Bolthole Index

Baldwin County, Alabama

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bay Minette, Alabama

Inside Bay Minette city limits in Baldwin County, Alabama, the city's Planning & Development Services Department handles both zoning1 and building permits and inspections2. Septic permits stay with the Baldwin County Health Department3. Living in an RV is prohibited outside a legally established RV park or camp, apart from a hardship waiver4.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, handled by the City of Bay Minette Planning & Development Services Department1
Building permits
Issued and inspected by the city's Building Department2
Building codes
2018 International Building and Residential Codes adopted5
Septic
Baldwin County Health Department permit required36
RV living
Prohibited outside an RV park or camp, except a council waiver4
Floodplain
Development permit from the building official in flood hazard areas7
Owner-builder
Alabama licensing exemption exists; city-limits rule unconfirmed8

Who to call

Building permits

Bay Minette Building Department (Planning & Development Services)

Building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits and inspections inside Bay Minette city limits

(251) 580-1610

301 D'Olive Street, Bay Minette, AL 36507

Zoning

Bay Minette Planning & Zoning (Planning & Development Services)

Zoning and planning inside Bay Minette city limits, including zoning verification requests

Septic permits

Baldwin County Health Department (Environmental and Vital Statistics)

Onsite sewage (septic) permits and inspections for Baldwin County, including inside Bay Minette

251-947-3618

22251 Palmer Street, P.O. Box 369, Robertsdale, Alabama 36567

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 15, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Bay Minette means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Bay Minette, AL have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and tiny homes?

Yes. Zoning inside Bay Minette city limits is run by the City of Bay Minette Planning & Development Services Department19. Baldwin County's zoning authority covers only zoned parts of the county, and its own zoning rules are not what governs a lot inside the city10.

Living in an RV is the question most land buyers ask. Bay Minette prohibits occupying an RV outside a legally established RV park or camp4. The city council can grant a temporary-use waiver of no more than six months for hardship or emergency cases, with no renewals or extensions4. A parked or stored RV may not be lived in or connected to the sanitary sewer11.

We could not confirm any city rule on tiny homes, minimum dwelling size, or setbacks in the R-A Rural Residential and Agricultural district. Ask the Planning & Development Services Department for a zoning verification before you buy; the city offers these at no cost9.

Do you need a building permit in Bay Minette, and who issues it?

Yes. The city's own Building Department handles building permits and inspections inside Bay Minette212. The city has adopted the 2018 International Building, Gas, Mechanical, Plumbing, Residential and Energy Codes, plus its own supplemental residential code5.

The Baldwin County Building Department is a different office. Its permit jurisdiction covers unincorporated areas and the towns of Elberta, Magnolia Springs and Perdido Beach, and the county tells owners in other cities to contact the specific city13. A Bay Minette lot therefore goes to the city, not the county counter.

Inside a flood hazard area, a development permit application goes to the building official before any development begins7.

How do septic permits work inside Bay Minette?

Septic permits are not a city matter. Alabama law requires a permit from the local health department before a new onsite sewage system is installed or an existing one is repaired6, and in Bay Minette that is the Baldwin County Health Department314.

The application goes in with a fee and a soil test. If the soil test shows a site restriction, a registered engineer must design the system6. The installer must call the health department for an inspection before covering the system15.

Alabama's rules require a registered engineer where soil percolation exceeds 60 minutes or a shallow limiting zone exists16. If city sewer reaches your lot, check with the city sewer authority or the health department first17.

Building a home in Bay Minette: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Planning & Development Services Department for a zoning verification of the lot9.
  2. If the lot is not on city sewer, get a soil test and apply to the Baldwin County Health Department for a septic permit6.
  3. Apply to the city Building Department; permits that also need planning review use the combined building permit and land use application12.
  4. If the lot is in a flood hazard area, add the floodplain development permit7.
  5. Book city inspections as work proceeds, and call the health department before the septic system is covered215.
  6. Dividing land first? Bay Minette regulates subdivisions, with standards for streets, utilities, drainage and lots18.

What stays with Baldwin County, and what should you check before you buy in Bay Minette?

Septic permits and inspections stay with the Baldwin County Health Department3. For land outside the city limits, the county's rules differ; see the Baldwin County page.

Alabama has a state licensing exemption for owners who act as their own contractor on a one- or two-family home for their own use, but it does not exempt the owner from getting a permit819. We could not confirm whether the city adds its own owner-builder rules.

Baldwin County figures: farmland averages about $6,202 per acre20, the effective property tax rate is about 0.3%21, and only about 9% of soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field22, so expect a soil evaluation and possibly an engineered system.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm whether the city requires a permit for private or irrigation wells inside Bay Minette; ask Planning & Development Services before drilling9.
  • We could not confirm city rules on short-term rentals or agricultural exemptions in the R-A district; get a zoning verification first9.
  • Search results for building permits often show the Baldwin County Building Department, whose jurisdiction does not include Bay Minette13.

Sources

  1. Planning & Zoning (Bay Minette), quoted and re-checked
  2. Building Permits (Bay Minette), quoted and re-checked
  3. Onsite Sewage Disposal (Bay Minette), quoted and re-checked
  4. Occupancy in other than a manufactured home, subdivision or recreational vehicle park—Prohibited generally (Bay Minette), quoted and re-checked
  5. Technical codes—Adopted; amendments (Bay Minette), quoted and re-checked
  6. Onsite Sewage Disposal (Bay Minette), quoted and re-checked
  7. Floodplain permit procedures (Bay Minette), quoted and re-checked
  8. Exemptions (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Bay Minette Planning & Zoning (Planning & Development Services) (bayminette.gov)
  10. Permit Application Information, quoted and re-checked
  11. Parking limitations (Bay Minette), quoted and re-checked
  12. Bay Minette Building Department (Planning & Development Services) (bayminette.gov)
  13. Permitting FAQs, quoted and re-checked
  14. Baldwin County Health Department (Environmental and Vital Statistics) (alabamapublichealth.gov)
  15. Onsite Sewage Disposal (Bay Minette), quoted and re-checked
  16. Onsite Sewage Disposal (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. alabamapublichealth.gov (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Subdivision Regulations (Bay Minette), quoted and re-checked
  19. Permit Application Checklists, quoted and re-checked
  20. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 15, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Bay Minette

Bay Minette’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building and structures within Bay Minette municipal limits.

    • The ordinance also states the codes apply in the city's police jurisdiction or as otherwise required or allowed by state law.
    • Adopted codes include 2018 International Building, Gas, Mechanical, Plumbing, Residential and Energy Codes; 2021 International Fire Code; the City supplemental residential code; and the 2017 National Electric Code for commercial and residential buildings containing more than two dwelling units.
    “The following codes and supplements shall apply to all building and structures built within the municipal limits and the police jurisdiction of the city or as otherwise required or allowed by state law:”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Building-permit work inside Bay Minette city limits.

    • Bay Minette's building page states that permits and inspections are handled by City Building Department staff.
    • Floodplain projects require additional inspections under the city's floodplain ordinance.
    “Building Permits and Inspections are handled by the Building Department staff of the City of Bay Minette Planning & Development Services Department.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Bay Minette city limits.

    • The City Planning and Development Services Department administers planning and zoning services.
    “Planning and Zoning services are handled by the Planning staff of the City of Bay Minette Planning & Development Services Department.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Human occupancy of recreational vehicles inside Bay Minette city limits.

    • Occupancy is prohibited outside a legally established recreational-vehicle park or camp.
    • A city council temporary-use waiver may authorize temporary occupancy outside such facilities for no more than six months, only in hardship or emergency situations determined by the mayor and ratified by the city council.
    • No renewals or extensions are authorized.

    maximum waiver duration: <= 6 months (No renewals or extensions.)

    “the city council shall retain, and have the authority, at its discretion, to authorize a temporary use waiver to this chapter so as to permit the locating and temporary occupancy of a manufactured home or recreational vehicle in areas other than established manufactured home subdivisions, parks, or recreational vehicle parks or camps, for a period not to exceed six months.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary camping or temporary RV residence inside Bay Minette city limits.

    • Recreational vehicles may be used as temporary living quarters in a legally established recreational vehicle park or camp.
    • Outside such a facility, a hardship or emergency waiver may last no more than six months and may not be renewed or extended.
    • A parked or stored recreational vehicle may not be occupied as a temporary or permanent residence and may not be connected to sanitary sewer.
    “While parked or stored, no recreational vehicle shall be occupied or used as a temporary or permanent residence as defined herein and shall not be connected to sanitary sewer.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Onsite sewage systems serving property inside Bay Minette city limits when public sewer is unavailable or onsite sewage work is proposed.

    • The Baldwin County Health Department's Environmental Health function administers onsite sewage requirements.
    • This claim identifies the county health department as the administering body; it is not a Bay Minette municipal septic ordinance.
    “Alabama state law requires owners of property to obtain a permit from the local health department prior to installing a new onsite sewage disposal system or making repairs to an existing system.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installing a new onsite sewage disposal system or repairing an existing system inside Bay Minette city limits.

    • A soil test is submitted with the application and fee.
    • If site restrictions are identified, a registered engineer must design the system.
    • The health department reviews the material and visits the site; a permit issues when requirements are met.
    • A licensed installer performs the work.
    “Alabama state law requires owners of property to obtain a permit from the local health department prior to installing a new onsite sewage disposal system or making repairs to an existing system.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    New or repaired onsite sewage systems inside Bay Minette city limits.

    • The installer must contact the health department for inspection before covering the system.
    “The installer must contact the health department for an inspection before covering the system.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land division and subdivision development inside Bay Minette city limits.

    • The city subdivision regulations establish standards for street layouts, utilities, drainage and lot configurations.
    • The current regulations were initially adopted October 13, 2022; the most recent amendment was RA-24001 on June 13, 2024, effective July 3, 2024.
    “These regulations establish standards for street layouts, utilities, drainage, and lot configurations to promote orderly growth and protect community resources.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in special flood hazard areas within Bay Minette city jurisdiction.

    • A development permit application must be made to the building official before any development activities.
    • Applications may require scaled plans, elevations, flood-zone information, foundation details, utility-protection details and professional certification.
    • As-built certification and FEMA elevation or floodproofing certificates may be required before occupancy.
    “application for a development permit shall be made to the building official on forms furnished by the city prior to any development activities”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Bay Minette or Baldwin County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions for construction inside Bay Minette city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for dwellings inside Bay Minette city limits.
  • Setbacks — R-A Rural Residential and Agricultural district inside Bay Minette city limits.
  • Lot coverage — R-A Rural Residential and Agricultural district inside Bay Minette city limits.
  • Building height — R-A Rural Residential and Agricultural district inside Bay Minette city limits.
4 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Bay Minette publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Baldwin County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Baldwin County: county rules, score and offices