Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Pinson, Alabama

Pinson’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside Pinson city limits; the city's own zoning ordinance governs use and dimensional standards there.

  • Ordinance adopted by Pinson City Council December 1, 2011 as Ordinance #2011-15; the city's copy is posted on pinsonal.gov.
  • Only the 2011 ordinance text was read; later amendments were not checked.
  • PDF text extraction is imperfect in places; the adopted ordinance should be checked before relying on specific numbers.

  “the pinson city council has reviewed and adopted this zoning ordinance. the ordinance number is 2011-15.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Pinson city limits

  • Article 6 of the ordinance sets out district regulations: AG, RE, RR, RL, RM, RH, RP, NC, TC, HC, SC, NI, CI and others per the table of contents.
  • Only the AG, RL and table-of-contents entries were read; the official zoning map was not opened.

  “section 6.4. rl low density single family zone a district intended exclusively for single-family residential neighborhoods and to facilitate”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family site-built dwellings in the RL low density single family zone inside Pinson city

  • RL district only.
  • Floor-area minimum differs by one-story versus two-story dwelling.

  minimum floor area, one-story dwelling: >= 1600 sq ft (RL district) · minimum floor area, two-story dwelling (first floor): >= 1400 sq ft (RL district) · minimum floor area, two-story dwelling (total): >= 2200 sq ft (RL district)

  “minimum sq. ft. floor area 1,600 sq. ft. for one-story dwellings or 1,400 sq. ft. (first floor) and 2,200 sq. ft. total for twostory dwellings”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family lots in the RL low density single family zone inside Pinson city

  • RL district only; other districts (AG, RE, RR, RM, RH) not verified.
  • Section 6.4.4 says lot area and setbacks are subject to article 5 general requirements and article 7 supplemental regulations.
  • PDF extraction is partly garbled; verify against the adopted ordinance.

  minimum lot size: >= 0.5 acre (RL district) · minimum lot width: >= 100 ft (RL district)

  “minimum lot size 0.50 acre minimum lot width 100 ft.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal buildings on lots in the RL low density single family zone inside Pinson city

  • RL district only.
  • Corner-lot secondary front yard (30 ft minimum) and setback between structures are also listed in section 6.4.4 but were not fully legible in the extracted text.
  • Section 5.8.1 sets how front setbacks are measured (from sidewalk where sidewalks are required).

  minimum front yard setback: >= 40 ft (RL district) · minimum rear yard setback: >= 40 ft (RL district) · minimum side yard setback: >= 15 ft (RL district; corner lots have a different primary front yard rule)

  “minimum front yard setback 40 ft. minimum rear yard setback 40 ft. minimum side yard setback 15 ft.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Impervious surface coverage of lots in the RL low density single family zone inside Pinson city

  • RL district only.
  • Extracted text is garbled at this point; the 40% figure should be confirmed against the adopted ordinance before use.

  maximum impervious lot coverage: <= 40 percent (RL district)

  “maximum surfaces) lot coverage (impervious 40%”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in the RL low density single family zone inside Pinson city

  • RL district only.

  maximum building height: <= 2 stories (RL district)

  “maximum building height 2 stories minimum sq. ft. floor area 1,600 sq. ft.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary uses inside Pinson city generally; the rule does not name camping specifically

  • Temporary uses are permitted only on appeal to and upon approval of the board.
  • Use or occupancy permits are for one year or less unless the board specifies otherwise.
  • Section 7.21 (camper parks) exists in the table of contents but was not read; it may control camping.

  maximum permit duration: <= 1 year (unless the board specifies otherwise)

  “temporary uses shall be permitted only on appeal to and upon approval of the board. all such uses and/or occupancy permits shall be for one year or less unless otherwise specified by the board.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes inside Pinson city in the AG agricultural zone (listed as a special exception use)

  • Special exception use in the AG zone (section 6.1.3); needs approval by the board.
  • Supplemental regulations at section 7.16 (manufactured home parks) and section 7.29 (manufactured homes) were not read.
  • Not verified for other districts.

  “6.1.3. special exception uses manufactured homes §7.16 kennels (excluding animal shelters)”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwellings and guest houses inside Pinson city (general rule in section 5.7, which applies to single-family residential zones)

  • Allowed only as incidental use by special exception of the Board of Zoning Adjustment.
  • Must conform to section 12.2 requirements, which were not read.
  • Section 6.4.2 also lists accessory dwellings as a use permitted subject to supplemental regulation section 7.2, which was not read.

  “accessory dwellings and guest houses may be permitted as incidental uses only by special exception of the board and shall conform to the requirements of §12.2.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Pinson city; the zoning ordinance refers to a separate city subdivision regulations document

  • Separate subdivision regulations document not opened; its contents are unknown.
  • The zoning ordinance refers to them in the planned unit development section (6.7).

  “all future development of land, buildings, and structures shall further be in accordance with the applicable provisions of the city of pinson subdivision regulations and the city of pinson design and construction specifications.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Pinson city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Pinson city
• Building code adopted — Building codes in Pinson city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Pinson city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Pinson city

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.