Hale County, Alabama Building Permit Guide

Building permits in Hale County are a municipal matter in the published sources. The City of Moundville Building Inspector covers Moundville and its police jurisdiction (City Hall, 205-371-2641), and the City of Greensboro issues permits through its Building Inspector at 1101 Main Street ((334) 624-8119). Septic permits for any site in the county come from the Hale County Health Department in Greensboro (334-624-3018). For Newbern, Akron and the unincorporated county, the published sources do not say whether a building permit is issued; Newbern Town Hall is on (334) 624-7621 and Akron Town Hall on (205) 372-3148.

What needs a permit in Hale County?

Anywhere in the county, an onsite sewage (septic) system needs an application and permit from the Hale County Health Department, which also issues septic tank, grease trap and holding tank permits and small and large flow development permits.

Who issues building permits in each Hale County town?

Four municipalities lie wholly or partly in the county, and two of them, Moundville and Greensboro, publish a building permit office.

The courthouse is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. The Hale County Probate Office is in Room 9 of the same building (334-624-8740) and handles county business licences.

Municipal permit forms

Greensboro posts a two-page Building Permit Application, a Mobile Home Permit, its Zoning Ordinance and map, a Petition for Variance and a Special Exception Use Application under Policies & Forms on its website. The application asks for the tax parcel number, the type of construction, its cost and the contractor’s City of Greensboro licence number, and every contractor and subcontractor must be licensed with the City.

Newbern posts no permit form, fee or adopted code on its website.

Moundville posts three documents on its Building Inspector page: the Building Permit Application, its building permit rates and fees, and the Building Inspector rules and procedure. The application, updated in December 2024, has the applicant mark whether the property is in the city or the police jurisdiction and whether it is in a flood zone, choose city sewer or septic tank, and list every subcontractor with City and state licence numbers. An owner building his or her own home signs the sworn statement of exemption from the home builders licensure law that is attached to the form.

Permit fees

The only building permit fee figures published in the county are Moundville’s. Greensboro’s zoning ordinance leaves building permit fees to the City Council and prints no amounts, and Newbern publishes none. In Moundville, new construction is charged under the City’s Amended Building Permit Fees, adopted April 13, 2026; the other fees are in Chapter 8 of the City Code (Ordinance 2021-01).

For example, a new house with 2,000 sq ft of heated space is valued at $172,000 under the formula and pays $1,032 for the building permit, before trade permits. Starting a job before the permit is bought can double the fee.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas

Moundville charges each trade as a single application fee, listed above, and the Building Inspector inspects the work. Its adopted codes are the 2015 International Building, Residential, Plumbing and Electrical Codes with the 2009 International Fuel Gas, Mechanical and Fire Codes. An Alabama general contractor licence is required unless the owner is building his or her own residence.

What to prepare

Septic applications go to the Hale County Health Department’s Environmental Office at 670 Hall Street, Greensboro, on the state onsite sewage forms published by the Alabama Department of Public Health.

How to proceed in Hale County: 6 steps

Inspections

Moundville’s Building Inspector examines premises for which permits have been issued and makes the inspections the technical codes require. A re-inspection costs $75, charged at the inspector’s discretion and paid at City Hall before the return visit. Every septic tank in the city must be approved by the state health department. Septic systems elsewhere in the county are permitted through the Hale County Health Department.

Greensboro’s application will not be processed until the required documents are in, and the City asks for three business days for plan review and permit processing.

Local details that matter in Hale County

Moundville flood zones: the City Engineer administers Moundville’s flood ordinance, and a new or substantially improved home in a mapped flood hazard area needs its lowest floor at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation.

Flood zones outside Moundville: FEMA lists Hale County and the City of Greensboro as taking part in the National Flood Insurance Program, both on flood maps dated January 6, 2010. The Division C plan records a certified floodplain manager for the County without naming the office, so a rural site in a mapped flood hazard area starts with a call to the courthouse on (334) 624-4257. FEMA lists Akron and Newbern as not in the program.

Moving a building in Moundville: the permit is $100 and the required police escort $300.

Greensboro zoning: the Zoning Ordinance makes it unlawful to excavate, build, move or structurally alter any structure, accessory buildings included, or even to store building materials on the lot, before the Building Inspector has issued the permit. Uses listed as permitted need an application to the Building Inspector, uses permitted on appeal go to the Board of Adjustment, and the City’s Code Enforcement office is on (334) 507-6648.

Greensboro small projects: fences, roofing and siding replacement, decks, gazebos and sheds are all on the City’s list of work that needs a permit.

Alabama building code

From 1 January 2027, under Act 2024-443, a residential home builder must build to the applicable residential code (the Alabama Residential Building Code, or the local code where one applies) even where no building department inspects the work. Since 1 October 2024 the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board adopts the residential code, and the Licensing Board for General Contractors the commercial energy code. Alabama’s codes and the 2027 change

Official sources for Hale County

• Hale County Health Department services (ADPH)
• Hale County Health Department contact
• Alabama onsite sewage application forms
• City of Moundville Building Inspector
• City of Moundville Building Permit Application
• City of Moundville Amended Building Permit Fees (April 2026)
• Moundville City Code Chapter 8: construction regulation
• City of Greensboro policies and forms
• Town of Newbern Building Permits & Inspections page
• Division C Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (Alabama EMA)
• FEMA Community Status Book: Alabama flood program communities
• Hale County Courthouse (state court system page)
• Atlas Alabama: Hale County local resources

Hale County building permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Moundville?

The City of Moundville Building Inspector. Applications go to City Hall, 410 Market Street, 205-371-2641, and the inspector’s jurisdiction extends through the police jurisdiction.

How much is a building permit for a new house in Moundville?

Under the fees adopted on April 13, 2026: $86 times the heated square footage, divided by 1,000, times $6, plus $25 times the unheated square footage, divided by 1,000, times $6. A 2,000 sq ft heated house pays $1,032.

Who approves septic systems in Hale County?

The Hale County Health Department, 670 Hall Street, Greensboro, 334-624-3018. Ask for the Environmental Office.

Does Hale County itself issue building permits?

The published sources do not say. The 2021 Division C hazard mitigation plan lists no zoning ordinance and no code enforcement for the County, which does regulate building in mapped flood hazard areas as a member of the National Flood Insurance Program. The courthouse is at 1001 Main St., Greensboro, (334) 624-4257.

Who issues building permits in Greensboro?

The City of Greensboro, through its Building Inspector at City Hall, 1101 Main Street, (334) 624-8119. File the Building Permit Application with 2 sets of the plot plan and construction plans and allow three business days.

Do I need a permit for a fence or a new roof in Greensboro?

Yes. Fences and roofing and siding replacement are both on the City’s list of work that requires a permit.

Who issues building permits in Newbern?

The published sources do not say. Newbern’s website has a Building Permits & Inspections page with no forms, fees or adopted code; Town Hall is at 7777 Hwy 61, (334) 624-7621.

What happens if I start work in Moundville without a permit?

The City can charge double the permit fee.

Simplify Hale County permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Alabama. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Hale County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.