Vestavia Hills, AL Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)

Section 5-81(a) of the Code of Ordinances adopts the International Energy Conservation Code, 2021 edition, as published by the International Code Council, as the energy conservation code of the City of Vestavia Hills. The ordinance folds in the state layer above the base text: section R101.1.1 directs that the Alabama Energy and Residential Codes Board's current adoption and amendments be enforced alongside the local code, so a builder has to satisfy both the 2021 IECC as adopted here and whatever the state board has since layered on top of it. The code governs the energy efficiency of building envelopes and the mechanical systems, lighting, and power systems installed in a project, and it applies to both commercial (C-prefixed sections) and residential (R-prefixed sections) construction.

Fees and penalties are not spelled out separately for the energy code; section 5-81(b) instead cross-references the fee schedule in article III of chapter 5, the same $9.00 per $1,000.00 of valuation plus a $41.00 issuance fee that applies to a building permit generally, and directs violation penalties and stop-work orders to article I, administration, of chapter 5. A builder who skips the energy compliance path faces the same stop-work order under section 5-3 and the same general Code penalty in section 1-5, a fine of $1.00 to $500.00 and up to six months in jail or hard labor, that applies to any other unpermitted or noncompliant construction in the city.