Bolthole Index

Etowah County, Alabama

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Glencoe, Alabama

Glencoe, Alabama requires a city permit for new construction, additions and remodeling, and land inside the city limits is zoned by the city.12 Septic permits for every address in Glencoe, city or not, come from the county health department serving the property, not from City Hall.3

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new construction, additions and remodeling1
Zoning
City zoning applies inside Glencoe, run by Planning Services2
Septic permit
County health department, before construction begins4
Minimum lot size
3 acres in AG-1, 1 acre in AG-2, 10,000 sq ft in R-2567
Minimum home size
900 sq ft in agricultural districts, 1,300 sq ft in R-189
Owner-builder
Alabama licensing exemption for one- and two-family homes you occupy10

Who to call

Building permits

City of Glencoe Code Official (City Hall)

Building permits and inspections inside Glencoe city limits; answers permit-requirement questions Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm

(256) 492-1424

201 Chastain Boulevard West, Glencoe, AL 35905

Zoning

City of Glencoe Planning Services Department

Zoning, land use and subdivision regulations inside Glencoe city limits

256-492-1424 ext. 113

Septic permits

Etowah County Health Department, Environmental Office

Septic-tank requests and environmental complaints for parcels served by the Etowah County Health Department

256-439-2586

709 East Broad Street, Gadsden, Alabama 35903

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in Glencoe, Alabama?

Yes. The City of Glencoe requires permits for new construction, additions and remodeling inside the city limits, and roofing, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work each need their own separate permits.111 The city's ordinance exempts some minor work, including certain fences, sidewalks, driveways, painting, and repairs not exceeding $2,000 under stated conditions, so ask the code official before assuming a small job is exempt.1

Glencoe has adopted the 2015 International Building Code and the 2015 International Residential Code, so a new house is built and inspected to those editions.12 Inspections are required, and the general schedule covers footing, rough-in and final inspections.13

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

The City of Glencoe's code official at City Hall answers permit questions Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, at (256) 492-1424 ext. 113.11 City Hall is at 201 Chastain Boulevard West, Glencoe, AL 35905.11 Zoning questions go to the Planning Services Department, which administers zoning, land use and subdivision regulations.14

Inspection requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance.13 Etowah County has no general county building permit, so inside Glencoe the city is the only building-permit office you deal with.15

Does Glencoe have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size, setbacks and home size?

Yes. Land inside Glencoe is zoned, and the rules depend on the district.2 In the AG-1 Rural Agriculture district the minimum lot is 3 acres, with 80-foot front and rear setbacks and 50-foot side setbacks.516 In AG-2 Residential Agriculture the minimum lot is 1 acre, with a 40-foot front setback, 45-foot rear and 10-foot sides.617

In R-1 a sewered lot needs 12,750 square feet, and a house must have at least 1,300 square feet of floor area.189 In R-2, a single-family lot needs 10,000 square feet and a house at least 1,000 square feet.719 Agricultural districts require at least 900 square feet.8 Impervious coverage is capped at 25 percent in AG-1 and 20 percent in AG-2.2021

Check which district a parcel sits in with Planning Services before you buy, because the same acre can fall under very different setbacks.14

How do septic permits work in Glencoe, Alabama?

Septic permits for property inside Glencoe come from the county health department serving the parcel, not from the city.3 The city's zoning permit application names the Etowah or Calhoun County Health Department depending on the property, so confirm which one covers your lot.3 For Etowah County, call the Environmental Office at 256-439-2586.22

You must submit the application for a permit to install an onsite sewage disposal system before construction begins.4 The system may not be used or covered until the county health department has inspected and approved it.23

Soil matters here: across Etowah County only about 18% of soils rate as free of severe limits for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system.24 An unsewered R-1 lot needs at least 0.35 acres plus whatever additional area the county health department requires.18

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Glencoe?

We could not confirm a Glencoe rule that allows living in an RV or tiny home on an ordinary lot. The only camping standard we found applies to campgrounds, which need at least 5 contiguous acres and no more than 15 campsites per acre.25 That is a rule for running a campground, not an answer for a single household. The city also has no tiny-home provision that we could locate.

If you want an accessory dwelling, the AG-1 and AG-2 agricultural districts allow one accessory residential dwelling unit per 20 acres.26 Ask Planning Services before buying with an RV or tiny home in mind.14

How do you build a home in Glencoe? The steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel is inside Glencoe city limits and find its zoning district with Planning Services.14
  2. Check the district's minimum lot size, setbacks and minimum home size.2
  3. Contact the county health department for a septic evaluation and permit before construction begins.4
  4. Apply to the city for the building permit, plus separate roofing, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits as needed.1
  5. Request footing, rough-in and final inspections at least 24 hours ahead.13
  6. Do not use or cover the septic system until the county health department approves it.23

If you act as your own contractor on a one- or two-family home for your own use, Alabama's Home Builders Licensure Law exempts you from the license, but subcontractors must be licensed when their portion costs more than $10,000.10

What should you check before you buy land in Glencoe?

Confirm the parcel's zoning district, since agricultural districts carry 3-acre or 1-acre minimums and wide setbacks.56 Etowah County has not adopted county zoning for unincorporated land, so a parcel outside the city limits follows different rules than one inside.27

We could not confirm whether private wells are regulated inside the city, so ask the county health department. Etowah County's effective property tax rate is about 0.4%, with a median bill of about $585 a year.2829

Watch-outs

  • The city's zoning permit application names either the Etowah or the Calhoun County Health Department depending on the property, so confirm which county health department serves your parcel before ordering a septic evaluation.3
  • We could not confirm Glencoe rules on private wells, driveway access, or an agricultural exemption from permits and zoning; ask the code official.11

Sources

  1. Permits and Licensing (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  2. Planning and Zoning (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  3. Soil and Onsite Sewage (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  4. Can I Live On This Lot? (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  5. Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.05 Agricultural districts (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  6. Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.05 Agricultural districts (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  7. Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.06 Residential districts (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  8. Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.05 Agricultural districts (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  9. Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.06 Residential districts (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  10. Exemptions (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Glencoe Code Official (City Hall) (cityofglencoe.org)
  12. City Codes (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  13. Inspections (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  14. City of Glencoe Planning Services Department (cityofglencoe.org)
  15. Etowah County Floodplain Development Ordinance (2026 county census)
  16. Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.05 Agricultural districts (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  17. Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.05 Agricultural districts (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  18. Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.06 Residential districts (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  19. Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.06 Residential districts (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  20. Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.05 Agricultural districts (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  21. Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.05 Agricultural districts (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  22. Etowah County Health Department, Environmental Office (alabamapublichealth.gov)
  23. cityofglencoe.org (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  24. 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
  25. Glencoe Zoning Ordinance (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  26. Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.05 Agricultural districts (Glencoe), quoted and re-checked
  27. Alabama law on county zoning and building authority
  28. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 9, 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 Glencoe

Glencoe’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New construction, additions, remodeling, roofing, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work inside Glencoe city's limits.

    • Emergency repairs may be submitted on the next working business day.
    • The ordinance exempts listed minor work, including certain fences, sidewalks and driveways, painting, and repairs not exceeding $2,000 under the stated conditions.
    “New construction, additions, and remodeling all require permits. Roofing, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work also requires separate permits.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Glencoe city's limits.

    • The city lists the 2015 International Building Code, 2015 International Residential Code, 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, 2014 National Electrical Code, 2015 International Plumbing Code, 2015 International Mechanical Code, 2015 International Property Maintenance Code, and 2015 International Fuel Gas Code.
    “The City of Glencoe has adopted the following codes, which regulate standards and requirements.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction work inside Glencoe city's limits.

    • The general schedule includes footing, rough-in, and final inspections.
    • Inspection timing varies with work type and job conditions.
    • Inspection requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
    “Many types of inspections are required for work performed within the City of Glencoe.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Glencoe city's limits.

    • The city's Planning Services Department administers zoning, land use, and subdivision regulations.
    “The Planning Services Department administers zoning, land use, and subdivision regulations to ensure the orderly, safe, and responsible development of Glencoe”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in R-1 Low Density Residential District.

    • Minimum dwelling unit gross floor area is 1,300 square feet.
    • Lots not served by municipal sewer must contain at least 0.35 acres plus any additional area deemed necessary by the Etowah County Health Department.

    minimum dwelling gross floor area: >= 1300 square feet

    “Minimum dwelling unit gross floor area: 1,300 square feet.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-2 Medium Density Residential District.

    • Single-family lots require 10,000 square feet.
    • Two-family lots served by sewer require 15,000 square feet.

    single-family minimum lot size: >= 10000 square feet · two-family sewered minimum lot size: >= 15000 square feet (two-family lots served by sewer)

    “R-2 10,000 sq. ft. 1 15,000 sq. ft. 2 75 ft. 25 ft. 45 ft. 10 ft. 40 ft. or 3 stories 30%”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    AG-1 Rural Agriculture District.

    • Front setback 80 feet; rear 80 feet; side 50 feet.

    front setback: >= 80 feet · rear setback: >= 80 feet · side setback: >= 50 feet

    “AG-1 3 acres 300 ft. 80 ft. 80 ft. 50 ft. 40 ft. or 3 stories 25%”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    AG-1 Rural Agriculture District.

    • Maximum impervious-surface coverage is 25 percent.

    maximum impervious surface coverage: <= 25 percent

    “AG-1 3 acres 300 ft. 80 ft. 80 ft. 50 ft. 40 ft. or 3 stories 25%”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    AG-1 Rural Agriculture District.

    • Maximum height is 40 feet or three stories.

    maximum building height: 40 feet or 3 stories

    “AG-1 3 acres 300 ft. 80 ft. 80 ft. 50 ft. 40 ft. or 3 stories 25%”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Campgrounds and campsites inside Glencoe city's limits.

    • A campground must have at least five contiguous acres.
    • Maximum density is 15 campsites per acre.
    • Perimeter yards are 50 feet front, 30 feet rear, and 30 feet side.
    • Each campsite must be at least 1,500 square feet and 40 feet wide.
    “The minimum site area shall be five (5) contiguous acres. DENSITY. The maximum number of campsites per acre shall be 15.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory residential dwelling units in AG-1 and AG-2 agricultural districts inside Glencoe city's limits.

    • One accessory residential dwelling unit is permitted per 20 acres.
    • The use remains subject to Section 4.01.

    maximum accessory dwelling units: per 1 per 20 acres

    “Accessory residential dwelling units subject to § 4.01 (one per 20 acres)”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Parcels inside Glencoe city limits that use onsite sewage; the serving county health department is the rule administrator.

    • The city's zoning permit application identifies the Etowah or Calhoun County Health Department depending on the property.
    • ADPH coordinates onsite sewage through county health departments.
    “approval for construction of such sewerage or field line or septic tank facility by the County Health Department serving the property upon which such sewer facilities, field lines, or septic tanks are to be located.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New or repaired onsite sewage systems serving property inside Glencoe city's limits.

    • A permit application goes to the local county health department.
    • The permit must be obtained before construction begins.
    “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.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Septic tanks and field systems serving property inside Glencoe city's limits.

    • The system may not be used or covered before inspection and approval by the appropriate county health department.
    “It shall be unlawful for anyone to use, or allow to be used, any septic tank or field system or to cover any septic or field systems prior to the inspection and approval by the appropriate County Health Department.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Garden-home developments inside Glencoe city's limits.

    • All garden homes must be served by municipal water and sewer.
    • All utilities must be placed underground.
    “All garden homes shall be served by municipal water and sewer. All utilities shall be placed underground.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and development inside Glencoe city's limits.

    • The city Planning Services Department administers subdivision regulations.
    • The Planning Commission reviews subdivision plans and final plat approvals.
    “The Planning Services Department administers zoning, land use, and subdivision regulations to ensure the orderly, safe, and responsible development of Glencoe”

Still unanswered

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

  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Glencoe city's limits.
  • Well permit — Private wells inside Glencoe city's limits.
  • Agricultural exemption — Agricultural construction or land-use exemptions inside Glencoe city's limits.
  • Driveway access — Driveway access for development inside Glencoe city's limits.

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 Glencoe publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Etowah County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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