WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR A RESIDENTIAL PERMIT?

• Obtain a legal street address from the Madison County Housing Numbering System — 256-746-2909.

• Obtain a Health Department Permit for the construction of a septic system by calling (256) 539-3711. If a private sewer disposal system is being used, an approval lever for connection  from the systems operator will be needed.

• Complete a Residential Permit Application and schedule a plans review at the Inspection Department.

• Contractors must provide proof of state certification, state privilege license, and general liability insurance

Residential Permit Fees

Any improvement that is added to a property should be reported to the Madison County Tax Assessor’s office per the following code:

Alabama Code 40-7-1

“…Should the owner of any real estate make improvements on such property, or should any improvements be removed or destroyed or partially removed or destroyed during any taxable year, it shall be the duty of such owner to make a tax return between October 1 and prior to January 1 covering all such changes made subsequent to October 1 of the preceding tax year. Improvements partially completed on October 1 shall be reported to the tax assessor or other assessing official by the owner thereof and shall be assessed as incomplete for that tax year. It shall be the duty of any person who purchases real estate prior to October 1 of any taxable year and who owns said real estate on that date to report such purchase to and assess that property with the tax assessor or other assessing official between October 1 and prior to January 1 following such purchase. No penalty shall be charged such taxpayer for failure to report the purchase or sale of any real estate.”

Residential Building Codes Resolution

REQUIRED INSPECTIONS

The number of inspections will vary depending on the type of construction. It is the responsibility of the homeowner or residential contractor to contact the Madison County Inspection Department 24 hours prior to required inspections.

• Footing/Slab Inspections will be conducted prior to the pouring of concrete. Monolithic and built-up slabs must have an inspection of plumbing, electrical, mechanical and gas before concrete is poured.
• Foundation and Floor framing will be inspected prior to the application of floor sheathing.
• Electrical Conduit Inspection.
• Brick/Vinyl/Veneer Inspection – Sheathing, house wrap, windows, doors, flashing, brick ties, and all penetrations sealed at the building’s thermal envelope – prior to brick/vinyl/veneer
• First Rough-In will be conducted prior to the installation of interior wall coverings and will include electrical, plumbing, mechanical and framing inspection.
• Second Rough-In will inspect insulation and also will include follow-up of First Rough-In.
• The Final Inspection must be conducted prior to issuing a Certificate of Occupancy and will include a lot drainage inspection. 

After passing all required inspections and completing all finish work to the building and landscaping, a final inspection can be requested.  

The following items must be completed, and final reports submitted within the final inspection request, the inspection request should be emailed to inspection@madisoncountyal.gov

A FINAL building inspection request must be received no later than 2:00PM on the business day prior of the desired inspection date. (Example: an inspection request for Friday must be submitted no later than 2:00PM on Thursday)

• Septic or Sewer Final Report: A report confirming connection of the project/property to an approved sewer utility or septic system and that the system is ready to be used.
  • Septic systems (Madison County Health Department) Contact Savanah West via email: Savanah.West@adph.state.al.us or 256.533.8743.
  • Sewer Utilities System Contact Information:
    • Madison Utilities: Todd Wheeler via email twheeler@madisonutilities.org or 1-800-781-4490
    • Integra: Customer Service via email: info@integrawater.com 205.326.3200, option 2
    • Huntsville Utilities: Randall Stewart via email: Randall.stewart@huntsvilleal.gov or 256.883-3719 
    • Harvest Monrovia Water & Sewer Authority: Cherita Kimbrell via email cherita@hmwater.org or (256) 837-1132 ext. 202
    • Hico Utility Company: Emily Cook via email info@hicoutility.com or (256) 693-1706
    • OSDS WWTP: Harry Lioce via email hlioce@interconnectsys.net or (256) 882-8865
• Energy Final Report: All residential projects must comply with the 2015 Energy Code requirements, these inspections are completed by Huntsville Utilities. At the beginning of your project Contact Bradley Lyon bradley.lyon@hsvutil.org (256) 652-8689 or Kyle Pendlum kyle.pendlum@hsvutil.org (256) 924-2808 for scheduling. The Energy inspection reports must be completed and submitted prior to requesting a rough-2 and the final building inspections, respectively.
• Sub-contractors List: A Final Sub-contractors list must be submitted. An example of this can be found here.

Once the above list of documents is compiled, please submit them to inspection@madisoncountyal.gov.  Please request the Building and Trades Final Inspections and submit all documentation within one email.

The Madison County Building Inspection Department will process the Certificate of Occupancy (CO) within two (2) business days following submission of all required documents, receipt of all approvals, and the completion of all required inspections. 

Contact the Inspections Department via email inspection@madisoncountyal.gov or (256) 746-2950 regarding any questions related to CO requirements or for any additional close-out information.