Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Jacksonville, Alabama

Jacksonville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, moving, or alteration of buildings and structures inside Jacksonville city

  • Exception for repairs not changing the character of the structure and not exceeding $500.00 in cost, and interior painting.
  • Permit expires when work ceases for 90 days unless the enforcing officer approves in writing, and in any case in six months because of abandonment of work.

  repair cost exemption threshold: <= 500 USD (repairs not changing the character of the structure)

  “or to commence the moving, alteration or repair (except repairs not changing the character of the structure and not exceeding $500.00 in cost, or interior painting) of any structure, including accessory structures, until the enforcing officer of the city has issued for such work a building permit”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building, fuel gas, mechanical, plumbing, fire, residential, existing building, property maintenance codes inside Jacksonville city

  • Adopted by reference with local amendments (e.g., deleted permit/inspection sections of several codes).
  • International Building Code, International Residential Code, etc. 2021 editions; National Electrical Code 2020 edition.

  International Building Code edition: 2021 (with listed local amendments) · International Residential Code edition: 2021 (with listed local amendments)

  “The following codes are hereby adopted by reference as though they were herein fully set forth:”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Jacksonville city limits (Calhoun County, AL)

  • Zoning is in Chapter 24 of the city code, with R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential districts and a board of adjustment and appeals.

  “there shall be but one main structure plus any permitted accessory structures on any lot in an R-1 single-family residential district or R-2 two-family residential district.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts inside Jacksonville city

  • Code names R-1 single-family, R-2 two-family and R-3 multi-family residential districts; full district list and map not opened.

  “there shall be but one main structure plus any permitted accessory structures on any lot in an R-1 single-family residential district or R-2 two-family residential district.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential accessory structures inside Jacksonville city; main-structure district setbacks (Sec. 24-65) not captured

  • Accessory structures on interior lots may sit in the rear setback, not less than five feet from the rear lot line.
  • May be in side setbacks of corner lots, not less than five feet from side lot lines.
  • No part of the accessory structure may be closer to the front lot line than the main structure, except on double frontage lots (swimming pools have separate rules).

  accessory rear setback: >= 5 feet (interior lots)

  “Accessory structures or uses may be located within the rear setback of interior lots, but not less than five feet from the rear lot line”

• Building heightSpecified

  Accessory structures on residential lots inside Jacksonville city; main-structure district height limits not captured

  • In no case may accessory structures exceed the maximum height of the dwelling roofline.
  • Accessory structures for human occupancy may not exceed 35 feet (2½ stories) on farm/agricultural uses.

  residential accessory structure height: <= 25 feet (two stories maximum)

  “Accessory structures or uses located on lots used for residential purposes shall not exceed two stories (maximum 25 feet) in height. However, in no case shall said structures or uses exceed the maximum height of the dwelling roofline.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RVs on residential lots inside Jacksonville city

  • Only one unoccupied RV, not exceeding ten feet in width and 40 feet in length, may be parked in an accessory private garage or rear or side yard of any zoning district, with no living quarters maintained.
  • Temporary emergency housing permit for an RV (not a mobile home) in a residential district for up to six months when a residence is destroyed or uninhabitable by fire or natural disaster; renewable if reasonable repair progress is made.
  • RVs (travel trailers and motor homes) are allowed for temporary living quarters on approved spaces in mobile home courts under conditions in Sec. 24-532(w).

  emergency RV permit duration: <= 6 months (renewable)

  “The enforcing officer is authorized to issue a temporary permit for emergency housing for placement of a recreational vehicle (not a mobile home) on an individual lot in any residential zoning district, for a period not to exceed six months”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Mobile homes in mobile home courts inside Jacksonville city only; general new-home rule not found

  • Alternative: on-site sewer/water system approved by and under the regulations of the Alabama Department of Public Health.
  • Only mobile homes with fixtures conforming to the city plumbing code are permitted for occupancy.

  “All mobile homes shall be connected to the sanitary sewer and water system of the city or an on-site sanitary sewer and/or water system approved by and under the regulations of the Alabama Department of Public Health”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in special flood hazard areas and flood-prone areas inside Jacksonville city

  • Lowest floor of new construction must be at least one foot above BFE where BFE data is available; at least three feet above highest adjacent grade where no BFE exists (Sec. 12-74).
  • Manufactured homes must be elevated and anchored.
  • Adopted by Ord. No. O-651-24, 1-22-2024.

  freeboard above BFE: >= 1 foot (see Sec. 12-72)

  “In all SFHAs and flood-prone areas regulated by the city, the following provisions are required for all proposed development including new construction, and substantial improvements:”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permits inside Jacksonville city

  • Permit includes a statement that plans, specifications and intended use conform to the zoning chapter.
  • Permits are good for continuous performance of the work; expire after 90 days of no work and in any case in six months because of abandonment.
  • Forms, fees and online process pages not opened.

  “until the enforcing officer of the city has issued for such work a building permit including a statement that the plans, specifications and intended use of such structure in all respects conform with the”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Jacksonville or Calhoun County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Jacksonville city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Jacksonville city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Jacksonville city
• Minimum dwelling size — R-1 and agricultural districts inside Jacksonville city
• Minimum lot size — R-1 and agricultural districts inside Jacksonville city

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.