Harrison County supervisors review process for farm-structure affidavits after owners seek electricity for barns

Owners of a horse-breeding operation told the Harrison County Board of Supervisors they have three pole barns on property in the Sosier area and are seeking a county affidavit so Coast Electric can turn on electrical service.

The applicants, Lucian Young and Adrian Mitchell, said the buildings shelter about 15 horses they breed and that affidavits required under state law have been submitted to county staff. Tom Carpenter, an attorney representing the owners, asked the board to give county staff clear direction so Kelly (county permitting staff) can sign the affidavit and the utility can issue an electrical permit.

The discussion centered on Mississippi’s farm-structure exemption codified at Mississippi Code Annotated §17-2-7, which exempts certain "farm structures" from applicable building codes when an affidavit is filed. County officials and legal counsel said the statute is vague about what qualifies as a farm or farm structure and noted the legislature did not include an acreage requirement.

County staff and the board repeatedly said the law appears to exempt nonresidential farm structures such as barns and tractor sheds but also warned the exemption does not apply where use would affect the National Flood Insurance Program or where a barn is later converted to a residence. County counsel said affidavits are sworn statements; if an affidavit were intentionally false it could expose the signer to criminal penalties.

Several speakers who said they own or operate small farms or keep horses described delays and extra costs they encountered when attempting to install wells or obtain permits for accessory farm structures; they urged the county to clarify procedure and to give applicants a single affidavit form and guidance up front so other residents do not face the same “runaround.”

Board members and staff agreed to streamline internal practice: when applicants indicate a farm structure, permitting staff will provide the affidavit form and guidance at the time of initial contact. County counsel and staff said they would review the affidavits that have been submitted and, if they meet statutory prerequisites, would sign to enable Coast Electric to issue electrical permits. No formal board action or vote was taken on a county policy change during the meeting.

The board and speakers also discussed enforcement: if a structure that qualified as a farm structure is later converted to residential use, the county’s code office retains authority to require permits and could take enforcement action for violations of the affidavit.

Owners said one additional, larger barn was proposed; they confirmed affidavits for the three existing structures had been submitted to county staff and asked for timely sign-off so electric service can be connected.

County staff said they will provide applicants with a template affidavit and will continue to consult county legal counsel as necessary to validate affidavits under §17-2-7.

The discussion closed with county staff committing to improve front-end guidance to residents seeking to build farm structures so future applicants do not face similar delays.