Randolph County building department

Randolph County does not issue building permits. The County Commission’s “Zoning & Permitting Regulations” notice explains why: the Commission has no legal authority to adopt zoning, and it has not adopted any building codes or permit requirements. Unincorporated Randolph County therefore has no county zoning restrictions, no county building permit, and no county building inspections.

Other approvals still apply, and they come from different offices. The county notice lists them, summarized below.

What still applies outside city limits

Need	Office	Phone
New home or new structure (tax records)	Revenue Commissioner’s Appraisal Office	256-357-4343 ext. 402
Subdividing land, building in a flood-prone area, or timber harvest (logging permit)	County Engineer, Highway Department	256-357-2311
Septic tank certification	Randolph County Health Department	334-863-8981
Business license	Probate Judge’s office	256-357-4933
Property inside a town or police jurisdiction	That municipality	—

Report new buildings for property tax

The county asks anyone who builds a new home or installs a new structure to contact the Appraisal Office. That way the correct tax exemptions are applied, and you avoid penalties or back taxes for unreported buildings. With no permit process, this call is how the county learns about new construction.

Floodplain, subdivision, and logging go through the County Engineer

The county asks people to contact the County Engineer as early as possible if they plan to:

• divide land into subdivision lots
• build a home or business in a flood-prone area
• harvest timber

The Highway Department is at 108 Woodland Ave. West, Wedowee (P.O. Box 286). It operates Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and takes after-hours, non-emergency requests through an answering service.

Septic

The Randolph County Health Department (Alabama Department of Public Health, Northeastern District) handles septic tank certifications. It lists environmental services among its programs, and its operating hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

State builder licensing still applies

The county notice says all residential home builders must be licensed by the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board and follow the Alabama Residential Building Code. It strongly encourages owners to confirm their contractor is licensed and building to that code.

Under the Board’s rules:

• A home builders license is required for residential work costing more than $10,000. An unlimited license is required if the work involves more than one trade or affects structural integrity; otherwise a limited license is sufficient.
• Residential roofing over $2,500 requires a roofers license and a $10,000 bond.
• Working without a required license is a Class A misdemeanor.
• In cities and counties that have not adopted a residential building code, the Board applies the 2015 International Residential Code when it investigates contracts signed on or after February 13, 2022.

No county inspector will check the work in unincorporated Randolph County. In practice, the contract and the builder’s license are the homeowner’s main protection. The Board’s Builder Watch hotline is (800) 304-0853.

Inside a town or police jurisdiction

The county’s no-zoning statement covers only unincorporated areas outside municipal limits and police jurisdictions. If the property is inside a municipality or its police jurisdiction, contact that municipality about its own zoning, codes, and permits before you build.

County Commission

The Commission office is in the Courthouse Annex, 12 East Broad Street Southeast, Wedowee (P.O. Box 228), across from the courthouse. The Commission meets at 3 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month, with workshop meetings on the Thursday before. If you want to address the Commission, submit a request by 4:30 p.m. on the Tuesday before the workshop meeting.