Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Winona, Mississippi

Winona’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings and other structures erected, altered, moved, or added to inside Winona city limits.

  • Permit is issued by the Building Inspector.
  • A permit expires and is cancelled if work has not commenced within 90 days of issuance.

  permit commencement deadline: <= 90 days (Work described in the permit must commence within 90 days from issuance.)

  “No building or other structure shall be erected altered, moved added to, or structurally altered, moved, added to, or structurally altered without a permit therefore, issued by the Building Inspector.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings and premises inside Winona city limits after erection or alteration.

  • Application must be made coincidentally with the building-permit application.
  • No building or premises can be occupied without certificates of occupancy and compliance and an issued permit.

  certificate use deadline: <= 10 days (After lawful erection or alteration is completed.)

  “No building or premises can be occupied without certificates of occupancy and compliance and issued permit.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All property within Winona city’s incorporated limits.

  • The ordinance map is adopted as part of the ordinance.

  “The provisions of this ordinance shall be applicable to all property within the incorporated limits of the city of Winona, Mississippi”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  All property within Winona city limits subject to the City zoning ordinance.

  • District boundaries are established on the official zoning map adopted April 17, 2007.

  “For the purpose of this ordinance, the City of Winona is hereby divided into the types of zoning districts that are designated as follows:”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured-home occupancy in Winona’s R-5 Manufactured Home District.

  • Dwellings must have been manufactured within five years before placement in the R-5 Zone.
  • District is intended for non-transient use.
  • A manufactured-home residential park must cover at least five acres.

  manufactured home park minimum area: >= 5 acres

  “Single family mobile home dwellings and accessory structures which have been manufactured within five years from the date of placement in the R-5 Zone.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Single-family dwelling lots and subdivision development inside Winona city limits.

  • A single-family dwelling may be constructed on a nonconforming lot only if that lot was previously platted.
  • Manufactured-home parks or subdivisions are subject to site-plan review unless the specified exception applies.

  “No single family dwelling unit shall be constructed on any lot which does not conform to the provisions of the ordinance regulating subdivisions, unless such lot was heretofore platted.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Site-plan review applications inside Winona city limits.

  • The amount is controlled by the adopted fee schedule, which was not located in the opened materials.

  “A site plan review fee shall be charged in accordance with the adopted fee schedule.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Winona city limits.

  • Plans must be submitted in duplicate and drawn to scale.
  • The Building Inspector may require other lawful information.
  • Permit expires if work has not started within 90 days after issuance.

  “All applications for building permits shall be accompanies by plans in duplicate, drawn to scale”

Rules another office applies inside Winona

Winona 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)

  On-site wastewater systems serving land inside Winona city limits.

  • MSDH directs applicants to apply for a Notice of Intent and evaluates whether a standard septic tank will work and whether county approval is required.

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

• Septic permitRequired

  Proposed on-site septic installation serving land inside Winona city limits.

  • Applicant must apply for a Notice of Intent first.
  • MSDH evaluates whether a standard septic tank works and whether county approval is required.

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

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  On-site wastewater disposal serving land inside Winona city limits.

  • Wastewater regulated by MSDH must remain on the property and not create a health hazard.
  • Discharge that pollutes waters or leaves the property requires an MDEQ permit.

  “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.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Residential, commercial, or industrial development located in Winona’s F-1 Flood Plain District.

  • Site-plan review is required.
  • The site plan must be reviewed and approved before a building permit or certificate of occupancy is granted.
  • No construction is permitted in the designated floodway except City-approved underground utilities.
  • Permitted construction must satisfy City flood-proofing and flood-protection requirements and specific district regulations.

  minimum floor elevation above latest official flood map: >= 1 feet

  “There shall be no construction of any type permitted in the designated floodway, except underground construction such as utilities as approved by the City. Before any building permit or certificate of occupancy is granted, the applicant shall submit a site plan to the site plan review committee for review and approval.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Winona city limits.
• Inspections — Construction inside Winona city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in Winona’s R-1 Single Family Residential District.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Winona city limits.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Winona 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.