STATE LICENSE
ConditionalMississippi State Board of Contractors (M…
MSBOC's Building Construction major includes a Carpentry and Framing specialty with a trade exam; it is required for commercial carpentry or framing contracts and subcontracts of $50,000 or more, public or private (Miss. Code Ann. § 31-3-1). Metal Buildings and Structural Steel are separate specialties.
On residential work, framing is part of the residential builder's scope on homes costing more than $50,000. Framing subcontractors are not among the trades — electrical, plumbing, mechanical, HVAC — that § 73-59-3(1)(d) licenses at any dollar amount. A framer contracting directly with a homeowner for improvements over $10,000 meets the statutory definition of a remodeler.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Mississippi licensing is statewide through MSBOC, but cities and counties enforce it: building officials must refuse permits to anyone who would be a residential builder or remodeler unless they show an MSBOC license or exemption, and must report suspected violations to the Board (Miss. Code Ann. § 73-59-17). Residential contractors without a permanent Mississippi place of business (and not holding a commercial certificate) also need a Department of Revenue permit under § 27-65-27 to obtain a building permit, regardless of project cost or insurance funding (§ 73-59-18).
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Mississippi county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
Unlike electrical, plumbing, and HVAC subs, residential framing subcontractors are not named in § 73-59-3(1)(d).
Carpentry and Framing requires a trade exam plus the Law & Business Management exam.
MSBOC requires a workers' compensation certificate once a business has five or more employees.
A practical sequence for a new framing contractor in Mississippi. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Undertaking residential work that requires an MSBOC license without one — or giving the Board false information to get one — is a misdemeanor, and the Board may cite and stop the work.
A contractor unlicensed when the work was performed may not sue to enforce a residential building or remodeling contract; recovery is limited to documented labor and material expenses proved by clear and convincing evidence.
A public or private contract awarded to a contractor without a certificate of responsibility is void; knowingly bidding without one is a misdemeanor, and the Board may order abatement.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: PSI exam fees for the Law & Business Management exam and the trade exams (MSBOC sends a PSI Candidate Information Bulletin only after an application is received) · Whether MSBOC treats a contractor hired directly by a homeowner for a stand-alone trade job (painting, flooring, concrete, framing) over $10,000 as a 'remodeler' requiring a license — the statutory definition covers improvements to an existing residence over $10,000, but MSBOC guidance does not address single-trade contractors · Whether a framing subcontractor whose own subcontract on a new home exceeds $50,000 must hold a residential builder license (the builder definition covers 'superintending' construction of a residence over $50,000; MSBOC guidance does not address subcontractors)
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.