With a new law requiring building codes across Mississippi, Leflore County may soon be adopting a building code of its own — and stepping up enforcement of its building standards.
Under the law signed by Gov. Phil Bryant March 17, counties and municipalities statewide are required to adopt as a minimum one of several uniform construction codes.
The new law — which received broad bipartisan support in the Legislature, including the votes of all of Leflore County’s lawmakers — looks to close a gap in the state’s building requirements, which have left unincorporated rural areas uncovered by the uniform standards broadly adopted in urban areas.
The cities of Greenwood and Itta Bena already have codes on the books, but for the rest of Leflore County, the new law could lead to substantial changes when it goes into effect Aug. 1.
Local governments may choose to opt out of the requirements, but only if they act before the law goes into effect.
County Administrator Sam Abraham said the county currently lacks a building inspector or code enforcement officer. In the cases where an inspection is required, Abraham said the county presently contracts out inspections.
County Tax Assessor Leroy Ware said he’s been working with Board Attorney Joyce Chiles to prepare recommendations for the county on whether to hire a building inspector.
“At the current point, we do not have inspections in the county,” Ware said. “Ms. Chiles is reviewing that law to see exactly what the requirements are going to be. Based on those requirements, we may recommend to the board to hire an inspector to start inspecting properties in the county.”
Ware said that although the county doesn’t currently have a building code, regulations do govern zoning and utility hookups.
With many areas of construction already addressed by existing county ordinances, District 1 Supervisor Phil Wolfe questions whether a uniform code is needed.
“We’ve been talking for quite a while about having a code enforcement officer,” Wolfe said. “I think the determining factor will be, for me anyways, the ultimate cost of the taxpayers.”
Victor Stokes, a building inspector for the city of Greenwood, said the city had been enforcing a building code for many years.
The regular inspections, Stokes said, help ensure the safety of buildings and protect against fire damage. They also lower property owners’ insurance premiums, he said.
“They make sure buildings are safely occupied and that the fire codes are complied with,” Stokes said. “Inspections are primarily for public safety.”
Should the county decide to adopt a uniform building code, Ware said that decision should be coordinated with the two municipalities that already have such regulations.
“If we were going to do this, we’d probably adopt the codes being used in Greenwood and the city of Itta Bena so there’s some type of uniformity throughout the county,” Ware said.
• Contact Bryn Stole at 581-7235 or bstole@gwcommonwealth.com.
