County Building Permits
Houston County, AL - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Houston County, Alabama. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
County permit authority for Houston County road and bridge related building permits and unincorporated areas.
- Department
- Houston County Road & Bridge Department
- Address
- 2400 Columbia Hwy, Dothan, AL 36303
- Phone
- 334-792-4149
Online Permit Portal
Platform: County hosted web form • Account required: No • Submission: Online only
Application Process
- Complete the online building permit application.
- Remit the completed application with payment to Houston County Road & Bridge Department at 2400 Columbia Hwy, Dothan.
- County issues the building permit before construction begins.
General Requirements
County page covers building permits for construction and flood zone work; county road and right-of-way work also needs a county engineer permit.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application
- Approved Health Department septic/O.S.S. approval
- Plot plan or survey with footprint
- One set of plans for flood zone work
- Contractor requirements
- Builder/subcontractor, Alabama registration number, and county license number fields appear on the form.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $100 building permit
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Houston County Road & Bridge Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Inspection hours
- County office hours are Monday through Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for Road & Bridge.
Typical inspection sequence: Flood zone work requires elevation check after the lowest floor is installed and before walls go up.
Additional Resources
- Road & Bridge main page
- County communities page
- County right-of-way policy
- License lookup guide: Alabama Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Alabama Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Alabama hub: Alabama Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Houston County Road & Bridge Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Houston County, AL?
- County page covers building permits for construction and flood zone work; county road and right-of-way work also needs a county engineer permit.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Houston County, AL?
- The minimum permit fee is $100 building permit.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Houston County, AL?
- 1. Complete the online building permit application. 2. Remit the completed application with payment to Houston County Road & Bridge Department at 2400 Columbia Hwy, Dothan. 3. County issues the building permit before construction begins.
Need help with your project?
Navigating permits in Houston County Unincorporated Area can be complicated.
Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.
Learn how Jaspector works