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 The 2025 ordinance superseded the old 'domestic servants only' § 9.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, with 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
Birmingham ADU permit questions
- Do I need a permit to build an ADU in Birmingham?
- Yes. An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Birmingham requires a building permit. ArchPermit tracks 14 cited requirements for this jurisdiction (10 required, the rest conditional). Always confirm the exact forms, fees, and code edition with the local permitting authority that issues the permit.
- What does an ADU permit package require in Birmingham?
- Core required items include: ADU Zoning-Condition Compliance; Address Verification; Building Permit Application; Floor Plan; Foundation Plan; Framing Plan, plus 4 more. Each requirement links to its authoritative source, and nothing is permit-ready until an independent licensed professional reviews and seals it.
- How are ADU permits submitted in Birmingham?
- Birmingham accepts permit submittals via Accela Online Permit Center. ArchPermit prepares a draft package you can submit there after a licensed architect reviews and seals it.