Bolthole Index

St. Clair County, Alabama

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Moody, Alabama

Moody, Alabama requires a building permit for new construction, renovations, additions and accessory structures inside city limits1. The city's Building/Inspections Department issues permits and handles planning and zoning, and the Planning Commission decides rezonings and subdivisions23. Septic permits for lots without public sewer come from the St. Clair County Health Department, not the city4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside Moody for construction, renovation, additions and accessory structures1
Zoning
City zoning, with Planning Commission rezonings and Zoning Board of Adjustment variances3
Septic
Local health department permit required where there is no public sewer5
Minimum home size
1,600 sq ft in R-1 and E-1; 1,200 sq ft one-story in RG678
Manufactured home
Allowed in AG-1 on at least one acre, with a permit and adjoining-owner signatures9
Floodplain
Lowest floor at least one foot above base flood elevation where data exist10
Owner-builder
State licensing exemption exists; it does not on its own waive city permits11

Who to call

Building permits

City of Moody Building/Inspections Department

Building permits, inspections, planning and zoning, flood plain and zoning information inside Moody city limits

(205) 640-0310

670 Park Avenue, Suite 108, Moody, AL 35004

Septic permits

St. Clair County Health Department (Environmental Services)

Onsite sewage (septic) applications and permits, septic tank and grease trap permits, and private well water testing for St. Clair County

659-500-4490

1175 23rd Street North, Pell City, AL 35125

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 Moody 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.

Do you need a building permit in Moody, Alabama?

Yes. Moody requires permits for construction, renovation, additions, alterations and repairs to residential, business and commercial structures, and also for fences, pools, signs, accessory structures, roofing and electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical work1. Building applications should include two or more complete plan sets, health-department approval or a sewer-impact receipt, and a plot plan12. The city lists the 2015 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel and Gas and Energy Codes, the 2014 National Electric Code and the 2021 International Fire Code13. Moody inspects new construction, renovations and other work that needs an inspection14. The city ties its certificate of occupancy to fire and life-safety inspections on new businesses, and we could not confirm a separate certificate rule for homes15. Alabama's owner-builder exemption concerns state home-builder licensing and does not establish an exemption from city building permits11.

Who issues building permits in Moody, and how do you reach them?

The City of Moody Building/Inspections Department issues building permits, inspects construction and also handles planning and zoning2. The office is at 670 Park Avenue, Suite 108, Moody, AL 35004, and its phone number is (205) 640-03102. The Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m.2. Anything going to the Commission must be submitted at least 25 days before the next meeting16. The published rezoning fee is $150, plus a certified-mail fee for each adjacent property owner17. Septic permits are a separate county matter, handled by the St. Clair County Health Department4.

Does Moody have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size, setbacks and home size?

Yes. Inside Moody city limits, the city administers planning, zoning, rezoning and zoning variances; the Planning Commission handles rezoning and subdivision plans, and the Zoning Board of Adjustment may grant variances3. Standards depend on the district. In R-1, the minimum lot is 20,000 square feet, setbacks are 40 feet front, 40 feet rear and 15 feet on each side, and height is capped at 35 feet181920. In E-1, the minimum lot is 1 acre with a 100-foot width, and setbacks are 50 feet front, 50 feet rear and 15 feet on the sides2122. In RG garden-home districts, the minimum lot is 8,000 square feet, with setbacks of 30 feet front, 20 feet rear and 10 feet on each side2324. Minimum floor area is 1,600 square feet in R-1 and E-1, and 1,200 square feet for a one-story home in RG678. Where sanitary sewer is unavailable, the county health department's minimum lot size applies and septic development needs an engineering report and a health-department permit18. We could not confirm a lot-coverage limit or an accessory-dwelling rule; ask Building/Inspections2.

How do septic permits work inside Moody?

Property in Moody that is not connected to a public sanitary sewer must have a permit from the local health department before a new onsite system is installed or an existing one is repaired5. In Moody's case, that is the St. Clair County Health Department, which handles septic applications and permits for the county4. The city also asks for health-department approval or a sewer-impact receipt with a building permit application, so start with the health department before submitting plans12. An installed system may not be used until the health department issues an Approval for Use, so schedule the inspection before anyone moves in25. The Environmental Services office is at 1175 23rd Street North, Pell City, and takes calls at 659-500-449026. Across St. Clair County, only about 19.3% of soils avoid severe limits for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system27.

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

Moody allows mobile and manufactured homes in AG-1 agricultural zoning, but only with at least one acre of land, signatures of adjoining property owners, a mobile home permit and a certified master electrician wiring the power9. The RMHP and RMHS districts carry separate lot, setback, installation and utility rules, and in RMHP a manufactured home may not have its own access to a public street928. Alabama recognizes a qualifying manufactured home with a HUD seal as a residence, while local zoning, siting and permit rules still apply29. We could not confirm a Moody rule for living in an RV, camping on private land or tiny-home occupancy, so ask Building/Inspections before buying or parking anything on a lot2. In a special flood-hazard area, RV placement follows the city's 180-day or new-construction alternatives10.

Building a home in Moody: the steps, in order

  1. Call Building/Inspections to confirm the lot's zoning district, setbacks, minimum home size and flood status218.
  2. If the lot has no public sewer, contact the St. Clair County Health Department for the septic permit and site evaluation, or get a sewer-impact receipt if sewer is available512.
  3. Rezoning or a new subdivision goes to the Planning Commission, submitted at least 25 days before its meeting16.
  4. Submit the building permit application with two or more complete plan sets, the health-department approval or sewer-impact receipt, and a plot plan12.
  5. In a flood-hazard area, set the lowest floor at least one foot above base flood elevation where data are available10.
  6. Schedule inspections through Building/Inspections, and get the septic Approval for Use before moving in1425.

What stays with St. Clair County, and what should you check before buying in Moody?

Septic permits for every Moody address come from the St. Clair County Health Department, and the city does not issue them4. The county's own zoning and permit position applies only outside city limits: St. Clair County states that it has no zoning rules and requires no building permit in the unincorporated parts of the county3031. Do not assume a lot is unregulated because a listing says "St. Clair County", since an address inside Moody follows the city rules above. Confirm that the lot is inside the city limits, its zoning district and its flood status before making an offer2. Alabama's home-builder licensing law applies to the contractor either way11. Across St. Clair County, the effective property tax rate is about 0.3% and the median annual bill is about $6663233. The nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 27 miles from the county center34.

Watch-outs

  • Moody's building permit and zoning rules apply only inside city limits; the same address search can show St. Clair County, which has no zoning or building permit in unincorporated areas3031.
  • Septic permits stay with the St. Clair County Health Department even though the city issues building permits, and the city asks for health-department approval or a sewer-impact receipt with the application412.
  • Mobile and manufactured homes in AG-1 need at least one acre, adjoining-owner signatures and a mobile home permit9.
  • We could not confirm Moody's rules on RV living, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, lot coverage or short-term rentals; ask Building/Inspections2.

Sources

  1. Inspection | City of Moody (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Moody Building/Inspections Department (moodyalabama.gov)
  3. Inspection | City of Moody (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  4. Environmental Services, quoted and re-checked
  5. Onsite Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  6. Code of Ordinances: R-1 Single-Family Residential District (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  7. Code of Ordinances: E-1 Single-Family Residential Estate District (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  8. Code of Ordinances: RG Garden Home Residential District (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  9. Inspection | City of Moody (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  10. Code of Ordinances: Flood Damage Prevention, Sec. 16-72 (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  11. Exemptions – Home Builders Licensure Board, quoted and re-checked
  12. Inspection | City of Moody (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  13. Inspection | City of Moody (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  14. Inspection | City of Moody (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  15. Inspection | City of Moody (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  16. Planning Commission | City of Moody (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  17. Planning Commission | City of Moody (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  18. Code of Ordinances: R-1 Single-Family Residential District (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  19. Code of Ordinances: R-1 Single-Family Residential District (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  20. Code of Ordinances: R-1 Single-Family Residential District (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  21. Code of Ordinances: E-1 Single-Family Residential Estate District (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  22. Code of Ordinances: E-1 Single-Family Residential Estate District (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  23. Code of Ordinances: RG Garden Home Residential District (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  24. Code of Ordinances: RG Garden Home Residential District (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  25. Onsite Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  26. St. Clair County Health Department (Environmental Services) (alabamapublichealth.gov)
  27. 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
  28. Code of Ordinances: RMHP Residential Manufactured (Mobile) Home Park District (Moody), quoted and re-checked
  29. What is a manufactured home? (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  30. Zoning for unincorporated parts of St. Clair County, quoted and re-checked
  31. Zoning Restrictions in unincorporated areas of St. Clair County, quoted and re-checked
  32. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  33. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  34. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: 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 Moody

Moody’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, renovation, additions, alterations, repairs, fences, pools, signs, accessory structures, roofing, and mechanical/electrical/plumbing/gas work inside Moody.

    • Electrical, plumbing, gas, and mechanical work must hold proper certificates.
    • Building permits should include two or more complete sets of plans, health-department approval or sewer-impact receipt, and a plot plan.
    “Permits must be obtained for the following: construction, renovation, additions, alterations, or repairs to residential, business, or commercial structures.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside Moody city limits.

    • The City lists the 2015 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel and Gas, and Energy Codes; 2014 National Electric Code; and 2021 International Fire Code.
    “International Building code 2015 International Residential code 2015 International Plumbing code 2015 International Mechanical code 2015 International Fuel and Gas code 2015 International Energy code 2015 National Electric code 2014 International Fire code 2021”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New construction, renovations, or other work inside Moody that requires inspection.

    • The department also performs periodic fire and life-safety inspections on commercial occupancies.
    “The Building/Inspections Department includes inspections, planning and zoning. The department issues permits, determines proper land use, and inspects new construction, renovations or work that requires an inspection.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    New businesses and commercial occupancies inside Moody.

    • Fire and life-safety inspections are part of the certificate-of-occupancy process for new businesses; the source does not establish a universal residential certificate requirement.
    “Fire and Life Safety Inspections on all new businesses as part of the certificate of occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Moody city limits; Moody administers planning, zoning, rezoning, and zoning variances.

    • The Planning Commission handles rezoning and subdivision-plan approvals; the Zoning Board of Adjustment may grant variances from zoning requirements.
    “The purpose of the Planning Commission is to rezone property, to approve the plans of a new subdivision or commercial property.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Residential garden homes in RG Garden Home Residential District.

    • One-story homes require 1,200 square feet; two-story homes require 900 square feet on the first floor.
    • If sanitary sewer is unavailable, county-health-department minimum lot and septic requirements apply.

    one-story minimum floor area: 1200 square feet · two-story first-floor minimum: 900 square feet

    “Minimum Floor Area: Total for building: 1,200 square feet One story: 1,200 square feet Two story: 900 square feet on first floor”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    E-1 Single-Family Residential Estate District.

    • The district also requires 100-foot minimum lot width at the building line.

    minimum lot area: 1 acre

    “Minimum Lot Area: 1.0 acre Minimum Lot Width: 100 feet at the building line”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    E-1 Single-Family Residential Estate District.

    • Corner-lot setbacks are the same on both streets, roads, or highways.

    front setback: 50 feet · rear setback: 50 feet · side setback: 15 feet

    “Minimum Yard Setbacks: Front: 50 feet Rear: 50 feet Side: 15 feet”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    E-1 Single-Family Residential Estate District.

    • Except as may be provided elsewhere in the ordinance.

    maximum height: 35 feet

    “Maximum Height: 35 feet Minimum Floor Area: Total for building: 1,600 square feet”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured/mobile homes inside Moody, including AG-1 and manufactured-home districts.

    • The City inspection page states mobile homes are allowed in AG-1, with at least one acre, adjoining-owner signatures, a mobile-home permit, and certified master electrician wiring.
    • RMHP and RMHS districts impose separate lot, setback, installation, subdivision, and utility requirements.

    minimum AG-1 land area: >= 1 acre (AG-1 mobile-home placement)

    “Mobile Homes are allowed in the City of Moody in AG-1 (Agricultural Zoning). Must have at least one acre of land and signatures of adjoining property owners. Must also have a Mobile Home permit and a certified Master Electrician to wire the power.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    New subdivisions and subdivision plats inside Moody.

    • The Planning Commission approves subdivision plans; submissions must be made at least 25 days before the next meeting.
    “The purpose of the Planning Commission is to rezone property, to approve the plans of a new subdivision or commercial property.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Manufactured/mobile-home developments inside Moody.

    • In RMHP, manufactured homes may not have individual access to a public street; private paved streets and approved driveways are required.
    • Driveway locations must be shown on the site plan and approved by the Planning Commission.
    “No manufactured/mobile home shall have its own access to a public street. All dead-end streets shall have turnarounds in conformance with the city's street standards. Each manufactured/mobile home shall have two paved, off-street parking spaces. The location of all driveways shall be shown on the required site plan and approved by the City of Moody planning commission.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    New construction, substantial improvements, manufactured homes, and recreational vehicles in Moody special flood-hazard areas.

    • Residential structures must have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated no lower than one foot above base-flood elevation where data are available.
    • Manufactured homes must be anchored; enclosed areas below base-flood elevation have opening, utility, use, and non-conversion-agreement requirements.
    • RV placement follows the 180-day/new-construction alternatives.

    elevation above base flood elevation: >= 1 foot (where base-flood-elevation data are available)

    “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.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Moody Planning Commission subdivision, rezoning, and resurvey applications.

    • Certified-mail fees are charged per adjacent property owner; subdivision and plat fees vary by residential/other classification and lot or acreage count.

    preliminary subdivision fee: $30.00 + $1.00 per lot or $30.00 per acre if lot divisions are not used USD · residential final plat fee: $60.00 + $1.00 per lot USD · rezoning fee: 150 USD (plus certified-mail fee)

    “Preliminary | $30.00 + $1.00 Per Lot or; $30.00 per acre if lot divisions are not used.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building and land-use applications inside Moody.

    • Building applications should include two or more complete plan sets, health-department approval or sewer-impact receipt, and a plot plan.
    • Planning Commission information must be submitted at least 25 days before the next meeting.
    “Permits for buildings should include two or more complete sets of plans, health department approval or sewer impact receipt and plot plan.”

Rules another office applies inside Moody

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

  • Septic permitRequired

    New or repaired onsite sewage systems inside Moody when the property is not connected to a public sanitary sewer.

    • A local health-department permit is required before installation or repair.
    • The application may require soils information, legal description, plot plan, vicinity map, construction plan, and applicable fee.
    “Alabama State Law requires homeowners and businesses not connected to a public sanitary sewer system to obtain a permit from the local health department prior to installing a new system or making repairs to an existing onsite sewage disposal system.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Moody or St. Clair County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders undertaking construction inside Moody.
  • Lot coverage — Residential development inside Moody.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Moody outside the specific floodplain RV rule.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Moody.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Moody.
4 more unanswered
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals

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

← All of St. Clair County: county rules, score and offices