Marion County government has an Engineer’s Office but no building department. That office (205-921-2115) reviews subdivision plans and manages the county floodplain ordinance; it does not issue building permits. The City of Hamilton does, for work inside its city limits: a residential permit costs $50 plus $0.15 per square foot under Ordinance 2013-8, which the City amended on November 6, 2023. Winfield also requires building permits, with forms issued through its Planning Commission.
What requires a permit in Marion County?
Hamilton: permit needed
- Constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving or demolishing a building
- Changing the occupancy of a building
- Swimming pools
- Commercial roofing
- Reconnecting power to a building that has been without service for 3 months
Hamilton: exempt
- One-story detached accessory buildings up to 120 sq ft
- Fences not over 6 feet high and retaining walls not over 4 feet high
- Sidewalks, driveways and patios
- Painting, papering, tiling, cabinets and countertops
- Prefabricated pools less than 24 inches deep, swings and playground equipment
- Signs and residential roofing
Hamilton adds that exempt work must still meet the code. Outside the towns, the county’s own controls are its floodplain ordinance and its review of subdivision plans.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who issues building permits in each Marion County town?
| Place | Who issues building permits | Office and phone |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton | The City, through its building official and building inspector. Permits are required inside the city limits; the City’s 2009 building code ordinance also covers the police jurisdiction | City Hall, 736 Military Street South, Hamilton, AL 35570 · (205) 921-2121 |
| Winfield (partly in Fayette County) | The City: its Planning Commission supplies the forms for the Zoning Ordinance and the building permits Winfield requires. Under Zoning Ordinance No. 951 the City Clerk or a designated person must issue a zoning permit before any excavation, construction, moving, alteration or repair inside the city, except repairs under $500 that do not change the structure, painting and wallpapering | City Hall, 111 Bankhead Highway · 205-487-4337 |
| Haleyville (54 residents on the Marion County side) | Listed in the 2021 regional hazard mitigation plan as practising building code enforcement and zoning | Haleyville City Hall, 911 21st St. · (205) 486-3121 |
| Guin | Not stated: the ordinances the City posts cover traffic, alcohol and business licences | Guin City Hall · (205) 468-2242 |
| Brilliant | Not stated on the Town’s website | City Hall, 1275 Main Street · 205-465-2281 |
| Hackleburg | Not stated on the Town’s website | Town Hall, 343 Walker Street · (205) 935-3133; open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday |
| Bear Creek, Twin, Gu-Win and Glen Allen | Not stated; none is listed in the 2021 plan as enforcing a building code | Bear Creek Town Hall (205) 486-4707 · Glen Allen Town Hall (205) 487-2014 |
| Unincorporated county | No county building department is listed. Flood zone and subdivision questions go to the County Engineer | County Engineer 205-921-2115 · Commission, 132 Military St S, Hamilton, (205) 921-3172 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Permit categories in Hamilton
Ordinance 2013-8 sorts Hamilton permits into residential construction, commercial construction, places of worship, roofing, government buildings, swimming pools and electrical inspections. Whoever does the work, whether contractor, plumber, electrician or carpenter, must buy a City of Hamilton business licence and show current state certification when buying it.
Permit costs and fees
| Type of work in Hamilton | Permit fee |
|---|---|
| Residential construction, addition or remodel costing $10,000 or more, or over 400 sq ft | $50 plus $0.15 per square foot |
| Commercial work that adds no floor area | $0.25 per square foot |
| Commercial work that adds floor area | $100 plus $0.25 per square foot |
| Place of worship, no added floor area | $50 to $250, by the amount of construction |
| Place of worship, work over 2,000 sq ft | $250 plus $0.15 per square foot |
| Swimming pool | $100 |
| Government building | No fee |
For example, a new 2,000 sq ft house pays $50 plus $300, or $350. Applicants whose only income is Social Security do not pay for a building permit but must still collect one from City Hall. The county charges nothing for building, since it issues no building permit.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Electrical, plumbing and septic
Hamilton requires an electrical permit and inspection for a building that has never had electric service, for one that has been without it for 3 months, and where a meter has been moved. Reconnection within 3 months, a change of tenant and storm damage repairs are exempt. The 2023 amendment puts the City on the 2020 National Electrical Code and the 2021 plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas codes.
Septic systems anywhere in the county are approved by the Marion County Health Department, 2448 Military Street South, Hamilton (205-921-3118); ask for the Environmental Office.
What Hamilton asks for with a residential application
- One set of plans, at least 11 by 17 inches, for the City’s Building Inspector to examine, with fireplace and deck details where they apply
- One plot plan showing the house, decks and porches, the distance from the property line to the outermost point of the structure, and any easements
- A foundation drawing, handed in before the footings are dug and before temporary power or framing
- A commercial or industrial building that is changing its form of occupancy needs an architectural set of plans
How to apply in Marion County: 5 steps
The County links to its GIS maps from the home page; the result tells you whether the land sits in Hamilton, Winfield, another town or the unincorporated county.
Bring the plan set and plot plan to 736 Military Street South and buy the permit and business licence.
The permit goes on or near the temporary power pole, and Hamilton stops any job that has no dumpster or waste receptacle on site.
Winfield issues its forms through the Planning Commission, and its zoning permit application goes in with a scaled plat of the lot showing every building, its use and the setbacks next door; the smaller towns publish no procedure.
The Engineer’s Office answers flood zone and subdivision questions, and the Environmental Office handles the septic permit.
Rather not deal with the Marion County building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections
Hamilton wants 48 hours’ notice from the contractor before each inspection. New residential and business construction gets 3: a footing inspection before concrete is poured, one before any interior wall covering goes up, and a final when the job is complete. Swimming pools are inspected during and after construction. A job found in violation, or without a permit, receives a cease and desist order allowing 24 hours for corrections to begin or the permit to be bought.
The county carries out no building inspections.
Local details that matter in Marion County
Hamilton’s police jurisdiction: Ordinance 2009-16 made the City’s building code controlling in the corporate limits and the police jurisdiction, while the permit and fee ordinance speaks only of buildings within the city limits.
Converted buildings: Hamilton will not issue a permit to renovate a mass-produced non-residential building for use as a home.
Flood program: the county, Brilliant, Guin, Hamilton, Twin and Winfield take part in the National Flood Insurance Program; FEMA lists Bear Creek, Gu-Win and Hackleburg as not in it.
Towns split by the county line: Winfield, Gu-Win and Glen Allen extend into Fayette County, and Haleyville lies mainly in Winston County.
County hours: the courthouse at 132 Military St S, Hamilton, is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →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 Marion County resources
- Marion County Engineers Office
- Marion County contacts
- Marion County local government links
- Marion County GIS maps
- Marion County Health Department contacts
- Alabama onsite sewage program
- City of Hamilton ordinances
- City of Hamilton Ordinance 2013-8: building permits and fees (amended November 6, 2023)
- City of Winfield Planning Commission
- City of Winfield Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 951)
- Northwest Alabama regional hazard mitigation plan (2021)
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Marion County building permit FAQs
Does Marion County, Alabama issue building permits?
No county building department is listed. The County Engineer’s Office manages the floodplain ordinance and reviews subdivision plans; building permits are a city matter.
How much is a building permit in Hamilton, Alabama?
For a house, $50 plus $0.15 per square foot, so $350 for 2,000 sq ft. Commercial work is $0.25 per square foot, plus $100 when floor area is added.
Do I need a permit for a shed, fence or roof in Hamilton?
Not for a one-story detached accessory building up to 120 sq ft, a fence up to 6 feet high or residential roofing. Larger sheds and commercial roofing need a permit.
How much notice does Hamilton need for an inspection?
48 hours from the contractor, before the footing, pre-wall-covering and final inspections.
Does Winfield require a building permit?
Yes. The City’s Planning Commission page refers to the building permits Winfield requires and supplies the forms; City Hall is on 205-487-4337.
Who handles septic permits in Marion County?
The Marion County Health Department’s Environmental Office, 2448 Military Street South, Hamilton, 205-921-3118.
Who is the floodplain contact for rural Marion County?
The County Engineer’s Office, 205-921-2115, which manages the county floodplain ordinance.
Simplify Marion 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.
Ready to break ground in Marion County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Marion County permits while your crew stays on the job.
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Marion County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.