Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Moulton, Alabama

Moulton’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Structures constructed or altered inside Moulton city, and projects costing more than $500.

  • Permit must be purchased before work begins.
  • Painting, new flooring, and projects costing less than $500 are stated exemptions.
  • A contractor performing the work must have a current city business license.

  project-cost threshold: > 500 USD (Permit is also required whenever a structure is constructed or altered.)

  “A building permit is required anytime a structure is going to be constructed, altered, OR the cost of a project is going to be more than $500.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction within Moulton city.

  • City page identifies the adopted code as the 2018 International Building Codes.

  building code edition: 2018 International Building Codes

  “The City of Moulton adopted and utilizes the 2018 International Building Codes as per Ordinance 2018-002.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Open building-permit work inside Moulton city.

  • Applicant must call the Building Department to arrange inspection with 24–48 hours lead time.
  • The stated general minimum inspections are foundation/footer, rough plumbing/electrical for slabs, rough-in plumbing/electrical/mechanical and framing, and final.
  • The Building Department may conduct drop-in inspections at any time during an open permit.

  “Generally, there will be a minimum of the following inspections:”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Residential dwellings in the R-6 Residential District inside Moulton city.

  • All ordinance requirements must be completed before occupancy.
  • This provision is within the R-6 manufactured-home district regulations.

  “No land or building or other structure or part thereof hereafter erected, moved, or altered in its use shall be used until the Building Inspector of the municipality shall have issued a certificate of occupancy”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within the corporate limits of Moulton city.

  • The ordinance establishes districts within the corporate limits.

  “DISTRICTS WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF MOULTON, ALABAMA:”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land within Moulton city limits.

  • District boundaries are established on the official Zoning Map of the City of Moulton.

  “The boundaries of the above districts are hereby established as shown on the official Zoning Map of the City of Moulton.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Living, sleeping, or housekeeping in parked motor homes and camper trailers on a lot or location not approved for that use inside Moulton city.

  • The ordinance separately states exceptions for mobile homes in duly authorized mobile-home parks, mobile-home sales offices, and temporary construction offices.
  • Accessory-structure setbacks apply to parked motor homes and camper trailers exceeding five feet in height.

  height exception: <= 5 feet (Accessory-structure setback requirements do not apply to motor homes and camper trailers not exceeding this height.)

  “No such equipment shall be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes when parked or stored on any lot or in any location not approved for such use.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes qualifying as single-family residential dwellings in the R-6 zoning district inside Moulton city.

  • The home must meet the R-6 criteria and be installed on its own lot.
  • Other or different requirements may be imposed by law.

  “Manufactured Homes qualifying as single-family residential dwellings shall be allowed in R-6 zoning districts”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory structures on residential lots inside Moulton city.

  • The prohibition does not apply to protective shelters approved by the Civil Defense Agency that provide temporary living quarters.

  “accessory structures shall not include living quarters, expect that in all districts protective shelters approved by the Civil Defense Agency may provide temporary living quarters.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Residential dwellings in the R-6 Residential District inside Moulton city that use a septic tank.

  • A sewage hook-up permit or septic-tank permit from the appropriate authorities is required.
  • The city ordinance does not identify the appropriate authority.

  “a permit of sewage hook-up or septic tank from the appropriate authorities”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Residential dwellings in the R-6 Residential District inside Moulton city using septic rather than sewer hook-up.

  • A septic-tank permit from the appropriate authorities is required.
  • The ordinance does not identify the appropriate authority.

  “a permit of sewage hook-up or septic tank from the appropriate authorities”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Residential dwellings in the R-6 Residential District inside Moulton city.

  • An individual water meter is required.
  • The dwelling requires either a sewage hook-up permit or septic-tank permit from the appropriate authorities.

  “an individual water meter for the residence.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Manufactured-home development inside Moulton city.

  • Development must be designed according to subdivision rules set by the City of Moulton Planning Commission.

  “Manufactured Housing Developments must comply with the City of Moulton Sub-division Regulations.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applicants inside Moulton city.

  • For a new footprint, applicant must submit a simple drawing showing dimensions and project layout.
  • Applicant must download and complete the Building Permit Application.
  • Architect-stamped drawings may be required depending on the project.
  • Commercial work is reviewed by a Technical Review Committee, and fees, tapping fees, license, and building permits are paid at the pre-construction meeting after plans meet requirements.

  “Next download and complete the Building Permit Application found on this site.”

Rules another office applies inside Moulton

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Manufactured homes in Moulton's R-6 Residential District.

  • Measurements include only enclosed living areas and exclude garages, carports, outbuildings, decks, driveways, patios, and utility/storage areas.

  minimum width: >= 24 feet (Shortest measurement of the structure.) · minimum length: >= 40 feet

  “A Manufactured Home shall be no smaller than twenty four feet wide in distance at the shortest measurement of the structure and forty feet in length.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Manufactured homes qualifying as single-family residential dwellings in Moulton's R-6 district.

  • Home must be installed on its own lot.

  minimum lot area: >= 5000 square feet · minimum lot width at building line: >= 50 feet

  “Minimum lot area: Five thousand (5,000) square feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Manufactured homes qualifying as single-family residential dwellings in Moulton's R-6 district.

  • The R-6 provision refers to perimeter setbacks in addition to the stated setbacks.

  minimum front-yard setback: >= 20 feet (See also perimeter setbacks.) · minimum rear-yard setback: >= 20 feet (See also perimeter setbacks.) · minimum side-yard setback: 5 one side; 8 other feet (See also perimeter setbacks.)

  “Minimum front yard setback (See Also perimeter setbacks): Twenty (20) feet”

• Lot coverageNone

  Manufactured homes qualifying as single-family residential dwellings in Moulton's R-6 district.

  “Each Manufactured Home shall be installed on its own lot. 2. Specific Requirements: a. Minimum lot area: Five thousand (5,000) square feet b. Maximum building Area: None specified c. Minimum lot width at building line: Fifty (50) feet”

• Building heightSpecified

  Manufactured homes qualifying as single-family residential dwellings in Moulton's R-6 district.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “Maximum building height: Thirty five (35) feet”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Lots in Moulton's R-5 Residential District.

  • Restriction applies to direct vehicular access to an existing or planned major thoroughfare or collector street as defined by the comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, or future Planning Commission plans.

  “No lot with in an R-5 District shall have direct vehicular access to an existing or planned major thoroughfare”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Moulton city.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Moulton city.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Moulton city.
• Who permits septic — Onsite septic systems inside Moulton city.
• Septic inspection — Septic systems inside Moulton 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.