Bolthole Index

Dallas County, Alabama

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Dallas County, Alabama

79Index Score / 100
#14 of 67 in Alabama

Dallas County, Alabama does not publish a general residential building-permit process for unincorporated land, and the available county information does not confirm that an ordinary home needs a county building permit12. Dallas County Engineering does regulate subdivision development, while the Dallas County Health Department handles septic systems34. Countywide zoning is unconfirmed, so ask the County Commission about parcel-specific land-use rules before buying5.

At a glance

Building permit
No general residential permit process is published; confirm with the County Commission12
Zoning
Countywide zoning is unconfirmed5
Septic permit
Required off sewer; handled by the Dallas County Health Department46
Owner-builder
State licensing exemption available for a qualifying owner-built home7
RV or tiny-home living
No county occupancy rule was confirmed; ask the County Commission and Health Department54
Subdivision development
County Engineer review and a Permit to Develop are required3
County-road driveway
Engineering installs qualifying turnouts when the owner supplies the required pipe8

Who to call

Roads & driveways

Dallas County Engineering Department

Subdivision development review, county roads and bridges, and driveway turnouts on county road right-of-way

(334) 874-2503

102 Church St, 1st Floor, Selma, AL 36701

Septic permits

Dallas County Health Department Environmental Office

Onsite sewage system questions and septic permitting for Dallas County

334-872-5887

100 Samuel O. Moseley Drive, Selma, Alabama 36701

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Dallas County, Alabama?

Dallas County does not publish a general residential building-permit process for an ordinary home in an unincorporated area, and we could not confirm that the county requires one1. The county's published Permit to Develop is specifically part of its subdivision plat and road-development process, not a general house permit2. Alabama law allows county commissions to adopt building laws and codes, so the absence of a published Dallas County process is not proof that every project is exempt9. Before ordering plans, ask the Dallas County Commission whether a newer resolution, municipal police-jurisdiction rule, floodplain review, or project-specific approval applies to the parcel.

Who handles permits in Dallas County, and how do you reach them?

Dallas County does not publish a building department or code-enforcement office for ordinary unincorporated homes1. For a subdivision, new subdivision road, or county-road access question, contact the Dallas County Engineering Department at (334) 874-2503 or visit 102 Church St, 1st Floor, Selma, AL 367018. Engineering reviews proposed subdivision plats, and the County Engineer issues a Permit to Develop before subdivision construction begins3. Engineering also installs a qualifying driveway turnout on county road right-of-way when the landowner buys and supplies the drainage pipe specified by the department8. For septic, call the Dallas County Health Department Environmental Office at 334-872-588710.

Does Dallas County, Alabama have zoning?

We could not confirm a countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated Dallas County from an official county source5. Alabama counties generally lack broad land-use authority, although special local laws and narrow powers can authorize zoning or land-use controls in particular circumstances11. That uncertainty means a rural parcel should not be advertised as unrestricted: the available information does not settle RV occupancy, tiny homes, minimum dwelling size, setbacks, lot coverage, building height, or minimum lot size. Ask the Dallas County Commission which rules govern the parcel, and separately verify whether the land is inside a municipality or its applicable jurisdiction because municipal rules are not answered by the county information. Subdivision creation remains regulated even though general zoning is unconfirmed3.

How do septic permits work in Dallas County?

A Dallas County property that is not connected to a public sanitary sewer needs a septic permit from the local health department before a new onsite system is installed or an existing system is repaired12. Submit the application and complete plans to the Dallas County Health Department; construction may begin only after the Permit to Install is issued, and the installer must be licensed by the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board6. The Dallas County Health Department Environmental Office handles onsite sewage questions and can be reached at 334-872-588710. Only 11.8% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so make soil suitability and system cost an early contingency in any land contract13.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Dallas County?

We could not confirm an official Dallas County rule allowing or prohibiting long-term RV living, temporary camping, or tiny-home occupancy on private land in unincorporated areas5. Ask the Dallas County Commission about the proposed use and ask the Dallas County Health Department how wastewater must be handled before placing or occupying a unit410. Alabama does recognize a qualifying manufactured home as a residence when it meets the state's dimensional, permanent-chassis, utility, and HUD Seal conditions, but that statewide recognition does not settle local siting requirements14. An RV or custom tiny house should not be treated as a manufactured home unless it actually meets that definition.

Building a home in Dallas County: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Dallas County Commission whether the parcel is subject to a building permit, local code, floodplain review, or land-use restriction because a general residential permit process is not confirmed15.
  2. Call the Dallas County Health Department Environmental Office at 334-872-5887, establish whether public sewer is available, and apply for a septic Permit to Install when the property will use onsite sewage106.
  3. If acting as your own contractor, confirm that the project meets Alabama's owner-builder licensing exemption and that every subcontractor who crosses the state's licensing threshold is properly licensed7.
  4. Contact Dallas County Engineering for a driveway connecting to a county road, or submit ALDOT Form BM-111 when access will connect to a state highway815.
  5. If dividing land or developing subdivision roads, complete County Engineer review and obtain the Permit to Develop before construction3.

What should you check before buying land in Dallas County?

Put septic feasibility first: only 11.8% of Dallas County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field, so obtain a site evaluation before the purchase becomes final13. The county averages 53.8 inches of precipitation a year, while 91.6% of its land has a slope of 15% or less and 70.8% is wooded; those figures help frame drainage, clearing, and access work but do not replace a parcel survey161718. Confirm legal road access with Dallas County Engineering when the entrance meets a county road, and use ALDOT's permit process for a state-highway entrance815. Also confirm municipal boundaries, floodplain status, deed restrictions, available utilities, and the exact tax assessment before closing.

Watch-outs

  • Dallas County's published Permit to Develop concerns subdivision development, not a general permit for constructing an ordinary home2.
  • Only 11.8% of Dallas County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so do not price the project around a basic system before a site evaluation13.
  • Long-term RV living, tiny-home occupancy, building inspections, certificates of occupancy, and countywide zoning remain unconfirmed; ask the Dallas County Commission before relying on any of those uses or assumptions51.

Sources

  1. Dallas County, AL - Engineering Department (2026 county census)
  2. Engineering | County of Dallas, AL, quoted and re-checked
  3. Engineering | County of Dallas, AL, quoted and re-checked
  4. Alabama Department of Public Health - Dallas County Environmental Office (2026 county census)
  5. (2026 county census)
  6. Can I Live On This Lot?, quoted and re-checked
  7. Exemptions (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Dallas County Engineering Department (dallascounty-al.org)
  9. Home Builders Licensure Board Law, Effective October 1, 2025 (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Dallas County Health Department Environmental Office (alabamapublichealth.gov)
  11. Handbook for Alabama County Commissioners, 13th Edition (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Onsite Sewage Disposal (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  14. What is a manufactured home? (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. ALDOT Permit Manual (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 28, 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.

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County locator

Dallas County in Alabama

79
County map
Dallas County highlighted among the Alabama counties · colored by Index score

How Dallas County scores

Seclusion87100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency63100% ev.
Admin Boringness7277% ev.
Durability62100% ev.
Property Autonomy39100% ev.
Carry Cost89100% ev.

Evidence strength: 96%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$91kTypical home
0.4%Property tax
$2,402Land / acre
53.8"Annual rain
2.5% of yrsSevere drought
17.1 / yr (+15.4)Mid-century 100°F days
16.7 daysMid-century dry spell
2.65" (+6%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.35×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,061Home insurance / yr
1.1% / yrInsurance growth
0.99%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
1,789People within 30 min
865,966People within 2 hr
17,931Radius comparison (15 mi)
37People / sq mi
0.8%Federal land
91.6%Land at 15% slope or less
11.8%Septic soil without severe limits
71,571 acWorkable land screen
70.8%Wooded land
39.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac
64.9°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Dallas County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Dallas County rules

  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision plats and subdivision streets or roads outside the corporate limits of municipalities in Dallas County.

    • The County Engineer or designee must review proposed plats and certify compliance to the County Commission.
    • Evidence of approval by state and local regulatory agencies must be submitted.
    • Developers must comply with Dallas County road-construction standards.
    • At least ten days before presentation to the County Commission, certified-mail notice must be sent to the owner or developer, adjoining property owners, and each affected utility.
    • After the ten-day notice period, a proposed plat meeting county regulations must be approved by the County Commission.
    • The County Engineer issues a Permit to Develop before construction can commence.
    • The final plat must be signed by the County Engineer and filed with the Dallas County Judge of Probate at the developer's expense.
    • The requirements are not all inclusive; prospective developers should consult the County Attorney and County Engineer.
    • The requirements do not apply to subdivisions inside municipal corporate limits or sale, deed, or transfer to an immediate family member.

    notice period: 10 days (Before presentation of the plat to the County Commission)

    “The County Engineer shall then issue a "Permit to Develop" and construction can commence.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Subdivision development permitting in unincorporated Dallas County.

    • The published process concerns subdivision plats and development, not general building permits.
    • The County Engineer reviews proposed plats; state and local regulatory approvals must be submitted; the County Commission approves qualifying plats; and the County Engineer issues a Permit to Develop before construction.

    notice period: 10 days (Before presentation of the plat to the County Commission)

    “After the ten (10) day notice period and if the proposed plat meets the County's regulations, it shall be approved by the County Commission.”

Alabama rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    Residential construction undertakings in Alabama for which the Home Builders Licensure Law requires a residential home builders license and a local incorporated municipality, municipal subdivision, or county authority issues the building or similar permit.

    • The issuing building official must refuse the permit unless the applicant provides evidence of the required license or an exemption.
    • The cited provision addresses undertakings requiring a license; it does not establish that every residential project statewide requires a building permit.
    • Local building-permit rules and local building codes remain applicable.
    “to refuse to issue a permit for any undertaking which would require a license hereunder unless the applicant has furnished evidence”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owners building or improving one-family or two-family residences in Alabama for their own occupancy or use.

    • The owner must act as the owner's own contractor.
    • The owner must provide all material supervision personally.
    • The residence must be a one-family or two-family residence on the owner's property.
    • The residence must be for the occupancy or use of the owners and must not be offered for sale.
    • The exemption is nontransferable.
    • A homeowner who hires or compensates anyone to supervise the building or improvement is not acting as the owner's own contractor.
    • Subcontractors hired by an exempt homeowner must be licensed if the cost of the subcontractor's portion exceeds $10,000.
    • Offering the residence for sale within one year after substantial completion is presumptive evidence that construction was undertaken for sale.

    subcontractor portion cost threshold: > 10000 USD (subcontractor must be licensed when the threshold is exceeded) · sale-offer period: 1 year after substantial completion (sale or offer for sale is presumptive evidence of construction for sale)

    “Owners of property when acting as their own contractor and providing all material supervision themselves, when building or improving one-family or two-family residences”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — Alabama Home Builders Licensure Law licensing exemption for an owner acting as the owner’s own residential contractor when building or improving a one-family or two-family residence for the owner’s own occupancy or use.
      “Owners of property when acting as their own contractor and providing all material supervision themselves, when building or improving one-family or two-family residences on such property for the occupancy or use of such owners and not offered for sale. This exemption is a nontransferable privilege.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Residential construction and improvements governed by Alabama's Home Builders Licensure Law, including construction in local jurisdictions without an already adopted residential building code.

    • The Home Builders Licensure Board has sole authority to adopt the Alabama Residential Building Code and Alabama Residential Energy Code.
    • The statewide residential building code is stated by the official HBLB Spring 2026 newsletter to go into effect January 1, 2027.
    • The statewide code establishes minimum standards in local jurisdictions that do not already have an adopted residential building code.
    • Local jurisdictions with an adopted code and enforcement do not need to make a change under the described transition framework.
    • The 2025 statute provides that the Alabama Residential Building Code does not supersede a local residential building code adopted by a county or municipality in effect on January 1, 2027.
    • A local building code adopted after January 1, 2027, must meet the minimum standards of the Alabama Residential Building Code and Alabama Residential Energy Code in effect when adopted; local conditions may support amendments, subject to the statutory limits.
    • The Alabama Residential Building Code does not apply to an agricultural building except for a residence contained therein.

    statewide residential building code effective date: 2027-01-01 · post-2027 local-code minimum: must meet the Alabama Residential Building Code and Alabama Residential Energy Code minimum standards (Local conditions may require amendments subject to statutory limits.)

    “Beginning January 1, 2027, a residential home builder within this state who constructs, renovates, or repairs a residence or structure shall do so”
    9 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — State Building Code requirements administered and enforced by the Alabama Division of Construction Management for state-owned or state-funded construction, K-12 schools, public postsecondary schools, hotels and motels, movie theaters, and other work within DCM jurisdiction.
      “The State Building Code is limited to any new construction, addition, renovation, modification of mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems, sitework and generally any and all work on state-owned property and/or using state funds, on all public and private kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) schools, on public postsecondary schools, on hotels/motels and on movie theaters. DCM's code jurisdiction over plans and specifications of all municipal and county-owned projects is limited to such projects meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards. DCM does not have jurisdiction over residential property or commercial property except for hotels/motels and movie theaters.”
    • Partial — Residential construction and improvements governed by the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Law, including ordinary residential construction beginning January 1, 2027.
      “The Alabama Residential Building Code shall be enforced by local jurisdictions that have permitting and inspection programs for residential construction and improvements that are adhered to by residential home builders. The Alabama Residential Building Code shall not supersede any local residential building code adopted by any county or municipality in effect on January 1, 2027. [...] Beginning January 1, 2027, a residential home builder within this state who constructs, renovates, or repairs a residence or structure shall do so in accordance with applicable residential building code adopted pursuant to Section 34-14A-12 or, if applicable, the local jurisdiction’s residential building code.”
    • Partial — Construction within the Alabama Division of Construction Management jurisdiction, including state-owned or state-funded work, public and private K-12 schools, public higher-education institutions, hotels, motels, and movie theaters.
      “The 2021 International Building Code [...] DCM does not have jurisdiction over residential property or commercial property except for hotels/motels and movie theaters.”
    • Partial — Construction within the Alabama Division of Construction Management jurisdiction, including state-owned or state-funded property, public and private K-12 schools, public higher-education institutions subject to the stated ACCS limitation, hotels/motels, and movie theaters.
      “The State Building Code is limited to any new construction, addition, renovation, modification of mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems, sitework”
    • Partial — Residential building-code investigations by the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board involving contracts entered into on or after February 13, 2022, in Alabama cities and counties that have not adopted a residential building code.
      “In cities and counties that have not adopted a residential building code, the Board will apply the 2015 International Residential building Code (IRC)”
    • Partial — Alabama's statutory framework authorizing county commissions to adopt building laws and codes for unincorporated areas and recognizing municipal building laws or codes within municipal police jurisdictions.
      “The county commissions of the several counties are authorized and empowered to adopt building laws and codes by ordinance”
    • Partial — Residential construction and improvements statewide under the Alabama Residential Building Code framework.
      “The Alabama Residential Building Code shall not supersede any local residential building code adopted by any county or municipality in effect on January 1, 2027.”
    • Partial — Projects within the Alabama Division of Construction Management's State Building Code jurisdiction, including state construction and specified school, hotel/motel, and movie-theater projects; not ordinary residential property.
      “DCM does not have jurisdiction over residential property or commercial property except for hotels/motels and movie theaters.”
    • Partial — Residential construction in Alabama where a county or municipality has a permitting and inspection program or has adopted a local residential building code; this is not a uniform DCM residential-code jurisdiction.
      “The Alabama Residential Building Code shall be enforced by local jurisdictions”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Required DCM construction inspections, pre-construction conferences, and substantial-completion determinations for projects within the narrower DCM inspection jurisdiction.

    • DCM-required inspections are limited to state-funded construction, any project on state-owned property, public K-12 schools including charter schools, public universities, and ACCS projects with Notices-to-Proceed issued before August 1, 2021.
    • DCM's broader plan-review/code jurisdiction also includes private K-12 schools, hotels/motels, and movie theaters, but the official DCM jurisdiction page does not include those categories in its stated required-inspection list.
    • Inspections must be requested by the contractor in writing or by email to the design professional, who coordinates with the DCM inspector.
    • A permit fee must be paid before scheduling the required DCM pre-construction conference; inspection benchmarks, including periodic, special, final, and year-end inspections when applicable, must then be met.
    • Fully locally-funded public K-12 projects require DCM pre-construction conferences and inspections regardless of estimated construction cost.
    “Conducts required pre-construction conferences, inspections and substantial completions limited to state-funded construction, any project on state-owned property, public K-12 (including charter) schools, on public universities, and on ACCS projects with Notices-to-Proceed issued prior to August 1, 2021.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Residential construction and improvements in Alabama local jurisdictions that have permitting and inspection programs.
      “The Alabama Residential Building Code shall be enforced by local jurisdictions that have permitting and inspection programs for residential construction and improvements”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Residential projects in Alabama municipalities that issue a certificate of occupancy and for which the builder is subject to the Home Builders Licensure Law.

    • An updated list of subcontractors must be furnished before issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the municipality.
    • The provision does not establish a statewide requirement that every residential project obtain a certificate of occupancy.
    • The builder must provide the subcontractor list within three working days after hiring an added subcontractor; the initial list is due within 15 days after issuance of the building permit if requested by the issuing municipality.
    • No license fee for subcontractors is required as a condition of issuing a building permit or certificate of occupancy.

    initial subcontractor list deadline: 15 days after building permit issuance (only if requested by the issuing municipality) · added subcontractor list deadline: 3 working days after hiring

    “An updated list of subcontractors shall be furnished by the builder before the issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the municipality.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping on state-owned lands under the jurisdiction of the Alabama State Lands Division.

    • Camping is prohibited except in designated areas.
    • Camping-period limits apply.
    • Campfires must be extinguished.
    • Warming fires may not be used away from designated campgrounds.
    • The listed scheduled fine is $50.

    scheduled fine: 50 USD (For violations listed under Alabama Administrative Code rule 220-4-.15(c).)

    “220-4-.15(c) Camping except in designated areas, $50 exceeding limit of camping period, failure to extinguish campfires, and using warming fires away from designated campgrounds on state-owned lands under the State Lands Division jurisdiction”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured homes meeting Alabama's statutory definition and connected to required utilities; this establishes state recognition of residential use but does not resolve local land-use or zoning requirements.

    • The structure must meet the stated dimensional and permanent-chassis criteria, or be at least 320 square feet when erected on site.
    • The home must be connected to required plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical systems.
    • Registration and property-tax treatment depends on ownership, location, and use.
    • Manufactured-home registration is due October 1 and becomes delinquent November 30; owners generally have 30 days after purchase or entry into Alabama to register.

    minimum width in traveling mode: >= 8 feet · minimum length in traveling mode: >= 40 feet · minimum floor area when erected on site: >= 320 square feet · required utilities: plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems

    “It may be used as a place of residence, business, profession, trade, or for any other purpose, by the owner, lessee, or assigns and may consist of one or more units that can be attached or joined together.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Occupancy of a qualifying manufactured home as a residence in Alabama.
      “It may be used as a place of residence, business, profession, trade, or for any other purpose, by the owner, lessee, or assigns and may consist of one or more units that can be attached or joined together. A manufactured home bears a HUD Seal affixed to the rear of the home. (Section 32-20-2)”
    • Allowed (with conditions) — A qualifying Alabama manufactured home used as a place of residence statewide.
      “Manufactured home means a structure, transportable in one or more sections, in the traveling mode, is eight body feet or more in width and 40 body feet or more in length, or, when erected on site, is 320 or more square feet, and which is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling, with or without a permanent foundation, when connected to the required utilities, including the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems. It may be used as a place of residence, business, profession, trade, or for any other purpose, by the owner, lessee, or assigns and may consist of one or more units that can be attached or joined together. A manufactured home bears a HUD Seal affixed to the rear of the home. (Section 32-20-2)”
  • Who permits septicMixed

    Alabama's statewide onsite sewage program and its administration through local county health departments.

    • ADPH coordinates the program and establishes and enforces statewide requirements.
    • Local county health departments receive applications, review site and soil information, issue permits, schedule inspections, and issue approvals for use.
    “The Soil and Onsite Sewage Branch's main objective is to coordinate the onsite sewage program in the county health departments.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Homeowners and businesses statewide that are not connected to a public sanitary sewer and intend to install a new onsite sewage system or repair an existing one.

    • A permit from the local health department must be obtained before installation or repair.
    • The application and plans must satisfy applicable state rules.
    • Construction may begin only after the Permit to Install is issued.
    • A registered professional may be required for soil testing and system design; only registered engineers may design systems where soil percolation exceeds 60 minutes or where a shallow limiting zone exists.

    soil percolation threshold for engineer-only design: > 60 minutes (The source also identifies shallow limiting zones as requiring a registered engineer.)

    “Alabama State Law requires homeowners and businesses not connected to a public sanitary sewer to obtain a permit from the local health department”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Construction of an onsite sewage disposal system serving property in Dallas County that is not connected to a public sewer.
      “If the application and plans are complete and meet all the requirements of the rules, a 'Permit to Install' will be issued.”
  • Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

    Use of an onsite septic/onsite sewage treatment and disposal system instead of connection to a municipal sewer where municipal sewers are unavailable or impractical.

    • The system must comply with ADPH onsite sewage rules.
    • A Permit to Install is required before construction.
    • Inspection and an Approval for Use are required before occupancy.
    • Site and soil suitability, professional design, and local health-department review may be required.
    “Septic tank systems are used where municipal sewers are not available or are impractical.”
  • Well permitLimited

    New groundwater wells and alterations to existing groundwater wells extracting at least 50 gallons per minute when the well is in Alabama's coastal area or its 50-year capture zone extends into the coastal area.

    • A permit from ADEM is required for the covered installation or alteration.
    • The cited rule is limited to the specified coastal-area or capture-zone circumstances and does not establish a general statewide permit requirement for individual private wells.
    • ADEM states that it does not have regulatory authority over individual private wells.

    groundwater extraction rate: >= 50 gallons per minute (Applies when the well surface location is in the coastal area or the 50-year capture zone extends into the coastal area.)

    “The installation of a new well, or alteration of an existing well, for the purposes of extracting groundwater”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Residential or mobile/modular-home development statewide where wastewater service is being planned.

    • The property should be checked with the city sewer authority or local health department for availability of city sewage disposal.
    • If public sanitary sewer is unavailable or the property is not connected to it, an onsite sewage system may be used only under the applicable ADPH permit and approval requirements.
    • The source does not establish a statewide mandatory connection-to-sewer rule.
    “If it is not, you will be required to have the soil tested to see if the soil is suitable”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural buildings under the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board residential home-builder licensing rules.

    • The exemption does not include a residence contained in the agricultural building.
    • The agricultural building must meet the definition in Ala. Admin. Code r. 465-X-1-.01(3).
    “Agricultural buildings, as defined in Ala. Admin. Code r. 465-X-1-.01(3), except for any residence contained therein.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Constructing a driveway, turnout, or other access from private, publicly owned, or commercial property to an Alabama state highway.

    • Applicants must submit Permit Form BM-111 to the ALDOT District Administrator.
    • ALDOT regulates entrance width, radii, placement, spacing, angle of entry, vertical alignment, drainage, and the number of entrances.
    • All turnout costs are paid by the applicant.

    minimum side-drain pipe diameter: >= 15 inches (ALDOT regions may require 18-inch pipe.)

    “Individuals or businesses which require access to State highways must apply for a permit by submitting a completed BM-111 application to the District Administrator.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in a Special Flood Hazard Area within an Alabama community participating in the National Flood Insurance Program.

    • The actual development permit is administered by the local building or floodplain official.
    • More stringent local requirements may apply.
    • Additions or improvements valued at 50% or more of the existing structure's market value are substantial improvements and generally trigger bringing the entire structure into compliance with mapped elevations.

    substantial-improvement threshold: >= 50 percent of existing structure market value

    “When a community chooses to participate in the NFIP, it must require permits for all development in the SFHA”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Alabama construction sites requiring ADEM Construction Stormwater permit coverage.

    • Coverage is generally required for land disturbance of one or more acres, qualifying common plans of development, or discharges with reasonable potential to cause or contribute to a water-quality concern.
    • Certain listed minor land-disturbing activities are exempt.
    • Lake Martin has a special designation requiring coverage for non-exempt projects even when disturbance is less than one acre.

    application fee: 1385 USD

    “An application fee of $1,385.00 will be required upon submission of an application.”
  • county zoning authorityLimited

    Alabama county authority to adopt zoning for unincorporated land.

    • Alabama counties lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority under general Alabama law.
    • Limited authority may arise through county-specific local laws, including examples identified by the handbook for Baldwin, Russell, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties.
    • Counties may regulate land use in flood-prone areas under Ala. Code § 11-19-1 et seq.; flood-prone areas are areas with a frequency of inundation of once in 100 years as defined by qualified hydrologists or engineers using generally accepted methods.
    • Counties may adopt airport zoning regulations under Ala. Code § 4-6-4 to prevent airport hazards within airport hazard areas.
    • For airport zoning, the county zoning jurisdiction is unincorporated county land except within a municipality's police jurisdiction and within two miles of a municipal airport when the municipality exercises or declares its intention to exercise zoning control, unless local law provides otherwise.
    • The handbook notes an exception to the airport-zoning provision for counties with a population of not less than 54,500 nor more than 56,000 according to the 1970 federal decennial census.
    “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law, although several counties have created some form of planning and zoning authority by local law. However, as set out below, the Legislature has granted limited authority to county governing bodies to address certain special circumstances related to use of land within the territorial jurisdiction of the county.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — County authority over land use and zoning in unincorporated Alabama; general Alabama law does not grant counties broad general zoning authority, but limited authority exists through special local laws and specified statutory circumstances.
      “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Alabama county commissions adopting and administering residential building laws and codes in unincorporated areas.

    • A county commission must act by resolution to adopt building laws or codes.
    • The resolution must be provided to the Home Builders Licensure Board within 10 business days.
    • A local building law or code generally may not take effect until 120 days after adoption; for insurance claims requiring licensed work, the effective date is the date of adoption.
    • County building laws and codes may be enforced in a municipality's police jurisdiction outside municipal corporate limits as provided by Section 11-40-10(b)(2).
    • Application within municipal corporate limits requires express consent of the municipal governing body.
    • The county commission may employ building inspectors and exact fees from owners of inspected property.
    • A county may discontinue administration and enforcement by resolution, but discontinuation generally does not take effect until 120 days after adoption and the resolution must be sent to the Board within 10 business days.
    • Counties and municipalities may enter mutual agreements, compacts, and contracts for administration and enforcement, with a copy due to the Board within 10 business days.
    • Beginning January 1, 2027, residential builders must follow the applicable state or local residential building code.

    resolution transmission deadline: 10 business days (Copy must be provided to the Home Builders Licensure Board.) · local-code delayed effective period: 120 days (Insurance-claim work requiring a license is effective on the local adoption date.)

    “A county commission, by resolution, may adopt building laws and codes”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • General — Alabama county authority to adopt and enforce residential building laws and codes in unincorporated areas.
      “There are two general statutory provisions authorizing counties to adopt building codes: the Home Builders Licensure Law found at Ala. Code § 34-14A-1 et seq. and the law on the state minimum building standards code found at Ala. Code § 41-9-160 et seq.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • County-wide zoning — Countywide zoning authority in Dallas County, including unincorporated areas.
  • Local zoning — Aggregate local zoning in Dallas County; no official source was located establishing municipal, township, or other local zoning coverage.
  • Zoning districts — Published zoning districts in unincorporated Dallas County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Dallas County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in unincorporated Dallas County.
8 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • 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.

Living off-grid in Dallas County, Alabama

Is Dallas County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Dallas County scores 79/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and sparse surroundings — about 1,789 people within a 30-minute drive. Watch-outs: a weaker property-autonomy legal backdrop.

Do you need a building permit in Dallas County, Alabama?

Dallas County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas. Onsite septic is permitted by Dallas County Health Department Environmental Office (under Alabama Department of Public Health). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Dallas County, Alabama?

Land in Dallas County runs about $2,402 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Dallas County?

Dallas County gets about 53.8" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 2.5% of years.

How remote is Dallas County?

A representative private-land location has about 1,789 people within a 30-minute drive and 865,966 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Dallas compares in Alabama

Compare side-by-side →See all 67 Alabama counties ranked →