Marshall County has no building department. Its own hazard mitigation plan, approved by FEMA in August 2021, says the county does not enforce building codes, and neither do the towns of Douglas, Grant and Union Grove. Building permits come from the four cities, Albertville, Arab, Boaz and Guntersville, each inside its own limits, and the Town of Cherokee Ridge requires a building permit under its 2025 zoning ordinance. For rural land the county office that matters is Engineering at the courthouse in Guntersville (256-571-7712), which reviews subdivision plats and administers the flood ordinance.
What construction approvals apply in Marshall County?
County Engineering
- A Development Permit before any development in a special flood hazard area
- Proposed plat review, then a $25 Permit to Develop, for major and minor subdivisions
- Driveway side drains in new subdivisions sized to the county’s standard
- A timber harvesting notification before logging trucks use county roads
City building departments
- Albertville: altering, constructing, demolishing, enlarging, moving or repairing a building, or changing its occupancy
- Arab: erecting, enlarging, altering, demolishing or repairing a structure, from garages to signs
- Boaz: building permits approved by its Building Inspection office
- Guntersville: residential, commercial and miscellaneous building permits, plus a separate permit for each trade
- Cherokee Ridge: erecting, moving, extending, enlarging or structurally altering any building, sign or other structure
Arab draws its line at $500 of construction value, and below that still requires a permit when plumbing, electrical, gas, roofing, HVAC or structural work needs an inspection.
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Get a free quote →Who issues building permits in each part of Marshall County?
| Place | Who issues building permits | Office and phone |
|---|---|---|
| Albertville | City of Albertville Building Department, for projects within the city limits | South side of City Hall, 116 W Main Street · (256) 891-8200; permit desk 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday |
| Arab (the part in Marshall County) | City of Arab Building Department | 740 North Main Street, Arab, AL 35016 · 256-586-5968; Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Boaz (partly in Etowah County) | City of Boaz Building Inspection | 112 N Broad Street, Boaz, AL 35957 · 256-593-0241 |
| Guntersville | City of Guntersville Building Department; Eric Self is the Building Official | City Hall, 341 Gunter Avenue · (256) 571-7560 |
| Grant | No building code is enforced, according to the county plan; the Town does have a zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations | Town Hall, 4766 Main St · (256) 728-2007; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Douglas and Union Grove | No building code is enforced, according to the county plan | Douglas Town Hall (256) 593-9531; Union Grove Town Hall (256) 753-2210 |
| Cherokee Ridge | The Town: its Zoning Ordinance No. 2025-0036 (effective August 11, 2025) requires a Building Permit from the Town’s Building Inspector before a building, sign or other structure is erected, moved, enlarged or structurally altered. The permit follows zoning approval and approval by the Cherokee Ridge Property Owners Association’s ARC Review Board, and lapses if work has not risen above the foundation within 6 months | Cherokee Ridge Town Hall · (256) 681-0005 |
| Sardis City (4 residents on the Marshall County side) | Not stated for the Marshall County part | Sardis City Hall, 1335 Sardis Drive · (256) 593-6492 |
| Unincorporated county | No one: the county does not enforce building codes. Engineering handles plats and flood zones | Courthouse, 424 Blount Ave., Suite 305, Guntersville · (256) 571-7712 |
Marshall County building and development permit types
- Application for Proposed Plat Review (updated November 12, 2025), with separate flow charts for major subdivisions and for minor or large-tract subdivisions.
- Permit to Develop, issued by the County Engineer once the Commission has approved the proposed plat.
- Flood ordinance Development Permit, applied for on forms the County Engineer supplies as Floodplain Administrator.
- Timber Harvesting Notification (revised May 13, 2026).
- City forms: Guntersville posts residential, commercial and miscellaneous permit applications and a sub-contractor list; Boaz posts its Building Permit form and Subcontractors List; Arab links its permit applications from the Building Department page; Albertville takes its Building Permit Application online; Cherokee Ridge takes the Zoning Approval application, with a Development Plan, at Town Hall.
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Get a free quote →Marshall County permit fees
| County subdivision charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Permit to Develop, major or minor subdivision | $25 |
| Proposed plat review | $200 per submission |
| Lot fee, major subdivision | $20 per lot, site or unit |
| Road fee, major subdivision | $0.25 per linear foot of road built and inspected |
The four cities set their own building permit fees:
| City | Codes in force | Fee basis the city publishes |
|---|---|---|
| Albertville | 2021 International Building Code and related 2021 codes | A fee schedule kept on file with the Building Department; the City quotes fees on (256) 891-8200 |
| Arab | 2012 International codes and the 2014 National Electrical Code | Homes are valued at $75 per sq ft heated and $50 per sq ft unheated (the valuation, not the fee). The fee on that value: $25 from $500 to $2,500; then $25 for the first $2,500 plus $5 per additional $1,000 up to $50,000; $260 for the first $50,000 plus $4 per $1,000 up to $100,000; $460 for the first $100,000 plus $3 per $1,000 up to $500,000; $1,660 for the first $500,000 plus $2 per $1,000 above that. Demolition $100; double fee for work started without a permit |
| Boaz | 2012 International codes and the 2012 National Electrical Code | No fee at $2,000 of valuation or less unless an inspection is needed; above that, amounts on file with the city clerk. Plan checking is half the permit fee |
| Guntersville | 2021 International codes, adopted by Ordinance No. 1170 on June 15, 2026 | Building fees by estimated construction cost; electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits $25 per house or apartment unit; gas permit $25 |
On Arab’s scale a 2,000 sq ft heated house is valued at $150,000 and pays $460 plus 50 times $3, which is $610. Boaz also doubles the fee when work starts before the permit is issued. Cherokee Ridge’s ordinance leaves its fees to a Fee Schedule adopted by the Town Council.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas in Marshall County
There are no county trade permits. In Guntersville every subcontractor pulls a separate permit for their trade and needs a state licence and a current City business licence. Arab requires all sub trades to obtain a building permit for each project. Boaz wants the subcontractors list within 15 days of a residential or commercial permit being issued.
Septic permits come from the Marshall County Health Department, 150 Judy Smith Drive, Guntersville; its Environmental Office is on 256-582-4926. The county’s subdivision flow chart tells applicants to get the septic permit there, and the regulations quote the Health Department’s minimum lot size of 15,000 sq ft unless water comes from a private well.
Application documents for Marshall County
County subdivision plat
- Application for Proposed Plat Review with the $200 fee
- A Health Department letter confirming field review of the lot layout
- A certified appraisal report from a state-licensed appraiser
- Names and addresses of adjoining landowners and utilities
- A flood zone certificate on the final plat if any part lies in the 100-year flood zone
Guntersville house permit
- Stamped survey showing the proposed and existing structures, streets and setbacks
- Grade percentage on the survey if the lot slopes; lots of 18% or more need engineered drawings
- Corners of the house marked on the lot by the surveyor
- A 911 address
- The City application with the list of subcontractors
- The builder’s state licence and City business licence, and house plans
Arab asks for zoning verification, a site plan, a drainage plan, building plans stamped where required, the contractor’s licence, a business licence, identification, the signed contract with the owner and a list of sub trades.
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Get a free quote →How to apply in Marshall County: 6 steps
Inside Albertville, Arab, Boaz or Guntersville the city building department is the permit office, and in Cherokee Ridge the Town’s Building Inspector; in the unincorporated county no building permit applies.
The county’s flow charts open with a call to the office on (256) 571-7712 in the planning phase.
If the site is in a special flood hazard area, the Development Permit from the County Engineer comes before any work.
The County Engineer reviews within 30 days, the Commission approves, and the Permit to Develop follows.
Addresses are issued by Marshall County 911 once the plat is recorded.
With the address in hand, the county’s flow chart sends applicants to the Health Department for the septic system permit.
Inspections and closeout in Marshall County
The county inspects subdivision roads and flood-zone work, not buildings. Under the flood ordinance the permit holder certifies the lowest floor elevation as soon as that floor is complete. In the cities, each building department carries out its own inspections: Albertville contractors contact Building Services to schedule them, Guntersville posts its inspection procedures with its permit forms, and Arab requires 24 hours’ notice for the footing, rough-in framing, electrical and plumbing and final inspections. In Cherokee Ridge the Town Council issues the Certificate of Occupancy after a final inspection made within 10 business days of being told the building is ready.
Marshall County-specific permit considerations
Flood elevation: the county’s flood ordinance sets the lowest floor of a new or substantially improved building at no lower than 2 feet above the base flood elevation. In flood hazard areas mapped without a base flood elevation, the floor goes at least 3 feet above the highest adjacent grade instead.
Driveways in subdivisions: side drain pipes must be at least 15 inches in diameter and 24 to 32 feet long, with no more than 2 per lot, and the County Engineer decides the pipe type on sloping drives.
Permit to Develop: it lasts 1 year; if substantial work has not started by then, the plat goes back to the County Engineer and the Commission.
Zoning: Albertville, Arab, Boaz, Grant and Guntersville have zoning ordinances, and Cherokee Ridge adopted one in 2025. The county has none.
Cherokee Ridge permits end with a sale: a Town building permit expires when the property is sold or transferred, and when the building contractor named at issue changes.
Commercial remodels in Guntersville: stamped drawings and a life safety plan must both be approved before the permit is issued.
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 Marshall County resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Marshall County Engineering
- Marshall County Subdivision Regulations (amended November 12, 2025)
- Marshall County Flood Ordinance
- Marshall County Commission
- 2020 Marshall County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
- Marshall County Health Department contacts
- City of Albertville building permit information
- City of Arab Building Department
- City of Boaz Building Inspection
- City of Guntersville Building Department
- City of Guntersville Ordinance No. 1170: adopted codes
- Town of Cherokee Ridge Zoning Ordinance No. 2025-0036
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Marshall County building permit FAQs
Does Marshall County, Alabama issue building permits?
No. The county has no building department, and its hazard mitigation plan says it does not enforce building codes. Permits come from Albertville, Arab, Boaz or Guntersville inside their limits, and from the Town’s Building Inspector in Cherokee Ridge.
Do I need a building permit in Grant, Douglas or Union Grove?
The county plan approved in August 2021 says none of the three enforces building codes. Grant has zoning and subdivision rules, so call Town Hall on (256) 728-2007 before building there.
How high must a house be built in a Marshall County flood zone?
The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation, or 3 feet above the highest adjacent grade where no base flood elevation is available.
What does it cost to subdivide land in Marshall County?
$200 per plat submission and $25 for the Permit to Develop. A major subdivision also pays $20 per lot and $0.25 per linear foot of new road.
Does Cherokee Ridge require a building permit?
Yes. The Town’s 2025 zoning ordinance requires a Building Permit from its Building Inspector, after zoning approval and approval by the property owners association’s ARC Review Board. Town Hall is on (256) 681-0005.
When does Arab require a building permit?
For construction worth more than $500, and for any plumbing, electrical, gas, roofing, HVAC or structural work that needs an inspection whatever its value.
Who handles septic permits in Marshall County?
The Marshall County Health Department’s Environmental Office, 256-582-4926, at 150 Judy Smith Drive in Guntersville.
Where is the county floodplain office?
County Engineering, Suite 305 of the courthouse at 424 Blount Ave., Guntersville, (256) 571-7712. The County Engineer administers the flood ordinance.
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More Alabama permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Marshall County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.