Building Permits in Alabama

We cover 14 cities in Alabama. Select a city below to see local permit requirements.

14 Cities Covered
975 Permit Rules
IRC Building Code Base

About Building Permits in Alabama

Building permit requirements in Alabama are enforced at the local level by city and county building departments. Most jurisdictions adopt the International Residential Code (IRC) as their baseline building standard, though many cities add local amendments that can make requirements stricter or more lenient.

We currently cover 14 cities in Alabama with 975 specific permit rules. Permit fees, processing times, and exemption thresholds vary by city — select your city below for details.

Popular Project Guides

Common home improvement projects in Alabama:

HVAC / Furnace Guide Kitchen Remodel Guide Bathroom Remodel Guide Plumbing Work Guide Garage / Carport Guide Swimming Pool / Hot Tub Guide

Cities in Alabama

Huntsville
Pop. 241,114
70 rules
Mobile
Pop. 201,367
70 rules
Birmingham
Pop. 200,733
72 rules
Montgomery
Pop. 195,818
70 rules
Tuscaloosa
Pop. 108,000
59 rules
Hoover
Pop. 92,606
72 rules
Madison
Pop. 64,029
70 rules
Decatur
Pop. 57,974
70 rules
Prattville
Pop. 40,139
70 rules
Vestavia Hills
Pop. 39,116
72 rules
Phenix City
Pop. 38,509
70 rules
Prichard
Pop. 18,816
70 rules
Millbrook
Pop. 16,909
70 rules
Saraland
Pop. 16,435
70 rules

Don't see your city?

Our lookup tool can still help — we'll use the International Residential Code as a baseline for your area.

Check Your Zip Code →