Birmingham, AL
Birmingham Plumbing Permit Cost
Plumbing permits in Birmingham are issued to state-certified master plumbers for water
drain, waste, and gas line installations. The fee is assessed based on the valuation of plumbing work at $10.00 per $1,000 of job valuation, anchored by a minimum permit fee of $100.00. Work must comply with the International Plumbing Code (IPC).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing permit fee ($10.00 per $1,000 valuation)Permit fee | $10.00 per $1,000 of project valuation, or fraction thereof | Every permit of this type | — |
| Minimum plumbing permit fee ($100.00)Permit fee | the shortfall up to the $100.00 minimum on calculated permit fee | permit fee under 10000 | — |
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
Plumbing repiping and new bathroom plumbing installation valued at $8,000.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Project valuation | $8,000 |
Example total
$100.00
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 2
| Component | How it is calculated | Amount |
|---|---|---|
Plumbing permit fee ($10.00 per $1,000 valuation)Permit feeCity of Birmingham plumbing permit fee calculated on the valuation of plumbing fixtures, piping, and water service.Show the working
| $10.00 per $1,000 of project valuation, or fraction thereof, in $1,000 steps | $80.00 |
Minimum plumbing permit fee ($100.00)Permit feeCity of Birmingham minimum fee for standalone plumbing permits.Show the working
| $100.00 minimum on calculated permit fee, less the $80.00 calculated | $20.00 |
| Total | $100.00 |
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.
Calculated at $10.00 per $1,000 of valuation: 8 × $10.00 = $80.00. The permit fee is raised to the city's mandatory $100.00 minimum permit floor.
What is different in Birmingham
Plumbing permits are required for water heater replacements, repiping, fixture installations, and sewer lateral repairs. The City's schedule prices this work on the declared job valuation with the same $100.00 floor as other standalone trade permits. PEP plumbing inspectors verify proper venting, backflow prevention, and pressure testing prior to drywall concealment and final sign-off. Apply through the Birmingham Accela portal; PEP sits in Room 210, City Hall, 710 20th Street North, at (205) 254-2211.
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
Sewer impact and tap fees charged by the Jefferson County Environmental Services Department (Sewer Department) and water meter connection fees charged by the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB).
What you need before applying
- Alabama Master Plumber CertificationRequired
Plumbing permits must be pulled by a certified master plumber licensed with the State of Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board.
Common questions
Does replacing a water heater require a permit in Birmingham?
Yes, water heater replacements require a plumbing permit and subsequent inspection by the Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits to verify temperature-pressure relief valve discharge and fuel/electrical connections.
Birmingham PEP Plumbing Division
What is the minimum plumbing permit fee in Birmingham?
The minimum fee for a standalone plumbing permit in the City of Birmingham is $100.00.
Birmingham PEP Schedule of Fees
Who regulates sewer connections in Birmingham?
While the City of Birmingham inspects the building drain and yard plumbing, the main sewer collection system and tap connection permits are administered by Jefferson County Environmental Services.
Jefferson County Environmental Services
Source and verification
The documents behind every figure on this page, with the dates that make them checkable.
- 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.
Verification
Last verified against the official source in Sep 2026.