Mississippi building code

Codes in force in Mississippi

Each code family with the edition and the date it took effect, as the adopting agency or statute states them.

Scope, amendments and transition rules

International Residential Code (IRC): International Residential Code (IRC)

Scope

Adopted locally⁴

Applies to

Counties and municipalities that did not opt out¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹

International Building Code (IBC): International Building Code (IBC)

Scope

Adopted locally⁴

Applies to

Counties and municipalities that did not opt out¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹

International Fire Code (IFC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further²

Applies to

State-owned buildings; public assembly buildings (unless the county or city has a fire code not less stringent); buildings 75 feet or taller permitted after the act²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

Amendments

19 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 7, Ch. 7³

International Building Code (IBC): International Building Code (IBC), as used by the State Fire Marshal

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

State-owned buildings; public assembly buildings (unless the county or city has a fire code not less stringent); buildings 75 feet or taller permitted after the act²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

Amendments

19 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 7, Ch. 7³

International Residential Code (IRC): International Residential Code, 2024 edition

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere³

Applies to

Modular homes only³

International Building Code (IBC): International Building Code, 2024 edition

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere³

Applies to

Modular homes only³

National Electrical Code (NEC)

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere³

Applies to

Modular homes only³

International Mechanical Code (IMC)

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere³

Applies to

Modular homes only³

International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere³

Applies to

Modular homes only³

International Plumbing Code (IPC)

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere³

Applies to

Modular homes only³

How Mississippi adopts building codes

Miss. Code §§ 17-2-1, 17-2-3; S.B. 2378 (2014); §§ 19-5-9(11), 21-19-25(6)

• Counties and cities must adopt uniform codes unless they opted out by Nov. 30, 2014. Under Senate Bill 2378 of 2014, all counties and municipalities must enact uniform building codes unless they opt out prior to Nov. 30, 2014.⁴
• Local IBC adoption. One (1) of the last three (3) adopted editions of the International Building Code (IBC) and any specific appendix or appendices as adopted and amended by the Mississippi Building Codes Council…¹
• Local IRC adoption, excluding sprinkler mandates. One (1) of the last three (3) adopted editions of the International Residential Code (IRC), and any specific appendix or appendices as adopted and amended by the Mississippi Building Codes Council, with the exception of those provisions that require the installation of a multipurpose residential fire protection sprinkler system or any other fire sprinkler protection system in a new or existing one- or two-family dwelling…¹
• One-time opt-out by resolution. Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the provisions of this section go into effect, the board of supervisors of a county and/or the governing authorities of any municipality within a county, upon resolution duly adopted and entered upon its minutes, may choose not to be subject to the code requirements imposed under this section.¹
• Counties must require permits even without adopted codes. Regardless of whether a county adopts or has adopted codes, as set forth in this section, each and every county in this state shall require permitting as a condition to construction within the unincorporated areas of the county…⁵
• Cities must require permits even without adopted codes. Regardless of whether the governing authority of any municipality adopts or has adopted construction codes, as set forth in this section, each and every governing authority of any municipality shall require permitting as a condition to construction within the municipality's jurisdiction…⁵

Applies to

Counties and municipalities that did not opt out¹

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes¹

For permits, exemptions and owner-builder rules, see Mississippi building permits. To compare editions across states, see the code adoption map.