Bolthole Index

Colbert County, Alabama

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Town of Cherokee, Alabama

The Town of Cherokee, Alabama (Colbert County) has its own zoning code with named districts, so unlike unincorporated Colbert County, land inside town limits is zoned1. The town has adopted building codes that cover permits2. Septic permits for a lot inside Cherokee come from the Colbert County Health Department, not the town3.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes: the town code has a zoning chapter with residential, business and forestry-agriculture-residential districts1
Building codes
Adopted by the town for construction, alteration and permits; the issuing office is not confirmed2
Septic permit
Required off public sewer; issued by the Colbert County Health Department34
RV living
Flood-hazard areas limit an RV to fewer than 180 consecutive days unless it meets new-construction rules5
Manufactured homes
In FAR-1, individual mobile homes are allowed only on appeal6
Owner-builder
State licensing exemption for your own one- or two-family home; town rule not confirmed7

Who to call

Septic permits

Colbert County Health Department, Environmental Office

Septic tank and onsite sewage permit requests for property in Colbert County, including inside Cherokee

256-383-1231

1000 S. Jackson Highway, Sheffield, Alabama 35660

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 Town of Cherokee means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Cherokee, Alabama have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and setbacks?

Yes. The Town of Cherokee's code of ordinances contains a zoning chapter and specific town zoning districts, and it applies to land inside Cherokee town limits1. The R-1 district is meant for large-lot, low-density single-family homes1, and homes there are capped at 35 feet8. The FAR-1 Forestry-Agriculture-Residential district also caps buildings at 35 feet and limits total building area to 20 percent of the lot910. In FAR-1, an individual mobile home is a use permitted on appeal, and the board of adjustment can impose design criteria6.

This differs from the land outside town: Colbert County itself has no county zoning11. Minimum dwelling size, accessory dwellings and tiny homes inside Cherokee are not something we could confirm, so ask the town before you buy.

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

Cherokee has adopted standard building codes that govern construction, alteration, moving, demolition and occupancy of buildings in town, and the adoption section expressly covers permits2. We could not confirm which office takes building permit applications, what the fees are, or whether inspections and certificates of occupancy are required, so call Cherokee town hall before you start work.

Colbert County does not fill that gap inside town: the county's department list shows no building or planning department, and its permit requirement covers subdivision development outside municipal limits12. Alabama's State Building Code covers state-funded work, schools, hotels and movie theaters, and the state does not take jurisdiction over private residential property13.

How do septic permits work inside Cherokee?

Septic permits inside Cherokee come from the Colbert County Health Department's Environmental Office, not from the town314. Before building an onsite sewage system you must apply for a Permit to Install, and you need a licensed installer; construction may start only after the permit is issued4. The requirement applies when the lot is not connected to a public sanitary sewer4.

Soils matter. About 23% of Colbert County's soils are rated not limited for a conventional drain field, so many lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system15. Whether a new home in Cherokee must connect to public sewer or water when available is something we could not confirm; ask town hall.

Can you live in an RV on your land in Cherokee?

The one RV rule we confirmed is a flood-hazard rule. In Cherokee's special flood hazard areas, an RV may stay fewer than 180 consecutive days if it is licensed, highway-ready, on wheels or a jacking system, attached only by quick-disconnect utilities and without permanent additions; otherwise it must meet new-construction anchoring and elevation rules5. Outside flood areas we could not confirm whether the town allows living in an RV, so ask town hall.

Temporary camping is narrow: recreational campgrounds in the B-1 Business District, excluding travel-trailer campgrounds, are allowed on appeal with no more than 10 permanent structures and 50 primitive campsites16.

Building a home in Cherokee: the steps, in order

  1. Ask Cherokee town hall which zoning district the lot is in and which permits apply1.
  2. Check the lot against the town's flood rules; in a special flood hazard area, a lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above base flood elevation where that data exists17.
  3. If the lot is off public sewer, apply to the Colbert County Health Department for a Permit to Install414.
  4. Hire a licensed installer for the septic system4.
  5. Get the town's building permit and inspections, which we could not confirm the process for.
  6. If you act as your own contractor on a one- or two-family home for your own use, the state licensing exemption may apply, though it says nothing about town permits7.

What stays with Colbert County, and what to check before you buy in Cherokee

Septic stays with the Colbert County Health Department3. Land outside town limits follows the county's rules, which are different; see the Colbert County page. Colbert County's effective property tax rate is 0.4% and its median bill is $604 a year1819.

Before you buy, confirm the zoning district, flood zone, sewer availability and permit process with the town. Zoning, flood and septic each have a different office, so do not assume one call covers all three.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm which office issues building permits in Cherokee or what it charges; call town hall before you buy or build2.
  • A flood-zone lot has extra rules: a lowest floor at least 2 feet above base flood elevation where that data exists17.
  • Colbert County's rules for unincorporated land do not apply inside Cherokee town limits11.

Sources

  1. Sec. 48-270. R-1 Residential District (single-family) (Town of Cherokee), quoted and re-checked
  2. Sec. 8-28. Adoption of standard codes (Town of Cherokee), quoted and re-checked
  3. Colbert County Health Department contact page (Town of Cherokee), quoted and re-checked
  4. Can I Live On This Lot? (Town of Cherokee), quoted and re-checked
  5. Sec. 18-85. Specific standards (Town of Cherokee), quoted and re-checked
  6. Sec. 48-277. FAR-1 Rural District (Town of Cherokee), quoted and re-checked
  7. Exemptions (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Sec. 48-270. R-1 Residential District (single-family) (Town of Cherokee), quoted and re-checked
  9. Sec. 48-277. FAR-1 Rural District (Town of Cherokee), quoted and re-checked
  10. Sec. 48-277. FAR-1 Rural District (Town of Cherokee), quoted and re-checked
  11. Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Colbert County Commission, May 2, 2023, quoted and re-checked
  12. Subdivision Regulations of Colbert County, quoted and re-checked
  13. State Building Code — Division of Construction Management, quoted and re-checked
  14. Colbert County Health Department, Environmental Office (alabamapublichealth.gov)
  15. 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
  16. Sec. 48-273. B-1 Business District (Town of Cherokee), quoted and re-checked
  17. library.municode.com (Town of Cherokee), quoted and re-checked
  18. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Median property tax bill: 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 Town of Cherokee

Town of Cherokee’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction, alteration, occupancy, use, height, area, maintenance, and permits for buildings or structures in Cherokee town.

    • The listed editions are the editions stated in Sec. 8-28.
    “The town adopts, for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, conversion, demolition, occupancy, equipment, use, height, area, and maintenance of building or structures in the town, including permits, the following codes:”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Cherokee town limits; the town code contains Chapter 48 ZONING and specific town zoning districts.

    “This district exists for the development of large lot, low density residential areas.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    FAR-1 Forestry-Agriculture-Residential District.

    maximum total building area of total lot: <= 20 percent

    “Maximum total building area of total lot: 20 percent.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    FAR-1 Forestry-Agriculture-Residential District buildings.

    • Towers, spires, domes, or similar structures not designed for human occupancy may exceed 35 feet if all other codes are met and the structure is no closer to the nearest property line than its height plus ten feet.

    maximum ordinary building height: <= 35 feet (Certain non-occupiable towers, spires, and domes may exceed this height subject to stated conditions)

    “Maximum height: No building shall exceed 35 feet in height except in the case of towers, spires, domes or other such structures not designed for human occupancy, which may exceed this height provided such structures comply with the provisions of all other pertinent codes and ordinances, and provided further, that such structures are located no closer to the nearest property line than the distance equal to their height plus ten feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Recreational vehicles placed on sites in Cherokee town areas of special flood hazard.

    • The RV may remain fewer than 180 consecutive days only if fully licensed and highway-ready, on wheels or a jacking system, attached only by quick-disconnect utilities and security devices, and without permanently attached structures or additions.
    • Alternatively, it must meet new-construction anchoring and elevation requirements.

    maximum ordinary site duration: < 180 consecutive days (The alternative is compliance with new-construction requirements.)

    “All recreational vehicles placed on sites must either: 1. Be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days, fully licensed and ready for highway use, on it's wheels or jacking system, attached to the site only by quick disconnect type utilities and security devices, and has no permanently attached structures or additions; or 2. The recreational vehicle must meet all the requirements for new construction, including the anchoring and elevation requirements of subsection (3)a and c of this section.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary campgrounds in Cherokee town's B-1 Business District.

    • The campground use is permitted on appeal.
    • Travel-trailer campgrounds are excluded.
    • No more than ten permanent structures and 50 primitive campsites may be provided.

    maximum permanent structures: <= 10 structures · maximum primitive campsites: <= 50 campsites

    “Recreational campgrounds, excluding travel trailer campgrounds, provided not more than ten permanent structures and not more than 50 primitive campsites are provided for temporary occupancy.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Individual mobile homes in the FAR-1 Forestry-Agriculture-Residential District.

    • Individual mobile homes are uses permitted on appeal.
    • The board of adjustment may impose design criteria.
    “The board of adjustment may impose design criteria as deemed necessary to preserve the intent and character of the far district.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    New construction, substantial improvements, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, and subdivisions in Cherokee town special flood-hazard areas.

    • In AE or A areas with base-flood data, new construction or substantial improvement must elevate the lowest floor at least two feet above base-flood elevation.
    • In approximate A-zones without base-flood data, lowest floors must be at least three feet above highest adjacent grade, with additional manufactured-home elevation requirements.
    • FP-1 prohibits residential, commercial, and industrial development.

    minimum elevation above base flood elevation: >= 2 feet (Areas designated AE or A with estimated BFE) · minimum elevation above highest adjacent grade: >= 3 feet (Special flood-hazard areas without base-flood-elevation data)

    “Where base flood elevation data are available, new construction or substantial improvement of any structure or manufactured home shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated no lower than two feet above the base flood elevation.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Cherokee

Town of Cherokee does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Who permits septicCounty

    Septic-related environmental services for property inside Cherokee town limits, administered by the Colbert County Health Department.

    • The source identifies the Colbert County Health Department Environmental Office as the contact for septic-tank requests.
    “If you have requests about septic tanks or would like to file a complaint on an establishment, please call our office and ask for the Environmental Office.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New or repaired onsite sewage disposal systems inside Cherokee town limits when not connected to public sanitary sewer.

    • The application and plans must meet applicable rules.
    • A licensed Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board installer is required.
    • Construction may begin only after the Permit to Install is issued.
    “Before the construction of an onsite sewage disposal system, you must submit an Application for a Permit to Install an Onsite Sewage Disposal System to your local county health department.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Cherokee or Colbert County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Cherokee town limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from Cherokee town building requirements.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Cherokee town limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Cherokee town limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Cherokee town limits.
11 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 Town of Cherokee publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Colbert County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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