Saraland, AL — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Building Department

Street address

933 Saraland Blvd. South, Saraland, AL 36571

Phone

251-679-5502

mblack@saraland.org

Coverage

Saraland's Building Department issues permits and performs inspections within the city and also oversees planning, zoning, variances, and special use exceptions. The planning jurisdiction extends 1.5 miles beyond city limits for planning matters, but building-permit authority should be confirmed with the city for each site.

Online portal

City Website Permit Forms

City website webforms

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Saraland

Saraland states permits are issued for demolition, new construction, renovation, land disturbance, building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, sign, right-of-way, and tree-related work.

Required documents

Permit application
Project valuation
Plans
Permit-specific submittals
Site grading and drainage plan (for land-disturbance)
Erosion-control information (for land-disturbance)

Building code: Effective July 2019, Saraland lists 2014 NEC, 2015 IPMC, 2015 IFC, 2015 IBC, 2015 IMC, 2015 IPC, 2015 IRC, and 2015 IEBC.
Permit validity: Individual permit pages show some permits, such as tree permits, valid for 6 months. The city's business-licenses and permits page states permits other than rental licenses are valid for 6 months and may be extended once for free, with a second extension for a $75 fee.
Owner-builder: Not clearly summarized on the reviewed main building page.
Contractor requirements: Applicants should comply with Alabama state licensing and any local business-license requirements. Permit forms and right-of-way permits request contractor city business license information where applicable.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Saraland's zoning and development ordinance gives the Building Official 30 days to rule on complete building permit applications unless extended by agreement.

01

Confirm the project is in Saraland's building jurisdiction and identify the needed permit type.
02

Download or complete the applicable building, trade, land-disturbance, sign, right-of-way, tree, or six-month investigation permit materials.
03

Submit the permit form and supporting plans to the Building Department, either through the city website permit pages or directly with the department.
04

For grading or disturbance work, include the required grading, drainage, erosion-control, and engineering calculations.
05

City staff review the application for code, zoning, floodplain, and development compliance.
06

Pay the required fees and obtain the permit before beginning work.
07

Request the required inspections and complete final approvals or certificate-of-occupancy steps where applicable.

Typical processing time: Saraland's zoning and development ordinance gives the Building Official 30 days to rule on complete building permit applications unless extended by agreement.

Source: Building Department ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Saraland building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Reinspection fee

The business-licenses and permits page states a second permit extension costs $75 after the free first extension.

The city collects permit information through online forms or the department directly. Confirm payment method with the Building Department before filing.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Building Department (phone)

Inspection hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a notice that staffing hours were shifting to 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Typical sequence: Structural, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical inspections are performed as applicable to the permit.

Source: Building Department ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Saraland permits

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

Saraland states permits are issued for demolition, new construction, renovation, land disturbance, building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, sign, right-of-way, and tree-related work.

02 How do I apply for a building permit in Saraland, AL? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Saraland, AL, follow these steps: 1. Confirm the project is in Saraland's building jurisdiction and identify the needed permit type. 2. Download or complete the applicable building, trade, land-disturbance, sign, right-of-way, tree, or six-month investigation permit materials. 3. Submit the permit form and supporting plans to the Building Department, either through the city website permit pages or directly with the department. 4. For grading or disturbance work, include the required grading, drainage, erosion-control, and engineering calculations. 5. City staff review the application for code, zoning, floodplain, and development compliance. 6. Pay the required fees and obtain the permit before beginning work. 7. Request the required inspections and complete final approvals or certificate-of-occupancy steps where applicable.

03 How long does it take to get a building permit in Saraland, AL? ▸

Building permit processing times in Saraland, AL typically run Saraland's zoning and development ordinance gives the Building Official 30 days to rule on complete building permit applications unless extended by agreement.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

04 How do I schedule a building inspection in Saraland, AL? ▸

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

last verified April 2026 source Building Department ↗ entry id permits/alabama/mobile/saraland

Report a correction

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

City of Saraland