Montgomery County, AL - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

County permits apply outside the police jurisdictions of the City of Montgomery and the Town of Pike Road. County pages reviewed are inconsistent about the exact Pike Road police-jurisdiction distance, so boundary confirmation should be obtained before filing.

Department

Montgomery County Engineering Department

Address

100 South Lawrence Street, 2nd Floor, Montgomery, AL 36104

Phone

334-832-1312 for the county building inspector; main engineering office 334-832-1310

Website

https://www.mc-ala.org/departments/engineering/building-permits

Application Process

1. Confirm the property is in unincorporated Montgomery County and outside the police jurisdictions handled by the City of Montgomery or Town of Pike Road.
2. Determine whether the site is in a flood-prone area. The county states its Flood Plain Administrator or agent will classify the site as flood-prone, outside flood-prone area, or undetermined.
3. Submit the county building permit application to Montgomery County Engineering or the county building inspector.
4. If the site is flood-prone, provide an elevation certificate and no-rise certificate by a certified engineer, and design the first floor at least 2 feet above base flood elevation.
5. Pay the applicable permit fee. Non-flood-prone permits are a flat fee; flood-prone permits use the county sliding scale.
6. Receive the permit and begin construction within the published commencement window.

General Requirements

The county states a building permit is required before construction begins for any structure in excess of 200 square feet in county jurisdiction.

Required Documents

• County building permit application; if in a flood-prone area, an elevation certificate and no-rise certificate by a certified engineer. The county also requires flood-prone structures to be elevated at least 2 feet above base flood elevation.

Building code

The reviewed county pages cite Section 105 of the Standard Building Codes in the county fee schedule resolution and require compliance with the Montgomery County Floodplain Prevention Ordinance effective December 16, 2025 for flood-prone construction. No consolidated county building-code adoption page was located in the reviewed sources.

Contractor requirements

No county-specific contractor licensing summary was located on the reviewed county permit pages. Alabama state and local trade licensing should still be verified before filing.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$100.00

Permit fee formula

Non-flood-prone permits are $100.00 per structure. Flood-prone permits use a sliding scale tied to structure cost, beginning at $100.00 up to $3,000 and scaling upward by valuation tiers.

Reinspection fee

If construction starts without first obtaining a permit, an additional $100.00 fee is charged.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Structures 200 square feet or less, based on the county page stating permits are required for structures in excess of 200 square feet.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Public county pages do not publish a formal inspection scheduling workflow; contact the building inspector at 334-832-13 (phone)

Additional Resources

• Building code: The reviewed county pages cite Section 105 of the Standard Building Codes in the county fee schedule resolution and require compliance with the Montgomery County Floodplain Prevention Ordinance effective December 16, 2025 for flood-prone construction. No consolidated county building-code adoption page was located in the reviewed sources.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Engineering contact page
• Permits and licenses page
• Property development page
• License lookup guide: Alabama Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Alabama Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Alabama hub: Alabama Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Montgomery County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Montgomery County, AL?

The county states a building permit is required before construction begins for any structure in excess of 200 square feet in county jurisdiction.

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Montgomery County, AL?

The minimum permit fee is $100.00. Fees are calculated as: Non-flood-prone permits are $100.00 per structure. Flood-prone permits use a sliding scale tied to structure cost, beginning at $100.00 up to $3,000 and scaling upward by valuation tiers..

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Montgomery County, AL?

1. Confirm the property is in unincorporated Montgomery County and outside the police jurisdictions handled by the City of Montgomery or Town of Pike Road. 2. Determine whether the site is in a flood-prone area. The county states its Flood Plain Administrator or agent will classify the site as flood-prone, outside flood-prone area, or undetermined. 3. Submit the county building permit application to Montgomery County Engineering or the county building inspector. 4. If the site is flood-prone, provide an elevation certificate and no-rise certificate by a certified engineer, and design the first floor at least 2 feet above base flood elevation. 5. Pay the applicable permit fee. Non-flood-prone permits are a flat fee; flood-prone permits use the county sliding scale. 6. Receive the permit and begin construction within the published commencement window.

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Montgomery County, AL?

The following work is generally exempt: Structures 200 square feet or less, based on the county page stating permits are required for structures in excess of 200 square feet..

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Montgomery County, AL?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Public county pages do not publish a formal inspection scheduling workflow; contact the building inspector at 334-832-13.