Mobile does not impose a general residential impact fee on accessory dwelling units. Alabama law does not broadly authorize municipal residential impact fees outside specific statutory grants. ADU costs include standard building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permit fees through Build Mobile plus tap/connection fees from the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS) and Alabama Power if a new utility service is required.
Alabama Code Title 11 does not grant municipalities general authority to impose residential impact fees in the way California (Government Code §66000 Mitigation Fee Act) and other states do. The City of Mobile does not charge a general ADU impact fee, school impact fee, transportation impact fee, or parks impact fee. ADU costs consist of: (1) Building permit fees set by Build Mobile, calculated on construction valuation per the fee schedule in Code of Ordinances Chapter 11; (2) Separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical/gas permit fees; (3) Plan-review fees; (4) Zoning compliance review under the Unified Development Code (Chapter 64). Utility connection costs are charged separately: the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS) sets water and sewer tap fees, Alabama Power sets electric service charges, and Spire Energy handles natural-gas service. Most ADUs that share an existing service with the principal dwelling avoid new connection fees. Mobile County does not impose school impact fees. Stormwater and street-cut fees may apply if the ADU triggers added impervious surface or a utility cut in the public right-of-way. Property tax on the new improvement is reassessed by the Mobile County Revenue Commissioner at the next assessment cycle. Properties in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas may incur additional review fees for floodplain compliance.
Failure to pay required permit fees prevents permit issuance. Unpaid MAWSS or Alabama Power connection fees prevent service activation. Building without permits triggers after-the-fact fees and stop-work orders under Code Chapters 11 and 64, plus accruing daily fines under the city's general penalty provisions.
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