Bolthole Index

Mobile County, Alabama

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Saraland, Alabama

Saraland, Alabama, in Mobile County, adopts its own zoning inside city limits1, and the city's Building Department issues building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and land disturbance permits2. Septic permits for property not on city sewer come from the Mobile County Health Department, not the city3. Living in an RV on a lot inside Saraland is restricted to authorized RV parks4.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes: Saraland administers its own land-use districts inside city limits1
Building permits
Issued by the City of Saraland Building Department2
Septic
Mobile County Health Department Permit to Install, when not on city sewer35
RV living
Not allowed on a lot; only in an authorized RV park (B-2 district)41
Manufactured homes
Need HUD certification; barred from R-1 and R-2 districts6
Floodplain
All development in Zone A must meet the city's flood rules7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Saraland Building Department

Building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, sign, right-of-way, land disturbance and tree permits inside Saraland

251.679.5502

727 Saraland Blvd S, Saraland, AL 36571

Zoning

City of Saraland Planning & Zoning

Zoning, planning commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment matters inside Saraland

251-679-5502

Septic permits

Mobile County Health Department, Onsite Sewage Division

Septic (onsite sewage) permits, installations and inspections for Mobile County, including addresses inside Saraland

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Saraland 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.

Does Saraland, Alabama have zoning?

Yes. Saraland administers its own land-use districts and development regulations inside city limits1. The city's code names B-2 General Business, R-1 Low Density Single Family Residential, R-2 Medium Density Single Family Residential and planned unit developments, though we could not confirm the full district schedule8. Lot sizes, setbacks, minimum dwelling size and height depend on the district, and we could not confirm those numbers, so ask the Saraland Planning & Zoning office for the district of the exact lot before you buy9.

Variances and special exceptions go to the Saraland Board of Adjustment9. Mobile County has no zoning in its unincorporated areas10, but that does not carry into Saraland: inside the city, the city's zoning applies.

Do you need a building permit in Saraland, and who issues it?

The City of Saraland Building Department handles permits inside city limits, with separate applications for building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work, plus land disturbance and tree permits2. After the planning commission approves a site plan, the city's building official may issue the building permit, provided the application complies with city, county, state and federal requirements11. We could not confirm a fee schedule, so ask the Building Department.

Mobile County Inspection Services does not cover this ground: its permits apply to unincorporated Mobile County12. Saraland's city code references the 2015 International Residential Code9.

How do septic permits work inside Saraland?

Septic stays with the county health office even inside city limits. A property in Saraland that is not connected to city sewer needs a Permit to Install from the Mobile County Health Department before construction starts35. The Alabama Department of Public Health also tells applicants to check with the city sewer authority first, since sewer service may be available3. If sewer is not available, expect soil testing or another site evaluation13. Across Mobile County, the county's soil data rates about 26% of soils as not limited for a conventional drain field, so many lots need an engineered system14. The county health department's residential application and inspection fee is $20015.

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home in Saraland?

RVs: Saraland's code says a travel trailer may not be occupied, temporarily or permanently, while parked or stored anywhere except in an authorized park4. RV parks are allowed only in the B-2 General Business District, with planning commission approval1. Camping on a residential lot is not an option.

Manufactured homes: units without HUD certification may not be installed, a manufactured home may not go in R-1 or R-2 districts, and placement needs a building-inspector recommendation and planning commission approval6.

Tiny homes and accessory dwellings: we could not confirm Saraland's rule, so ask the Building Department before you buy2.

Building a home in Saraland: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district with Planning & Zoning9.
  2. Ask the city sewer authority whether sewer is available; if not, apply to the Mobile County Health Department for a septic Permit to Install3.
  3. Get site plan approval from the planning commission, which may add conditions11.
  4. Apply to the Saraland Building Department for building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits2.
  5. If the lot touches Zone A flood area, meet the city's flood-development rules7.
  6. Do not start the septic system until the Permit to Install is issued5.

What stays with Mobile County, and what to check before you buy in Saraland

Septic permits come from the Mobile County Health Department3. For land outside Saraland city limits, see the Mobile County page: the county's rules there apply to unincorporated land only12. Mobile County's effective property tax rate is 0.5%16, and the median property tax bill is $849 a year17. Check the flood map for the lot, since development in Zone A has its own requirements7.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Saraland's lot-size, setback, dwelling-size or height rules by district; ask Planning & Zoning for the lot's district before you buy9.
  • We could not confirm whether Saraland requires an owner-builder exemption process or publishes a fee schedule; call the Building Department2.
  • A lot inside Saraland that is not on city sewer still needs a county Permit to Install before any septic work5.

Sources

  1. Saraland Code, Sec. 26-288, General regulation (Saraland), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Saraland Building Department (saraland.org)
  3. alabamapublichealth.gov (Saraland), quoted and re-checked
  4. Saraland Code, Sec. 26-214, Design standards (Saraland), quoted and re-checked
  5. Alabama Department of Public Health, Can I Live On This Lot? (Saraland), quoted and re-checked
  6. Saraland Code, Sec. 26-258, Manufactured homes without HUD certification prohibited (Saraland), quoted and re-checked
  7. Saraland Code, Sec. 20-54, Building standards for approximate A zones (Saraland), quoted and re-checked
  8. Saraland Code, Sec. 26-288, General regulation (Saraland), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Saraland Planning & Zoning (saraland.org)
  10. Development and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  11. Saraland Code, Sec. 26-194, Issuance of building permit (Saraland), quoted and re-checked
  12. Inspection Services, quoted and re-checked
  13. alabamapublichealth.gov (Saraland), quoted and re-checked
  14. 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
  15. Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  16. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 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 Saraland

Saraland’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Saraland city limits; Saraland administers land-use districts and development regulations.

    • Recreational vehicle parks are permitted only in the B-2 General Business District subject to planning commission approval and division requirements.
    “Recreation vehicle parks are uses permitted in B-2, General Business District subject to the approval of the planning commission and compliance with the requirements of this division.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Saraland zoning districts and district-based land-use controls inside city limits.

    • The opened provisions identify B-2 General Business, R-1 Low Density Single Family Residential, R-2 Medium Density Single Family Residential, and planned unit developments, but do not provide the complete district schedule.
    “A manufactured home may be located within any residential zone other than the R-1, Low Density Single Family Residential, and R-2, Medium Density Single Family Residential, districts.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Occupation of travel trailers or motor homes inside Saraland city limits.

    • A travel trailer may not be occupied temporarily or permanently while parked or stored in an area except in a park authorized under the city code.
    • Recreational vehicle parks are permitted in B-2 only with planning commission approval and compliance with division requirements.
    “A travel trailer shall not be occupied either temporarily or permanently while it is parked or stored in any area, except in a park as authorized herein.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary occupancy or camping in travel trailers and similar recreational vehicles inside Saraland city limits.

    • Temporary occupancy is prohibited while the vehicle is parked or stored in an area except in an authorized park.
    • Authorized recreational vehicle parks are subject to B-2 district placement, planning commission approval, and city requirements.
    “A travel trailer shall not be occupied either temporarily or permanently while it is parked or stored in any area, except in a park as authorized herein.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured and mobile home placement or occupancy inside Saraland city limits.

    • Manufactured homes without HUD certification and permanent HUD stamp certification may not be installed, erected, or permitted.
    • A manufactured home may not be located in R-1 or R-2 residential districts.
    • Placement requires compatibility review, building-inspector recommendation, and planning commission approval.
    • House trailers or mobile homes may be occupied only at a duly licensed and zoned trailer camp, trailer court, or trailer sales lot, except as provided by Sec. 30-22.
    “A manufactured home may be located within any residential zone other than the R-1, Low Density Single Family Residential, and R-2, Medium Density Single Family Residential, districts.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Residential structures in planned unit developments inside Saraland city limits.

    • Every residential structure must be within 200 feet of a hard-surfaced access drive at least 20 feet wide or a parking lot connected with such a drive.
    • Every dwelling or ground-floor dwelling unit must be directly accessible to service and emergency vehicles.

    maximum distance to access drive: <= 200 feet · minimum access-drive width: >= 20 feet

    “Every residential structure in a development shall be within 200 feet of a hard-surfaced access drive no less than 20 feet wide or a parking lot connected with such a drive.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in Zone A inside Saraland city limits.

    • All development in Zone A must meet Secs. 20-51 and 20-52.
    • In approximate A zones, additional elevation, floodway, encroachment, and certification requirements may apply.
    “All development in zone A must meet the requirements of section 20-51 and section 20-52 .”
  • Permit processPartial

    Site-plan-related building permit processing inside Saraland city limits.

    • Planning commission approval may include changes or special conditions.
    • The application must comply with city, county, state, and federal requirements.
    • The section states that the building official may issue the permit after site-plan approval; it does not provide a complete application checklist or fee schedule.
    “Upon approval of the site plan, either as submitted or with changes and/or special conditions required by the planning commission, the building official may issue a building permit for a portion or all of the proposed development provided the application is in compliance with all applicable city, county, as well as, state and federal requirements.”

Rules another office applies inside Saraland

Saraland 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)

    Onsite sewage systems serving property inside Saraland city limits when the property is not connected to city sewer; the local county health department administers the permit process.

    • ADPH also directs applicants to check the city sewer authority for sewer availability before pursuing onsite sewage disposal.
    “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 permitRequired

    Construction of an onsite sewage disposal system inside Saraland city limits.

    • Applies when onsite sewage disposal is used instead of available city sewer.
    • The application and plans must meet applicable rules before the Permit to Install is issued.
    • Construction may begin only after issuance of the Permit to Install.
    “If the application and plans are complete and meet all the requirements of the rules, a 'Permit to Install' will be issued. Then and only then can you begin the construction of your system.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Sanitation for property inside Saraland city limits that is not connected to city sewer.

    • The site must be evaluated for suitability.
    • Soil testing or other professional evaluation may be required.
    • A county-health-department Permit to Install is required before construction.
    “If it is not, you will be required to have the soil tested to see if the soil is suitable for the installation of an onsite sewage disposal system (septic tank system).”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Saraland city limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Saraland city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption inside Saraland city limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Saraland city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Saraland city limits.
13 more unanswered
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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

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