Building Safety in Birmingham, AL (2026)
6 verified building safety rules for Birmingham, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Elevator Maintenance
Under Birmingham's Technical Codes, every elevator and escalator in the city, existing or new, must be kept in a safe and sanitary condition, with all required safety devices maintained in good working order. That maintenance duty falls on the building's owner or designated agent, and the Building or Fire Official can order unsafe work stopped immediately.
Birmingham Elevator and Escalator Maintenance Duty
Some RestrictionsBirmingham Code of Ordinances § 7-1-3 (Technical Codes § 101.3.4)
101.3.4 Maintenance. All buildings, structures, electrical, gas, fire protection, elevator, escalator, mechanical and plumbing systems, both existing and new, and all parts thereof, shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. All devices or safeguards which are required by this Code when constructed, altered, or repaired, shall be maintained in good working order. The owner, or his de...
Childcare Center Rules
Birmingham requires a zoning certificate of operation for any child care center, defined as a facility caring for 13 or more children, before it can open, and keeps centers out of multifamily buildings, capping residential-district signage and restricting playgrounds to the rear yard. The Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits issues and inspects the certificate under Article VI, Section 17 of the zoning ordinance.
Birmingham Child Care Center Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsBirmingham Code of Ordinances, Appendix D (Zoning Ordinance), Article VI, Section 17, Subsections 2.6, 3.1, 4.3, and 6
6.Child care center. A facility or licensed agency that provides for the care of 13 or more children for periods of less than 24 hours a day. ... 3.When located in a residential district, no child or adult care facility shall be permitted to be located within 1,000 feet of another child care or adult care facility also located in a residential district. ... 6.No child care center shall be permi...
Building Permits
Birmingham law bars anyone from erecting, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, converting, or demolishing a building, or installing electrical, gas, fire protection, mechanical, or plumbing systems, without first getting a permit from the Building and/or Fire Official under Code of Ordinances Sec. 7-1-3, Section 103. A short list of minor jobs, like painting or shingle repair on single-family homes, is exempt.
Birmingham Building Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsBirmingham Code of Ordinances § 7-1-3 (Administration), §§ 103, 103.1.1 (Construction Permits - When Required)
103 CONSTRUCTION PERMITS. A person, firm or corporation shall not erect, construct, enlarge, install, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building, structure, elevator, escalator, electrical, gas, fire protection, mechanical or plumbing system in the City of Birmingham, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a permit for such from the Building and/or Fir...
Electrical Permits
Birmingham requires a permit from the Building Official before any electrical installation, alteration or repair, under the city's Technical Code, which adopts the 2014 National Electrical Code. Work must be done by a licensed master, journeyman or apprentice electrician, and starting work before the permit issues doubles the required fee.
Birmingham Electrical Permit and NEC Adoption
Some RestrictionsCode of the City of Birmingham, Technical Code of the City of Birmingham, 2015 (Ord. No. 15-164, amended Ord. No. 16-88), Sec. 7-1-3, Chapter 1, §§ 103, 103.1.1; Sec. 7-1-2(e) (NEC 2014 Edition adoption); § 111.3 (Licensing of Electricians)
103 CONSTRUCTION PERMITS A person, firm or corporation shall not erect, construct, enlarge, install, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building, structure, elevator, escalator, electrical, gas, fire protection, mechanical or plumbing system in the City of Birmingham, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a permit for such from the Building and/or Fire...
Plumbing Permits
Birmingham enforces the International Plumbing Code, 2015 Edition, for every plumbing installation in the city, adopted at Sec. 7-1-2(c) of the Technical Code. A permit from the Building Official is required before any plumbing work begins, and the master plumber must schedule underground, rough-in, and final inspections in sequence under Section 105.9.
Birmingham Plumbing Permit and IPC Adoption
Some RestrictionsCode of the City of Birmingham, Technical Code of the City of Birmingham, 2015 (Ord. No. 15-164, amended Ord. No. 16-88), Sec. 7-1-3, Chapter 1, §§ 103, 105.9; Sec. 7-1-2(c) (International Plumbing Code, 2015 Edition, adoption)
(c)Plumbing. The provisions of the International Plumbing Code, 2015 Edition, published by International Code Council shall apply to every plumbing installation, including alterations, repairs, replacement, equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and/or appurtenances within the city. ... 105.9.1. Underground Inspection. To be made after trenches or ditches are excavated, piping installed, and...
Building Inspections
Before any Birmingham building permit closes out, the Building and Fire Officials must sign off on a fixed sequence of inspections under Code of Ordinances Sec. 7-1-3, Section 105.6: footing and foundation, concrete slab, framing, lath and gypsum board, and a final inspection. Contractors must give 24 hours' notice before each stage, and no work may be covered until it is released.
Birmingham Required Building Inspection Stages
Some RestrictionsBirmingham Code of Ordinances § 7-1-3 (Administration), §§ 105.6-105.6.9 (Required Inspections)
105.6 Required Inspections. It shall be the responsibility of the permit holder/contractor to give reasonable advance notice to the Building and Fire Officials when work is ready for test or inspection. Except in case of emergency this notice should be given 24 hours prior to the requested inspection unless otherwise specified. The Building and/or Fire Official, upon notification from the permi...
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