Southaven, MS Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- 2024 International Plumbing Code with Appendices A, B, C, D, E
- License needed
- Master license before permit or regulated work (Sec. 4-202)
- Exempt repairs
- Existing fixtures, washing machines, dishwashers and disposals
- Contractor bond
- $10,000, expiring December 31 each year
- Lead limits
- 0.2 percent in solder and flux, 8 percent in pipes
- Homeowner exemption
- Own residence or accessory building, signed statement, permits still required
Summary
The City of Southaven, Mississippi adopts the 2024 International Plumbing Code with Appendices A, B, C, D and E in Sec. 4-26, and Sec. 4-202 bars any permit or work regulated by the plumbing code until a master license is obtained. Exemptions cover repair or replacement of existing fixtures, washing machines, dishwashers and disposals, and a homeowner can do work on the home he will live in.
(a)The following codes are hereby adopted and enforced by the city as set forth in this subsection (a).(1)2024 International Residential Code with Appendices BD, BF, BG, CA, CB, CE, CF. ... (4)2024 International Plumbing Code with Appendices A, B, C, D, E. ... (a)No permits shall be issued, nor shall any work be performed which is regulated by the plumbing code, electrical code, mechanical code and the administrative ordinances adopted by the city until the person desiring to perform such work obtains a master license from the city to perform such work. This master license shall be obtained in accordance with the subsequent sections of this chapter. The work items listed below shall be exempt from the above-stated license requirements:(1)Repairs or replacements of existing plumbing fixtures, washing machines, dishwashers and disposals;
Full Breakdown
Plumbing in the City of Southaven runs on two tracks: the adopted code and the licensing chapter. Sec. 4-26(a)(4) adopts the 2024 International Plumbing Code with Appendices A, B, C, D, E, alongside the 2024 residential, fire, mechanical and fuel gas codes. The section was last revised by resolution of October 7, 2025, effective January 1, 2026. The older plumbing-code sections, 4-101 and 4-102, were repealed in 2004 and now appear only as an editor's note.
Sec. 4-202(a) is the permit gate: no permits shall be issued, and no work regulated by the plumbing code, electrical code, mechanical code or the city's administrative ordinances shall be performed, until the person doing it holds a master license from the city. Exempt from that license requirement are repairs or replacements of existing plumbing fixtures, washing machines, dishwashers and disposals. Subsection (b) warns that replacement of residential or commercial sewers and hot water heaters is not exempt, and subsection (c) says work must still follow the adopted codes and the person still needs a city privilege license or any other license the law requires.
The license ladder is in Sec. 4-201 and 4-203: master and journeyman categories, with at least two years of experience for a journeyman and four years for a master. Before a permit issues to a master license holder, Sec. 4-208 requires a $10,000 bond that expires December 31 each year. A master supervises the job, or a licensed journeyman is on site, except for trenching for drain pipes and installation of a building sewer (Sec. 4-207). Apprentices carry a $20 city license, and one journeyman can have no more than three. Under Sec. 4-206 a homeowner building a house he owns and will live in, or a residential accessory building on his own lot, is exempt from the licensing chapter after signing a statement that he will do the work himself, but he still needs the permits and inspections. Sec. 4-103 bans solder and flux above 0.2 percent lead and pipes above 8 percent lead in drinking water plumbing.
Violations & Fines
Licensed tradespeople who violate the contractor chapter pay under Sec. 4-211: the permit fee or $50 (whichever is greater) for a first offense, the permit fee or $250 for a second within one year, the permit fee or $500 for a third, and a six-month license suspension with a $100 reinstatement fee for a fourth. Municipal court can add up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail. A lead violation under Sec. 4-103 is a misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which plumbing code does the City of Southaven enforce?
Do I need a licensed plumber to pull a permit?
Can I replace my own water heater in Southaven?
Is lead solder allowed in plumbing work?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Southaven
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