Updated : 04/22/2024
Overview
"Lee County Supervisors opt out of building codes
Michaela Gibson Morris; Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Tupelo
Nov. 17 [2014]–TUPELO — The Lee County Board of Supervisors voted today to opt out of the state building codes approved by the Legislature earlier this year.
"I favor building codes," said District 2 Supervisor Bobby Smith, who is a licensed contractor, "but I don't favor what we've got before us."
Smith and supervisors voiced concerns about licensing requirements, inspection costs and impact on the costs of building, but said they saw the benefit of consumer protections.
Although Board president Darrell Rankin said he favored the building codes with reservations, he voted with the other four supervisors to opt out of the codes unanimously at the board's regular meeting this morning.
The Lee County supervisors and other local governments without building codes have to decide whether to adopt codes this month.
The Mississippi Building Codes Council's versions of the International Building Code, International Residential Code or other codes were approved by the legislature and cover electrical, plumbing, carpentry, fire and fuel gas. Most of Mississippi's 82 counties and 298 municipalities do not meet the new law's standards. Tupelo does meet the standards; Lee County does not."
Lee County Supervisors opt out of building codes, 2014 WLNR 32335665
Helpful resources for Lee County, Mississippi include the following.