Bolthole Index

Winston County, Alabama

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Winston County, Alabama

74Index Score / 100
#34 of 67 in Alabama

Unincorporated Winston County, Alabama has no building department or building-permit office among its listed county departments, so no county permit is currently required to build a home1. The county also has no planning or zoning office, so it sets no zoning rule on setbacks, minimum home size, or living in an RV or tiny home while you build23. Septic systems are handled locally: the Winston County Health Department's Environmental Office issues the required Permit to Install before you install or repair one4.

At a glance

Building permit
No county building department found; none currently required1
Zoning
No county planning or zoning office; no zoning ordinance2
Septic permit
Permit to Install required through the county Health Department56
RV / tiny home living
Unrestricted by county zoning (no zoning authority)3
Owner-builder exemption
Available under state contractor-licensing law, conditions apply7
Manufactured home occupancy
Allowed statewide if HUD-sealed and connected to utilities8
County-enforced residential code
None found now; state code only binds counties that run a permitting program, starting 20279

Who to call

Septic permits

Winston County Health Department – Environmental Office

Septic tank (onsite sewage) permit requests and complaints for Winston County, through the Environmental Office

659-247-8300

110 Legion Road, Double Springs, Alabama 35553

Roads & driveways

Winston County Road Department

County roads and driveway/access questions for county-maintained roads in Winston County

(205)489-5031

11 Blake Drive, Double Springs, AL 35553

Also useful

Winston County Emergency Management Agency (EMA)

County-wide hazard preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation coordination, including flood-related emergencies

(205)269-1975

11 Blake Drive, Double Springs, AL 35553

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 24, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Winston County, Alabama?

Winston County's official departments list has no building department, no code-enforcement office and no building-permit office1. Alabama law does let a county commission adopt building laws and codes by ordinance for unincorporated areas, under either the Home Builders Licensure Law or the state minimum building standards code10. Winston County's own site shows no such office or program in place, so as of this review, no county building permit is required to build a home on unincorporated land1. Because county authority to adopt a code is enabled but not obviously exercised here, confirm with the County Commission office before you build, especially since the statewide Alabama Residential Building Code only takes over where a county has not adopted its own code, starting January 1, 20279.

Who handles permits and land questions in Winston County, and how do you reach them?

There is no building or planning department to call in Winston County; its departments page lists the Commission, EMA, Probate, Revenue (Assessor/Collector), Road Department, Sanitation and Sheriff's offices instead1. For septic, the office to call is the Winston County Health Department, and specifically its Environmental Office, at 659-247-83004. For anything involving a county road or driveway connection, the Winston County Road Department at (205)489-5031 is the office that maintains county roads11. For flood-related questions or hazard mitigation, Winston County's Emergency Management Agency coordinates county-wide preparedness and response12.

Does Winston County have zoning?

Winston County has no county planning or zoning office and no countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land2. Alabama counties generally lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority: only a handful of counties, such as Baldwin, Russell, Shelby and Jefferson, have created zoning authority through county-specific local laws, and Winston is not one of them13. With no county zoning authority here, there is no county-set minimum home size, no setbacks, no lot-coverage limit and no zoning districts, and the county does not restrict accessory dwellings, RVs, tiny homes, manufactured homes or temporary camping on unincorporated land3. Zoning applies only inside incorporated towns such as Haleyville, so a rule you find for a town does not extend to the surrounding unincorporated county2.

How do septic permits work in Winston County?

Alabama state law requires any homeowner not connected to a public sanitary sewer to get a permit from the local health department before installing a new onsite sewage system or repairing an existing one, and in Winston County that is the Winston County Health Department64. The Health Department's Environmental Office reviews your application, soil-test results and calculations, and issues a Permit to Install once state regulations are met; installation must then use a licensed installer6. Site conditions matter here: only about 1.5% of Winston County's soils are free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so most parcels should expect to need an engineered system, which state rules require when soil conditions are unsuitable for a conventional layout1415. Apply and get your site evaluated before you finalize a purchase, since the Health Department's process recommends acting promptly once test-hole markers are staked, or the site may need to be re-staked at your expense6.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Winston County?

Because Winston County has no zoning authority, the county itself does not restrict RV, tiny-home or manufactured-home occupancy on unincorporated land3. A manufactured home used as a residence in Alabama must still meet the state's size and construction definition, bear a HUD Seal, and be connected to required plumbing, heating, air-conditioning and electrical utilities once installed8. Whatever you live in while you build still needs an approved way to handle wastewater, since Alabama's onsite sewage rules apply to any residence not connected to a public sewer, RV or tiny home included6.

Building a home in Winston County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your parcel is in unincorporated Winston County rather than inside Haleyville, Double Springs or another town, since municipal rules are separate from what is described here2.
  2. Know that no county building permit is currently required for the home itself, since Winston County's official site lists no building department1.
  3. Contact the Winston County Health Department's Environmental Office early for a site evaluation, since roughly 1.5% of the county's soils are free of severe septic limitations and many sites need an engineered design414.
  4. Apply for and receive your Permit to Install before any septic construction begins, and use a licensed installer6.
  5. If your driveway will connect to a state highway, submit ALDOT Permit Form BM-111 to the District Administrator before building it; for a county road, check with the Winston County Road Department first1611.
  6. If you are acting as your own contractor on a one- or two-family home for your own occupancy, review the state's owner-builder exemption conditions, including the $10,000 subcontractor-licensing threshold, before you begin17.

What to check before you buy land in Winston County

Get a septic site evaluation before you commit to a parcel: with only about 1.5% of Winston County's soils free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, budget for an engineered or alternative system on most sites14. Farmland here has recently averaged around $3,005 an acre, while a typical home is valued near $210,6321819. About 23.2% of the county is federal land, mostly Bankhead National Forest, which limits where private parcels sit and can affect access20. Property taxes are low, running about 0.3% of value with a median bill near $363 a year2122. Whether Winston County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, and whether it has adopted any subdivision regulations, were not confirmed on the county's official site; ask the County Commission office or Emergency Management before you build near a creek or split a tract12.

Watch-outs

  • Alabama law lets a county commission adopt its own building code and permitting program, and Winston County's site does not say whether it has chosen not to; call the County Commission office to confirm nothing has changed before you assume no permit will ever be required10.
  • Floodplain development rules and any subdivision ordinance for unincorporated Winston County were not confirmable on the county's official site; ask Emergency Management or the County Commission office directly if your parcel is near a floodplain or you plan to split a tract12.
  • The owner-builder exemption described here is a licensing exemption from Alabama's Home Builders Licensure Law, not a building-permit exemption; it only matters once a county requires a permit, and it does not remove the septic or subcontractor-licensing rules that still apply7.

Sources

  1. Winston County, Alabama - Official County Website (Departments) (2026 county census)
  2. Winston County, Alabama - Official County Website (Departments) (2026 county census)
  3. Alabama law on county zoning and building authority
  4. Winston County Health Department – Environmental Office (alabamapublichealth.gov)
  5. Contact Us | Winston County Health Department (2026 county census)
  6. Onsite Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  7. Exemptions (2026 county census)
  8. What is a manufactured home? (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Home Builders Licensure Law, Effective October 1, 2025 (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Alabama County Commissioners Handbook, 13th Edition (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Winston County Road Department (winstonal.gov)
  12. Winston County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) (winstonal.gov)
  13. Alabama County Commissioners Handbook, 13th Edition (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  15. Can I Live On This Lot?, quoted and re-checked
  16. ALDOT Permit Manual (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Exemptions, quoted and re-checked
  18. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  19. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  20. Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 24, 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.

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County locator

Winston County in Alabama

74
County map
Winston County highlighted among the Alabama counties · colored by Index score

How Winston County scores

Seclusion61100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency61100% ev.
Admin Boringness86100% ev.
Durability58100% ev.
Property Autonomy39100% ev.
Carry Cost89100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$211kTypical home
0.3%Property tax
$3,005Land / acre
60.3"Annual rain
5% of yrsSevere drought
10.8 / yr (+10)Mid-century 100°F days
14.8 daysMid-century dry spell
2.71" (+9%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.4×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,943Home insurance / yr
1.4% / yrInsurance growth
0.5%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
19,475People within 30 min
2,685,493People within 2 hr
28,705Radius comparison (15 mi)
38.5People / sq mi
23.2%Federal land
42.1%Land at 15% slope or less
1.5%Septic soil without severe limits
5,615 acWorkable land screen
83.2%Wooded land
49.1 tonsBiomass / forest ac
60.6°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Winston County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Winston County rules

  • Zoning districts · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Winston County: no county rule sets this, because Alabama law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Winston County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing winstonal.gov.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Alabama counties lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority under general Alabama law.
    • Limited authority may arise through county-specific local laws, including examples identified by the handbook for Baldwin, Russell, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties.
    “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law, although several counties have created some form of planning and zoning authority by local law. However, as set out below, the Legislature has granted limited authority to county governing bodies to address certain special circumstances related to use of land within the territorial jurisdiction of the county.”
  • Minimum dwelling size · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Winston County: no county rule sets this, because Alabama law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Winston County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing winstonal.gov.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Alabama counties lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority under general Alabama law.
    • Limited authority may arise through county-specific local laws, including examples identified by the handbook for Baldwin, Russell, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties.
    “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law, although several counties have created some form of planning and zoning authority by local law. However, as set out below, the Legislature has granted limited authority to county governing bodies to address certain special circumstances related to use of land within the territorial jurisdiction of the county.”
  • Minimum lot size · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Winston County: no county rule sets this, because Alabama law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Winston County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing winstonal.gov.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Alabama counties lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority under general Alabama law.
    • Limited authority may arise through county-specific local laws, including examples identified by the handbook for Baldwin, Russell, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties.
    “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law, although several counties have created some form of planning and zoning authority by local law. However, as set out below, the Legislature has granted limited authority to county governing bodies to address certain special circumstances related to use of land within the territorial jurisdiction of the county.”
  • Setbacks · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Winston County: no county rule sets this, because Alabama law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Winston County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing winstonal.gov.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Alabama counties lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority under general Alabama law.
    • Limited authority may arise through county-specific local laws, including examples identified by the handbook for Baldwin, Russell, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties.
    “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law, although several counties have created some form of planning and zoning authority by local law. However, as set out below, the Legislature has granted limited authority to county governing bodies to address certain special circumstances related to use of land within the territorial jurisdiction of the county.”
  • Lot coverage · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Winston County: no county rule sets this, because Alabama law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Winston County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing winstonal.gov.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Alabama counties lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority under general Alabama law.
    • Limited authority may arise through county-specific local laws, including examples identified by the handbook for Baldwin, Russell, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties.
    “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law, although several counties have created some form of planning and zoning authority by local law. However, as set out below, the Legislature has granted limited authority to county governing bodies to address certain special circumstances related to use of land within the territorial jurisdiction of the county.”
  • Building height · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Winston County: no county rule sets this, because Alabama law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Winston County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing winstonal.gov.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Alabama counties lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority under general Alabama law.
    • Limited authority may arise through county-specific local laws, including examples identified by the handbook for Baldwin, Russell, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties.
    “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law, although several counties have created some form of planning and zoning authority by local law. However, as set out below, the Legislature has granted limited authority to county governing bodies to address certain special circumstances related to use of land within the territorial jurisdiction of the county.”
  • Living in an RV · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Winston County: no county rule sets this, because Alabama law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Winston County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing winstonal.gov.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Alabama counties lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority under general Alabama law.
    • Limited authority may arise through county-specific local laws, including examples identified by the handbook for Baldwin, Russell, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties.
    “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law, although several counties have created some form of planning and zoning authority by local law. However, as set out below, the Legislature has granted limited authority to county governing bodies to address certain special circumstances related to use of land within the territorial jurisdiction of the county.”
  • Camping on your land · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Winston County: no county rule sets this, because Alabama law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Winston County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing winstonal.gov.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Alabama counties lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority under general Alabama law.
    • Limited authority may arise through county-specific local laws, including examples identified by the handbook for Baldwin, Russell, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties.
    “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law, although several counties have created some form of planning and zoning authority by local law. However, as set out below, the Legislature has granted limited authority to county governing bodies to address certain special circumstances related to use of land within the territorial jurisdiction of the county.”
  • Tiny homes · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Winston County: no county rule sets this, because Alabama law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Winston County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing winstonal.gov.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Alabama counties lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority under general Alabama law.
    • Limited authority may arise through county-specific local laws, including examples identified by the handbook for Baldwin, Russell, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties.
    “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law, although several counties have created some form of planning and zoning authority by local law. However, as set out below, the Legislature has granted limited authority to county governing bodies to address certain special circumstances related to use of land within the territorial jurisdiction of the county.”
  • Manufactured homes · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Winston County: no county rule sets this, because Alabama law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Winston County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing winstonal.gov.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Alabama counties lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority under general Alabama law.
    • Limited authority may arise through county-specific local laws, including examples identified by the handbook for Baldwin, Russell, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties.
    “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law, although several counties have created some form of planning and zoning authority by local law. However, as set out below, the Legislature has granted limited authority to county governing bodies to address certain special circumstances related to use of land within the territorial jurisdiction of the county.”
  • Accessory dwellings · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Winston County: no county rule sets this, because Alabama law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Winston County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing winstonal.gov.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Alabama counties lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority under general Alabama law.
    • Limited authority may arise through county-specific local laws, including examples identified by the handbook for Baldwin, Russell, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties.
    “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law, although several counties have created some form of planning and zoning authority by local law. However, as set out below, the Legislature has granted limited authority to county governing bodies to address certain special circumstances related to use of land within the territorial jurisdiction of the county.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Septic-tank requests and environmental-office administration for Winston County.

    • The Winston County Health Department directs septic-tank requests to its Environmental Office.
    “If you have requests about septic tanks or would like to file a complaint on an establishment, please call our office and ask for the Environmental Office.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    No county planning or zoning department is listed among Winston County departments; zoning applies only within incorporated municipalities such as Haleyville.

    Winston County, Alabama - Official County Website (Departments) ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Alabama rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    Residential construction undertakings in Alabama for which the Home Builders Licensure Law requires a residential home builders license and a local incorporated municipality, municipal subdivision, or county authority issues the building or similar permit.

    • The issuing building official must refuse the permit unless the applicant provides evidence of the required license or an exemption.
    • The cited provision addresses undertakings requiring a license; it does not establish that every residential project statewide requires a building permit.
    • Local building-permit rules and local building codes remain applicable.
    “to refuse to issue a permit for any undertaking which would require a license hereunder unless the applicant has furnished evidence”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    An owner acting as the owner-builder for a one-family or two-family residence on the owner's property in Winston County or elsewhere in Alabama.

    • The owner must act as their own contractor.
    • The owner must provide all material supervision themselves.
    • The residence must be a one-family or two-family residence on the owner's property.
    • The residence must be for the owner's occupancy or use.
    • The residence must not be offered for sale.
    • The exemption is nontransferable.
    • A homeowner who hires or compensates anyone to supervise the building or improvement is not acting as their own contractor.
    • A subcontractor hired by a homeowner claiming the exemption must be licensed if the cost of that subcontractor's portion exceeds $10,000.
    • Offering the residence for sale within one year after completion is presumptive evidence that construction was undertaken for sale.
    • Claiming the exemption jeopardizes protections under the Home Builders Licensure Law, including consumer-complaint and Homeowners' Recovery Fund benefits.

    subcontractor portion cost threshold: > 10000 USD (The subcontractor must be licensed when the cost of the undertaking for the portion the subcontractor is hired to do exceeds $10,000.) · sale or offering for sale timing: <= 1 year after completion (Proof of sale or offering for sale within one year after completion is presumptive evidence of an intent to sell.)

    “acting as their own contractor [...] one-family or two-family residences [...] for the occupancy or use of such owners and not offered for sale.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — Alabama Home Builders Licensure Law licensing exemption for an owner acting as the owner’s own residential contractor when building or improving a one-family or two-family residence for the owner’s own occupancy or use.
      “Owners of property when acting as their own contractor and providing all material supervision themselves, when building or improving one-family or two-family residences on such property for the occupancy or use of such owners and not offered for sale. This exemption is a nontransferable privilege.”
    • Conditional — Owners building or improving one-family or two-family residences in Alabama for their own occupancy or use.
      “Owners of property when acting as their own contractor and providing all material supervision themselves, when building or improving one-family or two-family residences”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Residential construction and improvements governed by Alabama's Home Builders Licensure Law, including construction in local jurisdictions without an already adopted residential building code.

    • The Home Builders Licensure Board has sole authority to adopt the Alabama Residential Building Code and Alabama Residential Energy Code.
    • The statewide residential building code is stated by the official HBLB Spring 2026 newsletter to go into effect January 1, 2027.
    • The statewide code establishes minimum standards in local jurisdictions that do not already have an adopted residential building code.
    • Local jurisdictions with an adopted code and enforcement do not need to make a change under the described transition framework.
    • The 2025 statute provides that the Alabama Residential Building Code does not supersede a local residential building code adopted by a county or municipality in effect on January 1, 2027.
    • A local building code adopted after January 1, 2027, must meet the minimum standards of the Alabama Residential Building Code and Alabama Residential Energy Code in effect when adopted; local conditions may support amendments, subject to the statutory limits.
    • The Alabama Residential Building Code does not apply to an agricultural building except for a residence contained therein.

    statewide residential building code effective date: 2027-01-01 · post-2027 local-code minimum: must meet the Alabama Residential Building Code and Alabama Residential Energy Code minimum standards (Local conditions may require amendments subject to statutory limits.)

    “Beginning January 1, 2027, a residential home builder within this state who constructs, renovates, or repairs a residence or structure shall do so”
    9 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — State Building Code requirements administered and enforced by the Alabama Division of Construction Management for state-owned or state-funded construction, K-12 schools, public postsecondary schools, hotels and motels, movie theaters, and other work within DCM jurisdiction.
      “The State Building Code is limited to any new construction, addition, renovation, modification of mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems, sitework and generally any and all work on state-owned property and/or using state funds, on all public and private kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) schools, on public postsecondary schools, on hotels/motels and on movie theaters. DCM's code jurisdiction over plans and specifications of all municipal and county-owned projects is limited to such projects meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards. DCM does not have jurisdiction over residential property or commercial property except for hotels/motels and movie theaters.”
    • Partial — Residential construction and improvements governed by the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Law, including ordinary residential construction beginning January 1, 2027.
      “The Alabama Residential Building Code shall be enforced by local jurisdictions that have permitting and inspection programs for residential construction and improvements that are adhered to by residential home builders. The Alabama Residential Building Code shall not supersede any local residential building code adopted by any county or municipality in effect on January 1, 2027. [...] Beginning January 1, 2027, a residential home builder within this state who constructs, renovates, or repairs a residence or structure shall do so in accordance with applicable residential building code adopted pursuant to Section 34-14A-12 or, if applicable, the local jurisdiction’s residential building code.”
    • Partial — Construction within the Alabama Division of Construction Management jurisdiction, including state-owned or state-funded work, public and private K-12 schools, public higher-education institutions, hotels, motels, and movie theaters.
      “The 2021 International Building Code [...] DCM does not have jurisdiction over residential property or commercial property except for hotels/motels and movie theaters.”
    • Partial — Construction within the Alabama Division of Construction Management jurisdiction, including state-owned or state-funded property, public and private K-12 schools, public higher-education institutions subject to the stated ACCS limitation, hotels/motels, and movie theaters.
      “The State Building Code is limited to any new construction, addition, renovation, modification of mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems, sitework”
    • Partial — Residential building-code investigations by the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board involving contracts entered into on or after February 13, 2022, in Alabama cities and counties that have not adopted a residential building code.
      “In cities and counties that have not adopted a residential building code, the Board will apply the 2015 International Residential building Code (IRC)”
    • Partial — Alabama's statutory framework authorizing county commissions to adopt building laws and codes for unincorporated areas and recognizing municipal building laws or codes within municipal police jurisdictions.
      “The county commissions of the several counties are authorized and empowered to adopt building laws and codes by ordinance”
    • Partial — Residential construction and improvements statewide under the Alabama Residential Building Code framework.
      “The Alabama Residential Building Code shall not supersede any local residential building code adopted by any county or municipality in effect on January 1, 2027.”
    • Partial — Projects within the Alabama Division of Construction Management's State Building Code jurisdiction, including state construction and specified school, hotel/motel, and movie-theater projects; not ordinary residential property.
      “DCM does not have jurisdiction over residential property or commercial property except for hotels/motels and movie theaters.”
    • Partial — Residential construction in Alabama where a county or municipality has a permitting and inspection program or has adopted a local residential building code; this is not a uniform DCM residential-code jurisdiction.
      “The Alabama Residential Building Code shall be enforced by local jurisdictions”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Required DCM construction inspections, pre-construction conferences, and substantial-completion determinations for projects within the narrower DCM inspection jurisdiction.

    • DCM-required inspections are limited to state-funded construction, any project on state-owned property, public K-12 schools including charter schools, public universities, and ACCS projects with Notices-to-Proceed issued before August 1, 2021.
    • DCM's broader plan-review/code jurisdiction also includes private K-12 schools, hotels/motels, and movie theaters, but the official DCM jurisdiction page does not include those categories in its stated required-inspection list.
    • Inspections must be requested by the contractor in writing or by email to the design professional, who coordinates with the DCM inspector.
    • A permit fee must be paid before scheduling the required DCM pre-construction conference; inspection benchmarks, including periodic, special, final, and year-end inspections when applicable, must then be met.
    • Fully locally-funded public K-12 projects require DCM pre-construction conferences and inspections regardless of estimated construction cost.
    “Conducts required pre-construction conferences, inspections and substantial completions limited to state-funded construction, any project on state-owned property, public K-12 (including charter) schools, on public universities, and on ACCS projects with Notices-to-Proceed issued prior to August 1, 2021.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Residential construction and improvements in Alabama local jurisdictions that have permitting and inspection programs.
      “The Alabama Residential Building Code shall be enforced by local jurisdictions that have permitting and inspection programs for residential construction and improvements”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Residential projects in Alabama municipalities that issue a certificate of occupancy and for which the builder is subject to the Home Builders Licensure Law.

    • An updated list of subcontractors must be furnished before issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the municipality.
    • The provision does not establish a statewide requirement that every residential project obtain a certificate of occupancy.
    • The builder must provide the subcontractor list within three working days after hiring an added subcontractor; the initial list is due within 15 days after issuance of the building permit if requested by the issuing municipality.
    • No license fee for subcontractors is required as a condition of issuing a building permit or certificate of occupancy.

    initial subcontractor list deadline: 15 days after building permit issuance (only if requested by the issuing municipality) · added subcontractor list deadline: 3 working days after hiring

    “An updated list of subcontractors shall be furnished by the builder before the issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the municipality.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Homeowners and businesses in Winston County that are not connected to a public sanitary sewer and that install a new onsite sewage system or repair an existing system.

    • The rule applies when the property is not connected to a public sanitary sewer.
    • A permit from the local health department is required before installing a new system or making repairs to an existing onsite system.
    • The health department environmentalist reviews the application, soil-test results, and calculations.
    • The Permit to Install is issued after all state regulations have been met.
    • Installation must use a licensed installer.
    • The cited page recommends applying promptly because disturbed test-hole markers may require the professional to re-stake the proposed site at the applicant's expense.
    “Alabama State Law requires homeowners and businesses not connected to a public sanitary sewer to obtain a permit from the local health department prior to installing a new system or making repairs to an existing onsite system.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Homeowners and businesses statewide that are not connected to a public sanitary sewer and intend to install a new onsite sewage system or repair an existing one.
      “Alabama State Law requires homeowners and businesses not connected to a public sanitary sewer to obtain a permit from the local health department”
  • Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

    Onsite sewage disposal for a Winston County property not connected to a public sanitary sewer.

    • The property must be evaluated for soil suitability.
    • A Permit to Install must be submitted to and issued by the local county health department before construction.
    • If soil conditions are unsuitable for a conventional system, an engineer must design a system that properly treats the wastewater.
    • The installer must be licensed by the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board.
    “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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Use of an onsite septic/onsite sewage treatment and disposal system instead of connection to a municipal sewer where municipal sewers are unavailable or impractical.
      “Septic tank systems are used where municipal sewers are not available or are impractical.”
  • Well permitLimited

    New groundwater wells and alterations to existing groundwater wells extracting at least 50 gallons per minute when the well is in Alabama's coastal area or its 50-year capture zone extends into the coastal area.

    • A permit from ADEM is required for the covered installation or alteration.
    • The cited rule is limited to the specified coastal-area or capture-zone circumstances and does not establish a general statewide permit requirement for individual private wells.
    • ADEM states that it does not have regulatory authority over individual private wells.

    groundwater extraction rate: >= 50 gallons per minute (Applies when the well surface location is in the coastal area or the 50-year capture zone extends into the coastal area.)

    “The installation of a new well, or alteration of an existing well, for the purposes of extracting groundwater”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Residential or mobile/modular-home development statewide where wastewater service is being planned.

    • The property should be checked with the city sewer authority or local health department for availability of city sewage disposal.
    • If public sanitary sewer is unavailable or the property is not connected to it, an onsite sewage system may be used only under the applicable ADPH permit and approval requirements.
    • The source does not establish a statewide mandatory connection-to-sewer rule.
    “If it is not, you will be required to have the soil tested to see if the soil is suitable”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Building or improving agricultural buildings in Winston County under Alabama residential home-builder licensing requirements

    • The exemption applies to agricultural buildings as defined in Alabama Administrative Code r. 465-X-1-.01(3).
    • The exemption does not apply to any residence contained in the agricultural building.
    “The licensing requirements of the Act shall not apply to: [...] (7) Agricultural buildings, as defined in Ala. Admin. Code r. 465-X-1-.01(3), except for any residence contained therein.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision development in Alabama, including county authority in unincorporated areas and applicable municipal-planning-commission territorial jurisdictions.

    • Alabama does not require every county commission to adopt subdivision regulations.
    • A county may regulate subdivision development under Ala. Code § 11-24-1 et seq. if it adopts regulations and complies with statutory procedures and enforcement requirements.
    • For municipal planning commission extraterritorial areas, a county that has adopted subdivision regulations is responsible unless the statutory agreement or municipal override exceptions apply.
    • The cited handbook describes infrastructure controls for new development in unincorporated county areas but does not establish statewide minimum lot dimensions.
    “While there is no requirement in Alabama that the county commission adopt regulations regarding subdivision development, Ala. Code § 11-24-1 et seq. provides strong statutory authority for each county to regulate subdivision development within its territorial jurisdiction.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Constructing a driveway, turnout, or other access from private, publicly owned, or commercial property to an Alabama state highway.

    • Applicants must submit Permit Form BM-111 to the ALDOT District Administrator.
    • ALDOT regulates entrance width, radii, placement, spacing, angle of entry, vertical alignment, drainage, and the number of entrances.
    • All turnout costs are paid by the applicant.

    minimum side-drain pipe diameter: >= 15 inches (ALDOT regions may require 18-inch pipe.)

    “Individuals or businesses which require access to State highways must apply for a permit by submitting a completed BM-111 application to the District Administrator.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in a Special Flood Hazard Area within an Alabama community participating in the National Flood Insurance Program.

    • The actual development permit is administered by the local building or floodplain official.
    • More stringent local requirements may apply.
    • Additions or improvements valued at 50% or more of the existing structure's market value are substantial improvements and generally trigger bringing the entire structure into compliance with mapped elevations.

    substantial-improvement threshold: >= 50 percent of existing structure market value

    “When a community chooses to participate in the NFIP, it must require permits for all development in the SFHA”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Alabama construction sites requiring ADEM Construction Stormwater permit coverage.

    • Coverage is generally required for land disturbance of one or more acres, qualifying common plans of development, or discharges with reasonable potential to cause or contribute to a water-quality concern.
    • Certain listed minor land-disturbing activities are exempt.
    • Lake Martin has a special designation requiring coverage for non-exempt projects even when disturbance is less than one acre.

    application fee: 1385 USD

    “An application fee of $1,385.00 will be required upon submission of an application.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Onsite sewage disposal permitting in Alabama, including Winston County when housing or establishments lack access to sanitary sewer.

    • The Health Department regulates onsite sewage disposal systems for housing and establishments that do not have access to sanitary sewer.
    • Applicants should contact the county health department environmentalist before buying property that will require an onsite system.
    • Soil professionals may provide site evaluations.
    • County health departments may issue a Permit to Install based on findings from the soils professional.
    “County health departments may issue a Permit to Install based on findings from the soils professional.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Alabama construction sites requiring ADEM Construction Stormwater permit coverage.
      “You will receive a permitting determination via email generally within 2 –3 days.”
  • county zoning authorityLimited

    Alabama county authority to adopt zoning for unincorporated land.

    • Alabama counties lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority under general Alabama law.
    • Limited authority may arise through county-specific local laws, including examples identified by the handbook for Baldwin, Russell, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties.
    • Counties may regulate land use in flood-prone areas under Ala. Code § 11-19-1 et seq.; flood-prone areas are areas with a frequency of inundation of once in 100 years as defined by qualified hydrologists or engineers using generally accepted methods.
    • Counties may adopt airport zoning regulations under Ala. Code § 4-6-4 to prevent airport hazards within airport hazard areas.
    • For airport zoning, the county zoning jurisdiction is unincorporated county land except within a municipality's police jurisdiction and within two miles of a municipal airport when the municipality exercises or declares its intention to exercise zoning control, unless local law provides otherwise.
    • The handbook notes an exception to the airport-zoning provision for counties with a population of not less than 54,500 nor more than 56,000 according to the 1970 federal decennial census.
    “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law, although several counties have created some form of planning and zoning authority by local law. However, as set out below, the Legislature has granted limited authority to county governing bodies to address certain special circumstances related to use of land within the territorial jurisdiction of the county.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — County authority over land use and zoning in unincorporated Alabama; general Alabama law does not grant counties broad general zoning authority, but limited authority exists through special local laws and specified statutory circumstances.
      “Counties in Alabama do not have broad and general land use regulatory authority under general Alabama law”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Alabama county commissions adopting and administering residential building laws and codes in unincorporated areas.

    • A county commission must act by resolution to adopt building laws or codes.
    • The resolution must be provided to the Home Builders Licensure Board within 10 business days.
    • A local building law or code generally may not take effect until 120 days after adoption; for insurance claims requiring licensed work, the effective date is the date of adoption.
    • County building laws and codes may be enforced in a municipality's police jurisdiction outside municipal corporate limits as provided by Section 11-40-10(b)(2).
    • Application within municipal corporate limits requires express consent of the municipal governing body.
    • The county commission may employ building inspectors and exact fees from owners of inspected property.
    • A county may discontinue administration and enforcement by resolution, but discontinuation generally does not take effect until 120 days after adoption and the resolution must be sent to the Board within 10 business days.
    • Counties and municipalities may enter mutual agreements, compacts, and contracts for administration and enforcement, with a copy due to the Board within 10 business days.
    • Beginning January 1, 2027, residential builders must follow the applicable state or local residential building code.

    resolution transmission deadline: 10 business days (Copy must be provided to the Home Builders Licensure Board.) · local-code delayed effective period: 120 days (Insurance-claim work requiring a license is effective on the local adoption date.)

    “A county commission, by resolution, may adopt building laws and codes”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • General — Alabama county authority to adopt and enforce residential building laws and codes in unincorporated areas.
      “There are two general statutory provisions authorizing counties to adopt building codes: the Home Builders Licensure Law found at Ala. Code § 34-14A-1 et seq. and the law on the state minimum building standards code found at Ala. Code § 41-9-160 et seq.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Short-term rentals — Short-term rental activity in Winston County, including unincorporated areas.

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.

Living off-grid in Winston County, Alabama

Is Winston County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Winston County scores 74/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property. Watch-outs: a weaker property-autonomy legal backdrop.

Do you need a building permit in Winston County, Alabama?

Winston County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Winston County Health Department (under Alabama Department of Public Health). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Winston County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Winston County is allowed: Unincorporated Winston County: no county rule sets this, because Alabama law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Winston County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing winstonal.gov. Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits. Alabama counties lack broad, general land-use regulatory authority under general Alabama law. A tiny home is allowed. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Winston County, Alabama?

Land in Winston County runs about $3,005 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Winston County?

Winston County gets about 60.3" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 5% of years.

How remote is Winston County?

A representative private-land location has about 19,475 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,685,493 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Winston compares in Alabama

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