Building permits in Birmingham — Alabama's historic industrial hub — are issued by the Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits (PEP). The City enforces the ICC I-Codes with local amendments.
This guide covers what requires a permit, the Online Permit Center (Accela), fees, trade permits, and inspections — so your Birmingham project stays on track.
Birmingham's PEP department handles the majority of City permits and is moving all permitting to its Online Permit Center (Accela), with a Digital Plan Room for plans-intensive submittals. Permits are generally valid for 180 days from issuance — if work hasn't started or inspections haven't been scheduled, the permit may expire. An interactive City permit guide helps confirm what you need before applying.
Alabama has no single statewide building code for private construction. The State Building Code (2021 IBC, amended March 2025 with portions of the 2024 I-Codes) is enforced by the Division of Construction Management (DCM) only for state-owned buildings, public and private schools, hotels/motels, and movie theaters. For everything else, building permits are issued and enforced locally by city and county building departments. Under Act 2024-443, a statewide Alabama Residential Building Code (based on the IRC and IECC) becomes mandatory January 1, 2027, administered by the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board — so residential code enforcement is moving toward a consistent statewide baseline.
What requires a building permit in Birmingham?
Under locally adopted codes, a permit is required for most construction activities:
Permit required
- New residential and commercial construction, additions, conversions
- Structural and load-bearing alterations
- Reroofing, windows, siding, and exterior modifications
- Electrical service changes and most wiring work
- HVAC installations, changeouts, and ductwork
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, water heaters
- Decks, porches, fences, patios, pools, garages
- Change of occupancy or use, sign installation
Typically exempt
- Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinet installation
- Countertop replacement and similar finish work
- Minor repairs replacing existing materials in kind
- Small one-story detached accessory structures below the local size threshold (verify locally)
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Building without a permit in Birmingham can result in fines, stop-work orders, and mandatory removal of unpermitted work.
Who handles permitting in Birmingham?
The Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits handles plan review, permit issuance, and construction inspections. Permits are managed through the Online Permit Center (Accela).
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Dept. of Planning, Engineering & Permits (PEP), Birmingham, AL |
| Phone | (205) 254-2211 |
| Apply | Online Permit Center (Accela) + Digital Plan Room |
| Inspections | Call (205) 254-2211, 7:30–8:30 a.m. M–F |
| Permit validity | 180 days from issuance |
| Code | ICC I-Codes, locally adopted |
Apply at the Online Permit Center. Apply, pay, and track permits online; upload plans through the Digital Plan Room for plans-intensive permits. Trade permits can be submitted to Permit.Support@birminghamal.gov with the exact required subject line.
Birmingham building permit cost
Birmingham permit fees are typically valuation-based. Plan review fees are set by the adopted fee schedule.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Residential building permit | Valuation-based per the local fee schedule |
| Commercial building permit | Valuation-based — varies by scope, occupancy, and area |
| Plan review | Calculated per the adopted fee schedule |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Separate fees per trade |
| Re-inspections / revisions | Additional fees may apply |
| Work-without-permit | Penalties, stop-work orders, and possible removal of unpermitted work |
Want a precise number for a specific Birmingham project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Birmingham trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work each needs its own permit and appropriately licensed tradespeople.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, EV chargers, and most wiring alterations — performed by a contractor licensed by the Alabama Electrical Contractors Board (AECB).
Plumbing & gas permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water-heater changeouts, fixtures, backflow, and sewer/gas connections — performed by a contractor licensed by the Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC installations, changeouts, ductwork, and venting — performed by a contractor licensed by the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors (HACR Board).
Miscellaneous & specialty
Fencing, pools, decks, sheds, and patio covers may require special permits depending on size and utility hookups. Demolition, sign, and right-of-way permits follow separate tracks.
Verify contractor licensing. Alabama splits contractor oversight across five state boards: the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (LBGC) licenses commercial/public work (projects $50,000+, swimming pools $5,000+); the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board (HBLB) licenses residential builders for work over $10,000 and also licenses roofers; the Alabama Electrical Contractors Board, the Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board, and the Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors (HACR) license those trades regardless of project value. Unlicensed residential homebuilding is a Class A misdemeanor. Verify licenses at gencon.alabama.gov (commercial) and hblb.alabama.gov (residential).
How to get a building permit in Birmingham
Confirm permit requirement & zoning
Contact the Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits ((205) 254-2211). Confirm zoning compliance, identify the correct permit type, and whether your project requires a permit. Verify any flood-zone (FEMA SFHA) requirements before applying.
Prepare your application package
Assemble the permit application, site plan, construction drawings (sealed by an Alabama-licensed design professional where required), scope and valuation, contractor license, and proof of insurance.
Submit application & plans
Submit through the Online Permit Center (Accela). Select the correct permit type and upload required documents.
Plan review & corrections
Staff reviews against the locally adopted codes. Typical review: valuation-driven; plans-intensive permits use the Digital Plan Room. Address any correction notices promptly.
Pay fees & receive permit
Pay permit fees upon approval. Print the permit and post it on-site before construction begins.
Schedule inspections
Schedule inspections through the Online Permit Center (Accela) or the Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits. Typical checkpoints: foundation, framing, rough-in MEP, insulation, final. A Certificate of Occupancy is required before occupancy.
Inspections in Birmingham
Schedule inspections through the Online Permit Center (Accela) or the Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits. Standard checkpoints include foundation, framing, rough-in MEP, insulation, and final. Post the permit on-site and keep approved plans available. A final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy are required before legal occupancy.
Address correction notices before requesting a re-inspection; a final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy are required before legal occupancy or use.
Official Birmingham permitting resources
- 🏛️ Birmingham PEP
- 💻 Birmingham Permit Inquiry
- 🪪 AL Licensing Board for General Contractors
- 🏠 AL Home Builders Licensure Board
- 📜 AL State Building Code (DCM)
Simplify Birmingham permitting with Alliance Permitting
Birmingham’s the Online Permit Center (Accela), valuation-based fees, and Alabama’s five-board licensing structure reward applicants who prepare complete packages from the start. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Birmingham — our permit expediting services pair AI-driven document review with experts who know the Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits (PEP) process, so your Birmingham submissions move faster.
Trusted by leading builders and brands — including Dream Finders Homes, Tesla, Verizon, Hyatt, and Sunnova.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Birmingham because we deliver:
- Local expertise — we know Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits (PEP), the Online Permit Center (Accela), and Alabama’s licensing requirements.
- Complete oversight — track every permit and inspection across all your jobs in one place.
- Error-free submissions — AI pre-checks plus expert review catch issues before they become correction cycles.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
Need a Birmingham building permit?
Get your Birmingham project permitted right. Alliance Permitting handles your applications through the Online Permit Center (Accela) — so you build, not wait.
More Alabama permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits before filing. This is not legal advice.