County Building Permits
Morgan County, AL - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Morgan County, Alabama. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
- Department
- Morgan County Engineer's Office
- Address
- 580 Shull Road, Hartselle, AL 35640; Morgan County Courthouse, 302 Lee Street NE, Decatur, AL 35601
- Phone
- 256-773-5297
Application Process
General Requirements
A flood development permit is required before any development in designated special flood hazard areas.
Required Documents
- Flood permit application, site location, contractor and owner information, and at final stage a certified Elevation Certificate where applicable.
- Building code
- County flood ordinance is published; no general county building code adoption found for all unincorporated areas in the sources reviewed
- Contractor requirements
- Applicant is responsible for obtaining required permits before starting work; no general county contractor licensing program was found on the public county pages reviewed
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Morgan County Engineer's Office to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- County flood application calls for inspections by county engineering staff; scheduling method not clearly published (online)
- Inspection hours
- County courthouse hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: For flood development, on-site inspection at lowest floor/lower horizontal supporting member stage, then final inspection after completion and ready for occupancy
Final elevation documentation may be required if height does not comply
Additional Resources
- Building code: County flood ordinance is published; no general county building code adoption found for all unincorporated areas in the sources reviewed
- Other useful links
- 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 Morgan County Engineer's Office before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Morgan County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Morgan County, AL?
- A flood development permit is required before any development in designated special flood hazard areas.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Morgan County, AL?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: County flood application calls for inspections by county engineering staff; scheduling method not clearly published.
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