Montgomery building department

The City of Montgomery Inspection Department handles permits and inspections inside the city: building, sign, electrical, plumbing, gas, and mechanical. The office is at 25 Washington Avenue and is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you want to be served in person, call 334-625-2073 to book an appointment. Bring completed forms and have other approvals (such as zoning) already verified.

Montgomery County’s Engineering Department issues permits only outside the city’s police jurisdiction, which extends 3 miles beyond the city limits. If your property is outside city limits but within that 3-mile band, check with this office before applying to the county.

How to apply

There are two systems:

What you need	Where to apply
Electrical, plumbing, gas, or mechanical permit	City of Montgomery Online Permitting Portal (Citizen Access Portal). Register an account, choose the permit type, and complete every required (*) field.
Building permit or sign permit	Online application forms linked from the Inspections page

Payment. The FAQ says the city takes checks and credit or debit cards but not cash. The plumbing, gas, and mechanical page lists cash as a payment option, so confirm before you go.

Review times. Residential plans are typically approved within 5 working days and commercial plans within 10 working days. Permits needing approval from other departments, such as Land Use, can take longer.

Digital plans. Digital drawings are required for commercial permits.

Grading permits. Land disturbance over 3,500 sq ft, over 24 inches deep, or part of a larger development needs a separate Grading Permit Package.

State plan review. The Alabama Division of Construction Management (DCM) reviews plans for hotels, motels, hospitals, schools, and movie theaters. Plans for those projects must also be submitted to DCM.

Residential plan requirements

Submit one set of plans, drawn to scale, with:

• foundation plan (cross section and overview)
• floor plan with dimensions
• roof plan
• front, rear, and side elevations

Decks, porches, and additions also need:

• pier locations
• beam and joist sizes and spans
• rafter and header sizes, if roofed

A deck must be self-supported if its attachment to the house cannot be verified. Exterior walls less than 3 feet from a property line must be designed using IRC Table R302.1(1). Plans must also show plumbing fixture clearances, gas appliance and HVAC equipment locations, and ventilation airflow. The reviewed set stays on the job site.

Common homeowner questions

Project	City rule
Fence	Permit required for new or replacement fences over 3 feet. Include a site plan with distances to buildings and property lines.
Shed or portable building	Permit required. Include a drawing of all structures on the lot with dimensions and setbacks.
Window replacement	Permit required. Bedroom egress windows need at least 20 in. wide, 24 in. high, 5.0 sq ft of opening (5.7 sq ft on upper floors), and a sill no higher than 44 in.
Re-roof	No permit for like-for-like replacement. Changing roofing material, slope, or structure requires a submittal with structural engineer approval.
Residential pool	Barrier at least 48 in. high. Gate must open outward and be self-closing and self-latching.
Business sign	Permit issued after Land Use approval (334-625-2731)
Event tent	Permit from Montgomery Fire Rescue (334-625-3916)

Owner-builders

You can act as your own contractor to build your own home if you will live in it for at least one year after the certificate of occupancy is issued. You must sign an affidavit of intent to occupy when the permit is issued. You can do all the work yourself except gas piping. If you hire anyone for trade work, such as plumbing or HVAC, they must be Alabama-licensed and hold a City of Montgomery business license.

For plumbing, gas, and mechanical permits, the city keeps the following on file:

• the master card holder’s state certification (Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board, or the HVAC board)
• a color copy of the master card holder’s photo ID
• a City of Montgomery business license

Fees (as of April 8, 2026)

Item	Fee
Building permit base fee	$75
Residential or commercial building permit	0.25% of cost
License fee (inside city limits)	0.25% of cost
Manufactured or modular home, single- or double-wide	$200
Fence over 3 ft; retaining wall over 4 ft; permanent sign	0.25% of cost, $75 minimum
Demolition, 1 or 2 family dwelling	0.25% of cost + $350
Demolition, commercial	0.25% of cost + $750
Moving a structure	$100
Commercial erosion control	$400 (no charge for residential)
Driveway curb cut	$75
Certificate of occupancy or change of occupancy (existing building)	$50
Re-inspection, 3rd trip	$50
Re-inspection, 4th trip and later	$100
Plan review, one- and two-family dwellings	No charge

Starting work before the permit is issued adds a fee equal to 100% of the original permit fee. Electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing fees are on separate schedules.

Codes

The city enforces the following codes, adopted effective October 1, 2024:

• 2024 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Swimming Pool and Spa, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, and Property Maintenance codes
• 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (state-mandated)
• 2023 National Electrical Code

Inspections

Cutoff times. Request morning inspections before 8:30 a.m. the same day and afternoon inspections before 1:00 p.m. Requests made after the cutoff move to the next available slot.

Order of inspections.

• Foundation: after trenches are dug and steel and forms are in place. Footings must extend at least 12 inches below grade (18 inches in prairie soil).
• Framing: after all trade rough-ins pass.
• Final building: after all trades are approved.

Commercial projects. Commercial projects need a final inspection from Montgomery Fire Rescue. New commercial buildings and additions also need sign-off from:

• Engineering (334-625-2690)
• Traffic Engineering (334-625-2655)
• Landscaping (334-625-2725)

They also need a letter of substantial completion from the architect.

Certificate of occupancy. A C.O. is required:

• before a new building is occupied
• before a business or liquor license is issued
• after a remodel or enlargement
• whenever a tenant or use changes

For an existing building, the owner or tenant applies, pays the fee, and gives inspectors access, including to mechanical and electrical rooms.

Related offices

Office	Use it for	Phone
Land Use	Zoning questions; Urban Forester	334-625-2722
Historic Preservation	Properties in historic districts	334-625-2041