ORDINANCE NO. 12-2026 CITY OF PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI AMENDING CHAPTER 14, ARTICLE II, SECTION 14-46 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING THE ISSUANCE AND EXPIRATION OF BUILDING PERMITS WHEREAS, Chapter 14, Article II, Section 14-46 of the Pascagoula Code of Ordinances regulates the expiration of building permits; and WHEREAS, certain revisions to Chapter 14, Article II, Section 14-46, are needed to provide for the efficient development of the City and provide improved oversight of construction activities; and WHEREAS, Mississippi Code Section 21-19-25 grants the City full jurisdiction to adopt ordinances with respect to building codes and other codes dealing with the public health, safety, and welfare; and WHEREAS, modifications are needed to Chapter 14, Article II, Section 14-46 to assist with the elimination of blight from the City of Pascagoula; and WHEREAS, the City Council for the City of Pascagoula hereby amends Chapter 14, Article II, Section 14-46, as set forth herein. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASCAGOULA AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Chapter 14, Article II, Section 14-46 is hereby amended as follows: (a) A permit application received for a proposed building, structure, or development shall be deemed to have been abandoned three months after the date of submittal, unless before then a permit shall have been issued; provided, however, that for cause, one or more extensions of time for periods not exceeding 60 days each may be allowed by the building official. (b) Except as provided otherwise in this Section,any permit issued shall become invalid unless the work authorized by it shall commence within three months after its issuance. Once the work authorized by the permit is begun, the permit holder shall make reasonable progress toward the completion of the authorized work. If reasonable progress is not made, the building official shall revoke the permit. That revocation may be appealed to the planning board and city council as provided in this chapter. (c) The work authorized under a permit for all new construction shall be completed within 12 months of the date it is issued. Except as provided otherwise in this Section,the work authorized under a permit for all repairs, renovations, and rehabilitations shall be completed within six months of the date it is issued. The building official may, for good cause, grant an extension of time to either commence the work or to complete it once commenced. A permit holder seeking such an extension shall submit a written request therefor to the building official. (d) Whenever the city council holds a hearing pursuant to Mississippi Code Section 21-19-11 or other applicable law to determine whether a property constitutes a menace requiring cleaning, the city council may impose permit restrictions more restrictive than those outlined above for therepair, renovation, or rehabilitation of the property, including: 1. The time to commence the repair, renovation, or rehabilitation of the property may be required to commence in less than three months from the date of issuance of the permit; and 2. The time to complete the repair, renovation, or rehabilitation of the property may be required to be completed in less than six months from the date of issuance of the permit; and 3. Issuance of the permit may be conditioned upon the applicant granting the building official full and complete access to the subject property. SECTION 2. The amendments to this Chapter shall become effective as provided by law. The motion to approve the foregoing ordinance was made by Brandenstein and seconded by Young, and the following vote was recorded: Mayor Willis Aye Councilman Stallworth Aye Councilman Fornett Aye Councilwoman Young Aye Councilman Parker Aye Councilman Blythe Absent Councilwoman Brandenstein Aye ORDAINED, this the 18th day of August, 2026. ATTEST: CITY COUNCIL /s/ Karen Kennedy By: /s/ Jay Willis City Clerk Mayor IPL0367613 Aug 23 2026