Washington County, Alabama Building Permit Guide

No Washington County building department, building permit or inspection program appears in any official listing, and the regional hazard mitigation plan records no building code enforcement by the county. Two of the three towns have their own rules. In Chatom, the zoning ordinance requires a building permit from the Building Official for new construction and for repairs over $1,500. In McIntosh, the town code charges 0.25% of the contract price, with a $50 minimum for a house. Septic systems are permitted by the Washington County Health Department, 14900 St. Stephens Avenue, Chatom (251-206-6089).

What requires a permit in Washington County?

The requirements below come from the two towns’ own ordinances and apply inside each town’s limits; McIntosh’s code also reaches its police jurisdiction.

McIntosh’s zoning chapter requires a building permit before excavation, construction, storing materials, moving or altering a structure, and exempts repairs, painting, wallpapering and work that does not change the character of the structure. Its fee section still prices a repair permit, so ask Town Hall which applies to a repair job.

Who issues building permits in Washington County?

The county has three incorporated towns.

The plan is the Division A Regional Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, published by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. Its capability tables list no jurisdiction in Washington County for building code enforcement, zoning or subdivision regulations, and mark the county and all three towns only as National Flood Insurance Program participants; FEMA’s current list has the County, Chatom and Millry in the program and McIntosh outside it. Chatom’s zoning ordinance and McIntosh’s town code are the towns’ own documents and govern inside those two towns.

Permit categories in Washington County

• Chatom building permit. Applied for on the Town’s form to the Building Official, with whatever maps, plans, calculations and data the Town needs to judge the project against the zoning ordinance.
• Chatom Certificate of Occupancy. No land or building may be occupied or used until the Building Official has issued one.
• Chatom sign permit. Required under the sign regulations in the zoning ordinance.
• McIntosh building, demolition, moving and repair permits. Listed in Section 8-25 of the town code, with the building permit applied for to the administrative official on the Town’s form.
• Septic permit. Issued by the Washington County Health Department.

Chatom posts its zoning ordinance and business licence application on the Printable Documents page of the town website.

Permit costs and fees in Washington County

McIntosh is the only place in the county with a published building fee schedule. It is Section 8-25 of the town code, adopted by Ordinance No. 119 on July 13, 2010.

For example, a house built in McIntosh under a $200,000 contract pays $500. Without a contract, a 1,600 sq ft house is valued at $80,000 and pays $200. The $50 and $25 per square foot figures are valuations, not fees.

Chatom’s zoning ordinance does not print a fee amount; Town Hall quotes it on (251) 847-2580. The county publishes no construction fee.

Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and septic in Washington County

Neither the county nor the towns publish separate electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits. In Chatom the Building Official enforces the zoning ordinance and other applicable development regulations, and in McIntosh the town official whose duties match those named in the adopted building code is responsible for enforcing it.

Septic tanks and other onsite sewage systems are permitted by the Washington County Health Department at 14900 St. Stephens Avenue in Chatom. The office number is 251-206-6089.

Application documents

Chatom puts the burden on the applicant: the application must carry enough detail for the Building Official to decide whether the use of land, excavation, construction, moving or alteration complies with the zoning ordinance. If a project is to be built in phases, a phasing schedule goes in with the application; without one the Town treats it as a single phase.

In McIntosh the permit states that the size, specifications and intended use of the structure conform with the zoning chapter, so bring the dimensions, the lot layout and the contract price, which sets the fee.

How to proceed in Washington County: 5 steps

Inspections and closeout in Washington County

In Chatom, the Building Official’s staff may enter the property at any reasonable time before the Certificate of Occupancy to make inspections, and the building cannot be occupied or used until that certificate is issued. A Chatom permit also becomes invalid if the work is not diligently pursued for 12 consecutive months.

A McIntosh permit becomes invalid if work is suspended or abandoned for a year. No inspection program is published for the unincorporated county or for Millry.

Local considerations in Washington County

Chatom’s repair threshold: repairs of up to $1,500 need no permit, but any repair that changes the character of a structure needs one regardless of cost.

Annexed land in Chatom: land annexed to the town is classed as an A-O district until it is zoned.

McIntosh’s building code: the town code still adopts the Standard Building Code, 1999 edition, under Ordinance No. 118 of July 13, 2010.

Flood insurance: FEMA lists Washington County, Chatom and Millry as National Flood Insurance Program participants, each with flood maps dated October 16, 2012. McIntosh is on FEMA’s list of communities not in the program.

County offices: the Probate Judge and other county offices are at 45 Court Street, Chatom.

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 sources — Washington County

• Alabama Secretary of State: Washington County offices
• Washington County Health Department
• Town of Chatom printable documents
• Town of Chatom Zoning Ordinance
• Town of McIntosh Code of Ordinances (Municode)
• Division A Regional Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (Alabama EMA)
• Alabama public-health onsite sewage forms

Washington County building permit FAQs

Does Washington County issue building permits?

No county building permit or building office is published. Chatom and McIntosh issue town building permits; Chatom’s ordinance covers the town limits, and McIntosh’s code also reaches land within 1½ miles of its limits.

Do I need a building permit in Chatom?

Yes, for new construction, for moving or altering a structure, and for repairs costing more than $1,500 or changing the character of the structure. The Building Official issues it.

How much is a building permit in McIntosh?

0.25% of the contract price, with a $50 minimum for a house or business and $25 for a non-livable structure. A $200,000 house is $500.

How long is a town building permit valid?

In both Chatom and McIntosh the permit becomes invalid if work has not started within six months.

Where do I get a septic permit?

From the Washington County Health Department, 14900 St. Stephens Avenue, Chatom, 251-206-6089.

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