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

Town of Lowndesboro’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, locating, moving, enlarging or structurally altering a building or accessory structure inside Lowndesboro town

  • Permit is issued by the town building inspector.
  • Building permit applications must include plans and items listed in section 902.1 (see separate claim).
  • Permit becomes invalid if work is not commenced within one year of issue, or if work is suspended or discontinued for one year (section 902.2).

  “no building or accessory structure shall be erected, located, moved, added to, or structurally altered without a permit issued by the building inspector.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Construction inside Lowndesboro town limits, inspection by the town building inspector

  • The ordinance gives the building inspector authority to inspect; it does not list a required inspection schedule.
  • Septic location must be approved by the county health department before permit issuance (see septic claims).

  “the building inspector shall be authorized to: (1) issue building permits; (2) review building and parking plans and specifications; (3) inspect buildings or premises; (4) inspect the construction progress;”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the corporate limits of Lowndesboro town, Lowndes County, Alabama, under the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Lowndesboro, Alabama, adopted by the town council in December 2023 (Resolution 2023-07).

  • The ordinance cites Code of Alabama 1975 title 11, chapter 52, sections 11-52-70 through 11-52-84 as its enabling authority.
  • The official zoning map is kept in the office of the town clerk and is the final authority on current zoning status (section 302.4).
  • Uses and dimensional limits below apply only inside the town; the ordinance does not govern the county unincorporated area.

  “whereas title 11, chapter 52, sections 11-52-70 through 11-52-84 inclusive, code of alabama, 1975, empowers the town of lowndesboro to enact a zoning ordinance”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Lowndesboro town

  • The ordinance names two districts: R-A residential-agricultural and B-1 highway commercial.
  • District boundaries are shown on the official zoning map kept by the town clerk. That map was not reviewed, so parcel-level district assignment is not confirmed.

  “the zoning map which shall be located in the office of the town clerk shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of land and water areas, buildings, and other structures in the town.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in the B-1 highway commercial district inside Lowndesboro town. The ordinance lists lot width here under the lot size heading, and no separate B-1 area minimum is stated.

  • Section 501.3 gives the lot width at street line as 100 feet, or 45 feet on major collector streets and 35 feet on all other streets.
  • No B-1 minimum lot area in square feet or acres is stated in the ordinance.

  lot width at street line: >= 100 feet (45 feet on major collector streets; 35 feet on all other streets)

  “lot size: one hundred (100) feet lot width at street line, forty-five (45) feet at major collector streets and all other streets thirty-five (35) feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Lots in the R-A residential-agricultural district inside Lowndesboro town

    “front yard setback: sixty (60) feet. lot coverage: main and accessory buildings shall not cover more than twenty-five (25) percent of the lot area. lot size: one (1) acre. lot width at building line: one hundred (100) feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Buildings in the B-1 highway commercial district inside Lowndesboro town

  • Pumps and underground storage tanks must be at least 25 feet from any property line (section 501.1).
  • Business lots abutting R-A or agricultural land require a 20-foot buffer area beyond yard requirements (section 501.6).

  front yard setback: >= 45 feet · minimum side yard: >= 20 feet · structures including pumps and underground storage tanks from any property line: >= 25 feet

  “lot size: one hundred (100) feet lot width at street line, forty-five (45) feet at major collector streets and all other streets thirty-five (35) feet. minimum side yards twenty (20) feet.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Main (principal) buildings in the R-A residential-agricultural district inside Lowndesboro town

    “rear yard setback: forty (40) feet. side yard setback: fifteen (15) feet, except on corner lots where the side adjoining the right-ofway shall be thirty (30) feet.”

  • Specified — Accessory structures in the R-A residential-agricultural district inside Lowndesboro town

    “no accessory structures shall be located closer than five (5) feet from the side or rear lot line.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Main and accessory buildings together on a lot in the R-A residential-agricultural district inside Lowndesboro town

  • No lot coverage limit is stated for the B-1 district in the ordinance.

  maximum lot coverage by main and accessory buildings: <= 25 percent of lot area

  “lot coverage: main and accessory buildings shall not cover more than twenty-five (25) percent of the lot area.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in the B-1 highway commercial district inside Lowndesboro town

  • The R-A dimensional section (section 403) states no height limit.
  • Outdoor lighting in B-1 may not be higher than 35 feet (section 501.1).

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “building height: no building shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height.”

• Manufactured homesProhibited

  Mobile homes used as dwellings in the R-A residential-agricultural district inside Lowndesboro town. The B-1 highway commercial district is not covered by this claim.

  • The ordinance defines mobile home as a detached single family dwelling unit designed for long-term occupancy, whether on wheels or a foundation.
  • Other manufactured-home types are not defined separately in the ordinance.

  “in the r-a residential-agricultural district, the following uses are permitted: single-family dwellings (excluding mobile homes)”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways and access points for business uses in the B-1 highway commercial district inside Lowndesboro town. The ordinance sets no driveway rule for R-A residences.

  • Ingress and egress to off-street parking and loading must be at least 60 feet from the intersection of any two or more streets (section 501.4).
  • Parking areas must have vehicular access to a public street (section 601.2).

  access point distance from intersection of street right-of-way lines: >= 20 feet

  “points of ingress and egress shall be located not less than twenty (20) feet from the intersecting point of the two street right of way lines;”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Board of adjustment appeals and zoning amendment petitions in Lowndesboro town. These are not building permit fees.

  • The appeal fee is paid with the written appeal to the town clerk.
  • The amendment fee is paid to the town clerk when the petition is filed. Amendments initiated by the town council, building inspector or planning commission are exempt.

  board of adjustment appeal fee: 50 USD · zoning amendment petition fee: 50 USD (not charged for amendments initiated by the town council, building inspector, or planning commission)

  “a fee of fifty (50) dollars to cover the cost of processing the appeal;”

• Permit processPartial

  Applying for a building permit in Lowndesboro town

  • Plans must be in duplicate and drawn to scale.
  • Plans must show lot dimensions, building height, use and location, dwelling units, adjoining setback lines, off-street parking, and the septic approval where applicable.
  • Permit lapses if work is not started within one year of issue (section 902.2).
  • No written steps, fees or timelines beyond these are stated in the ordinance.

  “all applications for building permits shall be accompanied by plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing:”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Lowndesboro

Town of Lowndesboro 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 septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage (septic) system location inside Lowndesboro town, where public sewerage is not available. The Lowndes County Health Department reviews it under the town ordinance.

  • Applies only where public sewerage is not available.
  • The town zoning ordinance does not itself set septic design standards; the health department certificate is the stated requirement.

  “a certificate from the lowndes county health department approving the proposed location of the septic tank and field lines, provided public sewerage is not available.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New construction on a lot inside Lowndesboro town that relies on an on-site septic system

  • Certificate from the Lowndes County health department must accompany the building permit application.
  • Required only where public sewerage is not available.

  “a certificate from the lowndes county health department approving the proposed location of the septic tank and field lines, provided public sewerage is not available.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Lowndesboro town
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Lowndesboro town limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new or altered buildings inside Lowndesboro town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a dwelling inside Lowndesboro town
• Living in an RV — Occupancy of a recreational vehicle as a dwelling inside Lowndesboro 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.