Every build, demolition, rental and new business in Tupelo needs a city permit. Apply at City Hall, 71 E. Troy St., or by email. Permits: 662-841-6510.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Tupelo’s Development Services, Permitting and Applications, Divisions and GIS and maps pages and the department’s published contact list and committee schedule.

In Tupelo, permits come from the city’s Department of Development Services, on the third floor of City Hall at 71 E. Troy St. The city says no land development, demolition, construction or occupancy of a structure can happen without an approved permit, and that covers commercial occupancy, rentals and land use too.

Who to call

  • Permits, inspections, contractor licenses: Permitting Division, 662-841-6510, permits@tupeloms.gov
  • Plan review and commercial projects: Building Division, 662-841-6411
  • Zoning, rezoning, variances, subdivisions: Planning and Zoning Division, 662-841-6510
  • Code violations and property upkeep: Code Enforcement, 662-841-6510
  • Office: Department of Development Services, City Hall, third floor, 71 E. Troy St.
  • Official page: Permitting and Applications

How to apply

  1. Check your property first. Look up the zoning district, flood zone, soils and any overlay or historic district on the city’s maps (below). Incomplete applications delay permits, the city says.
  2. Book a pre-development meeting if you need one. It is required for anything that needs compatible or flexible use review, a variance or a subdivision.
  3. Fill out the right application. The city posts each form on its Permitting and Applications page.
  4. Attach a current recorded deed. Every application needs one. If you are not the owner, attach a lease.
  5. Submit and pay. Email the packet to permits@tupeloms.gov or bring it to City Hall. Fees can be paid by mail or in person. The application fee schedule lists each fee; construction fees are based on the estimated value of the project.

Preliminary plans can go to the Building Division for an early review. The Site Plan Review team meets every Thursday on commercial construction and renovation projects.

Which permit you need

Project Application
New house, addition, renovation, garage, pool, storm shelter Residential Construction
New or renovated commercial building Commercial Construction, plus Land Development
Opening, buying or renaming a business, home business Commercial Certificate of Occupancy
Fence or wall, dumpster enclosure Wall and Fence
Driveway, porch, patio, balcony, flagpole Accessory Use
Clearing, grading, fill, burning, curb cut Land Development
Tearing down a building Demolition
Electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing or sewer work Miscellaneous
Sign Sign
Rezoning a parcel Rezoning, plus Major Site Plan
Splitting land into lots Minor (up to five lots) or Major Subdivision
Work in an overlay district or downtown Overlay Review or Downtown Overlay Review
Work in the Mill Village historic district Certificate of Appropriateness

Homeowners doing their own work should ask about the city’s homeowner exemption form. Contractors working in the city need a city contractor’s license; the Permitting Division handles licensing and bonding.

Rentals

Rental property in Tupelo needs a permit and an inspection. The Permitting Division schedules rental inspections and handles residential rental registration, which is renewed each year. The city publishes a rental inspection checklist.

Zoning and maps

Development in Tupelo is governed by the City of Tupelo Development Code, which sets the allowed uses and building rules for each zoning district, and the city’s comprehensive plan. The city’s interactive maps:

Two rules the city flags: buildings in a designated flood zone must be built 2 feet above the designated flood elevation, and where suspect soils are present, a geotechnical report is required and structures must sit on 3 feet of fresh buildable fill. Many uses must be on an arterial or collector road; the city publishes the road designations.

Public meetings

The department’s citizen committee schedule lists these regular meetings, all at City Hall, 71 E. Troy St.:

  • Tupelo Planning Committee: first Monday of each month, 6 p.m., Council Chambers, second floor. Call the Planning Division for the current agenda.
  • Tupelo Historic Preservation Commission: third Thursday, noon, third floor.
  • Tupelo Major Thoroughfare Committee: second Monday, 4:30 p.m., Council Chambers.
  • Tupelo License Commission: as needed, Council Chambers.

The city says schedule changes are posted on the department’s website, the Mayor’s Office Facebook page and in the legal notices of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. The City Council has the final vote on rezonings; its agendas are on Municode Meetings.

Outside the city limits

Property in unincorporated Lee County is not covered by Tupelo’s permits. Call the Lee County Board of Supervisors’ office, 662-432-2000, and for floodplain questions the county’s floodplain administrator, 662-432-2090.

What this means for you

  • Call 662-841-6510 before you hire a contractor or sign a lease for a business.
  • Have your recorded deed ready; no permit is approved without one.
  • Check the flood and soils maps before you buy a lot to build on.

Related: property taxes, moving to Tupelo and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to build in Tupelo?

Yes. The city says no land development, demolition, construction or occupancy of a structure can happen in Tupelo without an approved permit from the Department of Development Services.

Where do I apply for a building permit in Tupelo?

Email the application to permits@tupeloms.gov or bring it to the Department of Development Services on the third floor of City Hall, 71 E. Troy St. Call 662-841-6510 with questions.

How do I find my zoning in Tupelo?

Use the city’s online zoning map, then look up the district in the Tupelo Development Code. Permitting staff at 662-841-6510 can help, and a zoning verification letter is available by application.

When does the Tupelo Planning Committee meet?

The city’s schedule lists the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. Check posted public notices for changes.

Do I need a fence permit in Tupelo?

Yes. New fences and walls, additions and renovations need a Wall and Fence Permit application from the Department of Development Services.