Montgomery, AL Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Under Code Section 5-111, the city council adopted the National Electrical Code, 2026 Edition, prepared by the National Fire Protection Association, as controlling within the corporate limits and police jurisdiction of the City of Montgomery. Section 5-115 then sets the permitting mechanics: before any electrical work begins, an application must go to the electrical division showing the property owner's name, the responsible electrical contractor, the street address, lot and block number when applicable, and a clear description of the work. No person may connect or cause to be connected any electrical wiring or appliance without first obtaining a written permit from the city electrical division, and a separate permit is required for each job, including alterations, extensions, and repairs, except minor repairs.

Permits run for the duration of the work named on them but automatically expire if work stops for 90 days without good cause, and they also expire naturally on completion and final approval. Only a person holding a current state electrical contractor's license, or a neon/illuminated sign specialty license, can obtain a city electrical contractor's license from the revenue and license division to pull permits and perform the work; narrow exemptions cover low-voltage work under 50 volts, manufacturer testing, and city employees working on city-owned property.

Disputes over a permit decision go to the nine-member electrical board of adjustment and appeals, which must convene within ten days of a written appeal to the chief electrical inspector.