Administrative overview · FIPS 28045
Hancock County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Hancock County Planning & Zoning / Building Department
For a project in or near Hancock County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
228-467-4157 (Planning & Zoning); 228-467-0172 (Board of Supervisors)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
854 Highway 90, Suite A, Bay St. Louis, MS 39520
Operating hours
Operating hours not verified
Review expectation
Ask the agency for its current review estimate
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Hancock County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Hancock County Planning & Zoning / Building Department is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 228-467-4157 (Planning & Zoning); 228-467-0172 (Board of Supervisors).
How long might review take?
A typical review timeline was not verified. Ask the agency for its current completeness and review estimate.
How are inspections scheduled?
Contact Hancock County Planning & Zoning at 228-467-4157. Residential permit materials include a completed application, two complete sets of house plans, a plot plan, parcel number, 911 address, wastewater or utility documentation, and an elevation certificate when applicable. Final power approval requires final elevation and wastewater approvals where applicable.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Residential Code, as stated by Hancock County Planning & Zoning. N/A for ordinary construction exemptions. Homeowners constructing a single-family dwelling as their primary residence must still obtain electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits for self-performed work, but the checklist states no fees are required for those homeowner-performed trade permits.