Bolthole Index

Morgan County, Alabama

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Falkville, Alabama

The Town of Falkville, Alabama regulates land use through zoning, including district-specific lot standards and limits on RV living and manufactured homes.123 The town lists a Building Department, but call Town Hall to confirm which building permit and inspections your project needs.4 Septic permits inside Falkville stay with the Morgan County Health Department.5

At a glance

Building permit
Confirm the permit and inspection path with the Town of Falkville Building Department4
Zoning
Town zoning sets district-specific lot and setback standards16
Septic
Morgan County Health Department permits new and repaired onsite systems off sewer57
RV living
Living, sleeping or housekeeping use requires a location approved for that use2
Manufactured homes
Generally limited to the MH-S District, a construction-site exception or approval on appeal in AG-13
Owner-builder
State licensing exemption may apply, but confirm the town's local permit requirements84
Private well
A driller must file state notices; ask Morgan County Health about the proposed parcel910

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Falkville Building Department

Town building-permit and zoning questions

(256) 784-5922

[email protected]

P. O. Box 407, 21 North 1st Avenue Falkville, AL 35622

Septic permits

Morgan County Health Department – Environmental Services

Onsite sewage and septic applications, permits and complaints in Morgan County

256-340-6563

3821 Hwy. 31 South, Decatur, Alabama 35603

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Falkville means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in the Town of Falkville, Alabama?

The Town of Falkville lists a Building Department, but the available information here does not establish exactly which ordinary residential projects require a town building permit. Call Town Hall before excavation, site work, construction, moving a structure or substantial repairs and describe the scope of work.4 Ask which building permit application, plan documents, contractor credentials, fees and inspections apply; permit fees have not been confirmed.

Do not substitute Morgan County's unincorporated-area answer for the rule inside Falkville. Morgan County's documented development permit applies to floodplain development in unincorporated county jurisdiction, while Falkville has its own rule for construction in designated special flood-hazard areas.1112 For a site in Falkville's designated flood-hazard area, new construction and substantial improvements must place the lowest floor, including a basement, at least one foot above base flood elevation where that elevation data is available.12

Who handles building permits and zoning in Falkville?

Start with the Town of Falkville Building Department for building-permit and zoning questions within town limits.4 Town Hall can be reached at the phone, email and address listed above.4 Bring the parcel address, proposed use, a basic site plan and a clear description of the structure so the office can identify the zoning district and the approvals needed.

Falkville's district rules matter before construction plans are finalized. A single-family dwelling in R-1 requires at least 12,000 square feet of lot area, while a dwelling in R-2 requires at least 9,000 square feet.113 AG-1 requires at least 15,000 square feet of lot area and at least 100 feet of width at the building line.14 These are district rules, not townwide averages, so ask the Building Department to confirm the parcel's map designation before relying on any dimensional standard.4

What does Falkville zoning mean for lots, setbacks and manufactured homes?

Falkville zoning makes the parcel's district decisive. In AG-1, the front, rear and side setbacks are 40 feet, 30 feet and 10 feet; a structure housing livestock must be at least 100 feet from a property line or a non-agricultural district line.6 Manufactured, mobile and modular homes are generally prohibited except in the MH-S District, on a bona fide construction site under the stated exception, or when allowed on appeal in AG-1.3

An MH-S manufactured-home lot must contain at least 9,000 square feet, and the district also requires at least 75 feet of lot width.15 MH-S setbacks are 20 feet in front, 20 feet in the rear, 25 feet at a perimeter rear line, and 10 feet on the side.16 Buildings may cover no more than 50 percent of an MH-S lot.17 A manufactured-home subdivision also needs an approved final plat from the Falkville Planning Commission before its construction permit may issue.18

How do septic permits work inside Falkville?

The Morgan County Health Department handles onsite sewage and septic matters inside Falkville; the town does not take over that function.5 For property not connected to public sanitary sewer, a permit is required before installing a new onsite system or repairing an existing one.7 Submit the application and plans to the county health department, wait for the Permit to Install, and use a licensed installer.7

The site itself can change the cost and feasibility of the project. Across Morgan County, only about 19 percent of soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so arrange the soil and site evaluation before treating a house location as buildable.19 The health department must inspect an onsite system before installation, and an Approval for Use is required before the building can be occupied.20 Contact Environmental Services directly for the parcel-specific application and inspection sequence.10

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Falkville?

Falkville allows a camping trailer, recreation trailer or motor home to be stored in any district, but the unit may not be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping on a lot or at a location not approved for that use.2 Parking such a unit on a public street is limited to 24 hours.2 In practical terms, storage permission is not permission to occupy the RV, so ask the Building Department whether the proposed location and use can be approved before arranging utilities.4

Falkville's rules do not provide a confirmed, separate approval path for a structure merely because it is marketed as a tiny home. A park model under Alabama's manufactured-building rules is temporary living quarters rather than a permanent dwelling, and its statewide classification does not establish Falkville site approval.21 If a tiny home is manufactured, mobile or modular, Falkville's restrictions on those homes may control its placement.3 Ask the town to classify the proposed unit from its construction documents before purchase.4

Building a home in Falkville: what are the steps?

  1. Ask the Town of Falkville Building Department to confirm the parcel's zoning district, allowed dwelling type, dimensional rules, building permit, fees and inspection sequence.4
  1. Match the site plan to the applicable district standards; R-1, R-2, AG-1 and MH-S have different minimum lot requirements.1131415
  1. If public sewer will not serve the property, apply through the Morgan County Health Department and obtain the Permit to Install before septic construction.7
  1. Determine whether the site is in a designated special flood-hazard area; qualifying new construction and substantial improvements must meet Falkville's elevation and related flood provisions.12
  1. If using the Alabama owner-builder licensing exemption, personally act as contractor and provide all material supervision for the qualifying residence; the exemption does not erase local approvals.8
  1. Before drilling a well, use a qualified driller who will file the required state notice before work and completion certification afterward.9

What should you check before buying land in Falkville?

Confirm the zoning district and boundaries with the Town of Falkville before relying on a listing's description.4 District classification can change the minimum lot area, setbacks, manufactured-home eligibility and allowable RV use.1632 Ask Falkville Utilities whether public water or sewer is available at the specific frontage and whether connection is required; a townwide connection rule has not been confirmed.

For an off-sewer parcel, contact Morgan County Health before closing because the septic application, soil suitability and proposed house location are linked.7 Morgan County's soil data suggests conventional drain fields face severe limitations on most land, making early evaluation especially valuable.19 Check flood status as well: Falkville applies special construction requirements in designated flood-hazard areas.12 Finally, Morgan County's effective property tax rate is about 0.3 percent, but verify the actual parcel assessment and exemptions rather than projecting from a countywide figure.22

Watch-outs

  • RV storage in Falkville does not authorize living, sleeping or housekeeping in the unit unless the location is approved for that use.2
  • Manufactured, mobile and modular homes are generally restricted to specified Falkville pathways rather than allowed townwide.3
  • A septic Permit to Install must come from the Morgan County Health Department before work begins on a new or repaired onsite system serving property off public sewer.7
  • Building permit fees, owner-builder treatment under town procedures, tiny-home classification and any mandatory utility connection remain questions for the Town of Falkville Building Department.4

Sources

  1. Falkville zoning ordinance, section 6.1 (Town of Falkville), quoted and re-checked
  2. Falkville zoning ordinance, section 5.9 (Town of Falkville), quoted and re-checked
  3. Falkville zoning ordinance, section 5.11 (Town of Falkville), quoted and re-checked
  4. Town of Falkville Building Department (falkville.org)
  5. Morgan County Health Department Services (Town of Falkville), quoted and re-checked
  6. Falkville zoning ordinance, section 6.1 (Town of Falkville), quoted and re-checked
  7. Alabama Department of Public Health Onsite Sewage Disposal (Town of Falkville), quoted and re-checked
  8. Exemptions - Home Builders Licensure Board, quoted and re-checked
  9. Division 9: Well Driller Licensing Program, quoted and re-checked
  10. Morgan County Health Department – Environmental Services (alabamapublichealth.gov)
  11. Engineer’s Office - Morgan County Commission, quoted and re-checked
  12. Falkville flood damage prevention ordinance, section 18-72 (Town of Falkville), quoted and re-checked
  13. Falkville zoning ordinance, section 6.1 (Town of Falkville), quoted and re-checked
  14. Falkville zoning ordinance, section 6.1 (Town of Falkville), quoted and re-checked
  15. Falkville MH-S manufactured home subdivision standards (Town of Falkville), quoted and re-checked
  16. Falkville MH-S manufactured home subdivision standards (Town of Falkville), quoted and re-checked
  17. Falkville MH-S manufactured home subdivision standards (Town of Falkville), quoted and re-checked
  18. Falkville zoning ordinance, section 5.8 (Town of Falkville), quoted and re-checked
  19. 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
  20. Environmental Services | Madison County Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  21. amhc.alabama.gov, quoted and re-checked
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 9, 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 Town of Falkville

Town of Falkville’s own rules

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Uses in Falkville AG-1 Agricultural District.

    minimum lot area: >= 15000 square feet · minimum lot width at building line: >= 100 feet

    “District AG-1, Agricultural District: Minimum lot size: Minimum required lot area 15,000 square feet. Minimum required lot width at building line: 100 feet.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family dwellings in Falkville R-1 Residential District.
      “District R-1: Minimum Yard Size: [...] Minimum Lot Size: [...] Area Square Feet 12,000 [...] Width Feet 85”
    • Specified — Dwellings in Falkville R-2 Residential District.
      “District R-2: Minimum Yard Size: [...] Minimum Lot Size: [...] Area Square Feet 9,000 [...] Width Feet 75”
    • Specified — Manufactured home lots in Falkville MH-S District.
      “Minimum lot size: 9,000 square feet. Maximum building area: 50 percent of the lot area. Minimum lot width: 75 feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Uses in Falkville AG-1 Agricultural District.

    • Structures used for housing livestock must be at least 100 feet from any property line or non-agricultural district line.

    front setback: 40 feet · rear setback: 30 feet · side setback: 10 feet

    “Minimum yard size: Font yard - 40 feet; rear yard - 30 feet; side yards - ten feet, excepting any structure used for the housing of livestock of any kind shall not be located closer than 100 feet of any property line or line of a district other than an agricultural district.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Manufactured home lots in Falkville MH-S District.

    maximum building area: <= 50 percent of lot area

    “Maximum building area: 50 percent of the lot area.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles and motor homes on land inside Falkville town limits.

    • They may be stored in any district.
    • They may not be parked on a public street for more than 24 hours.
    • They may not be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping when parked or stored on a lot or location not approved for that use.

    public-street parking maximum: <= 24 hours

    “Camping or recreation trailers or motor homes may be stored in any district but shall not be parked upon any public street for a period of more than 24 hours. 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.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping or recreation trailers and motor homes inside Falkville town limits.

    • Storage is allowed in any district, but living, sleeping, or housekeeping use requires an approved location.
    • Parking on a public street is limited to 24 hours.

    public-street parking maximum: <= 24 hours

    “Camping or recreation trailers or motor homes may be stored in any district but shall not be parked upon any public street for a period of more than 24 hours. 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, mobile, and modular homes inside Falkville town limits.

    • Generally prohibited except in the MH-S District, on a bona fide construction site under section 5.9(b), or on appeal in the AG-1 District.
    • MH-S and AG-1 requirements apply.
    “No mobile home, house trailer, manufactured home or modular home shall be located anywhere within the corporate limits of the Town of Falkville, Alabama, except as specifically permitted in the MH-S District, as permitted under section 5.9 (b), or as permitted on appeal in the AG-1 District.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Septic and onsite sewage matters inside Falkville town limits are handled by the Morgan County Health Department.

    • The Morgan County Health Department's official service page lists onsite sewage and septic applications and permits.
    “Onsite Sewage-Applications and Permits [...] Septic Tank, Grease Trap, and Holding Tank- Applications and Permits”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New or repaired onsite sewage systems inside Falkville town limits where the property is not connected to a public sanitary sewer; the permit is issued by the local county health department.

    • A permit is required before installing a new system or repairing an existing onsite system.
    • The application and plans must meet applicable rules before the permit is issued.
    • A licensed installer is required.
    “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. 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.”
  • Subdividing landLimited

    Manufactured home subdivisions inside Falkville town limits.

    • A construction permit is required.
    • The final plat must be approved by the Falkville Planning Commission before the construction permit may be issued.
    • The development must meet Falkville subdivision regulations.
    “Construction permit required. Construction of; addition to, or extension of a manufactured home subdivision may not commence until a construction permit has been obtained. A construction permit may not be issued until the final plat of the subdivision has been approved by the Falkville Planning Commission in accordance with this title.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    New construction and substantial improvements in designated special flood-hazard areas inside Falkville town limits.

    • Applies in A1-30, AE, AH, and A zones with engineered or estimated base flood elevation.
    • The lowest floor, including basement, must be at least one foot above base flood elevation where data is available.
    • Additional enclosure, manufactured-home, recreational-vehicle, anchoring, and floodproofing requirements may apply.

    minimum elevation above base flood elevation: >= 1 foot

    “In all areas of special flood hazard designated as A1-30, AE, AH, A (with engineered or estimated base flood elevation), the following provisions are required: (1) Residential and non-residential structures. Where base flood elevation data is available, new construction and substantial improvement of any structure or manufactured home shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated no lower than one foot above the base flood elevation.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Falkville town limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Falkville town limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Falkville town limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Falkville town limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Falkville town limits.
5 more unanswered
  • 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 Town of Falkville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Morgan County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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