Bolthole Index

Covington County, Alabama

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Opp, Alabama

Opp, Alabama requires a city building permit before construction, plumbing or electrical work begins inside city limits.1 The City of Opp also has its own zoning code.2 Septic tanks are generally unlawful inside the city, which expects sewer connection, and the Covington County Health Department issues onsite sewage permits for the county.34

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the City of Opp before construction, plumbing or electrical work1
Zoning
City of Opp zoning code applies inside city limits2
Septic
Septic tanks generally prohibited inside city limits; sewer connection required when a main is close35
Building codes
2012 ICC codes adopted by reference6
Manufactured homes
960 sq ft minimum for Class A homes in manufactured-home subdivisions7
Accessory dwelling
One per single-family lot in P-2 developments8
Owner-builder
State licensing exemption exists; city permit still applies91

Who to call

Building permits

City of Opp building permits (Building page)

City building and electrical permit applications, plumbing and gas permits, and inspections inside Opp city limits

Planning & zoning

City of Opp Planning and Economic Development (City Planner)

City planning, the zoning code and subdivision of unimproved property inside Opp

334-498-0118

Septic permits

Covington County Health Department, Environmental Services

Septic-tank requests and environmental services for Covington County

334-222-1175

23989 Alabama Highway 55, Andalusia, Alabama 36420

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Opp, Alabama?

Yes, inside Opp city limits. A city building permit must be obtained before construction, plumbing (including gas work) or electrical wiring begins.1 The city adopted the International Building Code and International Residential Code, among other codes, by reference.6 Permitted work is inspected by the city's building inspector, and the city charges for that inspection.10

Alabama exempts an owner who acts as their own contractor on a one-family or two-family home for their own use from the state home-builder license, provided the home is not offered for sale.9 That is a state licensing exemption; the source does not say it removes a separate building permit.11 The city pages we reviewed state no owner-builder exemption from the city permit, so expect to apply for one.

Who issues building permits in Opp, and what do they cost?

The City of Opp issues building permits and electrical permits; its Building page links printable applications.12 The page lists a building permit and inspection fee of $12.50 plus $0.15 per $100 of the construction or plumbing contract price, and a $3.00 gas permit fee.13 Electrical permits start at $50.00 for a 200 amp service.13

The city's Planning and Economic Development page shows a different fee schedule and does not say which is current, so confirm the amount with the City Planner before you budget.13 The City Planner can be reached at 334-498-0118.14 The city's Building page links a Certificate of Occupancy document that no longer loads, so ask the city what it requires before you move in.

Does Opp have zoning, and what does it mean for homes and lots?

Yes. Opp has a zoning ordinance adopted by the Opp City Council, and it applies inside city limits, not in unincorporated Covington County.2 Rules depend on the zoning district, so look up the district for your parcel before you plan anything.

Two district-specific rules stand out. In P-2 planned neighborhood developments, one accessory dwelling per single-family lot is allowed on top of the normal density.8 Class A manufactured homes in manufactured-home subdivisions need at least 960 square feet of enclosed, heated living area.7 Driveways may not exceed 13 feet wide within the first 15 feet of a single-family lot.15

Subdividing unimproved property goes through the city Planning Board.16

How do septic permits work inside Opp?

Opp's city code makes it unlawful to build or maintain a privy, septic tank, cesspool or similar sewage disposal facility, except where another code provision allows it.3 We could not confirm what those exceptions are. Where a city sewer main lies in the abutting street or alley and within 100 feet of the property line, the owner must connect at their own expense within 90 days after official notice.5

Onsite sewage permits in Covington County come from the Covington County Health Department's Environmental Office, reached at 334-222-1175.4 Before you count on a septic system on an Opp lot, ask the City of Opp whether your lot is exempt from the prohibition and whether sewer is available, then ask the Health Department about a permit.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on a lot in Opp?

We could not confirm a general rule for living in an RV, camping on private land or occupying a tiny home inside Opp city limits. The zoning code defines recreational vehicles, but we found no private-land occupancy rule. Ask the City Planner at 334-498-0118 before you park or place anything.14

If you plan a manufactured home, Alabama requires it to be tied down to properly installed ground anchors, and installers must be certified by the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission.17 Opp's own manufactured-home rules are district-specific.7

Building a home in Opp: the steps, in order

  1. Call the City Planner at 334-498-0118 to confirm your parcel's zoning district and what it allows.14
  2. Ask the city whether sewer reaches your lot, since septic tanks are generally prohibited inside city limits.3
  3. If a septic system is allowed for your lot, apply to the Covington County Health Department before building.4
  4. Fill out the city's building permit application, and the electrical application if you need one, and pay the fees.12
  5. Build to the adopted codes, and schedule work with the city's building inspector.10
  6. Ask the city about a Certificate of Occupancy before moving in.

What stays with Covington County, and what to check before you buy

Septic permits for any Covington County address come from the county health department, not from the city.4 Outside Opp's limits, the county commission approves subdivision plats, and the county engineer reviews them first.18 We could not confirm that Covington County itself zones unincorporated land, so rules on a parcel outside the city should be confirmed with the Covington County Commission.19

Before you buy, confirm that the parcel is inside Opp city limits, since the city's rules stop at its boundary. Covington County's effective property tax rate is 0.3%.20

Watch-outs

  • Opp's code generally prohibits septic tanks inside city limits, so a lot without sewer access may not be buildable the way a rural lot is.3
  • The city's two pages list different building permit fee schedules, so confirm the current fees with the City Planner.13
  • The city's Certificate of Occupancy link did not load, so ask the city what is required before occupancy.12

Sources

  1. Building – City of Opp Alabama (Opp), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Opp Zoning Code 2021, quoted and re-checked
  3. Opp Code Sec. 9-30 Prohibited facilities generally (Opp), quoted and re-checked
  4. Covington County Health Department, Environmental Services (alabamapublichealth.gov)
  5. Opp Code Sec. 9-31 Sewer connection required after notice (Opp), quoted and re-checked
  6. Building – City of Opp Alabama (Opp), quoted and re-checked
  7. City of Opp Zoning and Development Code 2021 (Opp), quoted and re-checked
  8. City of Opp Zoning and Development Code 2021 (Opp), quoted and re-checked
  9. Exemptions (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Building – City of Opp Alabama (Opp), quoted and re-checked
  11. HOME BUILDERS LICENSURE LAW, quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Opp building permits (Building page) (cityofopp.com)
  13. Building – City of Opp Alabama (Opp), quoted and re-checked
  14. City of Opp Planning and Economic Development (City Planner) (cityofopp.com)
  15. City of Opp Zoning and Development Code 2021 (Opp), quoted and re-checked
  16. Economic Development – City of Opp Alabama (Opp), quoted and re-checked
  17. Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission Sunset Report, quoted and re-checked
  18. Handbook for Alabama County Commissioners, quoted and re-checked
  19. Covington County, AL official website (2026 county census)
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 10, 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 Opp

Opp’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, plumbing including gas work, electrical wiring, re-plumbing, or re-wiring inside Opp city limits.

    • A city building permit must be obtained before commencement.
    • The city's page also separately identifies building and electrical permit applications.
    “without having first obtained from the city a building permit.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside Opp city limits.

    • The city page states these are adopted by reference as the current edition.
    • The listed ICC editions are 2012 editions.
    • Contrary city ordinances are repealed only to the extent of conflict.
    • Corresponding city officials enforce the adopted codes.
    “The following codes, current edition, are hereby adopted by reference as though they were copied herein fully:”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction and plumbing inside Opp city limits.

    • The city charges for inspection by the building inspector.
    • Electrical work on structures requiring a building permit requires an electrical permit.
    • Specific inspection stages were not located.
    “the inspection to be made by the building inspector of the city”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    One accessory dwelling per single-family lot in a P-2 planned neighborhood development.

    • The allowance is in addition to permitted densities in table 8-3.
    • The claim is limited to P-2 developments; no citywide allowance was established.

    accessory dwellings: 1 per single-family lot (P-2 planned neighborhood development)

    “One accessory dwelling per single-family lot shall be permitted in addition to the permitted densities, provided in table 8-3.”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Privies, privy vaults, septic tanks, cesspools, and other sewage-disposal facilities inside Opp city limits, except where another code provision provides otherwise.

    • The cited provision begins with an exception phrase; the referenced exception was not resolved in the reviewed section.
    “Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes inside Opp city limits when a city public sanitary or combined sewer is located in the abutting street, alley, or right-of-way.

    • Connection is required at the owner's expense.
    • Official notice must be given.
    • Connection must occur within 90 days after official notice.
    • The public sewer must be within 100 feet (30.5 meters) of the property line.

    connection distance: <= 100 feet (public sewer must be within this distance of the property line) · compliance period: 90 days (after official notice)

    “within ninety (90) days after date of official notice to do so, provided that such public sewer is within one hundred (100) feet (30.5 meters) of the property line.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of unimproved property inside Opp city limits.

    • The Planning Board is authorized to exercise powers under Alabama Code § 11-52-6 et seq.
    • The zoning code includes subdivision plat requirements and city subdivision regulations.
    • Specific submission fees were not located.
    “The Planning Board is also authorized and empowered to exercise all powers and to do all things authorized to such Planning Board by such law, and to exercise such control as it authorized under such law with reference to subdivision of unimproved property.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveways and lot ingress/egress inside Opp city limits.

    • Within the first 15 feet of the lot measured from the front lot line, driveway widths may not exceed 13 feet for single-family and duplex dwellings, 25 feet for multifamily dwellings, or 30 feet for nonresidential uses.
    • Subdivision and development plans must also satisfy driveway-spacing requirements.

    single-family or duplex driveway width: <= 13 feet (within first 15 feet of lot) · multifamily driveway width: <= 25 feet (within first 15 feet of lot) · nonresidential driveway width: <= 30 feet (within first 15 feet of lot)

    “Within the first 15 ft. of the lot (measured from the front lot line along which a driveway is proposed) driveways shall not exceed the following widths:”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    City building, plumbing, and gas permits inside Opp city limits.

    • Building permit and inspection fee: $12.50 plus $0.15 per $100 of construction or plumbing contract price.
    • Gas permit and inspection fee: $3.00.
    • The city's economic-development page displays a different fee schedule; the date or supersession relationship was not stated.

    base building permit and inspection fee: 12.5 USD (plus $0.15 per $100 of contract price) · construction or plumbing fee: per 0.15 USD per $100 (contract price) · gas permit and inspection fee: 3 USD

    “Electrical permits are a minimum of $50.00 for a 200 amp service, and increase as the number of amps increase.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building and electrical permitting inside Opp city limits.

    • A building permit is required before covered construction, plumbing, gas, or electrical work begins.
    • The city provides links to printable building/electrical permit applications.
    • The full review, issuance, and inspection sequence was not located.
    “Click the links below to open and print a permit application for building and/or electrical work:”

Rules another office applies inside Opp

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

  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Class A manufactured homes in manufactured-home subdivisions within Opp city limits.

    • The requirement applies to Class A manufactured homes in manufactured-home subdivisions, not necessarily all single-family dwellings.

    minimum enclosed heated living area: >= 960 square feet (Class A manufactured homes in manufactured-home subdivisions)

    “The manufactured home shall have a minimum of 960 sf. of enclosed and heated living area.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders constructing inside Opp city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside Opp city limits.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Opp city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Opp city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Opp city limits.
4 more unanswered
  • Septic inspection
  • 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 Opp publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Covington County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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