Birmingham ADU permit requirements
Last reviewed: June 22, 2026
Quick answer
Permitting an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Birmingham, Alabama means pulling a building permit from the local authority that issues it. ArchPermit tracks 14 source-cited requirements (10 required, the rest conditional) for this jurisdiction. Submittals go through Accela Online Permit Center. These requirements were last reviewed June 22, 2026; confirm the exact forms and fees with the local permitting authority.
A source-cited checklist of what an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) permit package needs in City of Birmingham. Every item links to its authoritative source; items that vary are flagged to confirm locally.
There is no ADU-specific permit pathway or checklist — an ADU is permitted as an 'accessory dwelling' and built under the general single-family residential building-permit process. Accessory dwellings are permitted by-right (with conditions) only in the D-4, D-5, UN, MU-L, MU-M, MU-H, MU-D, C-1, and C-2 districts (Current Zoning Ordinance 2025, Ch. 4 Art. IV § 2.B) — NOT city-wide (notably not D-1/D-2/D-3). Conditions: one accessory structure per lot may be a dwelling; alley/approved-driveway access; max 800 sf or the size of the primary dwelling, whichever is less. The 2025 ordinance superseded the old 'domestic servants only' § 9. The single-family building plan-review (code) sheet is exempt. (A separate community-conversation effort to expand ADUs is underway — no new ordinance drafted yet; current ADUs are not banned.)
- ADU Zoning-Condition Compliancerequired
Plans must satisfy the substantive conditions: max 800 sf, alley/driveway access, one per lot, and the ordinance Design Standards (Ch. 4 Art. IV § 2.B / § 32).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Address Verificationrequired
The property address must be obtained/verified by Engineering staff before the permit.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Building Permit Applicationrequired
The base submittal for work on a single-family residence, via the Accela Online Permit Center.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Floor Planrequired
A required drawing in the plan set.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Foundation Planrequired
A required drawing in the plan set.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Framing Planrequired
A required drawing in the plan set.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Site Planrequired
Shows the lot, the primary dwelling, and the ADU placement (used for zoning/setback/rear-yard-coverage review).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Two (2) Sets of Drawingsrequired
Single-family residential requires two sets, on 18×24 minimum paper.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Typical Wall Sectionrequired
A required drawing in the plan set.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Zoning / Land-Use Verification (district eligibility)required
Counter staff verify zoning, floodplain, design/historic districts, and landslide areas; the ADU must be in D-4/D-5/UN/MU-L/M/H/D/C-1/C-2.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Home Builders Licensed Contractorconditional
Required if the owner is not self-performing and the work is ≥$10,000 on a single-family dwelling (state law).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Owner-Builder Affidavitconditional
Required only if the owner pulls the permit themselves.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Sewer Impact Permit (Jefferson County)conditional
Required if plumbing is added/changed; obtained from Jefferson County Environmental Services before the permit.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Soil Erosion Permitconditional
Required if earth is disturbed; obtained from the Engineering counter before the permit.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22