Grading that disturbs one acre or more in unincorporated Madison County falls under ADEM's construction stormwater program, Chapter 335-6-12. Smaller earthwork is exempt from state registration, but drainage that damages a neighbor still creates civil liability.
Alabama has no statewide grading permit, so grading and drainage in unincorporated Madison County are governed mainly by ADEM's construction stormwater rules and by the county's own drainage and subdivision review. Any construction activity disturbing one acre or more must register under Admin. Code Chapter 335-6-12 and control runoff. Sites under an acre that are not part of a larger common plan are not required to register with ADEM, but subdivision plats reviewed by the county must show drainage that does not divert concentrated runoff onto adjoining tracts. On the ridges and hollows around Monte Sano and Huntsville, hillside grading concentrates runoff quickly, making downhill drainage disputes common.
Diverting concentrated stormwater onto a neighbor creates civil liability for drainage damage. Grading a one-acre site without ADEM registration draws state penalties and stop-work orders.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Madison County, AL
Madison County has no ordinance regulating holiday lights, inflatables, or yard displays in unincorporated areas, and Alabama has no statute on them. A homeo...
Madison County, AL
Garage-sale signs face no Madison County zoning rule on your own property. But Alabama Code §23-1-6 makes it illegal to plant a sign in a state highway right...
Madison County, AL
Madison County imposes no zoning signage rules, so political signs on your own land need no county permit. Alabama Code §23-1-6 bars signs in a state highway...
Madison County, AL
Unincorporated Madison County has no rental registration. The county runs zoning and building inspection but no landlord registry, so it cannot license, regi...
Madison County, AL
Alabama has no just-cause eviction rule, and Madison County cannot add one. Under Alabama Code §35-9A-421 a landlord ends a tenancy with a seven-business-day...
Madison County, AL
Rent control is illegal in unincorporated Madison County. Alabama Code §11-80-8.1 bars every county, city, and town from enacting or enforcing any ordinance ...
See how Madison County's grading & drainage rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.