Houston County, Alabama Building Permit Guide

In unincorporated Houston County a building permit comes from the Road & Bridge Department at 2400 Columbia Highway in Dothan (334-792-4149). It is a flat $100 for building a house, with a further $50 flood plain permit in a flood zone, and it needs an approved septic permit and a plot plan. The County does not inspect construction and so issues no Certificates of Occupancy. Dothan, Ashford, Taylor, Rehobeth, Cottonwood and Kinsey issue their own permits inside their limits, and Rehobeth also permits in its police jurisdiction.

What needs a county permit in Houston County?

The County publishes no electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit, and its FAQ is direct about inspections: Houston County does not perform building inspections.

Who issues building permits in each Houston County city and town?

The County counts the City of Dothan and 11 incorporated towns. Six of the twelve publish a building permit of their own; the other six post no building permit process.

Barkley Kirkland is the Houston County Engineer and heads Road & Bridge. The office is open Monday to Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and takes messages on its answering machine after hours.

County applications

• Online Building Permit: the Residential Building Application is completed on the County website. It asks for the builder’s Alabama registration and county licence numbers, the 911 address, subdivision and lot, heated and non-heated floor area, lot size, the type of sewage disposal and water supply, and the approved septic permit number.
• Driveway Application: also online, read with the County’s Pipe Policy, the headwall specifications and its list of approved driveway pipe contractors. Farm entrances use a separate AG Driveway Agreement.
• Mobile home and house moving: by appointment on 334-792-4149.
• Utility Work Permit: for anything placed in county right-of-way.
• Subdivision Policy: the County’s subdivision regulations, administered by the County Engineer.

Permit fees in Houston County

The County’s prices are flat and are listed on the Road & Bridge permit pages.

Payment goes in with the completed application by check, cashier’s check or money order. Road & Bridge does not take cards for the building permit and no longer accepts cash.

Town fees are a different matter. Dothan’s City Code charges 0.20% of the valuation up to $500,000 with a $50 minimum, $1,000 plus 0.15% of the amount above $500,000 up to $2,000,000, and $3,250 plus 0.10% above $2,000,000; a new house is valued from the International Code Council’s Building Valuation Data, so a $250,000 valuation costs $500. Taylor charges 14 cents per sq ft of heated and cooled space and 8 cents per sq ft unheated for a new house inside its limits. Rehobeth charges the same two rates inside the town limits and 7 cents and 4 cents per sq ft in its police jurisdiction; its commercial building permits run on valuation, at 0.20% up to $500,000 with a $100 minimum. Ashford charges $250 for a new house up to 1,000 sq ft plus 20 cents for each square foot above that, and a $500 inspection fee. Cottonwood charges $1 per $1,000 of construction cost for residential work and $2 per $1,000 for nonresidential work. Kinsey says only that the cost of its permit varies with the work being done.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits

No county trade permit is published; the County’s only trade-related rule is that in a flood zone all mechanical equipment must meet the base flood elevation requirements. Trade permits appear in the towns instead. Taylor issues electrical, plumbing, mechanical and natural gas permits at $150 each and requires a City business licence first. Rehobeth requires an electrical, plumbing, gas, sprinkler or HVAC permit for each job and charges it on valuation: no fee under $1,000 unless an inspection is needed ($50 minimum), then 0.20% of the valuation up to $500,000 with a $100 minimum. A Rehobeth trade permit bought after work starts costs double, and the contractor needs a Town business licence and a state licence. Ashford adds $150 each for electrical, HVAC, plumbing and foundation permits on commercial jobs. Dothan has its own electrical and other trade applications in its portal.

What to submit to Road & Bridge

Septic permits come from the Houston County Health Department at 1781 East Cottonwood Road, Dothan; its Environmental Health office is on 334-678-2815. To move a house or mobile home on county roads, bring a copy of the mover’s licence, proof of insurance and a route map, and secure any state or city permits the move also needs.

How to get a Houston County building permit: 6 steps

Inspections

Houston County does not perform building inspections, and for that reason it cannot issue a Certificate of Occupancy for residential construction. The one check the County does require is in flood zones, where the elevation must be checked once the lowest floor is in and before the walls go up.

Inside the towns, inspection follows the town’s permit. Ashford’s $500 residential inspection fee covers the footer, slab, rough-in and final inspections, with $50 for a re-inspection, and the contractor calls the inspector when ready. Rehobeth requires a final inspection on every project and the inspection card and energy forms before it grants a Certificate of Occupancy. Dothan inspects each project at the different stages of construction and issues a certificate of occupancy at the end. Taylor’s ordinance requires at least 24 working hours’ notice to the Building Official before trade work is inspected, and sets $100 for a special or repeat inspection.

Local details that matter in Houston County

Protecting county roads: by signing the application, the permit holder agrees to protect public improvements and utilities next to the lot and to pay for any damage construction causes to them.

Utility work: Road & Bridge must be told 48 hours before work starts in county right-of-way. Paved roads, driveways and parking lots may not be open-cut and must be bored and encased, and lines go at least 36 inches deep on shoulders, 42 inches under a ditch and 46 inches under the roadway.

House moving: moves must follow the County’s uniform house moving regulations dated February 4, 2006.

Subdivisions: plats go through the County Engineer under the Subdivision Policy and carry the Houston County Health Department’s certification.

Flood zones: the County’s $50 flood plain permit is issued by Road & Bridge with the building permit, after the Floodplain Manager’s Office has checked the flood maps for the site.

Small jobs in Taylor: the City’s ordinance lists roofing, siding, awnings, signs, sewer connections and curb cuts among the work that needs a permit.

Building near Rehobeth: a new house in the Town’s police jurisdiction pays Rehobeth 7 cents per sq ft of heated and cooled space and 4 cents unheated, half the in-town rate, so ask Town Hall on (334) 671-5829 whether a lot outside the limits falls in that belt.

Starting early in Rehobeth: the Town warns that work begun before its permit is issued brings double fees and stop-work penalties.

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 Houston County resources

• Houston County Road & Bridge: building permits
• Houston County online building permit application
• Houston County Road & Bridge Department
• Road & Bridge frequently asked questions
• Houston County driveway permits
• Mobile home and house moving permits
• Utility work on county right-of-way
• Houston County Subdivision Policy
• Houston County communities and town halls
• Houston County Health Department (ADPH)
• City of Dothan building permits
• Dothan City Code Chapter 14: permits, fees and adopted codes
• City of Ashford Ordinance 2026-007: building permits and fees
• City of Taylor building permits
• Town of Rehobeth website
• Town of Rehobeth Building Permits: fees and applications
• Town of Cottonwood forms
• City of Kinsey building permits
• Southeast Alabama (Division B) Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan

Houston County building permit FAQs

Does Houston County require a building permit outside the towns?

Yes, for building a house. The Road & Bridge Department issues it for a flat $100 once you have the septic permit, a plot plan and the completed application.

Does Houston County inspect new houses?

No. The County says it does not perform building inspections and therefore cannot issue Certificates of Occupancy on residential construction.

How much is a flood zone permit?

$50, in addition to the $100 building permit. You also submit one set of plans and have the lowest floor elevation checked before the walls go up.

Can I pay for the county permit by card?

No. Road & Bridge takes a check, cashier’s check or money order for the building permit, and no longer takes cash.

Who issues building permits in Dothan?

The City of Dothan’s Building Inspection Services, 126 N Saint Andrews Street, (334) 615-4450, through the City’s online permit portal. The fee is 0.20% of the valuation up to $500,000, with a $50 minimum.

Who issues permits in Taylor, Rehobeth or Ashford?

Each municipality does. Taylor City Hall is on (334) 677-5079, Rehobeth Town Hall on (334) 671-5829 and Ashford City Hall on (334) 899-3366. Rehobeth also issues permits in its police jurisdiction, where a new house pays 7 cents per sq ft heated and 4 cents unheated.

Who approves a septic system in Houston County?

The Houston County Health Department, 1781 East Cottonwood Road, Dothan. Its Environmental Health number is 334-678-2815.

What does it cost to move a mobile home on county roads?

$100, with a copy of the mover’s licence, proof of insurance and a route map.

Simplify Houston 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 Houston County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.