Where Birmingham's legal notices are published: AlabamaPublicNotices.com, city bids and council agendas, zoning hearings and county notices. An index, not the official record.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is an index, not the official publication of any notice. Each item links to the government body or newspaper that published it; the official notice is the one they publish.

Governments in Birmingham give legal notice in two ways: by posting on their own websites and agendas, and by publishing in a newspaper. Alabama law requires notices to be published in print by a designated newspaper in the county affected, and a newspaper that prints a notice must also post it on a statewide website. That site is AlabamaPublicNotices.com, a free database run by the Alabama Press Association, which quotes the law on its public notice law page. The site itself says it is not a substitute for the official publication.

Where to look

What kinds of notices to expect

  • City Council business: the council’s next regular meetings are Tuesday, Oct. 20, and Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with committee meetings through the week, on the city’s events calendar. All official actions need a majority vote at a regular meeting, the council says.
  • Zoning and planning hearings: rezonings go to the Zoning Advisory Committee and then the City Council; variances to the Zoning Board of Adjustment; plans to the Planning Commission. Each posts agendas and minutes. Our permits and zoning guide has the meeting days.
  • Bids: each city bid lists its release date, due date and public opening. For example, the city’s asbestos abatement bid, No. 27-08, was released Sept. 23 with bids due Oct. 13 and opened Oct. 14.
  • Property tax notices: Jefferson County’s Board of Equalization sets a protest window each spring after valuation notices go out; see our property tax guide.
  • Court and private notices: probate notices, name changes, foreclosure sales and similar notices are published by the parties in a newspaper and appear on AlabamaPublicNotices.com.

Jefferson County government

The Jefferson County Commission posts its agendas and meeting videos through the county’s meeting portal. County departments, including the Board of Equalization and Board of Registrars, post their own notices on the county website.

Public records

The City Clerk handles public records requests. Under Alabama law the right to inspect public records belongs to Alabama residents, and the city asks requesters to sign a residency certification and include identification with proof of permanent residence, according to its public records page. Use the city’s own form only; the city says it accepts no other. A valid request must name a specific, existing public record.

What this means for you

  • Search AlabamaPublicNotices.com for Jefferson County to see legal notices as they run.
  • Watch the city’s events calendar and committee pages for agendas before meetings.
  • Use the city’s form for public records requests.

Related: who to call at City Hall, voting and new businesses.

Frequently asked questions

In a designated newspaper with general circulation in Jefferson County. Alabama law also requires a newspaper that prints a notice to post it on a statewide website, which is AlabamaPublicNotices.com, run by the Alabama Press Association.

Is this page the official publication of public notices?

No. This page is an index that points to the official sources. The legal publication of a notice is the newspaper and the government body’s own posting.

Where can I find City of Birmingham bids?

On the city’s Bidding Opportunities page. Questions go to the Purchasing Division at 205-254-2265.

How do I request public records from the City of Birmingham?

Fill out the city’s Request for Public Records form and mail it or bring it to the Office of the City Clerk. Alabama law limits the right to residents of Alabama, and the city asks for proof of residence.