Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Mendenhall, Mississippi

Mendenhall’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Development inside Mendenhall city limits where a buffer yard or planting strip is required.

  • The required buffer yard or planting strip must be completed before issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

  “Whenever a buffer yard or planting strip is required, it shall be completed prior to issuance of any certificate of occupancy and shall thereafter be maintained with permanent plant materials to provide a screen to abutting properties.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Mendenhall city limits.

  • The official zoning map is the final authority for the zoning status of land and water areas, buildings, and structures in the city.

  “The aforesaid zoning districts are identified and delineated on a map entitled "Official Zoning Map: City of Mendenhall, Mississippi", and said map, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this Ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Mendenhall city limits.

  • The official zoning map located at City Hall is the final authority on the zoning status of land and water areas, buildings, and other structures.

  “For the purpose of promoting public health, safety, morals, or general welfare, the City of Mendenhall, Mississippi, is hereby divided into the following zoning districts:”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Buildings and subdivision development inside Mendenhall city limits.

  • No building may be constructed on a lot that does not conform to the city's subdivision regulations.

  “400.08 Conformance with Subdivision Regulations: No building shall be constructed on any lot which does not conform to the provisions of the Subdivision Regulations of the City of Mendenhall.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Public/quasi-public, multiple-family residential, commercial, and industrial uses on arterial and collector streets inside Mendenhall city limits.

  • Access must be controlled under Section 2203; street classification is determined by the adopted Land Uses/Thoroughfares Plan; site-plan approval is conditioned on reasonable efforts to coordinate common access ways where practicable.

  minimum driveway separation on local or collector streets: >= 22 feet · minimum driveway separation on arterial streets: >= 30 feet · minimum intersection distance on local or collector streets: >= 40 feet · minimum intersection distance on arterial streets: >= 50 feet

  “Local 22 Ft. 40 Ft. 24 Ft. 35 Ft. Collector 22 Ft. 40 Ft. 24 Ft. 35 Ft. Arterial 30 Ft. 50 Ft. 28 Ft. 44 Ft.”

Rules another office applies inside Mendenhall

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  Lots in the A-1 Agricultural District inside Mendenhall city limits.

  • For livestock or fowl, Section 501(C) or (D) may require a 150-foot minimum yard from adjoining property lines.

  front yard: 40 feet (Measured from existing right-of-way line to building setback line.) · side and rear yards: 25 feet (Except where Section 501(C) or (D) requires 150 feet.)

  “Front yard: 40 feet from the existing right-of-way line to the building setback line. (b) Side yard and rear yards: 25 feet, except where Section 501 (C) or (D) requires a minimum yard of 150 feet from any adjoining property line.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Single-family manufactured homes in the R-2 Moderate Density Residential District inside Mendenhall city limits.

  • The home must be double-wide or larger; towing tongue and wheels must be permanently removed; it must be permanently anchored to foundation piers or a concrete slab; and it must have brick or masonry skirting.

  “Single-family manufactured homes (double-wide or larger) provided the trailer or towing tung and wheels are permanently removed, and the manufactured home is permanently anchored to foundation piers or a concrete slab, not merely resting upon the foundation. Further, the manufactured home must be completely skirted with brick or masonry materials from the concrete pad or foundation to the bottom of the manufactured home.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Mendenhall city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Mendenhall city limits.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Mendenhall city limits.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Mendenhall city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Mendenhall 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.