CONNECTIONS

Gulfport Code of Ordinances ch. 11, art. II

in effect

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-26 When connections to sewers and water are required.

Sec. 11-26. - When connections to sewers and water are required. (a) The owner of any improved premises located within three hundred (300) feet of any sewer pipe line constituting a part of the combined water and sewer system shall promptly connect such premises thereto. In the event of his failure to do so, it shall be the duty of the director of the department of public works to notify such owner in writing that a sewer line is available to his property and thereupon, if such connection be not made by such owner within a period of sixty (60) days from and after the date of such written notice, the owner or tenant shall nevertheless be billed for sewer service at the rate of the projected average consumption set forth in subsection 11-66(a) for residential and commercial uses. (b) The owner of any improved premises located within three hundred (300) feet of any water line constituting a part of the combined water and sewer system shall promptly connect such premises thereto except in special cases where single-family residences are supplied water from a water well located on the premises. In these special cases it shall be the duty of the director of the department of public works to notify such owner in writing that a water line is available to his property and thereupon, if such connection be not made by such owner within a period of sixty (60) days from and after the date of such written notice, the owner or tenant shall nevertheless be billed for water service at the rate of the projected average consumption set forth in subsection 11-64(a) for residential and commercial uses. (Code 1963, § 29-28; Ord. No. 2594, § 4, 7-8-08; Ord. No. 2668, § 2, 3-16-10)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-27 Service connection application and contract required.

Sec. 11-27. - Service connection application and contract required. No permit shall be issued for water service connections or sewer service connections until the owner of the premises involved, or his duly authorized agent, shall have signed a proper application and contract therefor, stating that no plumber shall make any additions, alterations or do any other work whereby the prevailing rate for water service or sewer service will be changed until he shall have secured a written order from the owner of the premises affected, or his duly authorized agent, which order shall be filed by such plumber by attaching same to his report filed with the director of the department of public works. (Code 1963, § 29-30)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-28 Execution of contracts generally.

Sec. 11-28. - Execution of contracts generally. All contracts requested by the customer for tappage under the provisions of this article shall be signed for both water and sewer tapping requests. (Ord. No. 1771, § 3, 6-16-87)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-29 Connection fees required; terms of customers' contracts.

Sec. 11-29. - Connection fees required; terms of customers' contracts. The owner of any premises, his tenant or his duly authorized agent shall pay to the city, before water service or sewer service is connected, fees as set out herein and in accordance with customer's contract covering water and sewer services. The city council shall, by resolution, fix the form of the customer's contract which may contain such pertinent facts as to this chapter, rates, fees, etc., as they deem proper and which may be changed from time to time by resolution as they may deem advisable. (Code 1963, § 29-31)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-30 Execution of customer's contracts by owners; liability for noncompliance.

Sec. 11-30. - Execution of customer's contracts by owners; liability for noncompliance. All customers' contracts, whether for water or sewerage service shall be executed by the owner of the premises, by his tenant or by his duly authorized agent, and the applicant shall be responsible for service charges for water and sewer services to the premises and shall make a deposit thereon as a part of such application as hereinafter provided. (Code 1963, § 29-32)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-31 Execution of customers'contracts by tenants; deposit required.

Sec. 11-31. - Execution of customers'contracts by tenants; deposit required. (a) Water/sewer account deposits. Each tenant or customer applying for water and/or sewerage service from and after the effective date of the ordinance from which this provision derives shall place with the water department of the city or its designees a deposit as follows: (1) For residential premises .....$ 150.00 (2) For all commercial premises .....200.00 (b) Disposition of deposits. Deposits shall be held in trust to ensure payment of water and sewage charges and shall be applied toward a customer's account for water and/or sewerage services when the account becomes delinquent. Deposits shall not bear interest, and any amount remaining on deposit upon termination of the customer's contract shall first be applied to any final balance on the customer's account with any remaining amount refunded to the customer on request. Deposits shall be kept in a separate fund entitled "water and sewer deposit trust fund." Customers who continuously make payments on or before the appropriate due date for a period of one (1) year (twelve (12) consecutive months) shall have their deposit refunded upon request. The total amount of deposit within the "water and sewer deposit trust fund" for each customer account shall not exceed: (1) For residential premises .....$ 150.00 (2) For all commercial premises .....200.00 (Code 1963, § 29-33; Ord. No. 1860, § 2, 12-5-89; Ord. No. 2151, § 1, 10-9-98; Ord. No. 2281, § 3, 5-8-01; Ord. No. 2344, § 2, 1-7-03; Ord. No. 2346, § 2, 1-9-03; Ord. No. 2622, § 3, 2-19-09; Ord. No. 2698, § 5, 9-14-10)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-32 Persons autborized to make water connections.

Sec. 11-32. - Persons autborized to make water connections. All connections to the water lines, and extensions thereof, shall be made by employees of the department of public works or the designees of the city, except for extensions or installations of unusual magnitude which may require materials, skill or equipment not possessed by or otherwise available to the department or the city, but in such cases such work must be done under the supervision of the director of the department of public works or his authorized representative or designee. (Code 1963, § 29-34; Ord.No. 2297, § 4, 5-8-01)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-33 Installation, repair of supply pipes, fixtures to be by plumbers; compliance with plumbing regulations.

Sec. 11-33. - Installation, repair of supply pipes, fixtures to be by plumbers; compliance with plumbing regulations. All supply pipes, attachments, fixtures, and things of like character, and repairs thereof, shall be installed or made by duly authorized, bonded plumbers, as hereinafter provided. Before any plumber shall be allowed to do such work, he shall be required to submit acceptable evidence to the director of the department of urban development that he is properly licensed, bonded and qualified to do such work under Article III of Chapter 3 of this Code. The city may recover under such bond any damages that it may suffer by reason of negligence, lack of skill, or any disregard of the provisions of such article on the part of such plumber; and such recovery shall in no wise operate to release such plumber from prosecution in the proper courts for such violation. The permit or privilege granted to any plumber to do such work may be revoked for cause. (Code 1963, § 29-35; Ord. No. 2180, § 6, 6-8-99)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-34 When property owners, tenants may do work on water connections, fixtures.

Sec. 11-34. - When property owners, tenants may do work on water connections, fixtures. In the event any property owner or tenant shall possess the necessary skill, material and other essential things to install, repair or alter the connections, pipes and attachments to the water service lines on his own premises, he shall be allowed to do such work, provided that he shall first obtain the necessary permit and file the necessary reports as required of plumbers, but this section shall not be construed to permit irresponsible or incompetent workmen to do such work; and in no case shall such permit extend beyond the premises actually owned or occupied by the person to whom it is issued. (Code 1963, § 29-36)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-35 Connections from house sewers to sewer lines to be by owner or master plumber.

Sec. 11-35. - Connections from house sewers to sewer lines to be by owner or master plumber. (a) Owners. Sewer line connections from sewer outlets or buildings to sewer lines of the sanitary sewerage system may be laid and connections made by the owners of property as to the property in which he actually resides, provided, that the requirements of Article III of Chapter 3 be followed as to the method of connecting, material used, proper venting and trapping, etc., and provided that said work be inspected and passed by the plumbing inspector of the city prior to use. (b) Master plumbers. All connections of house plumbing with sewer lines except those personally made by the owner of property as to his own residence as provided in subsection (a) above must be made by or under the supervision of a master plumber. (Code 1963, § 29-37)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-36 Persons authorized to lay sewer line from building to sewer; special licenses.

Sec. 11-36. - Persons authorized to lay sewer line from building to sewer; special licenses. (a) Sewer lines from the sanitary sewer mains to the point of connection with building plumbing shall be made only by or under the supervision of a master plumber, except as provided in section 11-35; except that such sewer lines may be laid but may not be connected, by persons holding special licenses from the city as provided hereinafter. (b) The mayor and city council may issue special licenses to lay sewer lines, but not to make connections with building plumbing or waste lines, to qualified persons who: (1) Make written application to the mayor and city council for such license setting forth their experience, training and qualifications; (2) Receive the unanimous approval of each member of the mayor and city council; (3) Furnish bond of not less than three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) conditioned as bonds of master plumbers in the city are conditioned; (4) Make payment of privilege license required of master plumbers by law. (Code 1963, § 29-38)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-37 Plumbers to obtain permits for new connections.

Sec. 11-37. - Plumbers to obtain permits for new connections. Before any plumber may proceed to make any installation of new service connections, either for water service or for sewer service, he shall obtain from the department of public works a written permit on a form provided for that purpose, giving the location, the name of the person for whom such work is to be done, and such other essential information relative thereto as the director of the department of public works may require. Such permit shall be returned to the office of the superintendent within twenty-four (24) hours after the completion of such work, properly signed by the plumber to whom it was issued and contain a full and complete statement of the number, kind, and approximate location of all fixtures and outlets made to the combined water and sewer system of the city. (Code 1963, § 29-39)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-38 Plumbers to give notice and report of repairs, installations.

Sec. 11-38. - Plumbers to give notice and report of repairs, installations. Before any plumber shall proceed to make any repairs, attachments, installations or alterations to any service connections or parts thereof already in use, he shall leave or file a notice at the office of the director of the department of urban development, giving the location of the premises and the name of the person for whom such work is to be done; and within twenty-four (24) hours after such work is completed he shall report to the director of the department of urban development, on a prescribed printed form, a complete list and description of the fixtures and attachments on such premises to which water is supplied at the time when such plumber shall have completed such work. (Code 1963, § 29-40; Ord. No. 2180, § 7, 6-8-99)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-39 Length of service connections.

Sec. 11-39. - Length of service connections. All service connections made by the department shall extend only to a point not exceeding three (3) feet beyond the prevailing street curbline, or to the property line, and no employee of the department shall be allowed to lay any pipe, make any repairs, attachments, or perform any service in behalf of any tenant or property owner beyond such point because of or relating to such service connections. (Code 1963, § 29-41)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-40 Size of water taps; curb cock or cutoff required; separate connections required.

Sec. 11-40. - Size of water taps; curb cock or cutoff required; separate connections required. The size of all water service connections, or taps, shall not be less than five-eighths of an inch in diameter, except in special cases, in which event the director of the department of public works shall designate such size as the particular case may require. All water service connections shall be provided with suitable curb cock or cut-off valve, and a separate service connection shall be required for each premises, house, lot, or subdivision thereof, except as hereinafter provided. (Code 1963, § 29-42)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-41 Stop and waste cocks required; compliance with other regulations; work to be satisfactory to director.

Sec. 11-41. - Stop and waste cocks required; compliance with other regulations; work to be satisfactory to director. All new water service connections shall be provided with substantial stop and waste cocks located at some convenient and conspicuous place within the boundaries of the premises supplied, and all plumbing work in connection with the water and sewer system shall be done in accordance with this Code and other ordinances, rules and regulations governing such work. All work done by such plumbers shall in every way be satisfactory to the director of the department of urban development. (Code 1963, § 29-43; Ord. No. 2180, § 8, 6-8-99)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-42 Separate water connections required.

Sec. 11-42. - Separate water connections required. Each premises shall be required to have a separate connection to the water main so that service to same can be discontinued without affecting any other customer; and in case any property owner shall have divided his premises so that two (2) or more customers can be served through one (1) connection to the water main, he shall provide a proper shut-off valve for each separate connection, so that service may be discontinued to one (1) customer without affecting any other. All such shut-off valves shall be so arranged or installed that they can only be operated by employees of the department or by authorized, bonded plumbers. (Code 1963, § 29-44)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-43 Operation of control cocks.

Sec. 11-43. - Operation of control cocks. Except as provided in section 11-42, no person, except the director of the department of public works or the director of finance, or their duly authorized representatives, shall have the right to tamper with or operate the curb cocks, or to shut off the cock or valve through which water is supplied to any premises, except that authorized, bonded plumbers may be permitted to turn the water on temporarily for the purpose of testing their work, or to shut the water off temporarily for the purpose of making repairs, etc., but in all cases such plumbers shall leave the said curb cock or shut-off cock in the same position and condition in which it was found; provided, however, that any such plumbers shall first obtain the necessary permit and file the necessary report, as herein required. (Code 1963, § 29-45; Ord. No. 2180, § 9, 6-8-99)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-44 Cross-connection control policy adopted.

Sec. 11-44. - Cross-connection control policy adopted. The cross-connection control policy, which is attached to ordinance 2179, is hereby adopted as the policy for the City of Gulfport, and is incorporated by reference into the city's general ordinances regulating water and sewers codified at Chapter 11 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Gulfport, Mississippi. The city cross connection control policy in effect hereunder is specifically stated to cover all public water systems owned and operated by the City of Gulfport, including without limitation the systems recognized by the State of Mississippi Department of Health as Gulfport PWS #0240003, Orange Grove PWS #0240008, and Oakleigh PWS #0240064. The city cross connection control policy is amended to incorporate and extend as applicable those certain deadlines for implementation of a cross connection control program for completing surveys and on-site visits, and for installation of approved backflow preventers for "high hazard cross connections" and for "low hazard cross connections" and such other statutory requirements or regulations as may be imposed under sections 41-26-14 and 41-26-15, Mississippi Code Annotated, as amended, and any subsequent amendments to said statutory or Mississippi State Department of Health requirements, regulations, or deadlines pertaining to the cross connection control program. (Ord. No. 2179, § 2, 6-8-99; Ord. No. 2215, § 2, 1-4-00; Ord. No. 2257, §§ 2, 3, 11-8-00; Ord. No. 2281, § 2, 5-8-01)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-45 Sewage pumping connection fees required for sewer connection and service within the one mile corridor outside of the city limits.

Sec. 11-45. - Sewage pumping connection fees required for sewer connection and service within the one mile corridor outside of the city limits. (a) Fees. The property owner or other proposed user of any premises outside of the city limits of the City of Gulfport desiring to connect to Gulfport sanitary sewer mains for collection and distribution of sewage to the Harrison County Wastewater District facilities shall before sewer service is connected, in addition to all other tap and service fees charged under city ordinances, pay the following sewage pumping connection fee: Category | Sewage Pumping Fee Single-family residence | $ 875.00 1-bedroom apartment | 500.00 2-bedroom apartment | 750.00 3-bedroom apartment | 1,125.00 Other developments | $2.50 per gallon per day, minimum $500.00 Sewage flow for category of "other developments" shall be estimated by the city engineering department using accepted engineering parameters. (b) Fees outside of the one mile corridor. Connections to Gulfport wastewater collection facilities shall not be allowed outside of the one (1) mile corridor from the Gulfport city limits until a sewage pumping connection fee is established by the governing authority and approval, if any required, by the Mississippi Public Service Commission, is obtained. (c) Certificated areas excluded. Any area in which a private utility provider has in effect a certificate to serve issued by the Mississippi Public Service Commission is excluded from this section. (Ord. No. 2252, § II, 9-19-2000)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 11-46 Mobile home parks and apartment complexes.

Sec. 11-46. - Mobile home parks and apartment complexes. (a) A property owner, who owns or develops an apartment complex or mobile home park in compliance with city ordinances, shall, until July 31, 2025, have the option of providing a master water meter at the property line to serve all apartments or mobile homes located on the property or providing separate meters for each apartment or mobile home. On or after August 1, 2025, except where the city Council has acted to assume perpetual maintenance of the lines in accord with paragraph (b) below, said property owners shall provide a master water meter at the property line to serve all apartments or mobile homes located on the property and the failure to do so shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable in accord with Section 1-9 of the Code of Ordinances. (b) Prior to August 1, 2025, where the owner desires to provide separate meters for each apartment or mobile home, the following procedures shall be followed: (1) Existing apartment complex or mobile home park. a. The property owner shall have the existing water line system surveyed by a professional engineer licensed in the state. b. Said professional engineer shall verify that the existing system meets the minimum standards of the city as approved by the city engineer and shall certify same to the city. c. If the existing system does not meet the minimum standards of the city, then the professional engineer shall design the improvements that will be necessary to meet the standards. If fire flow is required, the minimum water main size shall be determined by the city on a case-by-case basis. d. Meter boxes and service lines with meter connections for each apartment or mobile home shall be required. e. Once approved by the city engineer, the owner shall be responsible for funding all of the necessary improvements including, but not limited to provision of needed service lines with meter connections, meters, meter boxes and all other improvements required to comply with the minimum standards of the city. f. Owner must provide a minimum fifteen-foot perpetual easement for all main water lines, up to each meter, located within the owner's property. A perpetual right of entry shall also be provided to the city for access. Both the perpetual easement and the perpetual right of entry shall be provided to the city at no cost to the city. g. After all improvements are constructed, the city engineer shall perform a final inspection. Once all improvements are approved, the city shall assume perpetual maintenance of the water mains within the fifteen-foot easement up to the meter. The owner shall still retain ownership and maintenance responsibility for the service lines on the customer's side of the meter. (2) Proposed developments of apartment complex or mobile home park. a. The property owner shall have the system designed by a professional engineer licensed in the state. b. The professional engineer shall design the property's water system in accord with the minimum requirements of the city as approved by the city engineer. If fire flow is required, the minimum water main size shall be determined by the city on a case-by-case basis depending on the applicable fire codes for the size of the development and number of residences. c. Once the water system design is approved by the city engineer, the owner shall be responsible for funding all of the necessary construction of the water system. d. After construction of the water system is complete, the city engineer shall perform a final inspection. After the water system is approved, the city shall assume perpetual maintenance of the water mains within the fifteen-foot easement up to the meter. The owner shall retain ownership and maintenance responsibility for the service lines on the customer's side of the meter. e. Owner must provide a minimum fifteen-foot perpetual easement for all main water lines located within the owner's property. A perpetual right of entry shall also be provided to the city for access. f. Apartment complexes shall be designed with a meter bank to house all water meters for each building. (c) [Exceptions.] Recreational vehicle parks are excluded from the provisions of this article. (Ord. No. 2385, § 3, 3-2-04; Ord. No. 3354, § 2, 3-5-24)

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_CH11WASE_ARTIICOFetched: 11/1/2026