Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits
- Phone
- (205) 254-2211
- Hours
- Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CT
Alabama
Birmingham, AL permit fees and requirements
The City of Birmingham Department of Planning
Engineering & Permits (PEP), in Room 210 of City Hall at 710 20th Street North, regulates building, structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical construction. Building permit fees are calculated on the declared valuation of construction at $9.50 per $1,000 of value with a $125.00 city-wide minimum, plan review adds 50% of the permit fee where architectural or engineering review applies — and on nonresidential work, Alabama state law adds a $1.00 per $1,000 Craft Training Fund collection, bringing the effective commercial rate to $10.50 per $1,000. Standalone trade permits carry a $100.00 minimum.
Permit costs we have worked out
Each page shows the fee components, the formula the jurisdiction uses, and a worked example you can follow by hand.
Estimate your potential Birmingham permit fee with our Building Permit Fee Calculator.
| Permit | Category | Last reviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Building Permit Cost | structural | 2026-09-25 |
| Birmingham Electrical Permit Cost | electrical | 2026-09-25 |
| Birmingham Plumbing Permit Cost | plumbing | 2026-09-25 |
Local context
What is specific to Birmingham
Birmingham enforces the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) with local municipal amendments adopted under Title 4 of the General Code, alongside Code of Alabama 1975 Title 34 Chapter 8 at the state layer. The Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits (PEP) exercises jurisdiction within the municipal limits of the City of Birmingham, with digital plan review and inspection scheduling through the City's Accela portal.
Permit applicants must secure individual standalone permits for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical scopes, which are pulled by state-licensed trade contractors — electrical contractors licensed by the state, plumbing by master plumbers certified with the Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board. Unincorporated parts of Jefferson County and surrounding municipalities like Hoover or Vestavia Hills operate under their own separate permitting authorities, so addresses just outside city limits price very differently.
The Craft Training Fund line is the fee schedule's distinguishing feature: it is a state mandate (collected under Code of Alabama Title 41), not a City fee, and it applies only to nonresidential construction — a $500,000 commercial build pays $500 more than the same project priced as residential.
Valuation
How valuation is determined here
Valuation is defined as the total fair market value of all construction work, including materials, labor, overhead, and contractor profit, regardless of whether labor is contracted or provided by the property owner.
Who to contact
The office that issues the permit, with the details we have verified. Confirm current hours before travelling.
What these fees do not include
The list is not a disclaimer: on a new house the fees left out can outweigh the permit fee several times over. Every entry here is stated on the permit page as well.
Not included in our estimates
These municipal figures cover the core building permit, plan examination, and the state Craft Training Fund collection on commercial work. They exclude:
- Right-of-way and street occupancy permits administered by the City Engineering division.
- Grading and site development permits issued under Title 4, Chapter 7 of the Birmingham General Code.
- Sewer impact fees and tap permits assessed and collected directly by Jefferson County Environmental Services.
- Fire sprinkler and life-safety system engineering reviews handled by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service.
Official sources for this jurisdiction
The documents these figures are transcribed from. Where a source contradicts itself we keep both readings and say so on the permit page.
- State agencyStatePrimary source
Alabama Craft Training Fund Mandate (Code of Alabama Title 41)
State law requires municipalities to collect an additional $1.00 per $1,000 of construction valuation on commercial projects for the Alabama Craft Training Fund.
- Permit portalCityPrimary source
Birmingham Citizen Access Portal — Trade Permit Fee Schedule
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are issued through the Birmingham Accela portal with a base minimum fee of $100.00.
- City websiteCityPrimary source
City of Birmingham Building Permit Fee Schedule & Technical Code
Building permits are calculated at $9.50 per $1,000 of construction valuation with a standard $125.00 minimum permit fee.