Building permits in Montgomery — Alabama's capital city — are issued by the Inspections Department. The City enforces the ICC I-Codes with local amendments.
This guide covers what requires a permit, the City's Online Permitting Portal, fees, trade permits, and inspections — so your Montgomery project stays on track.
Montgomery accepts (and requires) digital drawings for commercial permitting, and multi-family alterations, additions, and new construction need architect-stamped submittals. Owner-builders may permit their own residence but must sign an occupancy affidavit and physically occupy the home for at least one year after the Certificate of Occupancy; gas-pipe work cannot be self-performed. Land disturbances over 3,500 sq ft or 24" deep require a Grading Permit Package.
Alabama has no single statewide building code for private construction. The State Building Code (2021 IBC, amended March 2025 with portions of the 2024 I-Codes) is enforced by the Division of Construction Management (DCM) only for state-owned buildings, public and private schools, hotels/motels, and movie theaters. For everything else, building permits are issued and enforced locally by city and county building departments. Under Act 2024-443, a statewide Alabama Residential Building Code (based on the IRC and IECC) becomes mandatory January 1, 2027, administered by the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board — so residential code enforcement is moving toward a consistent statewide baseline.
What requires a building permit in Montgomery?
Under locally adopted codes, a permit is required for most construction activities:
Permit required
- New residential and commercial construction, additions, conversions
- Structural and load-bearing alterations
- Reroofing, windows, siding, and exterior modifications
- Electrical service changes and most wiring work
- HVAC installations, changeouts, and ductwork
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, water heaters
- Decks, porches, fences, patios, pools, garages
- Change of occupancy or use, sign installation
Typically exempt
- Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinet installation
- Countertop replacement and similar finish work
- Minor repairs replacing existing materials in kind
- Small one-story detached accessory structures below the local size threshold (verify locally)
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Building without a permit in Montgomery can result in fines, stop-work orders, and mandatory removal of unpermitted work.
Who handles permitting in Montgomery?
The Inspections Department handles plan review, permit issuance, and construction inspections. Permits are managed through the City's Online Permitting Portal.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Inspections Department, City of Montgomery, AL |
| Phone | (334) 625-2073 |
| Apply | Online Permitting Portal |
| Commercial plans | Digital drawings required; architect seal for multi-family |
| Grading | Required for >3,500 sq ft or 24" disturbances |
| Code | ICC I-Codes, locally adopted |
Apply through the Online Permitting Portal. Register, select the permit type, and complete all required fields. Building and sign permits, plus electrical, plumbing, gas, and mechanical permits, are submitted online.
Montgomery building permit cost
Montgomery permit fees are typically valuation-based. Plan review fees are set by the adopted fee schedule.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Residential building permit | Valuation-based per the local fee schedule |
| Commercial building permit | Valuation-based — varies by scope, occupancy, and area |
| Plan review | Calculated per the adopted fee schedule |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Separate fees per trade |
| Re-inspections / revisions | Additional fees may apply |
| Work-without-permit | Penalties, stop-work orders, and possible removal of unpermitted work |
Want a precise number for a specific Montgomery project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Montgomery trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work each needs its own permit and appropriately licensed tradespeople.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, EV chargers, and most wiring alterations — performed by a contractor licensed by the Alabama Electrical Contractors Board (AECB).
Plumbing & gas permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water-heater changeouts, fixtures, backflow, and sewer/gas connections — performed by a contractor licensed by the Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC installations, changeouts, ductwork, and venting — performed by a contractor licensed by the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors (HACR Board).
Miscellaneous & specialty
Fencing, pools, decks, sheds, and patio covers may require special permits depending on size and utility hookups. Demolition, sign, and right-of-way permits follow separate tracks.
Verify contractor licensing. Alabama splits contractor oversight across five state boards: the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (LBGC) licenses commercial/public work (projects $50,000+, swimming pools $5,000+); the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board (HBLB) licenses residential builders for work over $10,000 and also licenses roofers; the Alabama Electrical Contractors Board, the Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board, and the Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors (HACR) license those trades regardless of project value. Unlicensed residential homebuilding is a Class A misdemeanor. Verify licenses at gencon.alabama.gov (commercial) and hblb.alabama.gov (residential).
How to get a building permit in Montgomery
Confirm permit requirement & zoning
Contact the Inspections Department ((334) 625-2073). Confirm zoning compliance, identify the correct permit type, and whether your project requires a permit. Verify any flood-zone (FEMA SFHA) requirements before applying.
Prepare your application package
Assemble the permit application, site plan, construction drawings (sealed by an Alabama-licensed design professional where required), scope and valuation, contractor license, and proof of insurance.
Submit application & plans
Submit through the City's Online Permitting Portal. Select the correct permit type and upload required documents.
Plan review & corrections
Staff reviews against the locally adopted codes. Typical review: residential and commercial tracks; digital drawings required for commercial. Address any correction notices promptly.
Pay fees & receive permit
Pay permit fees upon approval. Print the permit and post it on-site before construction begins.
Schedule inspections
Schedule inspections through the City's Online Permitting Portal or the Inspections Department. Typical checkpoints: foundation, framing, rough-in MEP, insulation, final. A Certificate of Occupancy is required before occupancy.
Inspections in Montgomery
Schedule inspections through the City's Online Permitting Portal or the Inspections Department. Standard checkpoints include foundation, framing, rough-in MEP, insulation, and final. Post the permit on-site and keep approved plans available. A final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy are required before legal occupancy.
Address correction notices before requesting a re-inspection; a final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy are required before legal occupancy or use.
Official Montgomery permitting resources
- 🏛️ Montgomery Inspections
- 💻 Apply for a Building Permit
- 🪪 AL Licensing Board for General Contractors
- 🏠 AL Home Builders Licensure Board
- 📜 AL State Building Code (DCM)
Simplify Montgomery permitting with Alliance Permitting
Montgomery’s the City's Online Permitting Portal, valuation-based fees, and Alabama’s five-board licensing structure reward applicants who prepare complete packages from the start. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Montgomery — our permit expediting services pair AI-driven document review with experts who know the Inspections Department (City of Montgomery) process, so your Montgomery submissions move faster.
Trusted by leading builders and brands — including Dream Finders Homes, Tesla, Verizon, Hyatt, and Sunnova.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Montgomery because we deliver:
- Local expertise — we know Inspections Department (City of Montgomery), the City's Online Permitting Portal, and Alabama’s licensing requirements.
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- Error-free submissions — AI pre-checks plus expert review catch issues before they become correction cycles.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
Need a Montgomery building permit?
Get your Montgomery project permitted right. Alliance Permitting handles your applications through the City's Online Permitting Portal — so you build, not wait.
More Alabama permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the Inspections Department before filing. This is not legal advice.