GENERAL CONTRACTORS

Gulfport Code of Ordinances ch. 3, art. II, div. 2

in effect

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 3-41 Definitions.

Sec. 3-41. - Definitions. As used in this division [the following terms] are defined and classified as follows: Certificate of responsibility: A certificate number held by a contractor issued by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Class A: General contractors whose services are unlimited with respect to the type of structure on which such contractors may work are defined as class A general contractors and shall be required to have at least ten (10) years' work experience as an architect, engineer, contractor or superintendent of construction or a combination of these qualifications or other equivalent work experience and qualifications and shall be required to furnish to the city acceptable work references verifying such experience. Class B: General contractors whose services are limited to commercial structures and multiple-dwelling residential structures are defined below as class B contractors as well as other services described by the definition for a "class C" general contractor set forth herein below. Any person contracting or undertaking as prime contractor, subcontractor or subcontractor of any tier to do any erection, building, construction, reconstruction, repair, maintenance or related work on any public or private project. (1) Any contract or undertaking by a prime contractor, subcontractor or subcontractor of any tier involving erection, building, construction, reconstruction, repair, maintenance or related work where such contract, subcontract or undertaking is less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00); (2) Any contract or undertaking on a private project by a prime contractor, subcontractor, or subcontractor of any tier involving erection, building, construction, reconstruction, repair, maintenance or related work where such contract, subcontract or undertaking is less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00); (3) A residential project to be occupied by fifty (50) or fewer families and not more than three (3) stories in height; (4) A new construction project not exceeding seven thousand five hundred (7,500) square feet and not more than two (2) stories in height. Class C: General contractors whose services are restricted to one- and two-family dwellings and accessory use structures in connection therewith and/or the alteration and repair of nonresidential buildings, where structural strength, stability or required fire protection are not involved, are defined and classified as class C general contractors. If a property owner desires to construct his own dwelling, such property owner will be deemed a class C general contractor for purposes of this division. Person: Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association or other type of business entity. Private project. A project or erection, building, construction, reconstruction, repair, maintenance or related work which is not funded in whole or in part with public funds. Public agency: Any board, commission, council or agency of the State of Mississippi or any district, county or municipality thereof, including school, hospital, airport, and all other types of governing agencies created or operated under the laws of this state. Public funds. Monies of public agencies, whether obtained from taxation, donation or otherwise; or monies being expended by public agencies for the purpose of which such public agencies exist. Public project: Any project for erection, building, construction, reconstruction, repair, maintenance or related work which is funded in whole or in part with public funds. (Ord. No. 1891, § 1, 5-7-91; Ord. No. 2024, § 1, 8-22-95)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 3-42 Certification and licensing.

Sec. 3-42. - Certification and licensing. (a) All general contractors operating within the city shall be required to be certified or licensed by the city building code board of adjustments and appeals, and no building permits shall be issued to any such general contractor who does not have such certification or license. To obtain a certificate, an applicant shall submit an application in writing to the board, or other official designated by the board, containing the statement that the applicant desires the issuance of a certificate and the class of certificate desired on a form containing the information prescribed by the board and such application shall be accompanied by an application fee as set forth elsewhere in this division. Such license or certificate of competency shall be issued by the building code board of adjustments and appeals to all general contractors who become qualified by examination by the city building code board of adjustments and appeals. Any holder of a valid certificate of competency issued heretofore by the building code board of adjustments and appeals of the city who does not renew said certificate within sixty (60) days after the end of the city's fiscal year during or for which such certificate was issued, shall be subject to a fifty (50) percent renewal penalty. A limited certificate of competency applicable for a single job may be issued by such board and shall automatically expire upon completion of the project for which such limited certificate of competency was issued. No such limited certificate of competency shall be issued unto the same party for new structures within the five-year period following the issuance of such initial certificate of competency. In such event, the building official shall fully document his reasons for issuing such temporary permits and his action in so doing shall be subject to review and possible revocation by the city building code board of adjustments and appeals. (b) A certificate of competency based upon the examination of an individual representing a partnership, firm or corporation shall be valid only during the time that such individual is a member or supervising employee of such partnership, firm or corporation. The building official may issue temporary licenses for periods not to exceed sixty (60) days in cases where he determines such action necessary to avoid undue hardships. (Ord. No. 1891, § 2, 5-7-91)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 3-43 Examinations.

Sec. 3-43. - Examinations. (1) Application for certificate of competency. Those persons, firms or corporations who are not holders of a certificate issued by the city building code board of adjustment and appeals shall apply for such certificate of competency. Such application shall be accompanied by evidence of good moral character and integrity, a statement of familiarity and knowledge of the appropriate building codes of the city and knowledge of the zoning laws of the city, and such other matters as the board may deem to be necessary and applicable. (2) Public liability insurance. The applicant shall furnish evidence that the applicant has in force a policy of public liability insurance for the protection of the public covering the applicant's proposed work in a sum of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00)/three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00), together with completed product coverage. (3) Written examination. The city participates in a cooperative testing program in the state for standardized testing by the Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI). Before an applicant is granted a certificate of competency the city building official must receive and report to the building code of adjustment and appeals a report from the SBCCI that the applicant has received a passing score on the Mississippi Standard Contractor Examination. A passing score shall satisfy the written examination requirements for licensing. (4) Examination fees. Applicant shall pay all examination fees as required by SBCCI to sit for the standard examination. (Ord. No. 1891, § 3, 5-7-91; Ord. No. 2085, § 1, 6-3-97)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 3-44 Application fees.

Sec. 3-44. - Application fees. The application required for a contractor license (certificate of competency) shall be accompanied by a fee described below: General. Class A—Gpt .....$200 Class B .....150 Class C 100 MS—General .....NC * MS—Residential .....100 MS—Remodeler .....100 MS—Other .....100 * State Law Prohibits Charging a License Fee The contractor license (certificate of competency) may be renewed from year to year upon payment of the license fees listed above, without reexamination, provided that proof of insurance is provided. (Ord. No. 1891, § 4, 5-7-91; Ord. No. 2085, § 1, 6-3-97; Ord. No. 2331, § 8, 9-12-02)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 3-45 Reserved.

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 3-46 Penalty.

Sec. 3-46. - Penalty. (a) Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this division or who fails to comply therewith or who shall commence construction without such license or certificate of competency and the appropriate building permit shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment for not more than sixty (60) days or both such fine and imprisonment. In the event of any such violation, any certificate, license or permit issued to such contractor shall be subject to revocation. Such revocation or suspension of license and certificate of competency shall be by action of the building code board of adjustments and appeals and shall be subject to appeal as other similar actions are appealed to the mayor and city council, and thereafter to the appropriate state courts as in the case of appeals of administrative decisions of other municipal boards and commissions. Prior to the revocation or suspension of any such license or certificate of competency or building permit, any contractor and/or subcontractor affected thereby (electrical, plumbing, or heating and air conditioning, etc.) shall first be given reasonable opportunity, not less than thirty (30) days, to appear before the building code board of adjustments and appeals, (electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, etc.) to show just cause why such revocation or suspension should not be imposed. (b) The imposition of one (1) penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation and shall not be justification for such violation to continue; and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within a reasonable time; and when not otherwise specified, each ten (10) days during which such prohibited conditions continue shall constitute a separate offense. Further, the application of the above penalty/penalties shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions by other appropriate legal remedies. (Ord. No. 1891, § 6, 5-7-91)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 3-47 Grandfather provisions.

Sec. 3-47. - Grandfather provisions. All general contractors currently licensed by the city, and in good standing on May 7, 1991, shall be exempt from the aforesaid written examination process. Good standing is defined as holding a valid contracting license and having provided proper bonds and insurance and licenses to the city which were valid and in effect on May 7, 1991. Proper documentation shall be provided by the applicant attesting to the status of the privilege tax license, required surety bond or public liability insurance, and the contractor license as May 7, 1991. (Ord. No. 1891, § 7, 5-7-91; Ord. No. 1947, § 1, 10-4-93)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 3-48 Reciprocity.

Sec. 3-48. - Reciprocity. General contractors applying for certificate of competency shall be exempt from the written examination requirement if they satisfy either of the following conditions: (1) Furnish proof of passing the applicable Mississippi Standard Contractors Examination administered for a participating jurisdiction by SBCCI; or (2) furnish a certified copy of a State of Mississippi Certificate of Responsibility. A general contractor who has such a license shall not be required to hold such a license for a minimum of one (1) year. (Ord. No. 1891, § 8, 5-7-91; Ord. No. 1949, § 1, 10-5-93; Ord. No. 2085, § 1, 6-3-97)

Source: City of Gulfport, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/gulfport/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH3BU_ARTIIBUCO_DIV2GECOFetched: 11/1/2026