Bolthole Index

Elmore County, Alabama

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Millbrook, Alabama

Inside Millbrook, Alabama, building permits are required and the city runs its own zoning. The city's Building Department issues building permits1, and Millbrook adopted its own zoning ordinance2. Septic permits come from the Elmore County Health Department, and only where no public sewer is available34. Rural Elmore County's no-permit, no-zoning answer does not apply inside the city5.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside the city; issued by the City Building Department1
Zoning
Millbrook has its own zoning ordinance and map2
Septic
Elmore County Health Department, only where public sewer is unavailable34
Certificate of occupancy
Required before a residence is occupied6
Manufactured home
City installation permit required7
Second dwelling in rear building
Needs Board of Adjustment approval8

Who to call

Building permits

City of Millbrook Building Department

Building permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy inside Millbrook and its police jurisdiction

(334) 285-6428

[email protected]

3160 Main Street, Millbrook, AL 36054

Zoning

City of Millbrook Planning and Zoning

Zoning ordinance, zoning map, rezoning and subdivision review inside Millbrook

(334) 285-6428

[email protected]

3160 Main Street, Millbrook, AL 36054

Septic permits

Elmore County Health Department

Onsite sewage (septic) applications and permits for Elmore County, including addresses inside Millbrook

334-567-1171

6501 U.S. Highway 231, Wetumpka, Alabama 36092

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

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Do you need a building permit in Millbrook, Alabama?

Yes. Millbrook requires a building permit before anyone starts excavating for or building a structure, including accessory structures such as sheds, and before moving, altering or repairing one. Small repairs that do not change the structure and cost no more than $500, plus painting and wallpapering, are the listed exceptions1.

The City of Millbrook says its permit requirement covers the city limits and its police jurisdiction, so land just outside the city line may still need a city permit9. Residential applications must be submitted by a state licensed general contractor10. Whether an owner can pull a permit for their own house inside the city is something we could not confirm; ask the Building Department before you plan on building it yourself9.

A residence cannot be occupied until it passes inspection and the city issues a certificate of occupancy6.

Who issues building permits in Millbrook, and how do you reach them?

The City of Millbrook Building Department issues building permits, and inspections for building, electrical, roofing, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas and zoning work are scheduled through it11. Millbrook City Hall at 3160 Main Street takes calls for inspections and certificates of occupancy9.

Plans are reviewed by the Building Department, the Fire Department and the Zoning Administrator, and the Building Official gives final approval. Residential applicants submit one complete plan set10. Millbrook City Hall also holds the permit fee schedule; the city asks you to call for it9. Elmore County does not issue building permits for addresses inside the city5.

Does Millbrook have zoning, and what does it mean for homes, RVs and lot size?

Millbrook has its own zoning. The city identifies Zoning Ordinance Z15-01 and an official zoning map2, and the Planning and Zoning Administrator at City Hall handles questions and rezoning requests12.

Minimum lot size depends on the district. In the R-1 Low Density Residential District the minimum lot area is 15,000 square feet, and in the FAR Forestry-Agricultural-Recreation District it is 40,000 square feet1314. Where no community sewer is available and the Elmore County Board of Health percolation standards call for a larger lot, the Board of Health minimum prevails13.

A second dwelling in a rear accessory building needs written approval from the Board of Adjustment8. Millbrook's rules for living in an RV, tiny homes and temporary camping on a lot are not something we could confirm, so ask the Planning and Zoning Administrator before you buy12. Manufactured homes need a city installation permit, which costs $300.00 when the installation complies with zoning and health regulations7.

How do septic permits work inside Millbrook?

Septic starts with sewer. Millbrook requires a property used for human occupancy to connect to the public sewer within 10 days of written notice when a public sewer is within 300 feet of the property line15. Private sewage disposal is allowed only when public sewer is not available under that rule, or when the city engineer finds the sewage would be unacceptable to the city4.

When a septic system is allowed, Elmore County's onsite sewage permits come from the Elmore County Health Department3. Alabama requires a permit before a new onsite system is installed or an old one repaired, and only registered engineers may design systems where soil percolation exceeds 60 minutes or where a shallow limiting zone exists16. In Elmore County, about 37% of soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so a site evaluation is a realistic expectation17.

Building a home in Millbrook: the steps, in order

  1. Call the Planning and Zoning Administrator at City Hall to confirm the zoning district and the minimum lot area for the parcel1312.
  2. Ask the city whether public sewer is within 300 feet of the property line; if it is, plan to connect15.
  3. If no sewer is available, apply to the Elmore County Health Department for a Permit to Install before any construction starts18.
  4. Have a state licensed general contractor submit the building permit application10.
  5. Check flood risk first: in special flood hazard areas, the lowest floor must sit at least 1 foot above base flood elevation where that data exists19.
  6. Schedule inspections through the Building Department and get the certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in6.

What stays with Elmore County, and what to check before you buy in Millbrook

Septic permits for Millbrook addresses stay with the Elmore County Health Department rather than the city3. We could not confirm a permit requirement for private wells inside the city, so ask the health department before you drill.

For land outside the city limits, Elmore County's answers differ: the county says there are no zoning restrictions or building permit requirements for rural property that is not inside a municipality's planning jurisdiction5. See the Elmore County page for that land. Because Millbrook's permit rules reach into its police jurisdiction, confirm with City Hall which side of the line a parcel falls on9.

County-level costs: Elmore County's effective property tax rate is 0.3%20, and the typical home value is about $274,66321.

Watch-outs

  • Millbrook's permit requirement extends to its police jurisdiction, so a parcel outside the city line may still need a city permit; confirm with City Hall9.
  • We could not confirm Millbrook's rules for RV living, tiny homes, temporary camping or owner-built homes; ask the Planning and Zoning Administrator and the Building Department before you buy12.
  • Elmore County's no-zoning, no-building-permit answer applies to rural land outside a municipality's planning jurisdiction, not to land inside Millbrook5.

Sources

  1. Chapter 14 - Buildings and Building Regulations (Millbrook), quoted and re-checked
  2. Planning and Zoning (Millbrook), quoted and re-checked
  3. Services | Elmore County Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  4. library.municode.com (Millbrook), quoted and re-checked
  5. FAQs about Elmore County, quoted and re-checked
  6. Building Department (Millbrook), quoted and re-checked
  7. Sec. 54-1. Permit for installation of manufactured home (Millbrook), quoted and re-checked
  8. Zoning Ordinance of the City of Millbrook, Alabama (Millbrook), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Millbrook Building Department (cityofmillbrook.org)
  10. Building Department (Millbrook), quoted and re-checked
  11. Building Department (Millbrook), quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Millbrook Planning and Zoning (cityofmillbrook.org)
  13. mcclibraryfunctions.azurewebsites.us (Millbrook), quoted and re-checked
  14. mcclibraryfunctions.azurewebsites.us (Millbrook), quoted and re-checked
  15. library.municode.com (Millbrook), quoted and re-checked
  16. Onsite Sewage Disposal (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. 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
  18. Onsite Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  19. library.municode.com (Millbrook), quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Typical home value (Zillow): 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 Millbrook

Millbrook’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Excavation, construction, alteration, repair, accessory structures, and temporary field offices inside Millbrook city limits.

    • Exceptions include repairs not changing the character of the structure and not exceeding $500.00, painting, and wallpapering.
    • Plans must conform to the applicable code and zoning requirements.
    “It shall be unlawful to commence the excavation for or the construction of any building or other structure, including accessory structures, or to store building materials or erect temporary field offices, 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 painting or wallpapering) or any structure, including accessory structures, until the building department has issued for such work a building permit”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Residential and commercial construction inside Millbrook city limits.

    • Residential buildings require inspection before permanent occupancy.
    • Building, electrical, roofing, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, and zoning inspections are scheduled through the Building Department.
    “An inspection of the building must be conducted before it can be permanently occupied.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Residential units and land or structures erected, moved, or altered in use inside Millbrook city limits.

    • A final inspection is required; the certificate issues only if the building or premises conforms to the zoning ordinance.
    “It shall be unlawful for any person to occupy, or any contractor to allow any person to occupy, any residential unit subject to this section without first having obtained a certificate of occupancy signed by an official of the city.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Millbrook city limits.

    • The city identifies Zoning Ordinance Z15-01 and an official zoning map; the zoning ordinance was adopted on February 10, 2015.
    “Zoning Ordinance Z15-01 was adopted on 2-10-15.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings and other structures in the FAR Forestry-Agricultural-Recreation District.

    • If community sewage is unavailable and a larger area is required by Elmore County Board of Health percolation standards, the Board of Health minimums prevail.

    minimum lot area: >= 40000 square feet (larger Elmore County Board of Health percolation minimums prevail where applicable)

    “Minimum required lot area 40,000 sq. ft. If access to community sewage system is not avail­able, and a larger minimum area is required to meet the percolation standards for the Elmore County Board of Health, Board of Health minimums shall prevail.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family dwellings and other structures in the R-1 Low Density Residential District.
      “Minimum lot area 15,000 sq. ft. If access to community sewage system is not available, and a larger minimum area is required to meet the percolation standards for the Elmore County Board of Health, Board of Health minimums shall prevail.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Installation and occupancy of manufactured homes inside Millbrook city limits.

    • Installation or replacement requires a city building-department permit.
    • The permit fee is $300.00 when the installation complies with zoning and health regulations.
    • Occupancy requires an approval of occupancy signed by a city official.
    • Floodplain elevation and anchoring requirements may also apply.

    manufactured-home installation permit fee: 300 USD (when installation or replacement complies with zoning and health regulations)

    “Any person, company or corporation desiring to install or replace a manufactured home shall first obtain from the building department a permit authorizing said installation or replacement. If the requested installation or replacement is in compliance with zoning and health regulations the fee for issuance of such permit shall be $300.00.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    A separate dwelling or residential use in an accessory structure inside Millbrook city limits.

    • The zoning ordinance states that an accessory structure or building in the rear of the principal building may not be used for residential purposes unless the Board of Adjustment gives written approval.
    • Accessory structures remain subject to building permits and applicable zoning.
    “No accessory structure or building in the rear of the principle building on the same lot may be used for residential purposes unless upon written approval of the Board of Adjustment.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private sewage disposal inside Millbrook city limits.

    • Allowed only when public sanitary sewer service is unavailable under the city's 300-foot rule, or when the city engineer determines the sewage would be unacceptable to the city.
    • Local county and state law applies.
    “the disposal of sewage by private disposal systems shall be permissible only in those instance where service from the available sanitary sewerage system is not available per section 90-132 (d), or where the city engineer determines the sewage would be unacceptable to the city.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes inside Millbrook city limits.

    • Connection is required within ten days after written notice when a public sanitary or combined sewer is within 300 feet of the property line.
    • Private sewage disposal is permissible only when public sewer service is unavailable or the city engineer determines sewage would be unacceptable.
    • A written city permit is required for a public sewer connection.
    • Impact, assessment, and development fees may apply.

    public sewer availability distance: <= 300 feet from property line (connection required after written notice) · connection deadline: 10 days after written notice · sanitary sewer impact fee: 2000 USD per equivalent unit connection (inside the city)

    “provided that said public sewer is within 300 feet of the property line.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    New construction, substantial improvements, manufactured homes, and other development in Millbrook special flood hazard areas.

    • Where BFE data is available, the lowest floor including basement must be at least one foot above BFE.
    • In approximate A-zones without BFE data, new construction and substantial improvements must be elevated at least three feet above highest adjacent grade, with the ordinance's additional BFE condition.
    • Flood-resistant enclosures and anchoring requirements apply.

    elevation above BFE: >= 1 foot (lowest floor including basement) · elevation above highest adjacent grade in SFHA without BFE: >= 3 feet (additional requirements in Sec. 38-21 may require four feet where applicable)

    “Where BFE data is available, new construction, reconstruction or repairs made to a repetitive loss structure, and substantial improvement of any structure or manufactured home shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated no lower than one foot above the base flood elevation (also referred to as the design flood elevation).”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Residential and commercial construction inside Millbrook city limits.

    • Residential applicants submit one complete plan set; commercial applicants submit three complete plan sets plus a PDF copy.
    • Plans are reviewed by the Building Department, Fire Department, and Zoning Administrator.
    • Construction plans require final approval by the Building Official.
    • Residential applications must be submitted by a state licensed general contractor.
    “The City of Millbrook requires a permit for various construction work done within the Millbrook city limits and Millbrook’s police jurisdiction.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built construction inside Millbrook city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside Millbrook city limits.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential recreational-vehicle occupancy on land inside Millbrook city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Millbrook city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Millbrook 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 Millbrook publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Elmore County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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