Building permits and zoning in Tuscaloosa

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Tuscaloosa Building and Inspections, Building Permit, Do I Need a Permit? and Planning and Zoning pages and the city’s 2026 board calendars.

Building permits in Tuscaloosa come from the city’s Building and Inspections Division, and zoning, rezonings and historic district reviews from the Planning Division of the Office of Urban Development. Permits are filed and tracked online. Most residential permits are processed within 24 to 48 hours, the city says.

Who to call

• Building and Inspections (permits, inspections): 205-248-5110, building@tuscaloosa.com, 2230 Gary Fitts St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays
• Plan review: 205-248-5121, planreview@tuscaloosa.com
• Planning Division (zoning, rezoning, historic districts): 205-248-5100, planinfo@tuscaloosa.com, 2230 Seventh St.
• City Engineer (land development, lake watersheds): 205-248-5380

If your property is outside the city limits, Tuscaloosa County handles building rules there. Check the city’s city limits map first.

When you need a permit

A permit is required for all new construction, demolition, remodeling and alterations. Routine maintenance and ordinary repairs generally are not, unless the work moves walls, beams or supports, changes exits, or adds or moves plumbing, gas, electrical or mechanical systems. From the city’s permit checklist:

Permit needed:

• A new house, an addition, an interior alteration or a finished basement
• A detached garage, carport, gazebo or other accessory building over 200 square feet
• A new or repaired deck
• A retaining wall more than 4 feet tall
• Roofing, siding, and window replacement beyond broken glass
• A swimming pool more than 2 feet deep
• A fence more than 7 feet tall
• New or replaced plumbing fixtures with pipe changes, and water heaters
• An electrical service upgrade or new circuits
• A furnace, air conditioner or duct work replacement

No permit: painting, carpet and trim; a children’s playhouse or playground; a retaining wall under 4 feet; a fixture swap with no new pipes or circuits; plug-in appliances.

How to apply

1. Check your zoning on the city’s zoning map. The rules are in the zoning ordinance, Chapter 25 of the city code. The current ordinance took effect in January 2025.
2. Check for a historic district on the historic districts map. Exterior work there needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission. Ask the Planning Division at hpc@tuscaloosa.com.
3. Gather the plans: a site plan, drawings or a written description of the work, and a city business license number for your contractor.
4. Apply online through the city’s BluePrince contractor portal, choosing “Tuscaloosa” as the jurisdiction. The portal shows comments, takes payment and books inspections.

Near Lake Tuscaloosa, a project may also need a land development permit, and work in the watersheds of Lake Tuscaloosa, Harris Lake or Lake Nicol may need a site stabilization plan. Call the City Engineer at 205-248-5380. A tear-down and rebuild needs both a demolition and a new construction permit.

Contractor licenses

• A city general contractor’s license number is required on every application, with some exceptions.
• A residential project valued at $10,000 or more needs a state home builders license, and a pool valued at $5,000 or more needs a state general contractor’s license.
• A commercial project of $100,000 or more needs a state general contractor’s license.
• Plans must be sealed by a licensed professional for buildings over 2,500 square feet, three or more stories, and assembly, school, institutional or hazardous uses.

Fees

Fees are set during review and paid before the permit is issued, online by invoice or in person by check or cash. From the city’s fee table, updated Sept. 19, 2025:

Water and sewer fees may be added. The city builds to the 2021 International Code Council codes.

Zoning boards and hearing dates

All three boards meet at 5 p.m. in the City Council chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 2230 Seventh St. Visitors park free in the downtown parking deck at Seventh Street and 23rd Avenue and cross into City Hall from the deck’s top level. Written comments are due by 3 p.m. on the meeting day.

Rezonings, annexations and planned developments need a pre-application conference before filing. The map of upcoming cases shows what is on each agenda. Fees are in the Planning Division’s fee schedule.

What this means for you

• Replacing a roof, windows or a water heater needs a permit; painting does not.
• In a historic district, get the Certificate of Appropriateness before the building permit.
• To speak on a neighbor’s rezoning, come to the meeting or file the online comment form by 3 p.m.

More guides: Tuscaloosa County property taxes, who to call at City Hall and moving to Tuscaloosa.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to build a fence in Tuscaloosa?

Only for a fence over 7 feet tall, according to the city’s permit checklist. Decks, additions, roofing, siding, window replacement and pools over 2 feet deep all need a permit.

How long does a building permit take in Tuscaloosa?

Most residential permits are processed within 24 to 48 hours, the city says. First comments on a commercial application usually come by email within 10 business days.

How much is a residential building permit in Tuscaloosa?

The fee is $3.50 for every $1,000 of building valuation. New heated space is valued at $163 a square foot, so a 2,000-square-foot house is valued at $326,000 and its permit fee is $1,141. A residential demolition permit is $21.

How do I find my zoning in Tuscaloosa?

Use the city’s online zoning map, or call the Planning Division at 205-248-5100. The zoning ordinance is Chapter 25 of the city code on Municode.

When does the Tuscaloosa Planning and Zoning Commission meet?

At 5 p.m. in the City Council chambers on the second floor of City Hall. The remaining 2026 meetings are Monday, Oct. 19, Monday, Nov. 16, and Monday, Dec. 14.