Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Satsuma, Alabama

Satsuma’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction, alteration, moving or repair of buildings and structures inside Satsuma city, issued by the city building inspector

  • Construction may proceed only after the building inspector of the municipality issues a building permit.
  • Application must show plans and intended use conform with the zoning ordinance; the inspector issues the permit if the application conforms.

  “it shall be unlawful to commence the excavation for or the construction of any building or other structure, including accessory structures, or to store building materials”

• InspectionsRequired

  Buildings and premises inside Satsuma city when ready for occupancy or use

  • Final inspection is made by the city building inspector within three days after the owner or agent notifies the inspector that the building is ready.

  final inspection notice period: 3 days

  “within three (3) days after the owner or his agent has notified the building inspector of the municipality that a building or premises 83 or part thereof is ready for occupancy or use, it shall be the duty of the building inspector of the municipality to make a final inspection thereof”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Land, buildings or structures erected, moved or altered inside Satsuma city

  • Occupancy is barred until the building inspector issues a certificate of occupancy finding conformity with the zoning ordinance.
  • Inspector must issue the certificate within three days after notice that the premises are ready, if conforming.

  certificate issuance deadline after ready notice: 3 days (if the building conforms)

  “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 inside the corporate limits of Satsuma city, Alabama (Mobile County)

  • Zoning Ordinance No. 482 as amended through July 20, 2021 is the city's own zoning ordinance; the city's zoning page states the entire ordinance is being updated, which was not verified on an opened page.

  “the establishment of districts within the corporate limits of the city of satsuma, alabama, to regulate within such districts the height, number of stories, and size of building and other structures”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Satsuma city; districts include R-1 through R-4 residential, B-1, B-2 business, M-1 industrial and an FH flood hazard overlay

  • Permitted-use rights depend on the district; the district table of permitted uses and conditions is in the ordinance.

  “use districts table of permitted uses and conditions r-1 r-2 r-3 r-4 b-2 m-1”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in the R-1 low density residential district inside Satsuma city (main single-family district; no agricultural or rural-residential district appears in the ordinance)

  • Table 4.2 applies to each residential district as listed.
  • Lot-width requirement is 100 feet at the setback line for R-1.

  minimum lot area: >= 15000 sq ft · minimum lot width at setback line: >= 100 ft

  “r-1 low density residential 15,000 100 35' or 2 ½ stories 25”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal buildings in the R-1 low density residential district inside Satsuma city

  • Setbacks apply in feet and supersede other city ordinances, except as provided in article iii, section 3.4 and the planned unit development article.
  • Corner-lot side yard for R-1 is 35 feet.

  front yard: 35 ft · rear yard: 30 ft · side yard: 10 ft · corner lot side yard: 35 ft

  “district front yard rear yard side yard corner lot side yard r-1 35 30 10 35 r-2 25 30 10 35 r-3 25 25 10 25 r-4 35 35 10 35”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots in the R-1 low density residential district inside Satsuma city

  • Maximum building area as a percent of lot; principal and accessory buildings together must comply.

  maximum building area: <= 25 percent of lot

  “r-1 low density residential 15,000 100 35' or 2 ½ stories 25”

• Building heightSpecified

  Principal buildings in the R-1 low density residential district inside Satsuma city

  • Table 4.2 maximum height for R-1.

  maximum height: <= 35 ft (or 2.5 stories)

  “r-1 low density residential 15,000 100 35' or 2 ½ stories 25”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicle parks in Satsuma city; ordinance does not show a general residential RV-occupancy rule in the sections opened

  • RV parks are permitted only in B-2 and M-1 districts and need planning commission approval.
  • Minimum park lot area is three acres; maximum vehicle length is 40 feet excluding hitch.
  • Spaces are rented by the day or week only and an account may not stay in the park more than 90 days.
  • Parks need direct access to a county, state or federal highway with at least 50 feet of frontage for the entrance and exit, and no entrance or exit through a residential district.

  minimum park lot area: >= 3 acres · maximum vehicle length excluding hitch: <= 40 feet · maximum stay per account: <= 90 days

  “recreation vehicle parks are uses permitted in b-2 and m-1 districts subject to the approval of the planning commission and the requirements of the following provisions.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Residential use of mobile or manufactured homes inside Satsuma city in all use districts

  • Residential use is prohibited unless the home is in a mobile home park or a mobile home subdivision.
  • Mobile home park is defined as a residential development on one ownership with rental spaces for two or more mobile homes long-term.

  “r-1 residential use of mobile or manufactured home(s) other than in mobile home parks or mobile home subdivisions is prohibited in all use districts.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit applications in Satsuma city, decided by the city building inspector

  • The inspector must state in writing the cause of any disapproval.
  • Application contents, fees and submittal steps were not in the opened ordinance text.

  “if an application for a building permit is not approved, the building inspector of the municipality shall state in writing on the application the cause for such disapproval”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders in Satsuma city
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Satsuma city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for dwellings inside Satsuma city
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Satsuma city
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Satsuma 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.