Alabama building permits

Where to get a building permit in Alabama

Apply to the building department of the city, town or county where the property is (the steps).

Alabama state agencies

These offices set statewide codes or license the trades. They do not issue permits for most home projects.

Building code in Alabama

For homes, the residential code is the Alabama Residential Building Code⁵, in effect since December 14, 2026⁵ (statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹).

Every code family, edition and effective date is on Alabama building codes.

State rules on which work needs a permit

Ala. Code § 34-14A-12(b)(4); §§ 34-14A-13, 34-8-9; Ala. Admin. Code r. 465-X-10-.06

• Agricultural buildings outside state residential code. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Alabama Residential Building Code does not apply to any agricultural building except for any residence contained therein.¹
• Rule refers to permit-exempt small structures. Detached tool sheds and storage sheds, playhouses and similar structures exempted from permits are not required to provide wall protection based on location on the lot.⁵
• Plumbing without certificate still subject to inspection. The following acts, work, and conduct may be performed by anyone, without registration or certificate, provided, however, that all work and services herein named or referred to shall be subject to an inspection and approval in accordance with the terms of all state laws and applicable municipal ordinances…¹

Applies to

Local jurisdictions with residential permitting and inspection programs¹

Homeowners doing their own work

Ala. Code § 34-14A-6(5); § 34-14A-2(16); § 34-8-7(a)(3); § 34-36-13(a)(5); § 34-37-15(a)(5), (b)

• Owner-builder exempt from home builder license. Owners of property when acting as their own contractor and providing all material supervision themselves, when building or improving one-family or two-family residences on such property for the occupancy or use of such owners and not offered for sale.¹
• Not transferable. This exception may not be transferred to any other person, including, but not limited to, an agent through a power of attorney.¹
• $10,000. Subcontractors hired by homeowners claiming the homeowner exemption must be licensed if the cost of the undertaking for the portion the subcontractor is hired to do exceeds $10,000.00.⁸
• Hiring a supervisor ends owner status. Homeowners who hire or compensate anyone to supervise the building or improvement of their residence are not acting as their own contractor.⁸
• Loses complaint and recovery fund protections. Homeowners claiming the homeowner exemption jeopardize their rights for protection under the provisions of the Home Builders Licensure Law, which include benefits of filing a consumer complaint and receiving payment from the Homeowners’ Recovery Fund.⁸
• General contractor law: own property. A person, firm, or corporation constructing a building or other improvements on his, her, or its own property, provided that any of the work contracted out complies with the definition in this chapter for general contractor.¹
• Owner may do own electrical work (license law). To the owner of any premises or an employee of any such owner when performing electrical work or installing, constructing, maintaining, altering, or repairing electrical wiring, equipment, or apparatus on such premises.¹
• Owner may do own plumbing (license law). This chapter does not apply to any plumbing work performed by a property owner in or about a building owned or occupied by him or her, or plumbing work performed by anyone who is regularly employed by the property owner to provide maintenance or other repair services if the work is incidental to and in connection with the property for which he or she is employed and engaged and is done on the premises of the employer.¹

Contractor licensing

Ala. Code §§ 34-14A-2(16), 34-14A-5, 34-14A-13, 34-14A-14; §§ 34-8-1, 34-8-6, 34-8-7, 34-8-9; § 34-36-13

• $10,000. A person who constructs a residence or structure for sale or who, for a fixed price, commission, fee, or wage, undertakes or offers to undertake the construction or superintending of the construction, or who manages, supervises, assists, or provides consultation to a homeowner regarding the construction or superintending of the construction, of any residence or structure that is not over three floors in height and that does not have more than four residential units, or the repair, improvement, or reimprovement thereof, to be used by another as a residence when the cost of the undertaking exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000).¹
• $2,500. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term includes a residential roofer when the cost of the undertaking exceeds two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500).¹
• Annual license required. All residential home builders shall be required to be licensed by the Home Builders Licensure Board annually.¹
• Class A misdemeanor. Except as provided in Section 13A-9-111.1, any person who undertakes or attempts to undertake the business of residential home building without holding a current and valid residential home builders license, issued by the Home Builders Licensure Board, as required by this chapter, or who knowingly presents to, or files false information with the board for the purpose of obtaining the license or who violates any law or code adopted by a county commission under this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.¹
• $5,000. Whenever it appears to the board that any residential home builder has violated or is about to violate this chapter, the board may resolve the violation by agreement with the residential home builder, may initiate a complaint against the residential home builder, and may levy and collect administrative fines for violations of this chapter or the rules of the board in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each violation.¹
• Unlicensed builder cannot enforce contract. A residential home builder, who does not have the license required, shall not bring or maintain any action to enforce the provisions of any contract for residential home building which he or she entered into in violation of this chapter.¹
• Permit requires proof of license or exemption. It is the duty of the building official, or other authority charged with the duty, of issuing building or similar permits, of any incorporated municipality or subdivision of the municipality or county, to refuse to issue a permit for any undertaking which would require a license hereunder unless the applicant has furnished evidence that he or she is either licensed as required by this chapter or is exempt from the requirements of this chapter.¹
• Stop work order. When an unlicensed builder is identified and work is ongoing, the Board can post a stop work order.⁹
• Solar: license above $10,000, or $2,500 on the roof. OPINION: For the installation of solar panels on a residential structure where the cost of the undertaking exceeds $10,000, or $2,500 when the panels are installed on the residential roof, an unlimited license issued by the Board is required.⁹
• Effective Oct 1, 2026. Changes to Section 34-8-7 of the Code of Alabama will take effect October 1, 2026, and include updates to exemptions from general contractor licensing requirements.¹⁰
• Residential pool exemption. The changes include an exemption for the construction and repair of residential swimming pools, along with new exemptions for certain routine or regular maintenance, repair, cleaning, and facility support services.¹⁰
• Pool jurisdiction unsettled; board opinion. OPINION: The Board does not have explicit jurisdiction over residential swimming pools after October 1, 2026, because Act 2026-396 does not establish any new statutory authority for the Board for the regulation of residential swimming pools but, rather, only exempts residential swimming pools from the jurisdiction of the Alabama Licensing Board of General Contractors.⁹
• Class A misdemeanor. Any person, firm, or corporation not being duly authorized who shall engage in the business of general contracting in this state, except as provided for in this chapter, and any person, firm, or corporation presenting or attempting to file as its own the license certificate of another, or who shall give false or forged evidence of any kind to the board, or to any member thereof, in obtaining a certificate of license, or who falsely shall impersonate another, or who shall use an expired or revoked certificate of license shall be deemed guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and for each offense for which he or she is convicted shall be punished as provided by law.¹
• Electrical license required. No person shall engage in the electrical contracting business or perform work as a master or journeyman electrician unless such person shall have received a license from the board or from the county or municipality where the electrical contracting work is being performed; provided, however, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply…¹

Handyman limits

Ala. Code § 34-14A-2(16)

• $10,000. A person who constructs a residence or structure for sale or who, for a fixed price, commission, fee, or wage, undertakes or offers to undertake the construction or superintending of the construction, or who manages, supervises, assists, or provides consultation to a homeowner regarding the construction or superintending of the construction, of any residence or structure that is not over three floors in height and that does not have more than four residential units, or the repair, improvement, or reimprovement thereof, to be used by another as a residence when the cost of the undertaking exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000).¹
• $2,500. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term includes a residential roofer when the cost of the undertaking exceeds two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500).¹

Private plan review and inspections

• Local governments may contract with each other for enforcement. The county commissions, municipalities, and other public entities may enter into mutual agreements, compacts, and contracts for the administration and enforcement of their respective building laws and codes.¹

Limits on permit fees

Ala. Code § 11-40-10(b)(2)c.; § 34-14A-12(c)(4)

• Municipal permit fee requires an inspection. A municipality may not collect a fee for a building permit unless the municipality conducts a building inspection.¹
• Fee tied to cost of enforcement. The cost of the fee for any building permit shall be reasonably related to the cost of providing building code enforcement and inspection services, and revenue from the fees shall be used for building code enforcement and inspection services and not for general revenue purposes.¹
• County may charge inspection fees. The county commission may employ building inspectors to see that its laws or codes are not violated and that the plans and specifications for buildings are not in conflict with the laws and codes of the county and may exact fees to be paid by the owners of the property inspected.¹

Selling a home with unpermitted work

Ala. Code § 34-27-36 (real estate licensees)

• Licensee must disclose known defects. Making a material misrepresentation or failing to disclose to a potential purchaser or lessee any latent structural defect or any other defect known to the licensee.¹
• Significance standard. Latent structural defects and other defects do not refer to trivial or insignificant defects but refer to those defects that would be a significant factor to a reasonable and prudent person in making a decision to purchase or lease.¹

What local governments may change

Ala. Code §§ 34-14A-12.2, 34-8-7(a)(3), 34-14A-12(b)(2)

• No mandate or restriction on residential sprinklers. Beginning on October 1, 2024, the Home Builders Licensure Board and any other state, municipal, or county governing body may not adopt or amend a building code, ordinance, resolution, or rule that would restrict a consumer’s ability to elect to install, by the consumer’s choice and for a fee, or require the installation of, a residential fire sprinkler system in any residence or structure as defined by this chapter.¹
• Local energy provisions capped. Provisions adopted by local jurisdictions may not exceed those contained within the Alabama Residential Energy Code.¹
• Municipalities cannot restrict own-property general contractor exemption. A municipal governing body or municipal regulatory body may not enact any ordinance or law restricting or altering this exemption.¹

Windstorm and coastal rules

Ala. Admin. Code r. 465-X-10-.08 · in effect December 14, 2026⁵

• Baldwin and Mobile counties. Compliance with the Coastal Construction Code Supplement is mandatory for roofing and re-roofing of residential structures located within the Counties of Baldwin and Mobile.⁵
• All other counties. Compliance with the Construction Code Supplement is mandatory for roofing and re-roofing of residential structures located within all counties of the State other than the Counties of Baldwin and Mobile.⁵