Birmingham, AL Hurricane Preparedness: Flood Elevation (2026)
Key Facts
- Elevation standard
- 1 ft above base flood elevation
- Applies to
- New construction & substantial improvements
- Permit required
- Floodplain development permit before work begins
- Certification
- As-built elevation cert by surveyor/engineer
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Planning, Engineering & Permits
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine or 180 days
- Variance authority
- Zoning Board of Adjustment
Summary
In Birmingham's mapped special flood hazard areas, the Zoning Ordinance requires new or substantially improved residential structures to elevate the lowest floor, including any basement, at least one foot above the base flood elevation. A floodplain development permit and an as-built elevation certification, prepared by a licensed surveyor or engineer, are required before and after construction.
(1)Residential construction. New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure (or manufactured home) shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated no lower than one foot above the base flood elevation. Should solid foundation perimeter walls be used to elevate a structure, openings sufficient to facilitate the unimpeded movement of floodwaters shall be provided in accordance with standards of subsection 5, part b(2)...h.Penalties for violation. Violation of the provisions of this section or failure to comply with any of its requirements, including violation of conditions and safeguards established in connection with grants of variance or special exceptions, shall constitute a misdemeanor. Any person who violates this section or fails to comply with any of its requirements shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $500.00 or imprisoned for not more than 180 days, or both, and in addition shall pay all costs and expenses involved in the case. Each day such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
Birmingham's Zoning Ordinance, Appendix D, Section 10 (Floodplain Zone Districts) governs construction inside the areas of special flood hazard shown on the city's Flood Insurance Rate Maps, based on the 1980 Flood Insurance Study for Birmingham and Jefferson County. c. b(1) sets the residential standard: new construction or substantial improvement of a residential structure or manufactured home must have its lowest floor, including the basement, elevated no lower than one foot above the base flood elevation. Where solid foundation perimeter walls elevate the structure, the walls need openings sized to let floodwaters pass through automatically.
Nonresidential buildings can meet the same one-foot elevation or be engineer-certified as floodproofed instead. 3 of the Administration chapter to collect that same elevation certification before further vertical construction proceeds. Manufactured homes and recreational vehicles have their own anchoring and elevation rules, and any variance from the one-foot standard goes through the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Violations & Fines
Violating Section 10 or ignoring its permit and elevation-certification requirements, including any condition attached to a variance, is a misdemeanor: conviction carries a fine of up to $500.00 or up to 180 days imprisonment, or both, plus case costs, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high above flood level must a new Birmingham home be built?
Do I need a permit before building in a Birmingham flood zone?
Who certifies that my house was actually built high enough?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Birmingham
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