres or second residence on a parcel of land of five (5) or more acres. There are two differences between the exemption and the regular application. The first difference is the exemption is nearly half the cost of a regular application. The second difference means we do not go out to approve the installation, which is why the application costs less.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Wastewater disposal inside Caledonia town limits.

  • Mississippi does not recognize gray water.
  • Wastewater must go to a central sewer system or septic system.
  • Gray water may not be discharged on the ground, ditches, or bodies of water.

  “Mississippi does not recognize gray water. Anything that could be considered gray water in other states is classified as wastewater in Mississippi. All wastewater is required to pipe into a central sewer system or a septic system for proper disposal. No “gray water” can be discharged on the ground, ditches, or bodies of water.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  A property inside Caledonia town limits seeking a permanent water meter or an on-site wastewater application.

  • A permanent water meter requires a permanent sewage-disposal solution.
  • MSDH automatically refers applications within one mile of a sewer line to connect.
  • MSDH must receive a Letter of Rejection from the sewer provider before it can proceed with an on-site wastewater application.
  • A sewer connection may not be available in every area.

  distance from sewer line: <= 1 mile (MSDH automatically refers application to connect)

  “By law, sewer systems have first-right to provide sewer to everyone. As such, MSDH automatically refers applications within one (1) mile of a sewer line to connect. We must receive a Letter of Rejection from the sewer provider before we can proceed with the application.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  MSDH on-site wastewater permits and approvals for property inside Caledonia town limits.

  • Online payments are subject to a processing fee.
  • All fees are subject to change.
  • Additional costs may be included if the online application is not used.

  Notice of Intent plus Final Approval: 197.5 USD · Notice of Intent plus Exemption: 100 USD · Existing Residential Inspection: 100 USD

  “Notice of Intent + Final Approval is currently $197.50 Notice of Intent + Exemption is currently $100 Existing Residential Inspection is currently $100 Private Water Well Sample is currently $10 Non-residential Water Meter is currently $0 Commercial Establishment + Final Approval is currently $412.50 Existing Commercial Establishment is currently $315 Commercial Development is currently $412.50 + $2.60/unit. A unit can be an apartment, house, trailer, RV or any other independent quarters for a single family. Subdivision is currently $325 + $6.50/lot Online payment will be subject to a processing fee. All fees are subject to change. Additional costs may be included if online application is not used. See other FAQ questions for details about application types.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  MSDH on-site wastewater permitting for property inside Caledonia town limits.

  • An applicant must submit at least a deed or survey and a plot plan.
  • MSDH needs the application, payment, and necessary documents before scheduling a property visit.
  • MSDH states it averages five to ten business days to visit after receiving those materials.

  average property-visit time: 5-10 business days (after MSDH has the application, payment, and necessary documents)

  “MSDH requires – at minimum – a description of the property in the form of your deed or survey and a plot plan that is drawn to show all current and future plans for the property. A tax map, house plans, architect plans (showing house location on property) and the like may also be included but are not required. DO NOT SEND copies of driver’s licenses, social security cards, local permits, checks, credit cards, death certificates or anything with confidential information through fax or email. The Division of On-site Wastewater operates entirely in public records and only requires documents that can be public record.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Caledonia or Lowndes County directly.

• Building permit — Construction inside Caledonia town limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Caledonia town limits.
• Building code adopted — Buildings inside Caledonia town limits.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Caledonia town limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered buildings inside Caledonia town 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.