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READYDOCSCOMPLIANCESTATESMISSISSIPPIFORREST COUNTY
FILE 28035 · COUNTY OF FORRESTSEAT · HATTIESBURGPOPULATION · 78KVERIFIED · 05 / 2026
Public Compliance Directory · County Hub

Forrest.

Forrest County in Mississippi. This is where the state file translates into the local offices that actually issue the permit, schedule the inspection, and sign the filing. Start with the state baseline, then drill into the right city.

Cities on file
1
Trades indexed
12
County seat
Hattiesburg
Last verified
05 / 2026
FAST FACTS

Forrest County at a glance

Quick-reference card
County seatHattiesburg
Population (est.)78K
FIPS28035
Building departmentForrest County Building Department
Permit portalCity-by-city; Hattiesburg and Petal maintain independent permit portals, while the county handles unincorporated areas.
Fire marshalForrest County Fire Marshal
Browse cities→Back to state←
County of
Forrest
· ACTIVE FILE ·
ARTICLE I · COUNTY BASELINE
CODES & LOCAL AUTHORITY
FIPS 28035
Article I · County Baseline

The county inherits from the state. And adds local rules.

Forrest County generally follows the 2015 International Building Code series with local amendments.

Permits in Forrest County are split between incorporated municipalities and the county jurisdiction. The cities of Hattiesburg and Petal manage their own building permits and zoning enforcement within city limits. The county building department oversees development and permitting for all unincorporated areas of the county.

Development within the Hattiesburg metropolitan area is subject to specific regional stormwater management regulations and flood zone requirements due to the proximity of the Leaf River.

How this fits with the state

The state authority here is Mississippi State Board of Contractors. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.

Source · Forrest County Building DepartmentLast verified · 05 / 2026
ARTICLE II · PERMIT OFFICES
WHERE THE PERMIT IS FILED
OPERATING PATH
Article II · Local Offices

Who issues, who inspects, who signs off.

Contractors must hold a valid Mississippi State Board of Contractors license, and some municipalities may require additional local business registration or privilege licenses.

Building

Forrest County Building Department

Permits, plans, inspections

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Permit portal

City-by-city; Hattiesburg and Petal maintain independent permit portals, while the county handles unincorporated areas.

Apply, track, pay

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Planning / zoning

Forrest County Planning and Zoning Department

Land use, plan review

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Fire marshal

Forrest County Fire Marshal

Prevention, alarms, sprinklers

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
ARTICLE III · INSURANCE & BONDS
COUNTY OVERLAY ON STATE BASELINE
VERIFY BEFORE BIDDING
Article III · County Overlay

What Forrest County usually adds.

The state sets the floor. The county and city can require additional certificates, local bonds, or pre-permit registration.

CoverageRequired?MinimumIssued by
Workers' CompensationState rule with county add-ons
Verify
Required with employees; verify exemptions
State authority
General LiabilityOften required by permit type
Conditional
Permit-based
Forrest County Building Department
Surety BondTied to state license or county permit
Conditional
Varies by license/project/local office
State or county
County overlayContractors must provide proof of general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage as required by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors.
Verify
Varies
Forrest County Building Department
Source · Forrest County Building DepartmentVerify before filing
ARTICLE IV · INDEXED CITIES
CITIES IN FORREST COUNTY
1 CITY
Article IV · Browse by City

Indexed cities in Forrest County.

Pick a city to open its trade list. The trade page covers licensing, permits, insurance, and typical costs for that work in that city.

HattiesburgForrest County
01
ARTICLE V · TRADES
TRADES IN FORREST COUNTY
12 TRADES
Article V · Trades

Trades branching in Forrest County.

Each trade opens against the first indexed city in the county. Use the city browser above to open the same trade in another city.

Concrete
CODE · CN
GL
Open file →
Electrical
CODE · EL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Flooring
CODE · FL
GL
Open file →
Framing
CODE · FR
GL
Open file →
General Contracting
CODE · GC
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
HVAC
CODE · HV
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Landscaping
CODE · LS
GL
Open file →
Painting
CODE · PT
GL
Open file →
Pest Control
CODE · PC
State Lic.GL
Open file →
Plumbing
CODE · PL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Pool Service
CODE · PS
GLBond
Open file →
Roofing
CODE · RF
LicenseBondGL
Open file →
ARTICLE VI · SOURCES
LOCAL SOURCE REGISTER
VERIFY LOCALLY
Article VI · Sources & Citations

Every filing needs a source trail.

This template keeps the county page honest: local context here, filing decisions made with the issuing office.

State

Mississippi State Board of Contractors

Statewide licensing, reciprocity, and renewal rules.

/contractors/mississippi
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
County

Forrest County Building Department

Department that issues permits and schedules inspections for unincorporated areas.

City-by-city; Hattiesburg and Petal maintain independent permit portals, while the county handles unincorporated areas.
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Planning

Forrest County Planning and Zoning Department

Land use, zoning review, and plan approvals.

Local planning office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Fire

Forrest County Fire Marshal

Prevention, protection systems, and code approvals.

Fire marshal's office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Frequently Asked

Questions contractors ask before filing.

Q01Do I need a state license to work in Forrest County?+
Usually yes — the baseline is the state license through Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Forrest County and its cities may add local registration before you pull a permit.Source · Mississippi State Board of Contractors
Q02Does the county or the city issue the permit?+
It depends on where the work is. Unincorporated areas usually route through the county (Forrest County Building Department). Work inside an incorporated city normally files with that city's department.Source · Forrest County Building Department
Q03What changes between county and state?+
The county adds the actual permit office, local zoning overlays, plan-review timelines, inspections, and local fees. The state license defines who can contract; the county defines how the job gets filed.Source · County and municipal departments

Open the county file. Then pick the city.

Forrest County now inherits from the state template and adds its own local detail. The next layer is the city and trade pages.

Browse cities→Back to state←