Orange Beach, AL — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Community Development Department, Building Department

Street address

4101 Orange Beach Boulevard, Orange Beach, AL 36561

Phone

251-981-2610

CDDPermits@orangebeachal.gov

Coverage

Orange Beach Community Development handles land development permits, building permits, floodplain, coastal, site, and trade permits within city jurisdiction.

Online portal

Orange Beach Permit Portal

CitizenServe

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Orange Beach

City checklist states building permits are required for new one- and two-family dwellings and related improvements; separate site, trade, pool, and accessory permits may also be required.

Note: No concise exempt-work list was found on the public Orange Beach pages reviewed.

Required documents

Permit application
Plans
Surveys
Site plan
Energy documents
Truss and engineering documents
Subcontractor permits
Related local approvals

Building code: City documents state Orange Beach moved to the 2018 International Code Series for permit applications received on or after January 1, 2019.
Owner-builder: Checklist and state law control; not summarized separately on the main city page reviewed.
Contractor requirements: Checklist cites Alabama Code section 34-14A-1 et seq. and requires licensed contractors and separate subcontractor permits.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Orange Beach publishes application review times separately by permit type.

01

Review the applicable Orange Beach checklist, including the one- and two-family dwelling checklist or other permit-specific packet.
02

Submit the application online through the Orange Beach Permit Portal.
03

Upload plans, site information, contractor documents, and any required coastal, floodplain, or environmental materials.
04

City reviews and issues comments.
05

Applicant responds to comments and pays fees after approval.
06

Permit is issued; trade permits follow where required.
07

Schedule inspections and complete final approvals before occupancy.

Typical processing time: Orange Beach publishes application review times separately by permit type.

Source: Community Development Department, Building Department ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Orange Beach building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

Building permit minimums include $100 for new one- and two-family construction, $50 for residential alterations, and $100 for many accessory buildings.

Plan check fee

One- and two-family plan review is $0.24 per square foot of conditioned space plus $0.10 per square foot of enclosed non-conditioned space; commercial rates differ.

Permit fee formula

Mixed schedule; one- and two-family new construction is $4 per $1,000 of valuation plus plan review by square footage, while commercial new construction is $6 per $1,000.

Reinspection fee

$25; work started without permit is 2x permit fee.

Penalty (no permit)

2x permit fee for work started without permit.

Administrative issuance fee of $25 and data processing fee of $10 apply to listed permits.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Orange Beach permit portal (online)
Building Department (other)

Typical sequence: Site permit and building permit first, then trade permits and inspections through final.

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Orange Beach permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Orange Beach, AL? ▸

City checklist states building permits are required for new one- and two-family dwellings and related improvements; separate site, trade, pool, and accessory permits may also be required.

02 How much does a building permit cost in Orange Beach, AL? ▸

Building permit fees in Orange Beach, AL are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Building permit minimums include $100 for new one- and two-family construction, $50 for residential alterations, and $100 for many accessory buildings.. Fees are calculated as: Mixed schedule; one- and two-family new construction is $4 per $1,000 of valuation plus plan review by square footage, while commercial new construction is $6 per $1,000.. Plan check fee: One- and two-family plan review is $0.24 per square foot of conditioned space plus $0.10 per square foot of enclosed non-conditioned space; commercial rates differ..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Orange Beach, AL? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Orange Beach, AL, follow these steps: 1. Review the applicable Orange Beach checklist, including the one- and two-family dwelling checklist or other permit-specific packet. 2. Submit the application online through the Orange Beach Permit Portal. 3. Upload plans, site information, contractor documents, and any required coastal, floodplain, or environmental materials. 4. City reviews and issues comments. 5. Applicant responds to comments and pays fees after approval. 6. Permit is issued; trade permits follow where required. 7. Schedule inspections and complete final approvals before occupancy.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Orange Beach, AL? ▸

Building permit processing times in Orange Beach, AL typically run Orange Beach publishes application review times separately by permit type.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Orange Beach, AL? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Orange Beach, AL via: Orange Beach permit portal, Building Department.

last verified April 2026 source Community Development Department, Building Department ↗ entry id permits/alabama/baldwin/orange-beach

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Community Development Department, Building Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Orange Beach