Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Malvern, Alabama

Town of Malvern’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Permitted uses and structural alterations inside Malvern town.

  • The ordinance refers to the Building Code adopted and in effect by the Town Council but does not identify a code edition or amendments.

  “the Building Code adopted and in effect by the Council”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A building erected after the ordinance, a building altered as specified, or a change in occupancy or use inside Malvern town.

  • Applies in advance of occupancy or use; a certificate cannot issue unless the proposed use conforms to the ordinance or the completed building complies with its zoning-compliance sketch plan.

  “A certificate of Occupancy is required in advance of occupancy or use of:”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within the corporate limits of Malvern town.

  • The ordinance was adopted March 10, 2026.

  “to provide for the establishment of districts within the corporate limits of the Town of Malvern, Alabama.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Malvern town.

  • The official zoning map is made part of the ordinance and kept as a public record in the Town Clerk's office.

  number of districts: 9 districts

  “the Town of Malvern, Alabama, is divided into nine (9) districts as follows:”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwellings inside Malvern town.

  • The ordinance definition concerns buildings designed or used for permanent living quarters.

  minimum dwelling floor area: >= 1000 square feet

  “Dwelling: A building of a least 1,000 square feet designed or used for permanent living quarters”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings and structures inside Malvern town.

  • The ordinance ties the limit to the district in which the building is located.

  maximum height: <= 30 feet

  “No building or structure shall hereafter be erected, constructed or altered so as to exceed the height limit of 30 feet”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning-compliance permit applications for uses or structural alterations inside Malvern town.

  • Application requires two copies of a signed dimensional sketch or scaled plan with the listed site and building information; the permit must be posted during construction or reconstruction.

  application copies: 2 copies

  “An application shall be accompanied by two (2) copies of a dimensional sketch or a to scale plan”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Malvern

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

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private onsite sewage disposal systems inside Malvern town.

  • The Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board regulates the private onsite disposal system beginning at the two-way cleanout; the state page also identifies onsite systems as permitted by the Alabama Department of Public Health.

  “The Onsite Wastewater Board regulates private sewage disposal systems. The private onsite disposal system begins at the two-way cleanout.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private onsite water supply and sewage disposal in Malvern R-1 and R-2 residential districts.

  • Permissibility depends on the specific location; sewer connection becomes mandatory where the ordinance's sewer-availability condition applies.

  “Private, on-site water supply and sewage disposal may be permissible in this district depending on specific location.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Dwelling units in Malvern R-1 or R-2 residential districts within 150 feet of a sanitary-sewer main after service becomes available.

  • Connection is required within two years after service becomes available.

  distance to sanitary sewer main: <= 150 feet · connection deadline after service availability: <= 2 years

  “all dwelling units located within 150 feet of a sanitary sewer main be connected to the public system within two (2) years”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Any land use in Malvern Flood Hazard (FH) District.

  • All land uses require Planning Commission approval and are uses permitted upon appeal; dwellings and incidental structures must be flood-proofed, elevated above the 100-year flood level, and have plans approved by the Planning Commission.

  “All land uses permitted within the Flood Hazard District are subject to the approval of the Planning Commission”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Malvern town.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Malvern town.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Malvern town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Malvern town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Malvern town.

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.