Birmingham, AL
Birmingham Building Permit Cost
A City of Birmingham building permit is priced directly from the valuation of the construction work
established at $9.50 per $1,000 of declared project value with a city-wide minimum fee of $125.00. Projects requiring engineering or architectural plan examination also incur a plan review fee calculated as 50% of the building permit fee. On commercial construction, Alabama state law requires the collection of an additional $1.00 per $1,000 valuation for the Alabama Craft Training Fund.
How this fee is calculated
These are the components the schedule defines for this permit, as they applied on 2026-09-28. A component only applies to your project if its conditions match — read that column before assuming a figure. Want a figure for your own project? Estimate this fee with the permit fee calculator.
| Component | Formula | Applies when | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permit base fee ($9.50 per $1,000 valuation)Permit fee | $9.50 per $1,000 of project valuation, or fraction thereof | Every permit of this type | — |
| Plan review fee (50% of permit fee)Plan review | 50% of calculated permit fee | Every permit of this type | — |
| Alabama Craft Training Fund ($1.00 per $1,000 valuation, nonresidential)State surcharge | $1.00 per $1,000 of project valuation, or fraction thereof | Occupancy is commercial | — |
| Minimum building permit fee ($125.00)Permit fee | the shortfall up to the $125.00 minimum on calculated permit fee | permit fee under 12500 | — |
A real permit fee is these components added together. The department’s final calculation is the one that applies — this is the schedule it will be based on.
A worked example
Follow the arithmetic by hand. Every line is produced by the engine from the rules above, so the total cannot drift away from the schedule behind it.
Worked example
A residential single-family home addition with a total estimated construction valuation of $85,000 in Birmingham, AL.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Project valuation | $85,000 |
| Project area | 650 sq ft |
Example total
$1,211.25
An estimate, not an official fee. It is calculated from the published fee schedule as it applied on 2026-09-28. The permit office’s own calculation is the one that applies, and your project may fall under rules this schedule does not describe.
Fee schedule as of 2026-09-28Rules applied 2Rules considered 4
| Component | How it is calculated | Amount |
|---|---|---|
Building permit base fee ($9.50 per $1,000 valuation)Permit feeCity of Birmingham Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits fee schedule: $9.50 per $1,000 of construction valuation.Show the working
| $9.50 per $1,000 of project valuation, or fraction thereof, in $1,000 steps | $807.50 |
Plan review fee (50% of permit fee)Plan reviewPlan examination fee assessed on projects requiring architectural or engineering review, charged as 50% of the building permit fee.Show the working
| 50% of calculated permit fee | $403.75 |
| Total | $1,211.25 |
Fees that do not apply here
Listed so you can see what was considered and left out, rather than wondering whether something is missing. A rule can also be left out because it is not published for this permit at all, and that is stated where it matters.
- Alabama Craft Training Fund ($1.00 per $1,000 valuation, nonresidential) — This fee does not apply to the inputs provided.
- Minimum building permit fee ($125.00) — This fee does not apply to the inputs provided.
Assumptions
- Calculated from 2 fee rules in effect on 2026-09-28.
- Amounts are rounded to the nearest cent, once, at the end of each component.
The base building permit fee is calculated as $9.50 × 85 ($1,000 increments) = $807.50, exceeding the $125.00 city minimum. The plan review fee is 50% of the permit fee ($807.50 × 0.50) = $403.75. The total municipal fee for the building permit and plan examination is $1,211.25.
What is different in Birmingham
Building permits in Birmingham are issued by the Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits located in Room 210 of City Hall. Residential remodeling, room additions, roofing, structural repairs, and new commercial developments all require building permits before construction begins. The city uses the Accela Citizen Access portal for digital plan review submissions and inspection scheduling.
What this figure does not include
Impact fees, utility connections and other departments’ permits are the usual omissions, and in some jurisdictions they are larger than the permit fee itself.
Not included in these figures
This estimate covers the municipal building permit and standard plan review. It excludes:
- Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, and mechanical must be pulled separately by licensed contractors).
- Site development and grading permits under Title 4, Chapter 7 of the General Code.
- Jefferson County Health Department food facility permits for restaurant and hospitality buildouts.
- Fire sprinkler and alarm plan review fees assessed by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service.
What you need before applying
- Architectural Construction PlansRequired
Two complete sets of architectural plans and structural calculations, drawn to scale and stamped by an Alabama-registered architect or professional engineer.
- Alabama General Contractor LicenseRequired
Commercial work exceeding $50,000 or residential work exceeding $10,000 requires verification of licensure with the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors.
Common questions
How is a Birmingham building permit fee calculated?
Building permit fees are calculated based on the total cost of construction (valuation) at a rate of $9.50 per $1,000. If plans require departmental examination, a plan review fee equal to 50% of the permit fee is added. The minimum permit fee is $125.00.
City of Birmingham Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits
What is the Alabama Craft Training Fund fee?
Under the Code of Alabama 1975, all nonresidential (commercial) construction permits must pay an additional state surcharge of $1.00 per $1,000 of construction valuation, collected by the City of Birmingham and remitted to the Alabama Department of Finance.
Code of Alabama 1975 Title 41
When is a general contractor license required in Birmingham?
According to Alabama state regulations and Birmingham PEP rules, any commercial construction exceeding $50,000 or residential home construction exceeding $10,000 requires a licensed general contractor registered with the State Licensing Board.
Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors
Can homeowners pull their own building permits in Birmingham?
Homeowners may pull a building permit for their own primary residential property, provided they sign an owner-builder affidavit confirming they will supervise the work and not rent, sell, or lease the property within one year.
City of Birmingham PEP Homeowner Permitting Policy
Source and verification
The documents behind every figure on this page, with the dates that make them checkable.
- 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.
- 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.
Verification
Last verified against the official source in Sep 2026.