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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Hickory

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

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Buildings inside Hickory town limits that are within the state Fire Prevention Code's stated applicability.

  • The Mississippi Fire Prevention Code applies to state-owned buildings, public-assembly buildings except where a county or municipality has an equally stringent fire code, and certain buildings at least 75 feet high.
  • For a county or municipality with an equally stringent fire code, the local provisions and enforcement mechanism apply instead.

  state code edition: 2024 IFC and IBC (State Fire Marshal notice dated July 1, 2024.) · height threshold: >= 75 feet (Applies to buildings whose construction permits are issued after the statutory effective date, subject to the local-code exception.)

  “The State Fire Marshal shall promulgate the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code which shall apply to: 1. All buildings owned by the State or State Agencies; 2. All buildings utilized for public assembly, except in any County or Municipality which has adopted a Fire Prevention Code with standards not less stringent than the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code; 3. All buildings, the permits for the construction of which are issued subsequent to the effective date of Sections 45-11-101 to 45-11-111 and which are not less than seventy-five (75) feet in height; provided, however, that in any county or municipality which has adopted a fire prevention code with standards not less stringent than the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code, the provisions and enforcement mechanism thereof shall apply and not the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code.”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  On-site wastewater systems serving property inside Hickory town limits, where central sewer is unavailable.

  • MSDH directs applicants with sewer service or a sewer bill not to apply to the on-site wastewater division.
  • MSDH refers applications within one mile of a sewer line to connect and requires a provider letter of rejection before proceeding.

  sewer-line referral distance: <= 1 mile (A letter of rejection from the sewer provider is required before MSDH proceeds.)

  “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.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of an on-site wastewater disposal system serving property inside Hickory town limits.

  • The requirement applies to a water meter and installation of an on-site wastewater disposal system.
  • Where central sewer is available, MSDH directs applicants to the sewer provider rather than the on-site wastewater program.

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

• Off-grid sanitationProhibited

  Ground discharge of gray water and other wastewater from property inside Hickory town limits.

  • Wastewater must be piped to a central sewer system or septic system for proper disposal.

  “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.”

• Well permitLimited

  Water wells inside Hickory town limits with a surface casing diameter of six inches or greater.

  • Some exclusions apply to the groundwater-withdrawal permit requirement.
  • The source also states that licensed Mississippi well drillers must be used for water-well drilling.

  surface casing diameter: >= 6 inches (Some exclusions apply.)

  “You may need a permit from MDEQ - State law requires that you obtain a groundwater withdrawal permit for water wells with surface casing diameters 6-inches or greater in diameter. Some exclusions apply to this requirement.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  A permanent water-meter connection for property inside Hickory town limits.

  • State law requires a permanent sewage-disposal solution before a utility may make a permanent water connection.
  • The permanent solution may be a sewer line or a septic system.
  • MSDH automatically refers applications within one mile of a sewer line to connect and requires a sewer-provider rejection letter before it proceeds with an on-site application.

  sewer-line referral distance: <= 1 mile (MSDH needs a Letter of Rejection from the sewer provider before proceeding with an on-site wastewater application.)

  “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. You must have a sewer option before a water utility can make a connection to your property.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  MSDH on-site wastewater applications serving property inside Hickory town limits where on-site wastewater service is available.

  • Online payment is subject to a processing fee.
  • All listed 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”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  MSDH on-site wastewater applications serving property inside Hickory town limits where central sewer is unavailable.

  • MSDH reviews applications before invoicing.
  • Payment must be received before the property visit.
  • An application, payment, and necessary documents are required before MSDH schedules a visit.

  typical property-visit timing: 5-10 business days (After MSDH has the application, payment, and necessary documents; timing depends on weather and application volume.)

  “We must have the application, payment, and necessary documents before we schedule a visit. Once we have everything, we average 5-10 business days to visit the property based on weather and the volume of applications in your area.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building work inside Hickory town limits, Mississippi.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Hickory town limits, Mississippi.
• Inspections — Building work inside Hickory town limits, Mississippi.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Hickory town limits, Mississippi.
• Local zoning — Land inside Hickory town limits, Mississippi.

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.