Outside the towns, Lawrence County asks for no zoning, building or occupancy permit. The County Engineer states this in a letter posted on the Road Department page and adds that the county does have subdivision regulations, a floodplain ordinance and a pipe or access permit. Inside Moulton, the City’s Building Department at 720 Seminary Street (256-974-3875) requires a permit whenever a structure is built or altered or a project costs more than $500.
What requires a permit in Lawrence County?
Unincorporated county
- No zoning permit
- No building permit
- No occupancy permit
County approvals that still apply
- A pipe or access permit for a new driveway within the county right-of-way
- A floodplain development permit before any development in a special flood hazard area
- Plat approval and a Permit to Develop when land is divided into two or more lots
- A logging notice before timber is hauled over county roads
In Moulton the list is long. The City names fences, decks, swimming pools, outbuildings, detached garages and roofing as work that needs a building permit, along with any new structure, room addition or alteration. Painting, new flooring and projects under $500 are exempt there.
Who issues building permits in each part of Lawrence County?
| Place | Who issues building permits | Office and phone |
|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated county | No one: the County Engineer’s letter says no building permit is required. The Road Department handles access, floodplain and subdivision approvals | Road Department, 160 Parker Road, Moulton · 256-974-2478; Monday to Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Moulton | City of Moulton Building Department, which also handles code enforcement; its permit ordinance covers structures inside the City of Moulton | 720 Seminary Street, Moulton, AL 35650 · (256) 974-3875 |
| Courtland | Listed in the 2021 regional hazard mitigation plan as practising building code enforcement; the Town’s website has no permit page | Town Hall, 361 College St., Courtland · 256-637-2707; Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Hillsboro, North Courtland and Town Creek | Each is listed in the same 2021 plan as practising building code enforcement; none publishes a permit form or fee | Hillsboro Town Hall (256) 637-2070 · North Courtland Town Hall (256) 637-6378 · Town Creek Town Hall (256) 685-3344 |
| Trinity (2 residents on the Lawrence County side) | Town of Trinity Building Department, through its Office of Building Inspector | Trinity Town Hall, 35 Preston Dr., Trinity (Morgan County) · (256) 353-2474; owner-builder, sub-trade, gas and pool permit forms are on the Town’s site |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →The County Commission office is at 14430 Court St., Moulton (256-974-0663), open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It does not take building permit applications.
County and city applications
- Application for Turnout to Private Entrance (the driveway access or pipe permit). Road Department staff fill in the length and type of pipe the entrance needs.
- Floodplain development permit, applied for on forms the County Engineer supplies as Floodplain Administrator.
- Proposed plat application under the Subdivision Regulations (revised May 15, 2026), with the County’s flow chart showing each stage.
- Utility Agreement for utility work in a county right-of-way, and the Logging Notice Form.
- City of Moulton Permit Application, one form for new work, additions and alterations, and repairs. Electrical, plumbing, gas and heating, air conditioning and refrigeration contractors each need a separate City permit.
Permit costs and fees
The county pipe permit is free. Subdivision work is charged under Section 1-3 of the Subdivision Regulations:
| Subdivision charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Permit to Develop | $25 per proposed subdivision |
| Proposed plat review | $500 per submission, nonrefundable |
| Lot fee | $25 per lot, site or unit |
| Road fee | $0.25 per linear foot of road built and inspected |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Moulton’s fees are set by valuation in Ordinance 2022-005, the same ordinance that adopted the 2018 codes. A detached single-family house is valued at its contract price, with a floor of $105 per square foot of heated area and $35 per square foot of unheated area; that is the valuation, not the fee.
| Total valuation | City of Moulton fee |
|---|---|
| $1,000 and less | No fee unless an inspection is required, then $25 |
| $1,000 to $50,000 | $25 for the first $1,000 plus $5 for each additional thousand or fraction |
| $50,000 to $100,000 | $260 for the first $50,000 plus $4 for each additional thousand or fraction |
| $100,000 to $500,000 | $460 for the first $100,000 plus $3 for each additional thousand or fraction |
| $500,000 and up | $1,660 for the first $500,000 plus $2 for each additional thousand or fraction |
| Electrical, mechanical, plumbing or fuel gas work | $25 or the valuation fee above, whichever is greater |
For example, a new 2,000 sq ft house valued at the $105 floor ($210,000) has a building permit fee of $790. Non-residential permits carry an added $1 per $1,000 of construction cost for the state craft training program, work started without a permit pays a penalty of 100% of the fee, and the City does not process a permit until it has been paid for.
Electrical, plumbing, gas and HVAC permits
With no county building permit, there is no county trade permit either. In Moulton, each trade contractor takes out a separate permit costing at least $25, and any contractor working in the city must hold a current City business licence.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Septic systems are handled by the Lawrence County Health Department, 13299 Alabama Highway 157, Moulton. Its Environmental Office is on (256) 974-8849. For a subdivision without public water or sewer, the Health Department’s rules also set the minimum lot size, and the plat application must include its letter confirming a field review of the lot layout.
What each application asks for
County driveway turnout
- Applicant and property owner names, addresses and phone numbers
- County road number and the name the road is known by
- Distance and direction from a named road, landmark or intersection
- Signature accepting the 6 maintenance and drainage conditions on the form
County floodplain permit
- Plans in duplicate, drawn to scale
- Elevation of the lowest floor, including any basement, of every proposed structure
- Floodproofing elevation and an engineer’s or architect’s design certification for non-residential buildings
- A description of any watercourse that will be altered or relocated
Moulton asks for a simple dimensioned drawing whenever a project adds to or creates a building footprint; the City says anyone can draw it, on any kind of paper. Projects that fall under the state rules for architect-stamped plans need those drawings as well, which can be as little as a one-page life safety plan.
How to proceed in Lawrence County: 6 steps
Moulton, Courtland, Hillsboro, North Courtland, Town Creek and a corner of Trinity have their own limits; everything else is the unincorporated county.
File the turnout application if the driveway is new; the county inspects the spot and sizes the pipe.
Once the signed permit is in and the pipe has been delivered, the Road Department issues a work order to install it. The application lasts 90 days.
A site in a special flood hazard area needs the floodplain development permit before any work begins.
Phone the Health Department’s Environmental Office on (256) 974-8849.
Check setbacks with the Building Department, hand in the Permit Application with the drawing, and pay before work starts.
Rather not deal with the Lawrence County building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections
The county does not inspect buildings. Its inspections are limited to the driveway location, subdivision roads and floodplain permits, where the permit holder must give the County Engineer an as-built elevation or floodproofing certificate as soon as the lowest floor is finished.
Moulton asks for 24 to 48 hours’ notice by phone. It normally inspects the foundation or footer before concrete is poured, rough plumbing and electrical for slabs, then rough-in plumbing, electrical, mechanical and framing together before insulation, and the finished job. The Certificate of Occupancy is issued at the final inspection, and the department may drop in on an open permit at any time.
Local details that matter in Lawrence County
Flood elevations: under the county’s Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance (2009, revised June 2018), the lowest floor of a new or substantially improved building or manufactured home must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Where no base flood elevation exists, it must be at least 3 feet above the highest adjacent grade.
Subdivision timing: the County Engineer reviews a proposed plat, the Commission approves it, and the Permit to Develop follows. Construction has to begin within 1 year of approval or the plat goes back for review.
Moulton plan review: a simple remodel or addition can be reviewed in as little as 24 hours. Commercial jobs go to a Technical Review Committee of the utility heads and the Building Department, followed by a pre-construction meeting at which fees, tap fees, licences and permits are paid.
Moulton permit life: a City permit is void if work has not started within 180 days or stops for 180 days.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Moulton codes and zoning: the City adopted the 2018 ICC building codes and the 2017 National Electrical Code by Ordinance 2022-005, and has its own zoning and flood damage ordinances. Setback problems go to its Board of Zoning Adjustment.
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 Lawrence County resources
- Lawrence County Road Department
- County Engineer’s letter on zoning and building permits
- Lawrence County driveway access permit application
- Lawrence County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
- Lawrence County Subdivision Regulations (revised May 15, 2026)
- Lawrence County Commission
- Lawrence County Health Department contacts
- City of Moulton licence, building and permits page
- City of Moulton Permit Application
- City of Moulton Ordinance 2022-005: codes and permit fees
- Town of Trinity Building Department
- Northwest Alabama regional hazard mitigation plan (2021)
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Lawrence County building permit FAQs
Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Lawrence County, Alabama?
No. The County Engineer’s posted letter says no zoning, building or occupancy permits are required there. A driveway pipe permit, a floodplain development permit or subdivision approval may still apply.
How much is a driveway pipe permit in Lawrence County?
Nothing. The pipe permit carries no fee; the owner supplies the pipe and the Road Department installs it under a work order.
Who issues building permits in Moulton?
The City of Moulton Building Department, 720 Seminary Street, (256) 974-3875. A permit is needed for any structure built or altered and for any project over $500.
Do I need a permit for a fence or a roof in Moulton?
Yes. The City lists fences, decks, swimming pools, outbuildings, detached garages and roofing as needing a building permit.
How much is a building permit in Moulton?
Ordinance 2022-005 charges by valuation: $25 for the first $1,000 plus $5 per additional thousand up to $50,000, then $260 plus $4 per thousand up to $100,000, and $460 plus $3 per thousand up to $500,000. Non-residential permits add $1 per $1,000.
Who handles septic permits in Lawrence County?
The Lawrence County Health Department’s Environmental Office, (256) 974-8849, at 13299 Alabama Highway 157 in Moulton.
How high must a house be built in a Lawrence County flood zone?
The lowest floor must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation, or 3 feet above the highest adjacent grade where no base flood elevation has been set.
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This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Lawrence County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.