Thinking about renting out a single-family home in Brandon or buying one that is already a rental? Local permits and inspections can feel confusing, especially when timelines and fees vary. You want a clear path that keeps you compliant and protects your investment. This guide breaks down Brandon’s rental permit, what inspectors look for, when Rankin County rules apply, and your key duties under Mississippi law. Let’s dive in.
Brandon rental permit basics
Brandon requires a rental permit and an inspection for single-family rental homes inside city limits. The city hosts an Application for Rental Inspection & Permit in its Documents & Forms catalog and outlines adopted codes on its permits page. You can start on the city’s Permits & Licenses page and access the rental application on the Documents & Forms page.
- Review the city’s permit standards on the Brandon Permits & Licenses page: City of Brandon permits and codes
- Download or request the application: City of Brandon Documents & Forms
How to apply and schedule
- Contact Community Development to confirm current steps, fees, and scheduling. Community Development, City Hall, 1000 Municipal Drive. Phone: 601-824-4580; Email: [email protected].
- Submit the Application for Rental Inspection & Permit and coordinate an inspection date.
- Complete any listed corrections, then obtain your permit or approval once the property passes.
What inspectors look for
Brandon enforces the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code with local amendments, so inspections focus on life safety and basic maintenance. Expect a visual and functional check of core systems and safety devices. Review the city’s adopted code reference on the Permits & Licenses page.
Common inspection items:
- Smoke alarms in required locations and carbon monoxide alarms where required
- Clear egress, working exterior doors, and proper egress windows in sleeping rooms
- Heating that can maintain minimum temperatures, hot water, and working plumbing
- Safe electrical with no obvious hazards
- Sound structure, safe stairs and handrails, intact windows and doors
- Sanitation, garbage control, ventilation, and basic pest prevention
Timing, fees, and scheduling
The city does not publish a specific rental permit fee on its summary pages. For current fees and inspection timelines, contact Community Development and reference the rental application on Documents & Forms. Plan for one inspection visit, a short correction list if needed, and a recheck after you make repairs.
If your property is outside the Brandon city limits in unincorporated Rankin County, a change in occupancy can trigger a county utility permit and inspection. The county page lists a $100 permit fee. Learn more on the Rankin County utility permit page.
Rankin County rules outside city limits
Rankin County requires a utility permit and inspection before a change in occupancy for dwellings in unincorporated areas. This is a county process and is separate from the City of Brandon’s rental permit. If you are unsure which rules apply, call the county first, then confirm with the city if the property is within city limits. Details appear on the Rankin County utility permit page.
Your Mississippi landlord duties
Local permits and inspections do not replace your state obligations. Under Mississippi’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, you must keep rentals in habitable condition and comply with codes that affect health and safety. See the statute on landlord duties in Miss. Code § 89-8-23.
When a tenancy ends, you must return the security deposit within 45 days with an itemized list of deductions where applicable. Review Miss. Code § 89-8-21.
What this means for buyers and sellers
If you are buying or selling a home that is, or will become, a rental, permits and inspections can affect timing, pricing, and due diligence.
For buyers
- If the property is inside Brandon, ask for the most recent rental permit certificate and inspection report. You can verify requirements on the city’s Documents & Forms page.
- If the property is outside city limits, confirm the county’s utility permit requirement for changes in occupancy on the Rankin County page.
- Budget for any life-safety updates that come up during the city inspection or your home inspection.
For sellers
- Disclose known code-related issues that could impact a rental inspection.
- Consider addressing life-safety items early to keep the timeline on track.
- Provide buyers with any recent city rental permit documents and correction notices if applicable.
For landlords and investors
- Do a pre-inspection walk-through focused on life safety and basic maintenance before you apply.
- Keep receipts and records of repairs to streamline re-inspection if needed.
- If a change in occupancy is planned outside city limits, schedule the county inspection and budget the listed $100 fee.
Pre-inspection checklist
Use this quick list to reduce surprises and re-inspections.
- Install and test smoke alarms in all required locations; add carbon monoxide alarms where required
- Confirm clear egress paths and operable egress windows in sleeping rooms
- Verify heating operates safely and maintains minimum temperatures
- Ensure hot and cold water run at all fixtures and there are no active leaks
- Check electrical for missing cover plates, exposed wiring, or tripping breakers
- Secure loose handrails and repair damaged steps or flooring
- Replace broken panes, ensure windows open and lock, and weatherstrip exterior doors
- Remove debris, set up trash service, and address signs of pests
- Provide adequate lighting and ventilation in rooms that require it
Local contacts and resources
- City of Brandon Community Development, 1000 Municipal Drive, Brandon, MS 39042. Phone: 601-824-4580; Email: [email protected]. Start here: Permits & Licenses and Documents & Forms
- Brandon Fire Department, 629 Marquette Rd, Brandon, MS 39042. Phone: 601-824-4636. See fire prevention and inspections
- Rankin County Office of Community Development, 203 E. Government St., Suite 205, Brandon, MS 39042. Phone: 601-824-2570. Read the county utility permit guidance
Ready to map out the right steps for your Brandon rental purchase or sale, including permit timing and inspection prep? Reach out to Charles Lacey for local guidance that keeps your timeline and bottom line on track.
FAQs
Do I need a city rental permit to rent a single-family home inside Brandon?
- Yes. Brandon requires a rental permit and inspection for single-family rentals inside city limits, with the application available on the city’s Documents & Forms page.
What does the Brandon rental inspection typically cover?
- Inspectors focus on life safety and basic maintenance consistent with the city’s adoption of the 2018 IPMC, including smoke alarms, egress, heat, plumbing, electrical safety, structure, and sanitation as referenced on the Permits & Licenses page.
How much does the Brandon rental permit cost and how long does it take?
- The city does not publish a specific rental permit fee on its summary pages, so call Community Development for current fees and scheduling; plan for one inspection, corrections if needed, and a recheck.
When do Rankin County rules apply instead of the City of Brandon?
- If the property is in unincorporated Rankin County, a change in occupancy can require a county utility permit and inspection, with a listed $100 fee on the Rankin County page.
What are my Mississippi obligations on habitability and deposits?
- Landlords must keep rentals habitable per Miss. Code § 89-8-23, and security deposits must be returned within 45 days per Miss. Code § 89-8-21.
What if the inspector cites violations in Brandon?
- You will receive a correction list and a re-inspection window; fix the issues, then schedule re-inspection to obtain the rental permit or approval.
