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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Sumner

Town of Sumner 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, including systems serving land inside Sumner town, Tallahatchie County, Mississippi.

  • Applies to an individual on-site wastewater disposal system; a non-residential water-meter option is available only where no residential wastewater will be generated.

  “To provide a notice to the Mississippi State Department of Health that an Applicant intends to construct or place a mobile, modular, or permanently constructed residence on his/her property, which requires the installation of an IOWDS.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of an on-site wastewater disposal system inside Sumner town, Mississippi.

  • The permit is required for installation of an on-site wastewater disposal system and for a water meter.
  • Within one mile of a sewer line, MSDH automatically refers applications to connect and requires a sewer-provider rejection letter before proceeding with the on-site application.

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

• Off-grid sanitationProhibited

  Discharge of household wastewater to ground, ditches, or bodies of water inside Sumner town, Mississippi.

  • Mississippi classifies gray water as wastewater.
  • 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-withdrawal wells inside Sumner town subject to Mississippi's Water Use Permit process.

  • The cited MDEQ guidance concerns a Water Use Permit application to withdraw water.
  • The application form must be filed with the Office of Land and Water Resources before the well is drilled.
  • Wells must be drilled by a Mississippi-licensed water-well contractor.

  “This document is provided to serve as a guide to assist in successfully completing the application for a permit to withdraw water and to increase the likelihood of a well that is properly located and completed to your satisfaction.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  A property inside Sumner town seeking a permanent water meter where an on-site wastewater application is involved.

  • MSDH automatically refers an application within one mile of a sewer line to connect.
  • MSDH must receive a letter of rejection from the sewer provider before proceeding with the on-site application.
  • A permanent sewage-disposal solution, either a sewer line or septic system, is required before a water utility can make a connection to the property.

  distance from sewer line triggering referral: <= 1 mile (MSDH requires a sewer-provider letter of rejection before proceeding with the on-site application.)

  “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.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Sumner town limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Sumner town limits.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Sumner town limits.
• Inspections — Building work inside Sumner town limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Sumner 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.