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§ AL Lee County
City building permits

Smiths Station

How to apply for a building permit in Smiths Station, Alabama. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

City of Smiths Station Planning, Zoning, Storm Water, and Flood Management; Lee County Building Inspections for building permits

Street address
2336 Panther Parkway, Smiths Station, AL 36877
Coverage
Smiths Station publicly states Lee County Building Inspections administers building permits for the city, but city approvals are required first for zoning, site plan, land disturbance, and initial stormwater runoff control.
Online portal
Permit portal
City webpage plus Lee County permit routing
Additional resources
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Smiths Station

Smiths Station states all new construction requires the listed city approvals before Lee County will approve a building permit.

No city-specific exempt-work list was clearly posted in reviewed Smiths Station sources.
  • Exempt No city-specific exempt-work list was clearly posted in reviewed Smiths Station sources.
Required documents
  • City site plan and stormwater related materials for city approvals, then applicable county building permit documents for the permit itself.
Building code
Building permit code enforcement is handled by Lee County for the city; see Lee County adopted code list.
Contractor requirements
Confirm both municipal site-development requirements and Alabama state contractor or trade licensing before filing with Lee County.
§ 03

Application process

Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final

  1. 01
    Apply to the City of Smiths Station for City Site Plan (Zoning Certificate) approval.
  2. 02
    Obtain the City Land Disturbance Permit.
  3. 03
    Obtain Initial Storm Water Runoff Control approval.
  4. 04
    After city approvals, file for the building permit with Lee County Building Inspections.
  5. 05
    Complete county permit review, fee payment, and permit issuance.
  6. 06
    Schedule inspections through Lee County during construction.

Source: City of Smiths Station Planning, Zoning, Storm Water, and Flood Management; Lee County Building Inspections for building permits ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Smiths Station building permit fees

Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
For the building permit itself, Lee County's minimum published fee is no fee up to $1,000 valuation unless an inspection is required, then $40 per inspection.
02
Plan check fee
Lee County posts no in-house plan review fee, with outside review charged only when required.
03
Permit fee formula
Building permit fees follow Lee County's valuation based schedule; city site-development approval fees were not clearly posted in reviewed sources.
04
Reinspection fee
Lee County publishes $25 for the third inspection of the same phase and $100 for each additional inspection.

Lee County accepts card payments with a 3 percent service fee; confirm any separate city payment requirements directly with Smiths Station.

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule
  • Building inspections route through Lee County Building Inspections after permit issuance. (contact)
Inspection hours
Smiths Station city hall hours posted as Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Eastern; Lee County Smiths Station annex hours posted as Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM CST.

Typical sequence: City prerequisites first, then county permit inspections by project phase.

Lee County reinspection fee policy applies to the building permit inspection work.

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Smiths Station permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Smiths Station, AL?
Smiths Station states all new construction requires the listed city approvals before Lee County will approve a building permit.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Smiths Station, AL?
Building permit fees in Smiths Station, AL are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is For the building permit itself, Lee County's minimum published fee is no fee up to $1,000 valuation unless an inspection is required, then $40 per inspection.. Fees are calculated as: Building permit fees follow Lee County's valuation based schedule; city site-development approval fees were not clearly posted in reviewed sources.. Plan check fee: Lee County posts no in-house plan review fee, with outside review charged only when required..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Smiths Station, AL?
To apply for a building permit in Smiths Station, AL, follow these steps: 1. Apply to the City of Smiths Station for City Site Plan (Zoning Certificate) approval. 2. Obtain the City Land Disturbance Permit. 3. Obtain Initial Storm Water Runoff Control approval. 4. After city approvals, file for the building permit with Lee County Building Inspections. 5. Complete county permit review, fee payment, and permit issuance. 6. Schedule inspections through Lee County during construction.
04 What work is exempt from building permits in Smiths Station, AL?
Not all construction work requires a permit in Smiths Station, AL. The following work is generally exempt: No city-specific exempt-work list was clearly posted in reviewed Smiths Station sources.. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Smiths Station, AL?
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Smiths Station, AL via: Building inspections route through Lee County Building Inspections after permit issuance..

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of Smiths Station Planning, Zoning, Storm Water, and Flood Management; Lee County Building Inspections for building permits before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

§   Adjacent

Other jurisdictions in Lee County.

Same county, different permit office. Click for that jurisdiction's full guide.

All Lee County jurisdictions →