Building permits and zoning in Birmingham

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Birmingham’s Permitting and Inspection Division and Zoning Division pages.

Building permits and zoning in Birmingham are handled by the city’s Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits, in Room 210 on the second floor of City Hall, 710 20th St. N. You can also apply in the city’s Online Permit Center. The city says it is moving every permit type into the online system; until that is finished, some permits still use paper applications listed on its permitting page.

Who to call

• Permits and to schedule an inspection: 205-254-2211
• Permitting Division front desk: 205-254-2904, City Hall, Room 210
• Zoning questions and flood zone reviews: 205-254-2478
• Pre-construction meetings: 205-254-2252
• Not sure what you need? The city’s interactive Birmingham Permit Guide asks a series of questions and tells you which permit applies.

When you need a permit

The city’s rule is broad. Any work on a single-family home needs a building permit except painting, papering, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, similar finish work and replacing roof shingles when no decking is repaired or replaced, according to the Technical Code of the City of Birmingham. All commercial construction needs a permit, whatever its size.

The city lists permits for building, demolition, driveways and sidewalks, electrical, gas, plumbing, mechanical, low voltage, signs, fences and walls, floodplain development, garage sales, house moves, special uses, urban agriculture and zoning certificate letters, among others.

How a building permit works

1. Address and land-use check. Counter staff confirm the address and check zoning, floodplain, design review districts, historic districts and landslide areas.
2. Plan review. Plans go to the Planning Division, the Permits Division and the Fire Department. A single-family home needs two sets of plans; new commercial buildings need four. Drawings must be at least 18 by 24 inches and include a site plan, floor plan, wall section, foundation plan and framing plan.
3. Review time. The city says it reviews single-family plans in three working days or less and commercial plans in 10 working days or less. Express review in three working days is available for commercial renovations under 5,000 square feet.
4. Issue. You get stamped plans and a yellow permit card. Both stay on the job site.
5. Inspections. Call 205-254-2211 to schedule. Inspections are scheduled between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m., Monday to Friday.
6. Close out. Return the signed card to Room 210 for a certificate of occupancy or completion.

Fees

The city lists construction permit fees of $9.50 per $1,000 of total project cost, with a $125 minimum, plus $1 per $1,000 for the State of Alabama on commercial permits. Valuation uses the International Code Council’s current tables or the contract value, whichever is higher. Commercial plan review fees are on each application.

Contractors, sewer and soil

• Work valued at $10,000 or more on a single-family home needs a state-licensed home builder unless the owner does the work and signs an owner affidavit, the city says.
• Commercial work of $50,000 or more needs a state-licensed general contractor.
• Adding or changing plumbing needs a sewer impact permit from Jefferson County Environmental Services first.
• Moving dirt needs a soil erosion permit before a building permit is issued.

Zoning: where to look it up

Find any property’s zoning on the city’s online mapping program. The full rules are in the city’s Zoning Ordinance, July 2026 edition. The city says it passed its first zoning ordinance on Aug. 4, 1926, and is now reviewing rules on short-term rentals and a new open space ordinance.

Who decides zoning cases

The Planning Commission’s remaining 2026 dates are Oct. 21, Nov. 18 and Dec. 16. Agendas and minutes for each board are posted on its page. A rezoning denied by the City Council cannot be refiled for the same change for a year, unless the council votes to reopen it, the city says, and an applicant can appeal the council’s decision to circuit court.

Historic districts and design review

Properties in a local historic district or a commercial revitalization district need design review before exterior work. The city’s Design Review Committee page has the application.

What this means for you

• Use the permit guide before you hire anyone, so you know what the job needs.
• Keep the yellow permit card posted until the final inspection.
• Check your zoning on the city map before you buy a lot or plan an addition.

Related: property taxes, moving to Birmingham and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a building permit in Birmingham?

For almost any work on a house, yes. The city says only painting, papering, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, similar finish work and shingle replacement with no decking work are exempt. All commercial work needs a permit.

Where do I get a building permit in Birmingham?

Apply in the city’s Online Permit Center or at the Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits, Room 210 on the second floor of City Hall, 710 20th St. N. Call 205-254-2211.

How much is a building permit in Birmingham?

The city lists construction permit fees of $9.50 per $1,000 of total project cost, with a $125 minimum, plus $1 per $1,000 for the state on commercial permits.

How long does Birmingham take to review plans?

The city says reviews take three working days or less for single-family homes and 10 working days or less for commercial projects.

How do I find my zoning in Birmingham?

Look up your property on the city’s online mapping program, or call the Zoning Division at 205-254-2478.