Inspections & Permitting
The Inspection Services Department is responsible for plan reviews, code enforcement, issuing building permits and Certificates of Occupancy, and performing inspections on all building components. These components include structural, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, natural, and propane gas, and investigating complaints received from the public. Links are provided to assist you in these processes.
Planning and Zoning is a division of the Inspection Services Department regulating and controlling the design, quality of materials, building and property use, and location of all residential and commercial developments within the city. This department is also responsible for safeguarding property and the public welfare through the enforcement of the City’s zoning codes. This includes enforcement of the City’s Zoning Ordinance (Ord. No. 2013-02), the Subdivision Regulations, and the Vision 2020 Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
Business Licenses: Inspection Services also performs inspections and verifies zoning for the release of business licenses, both for new businesses and for those having a change of location within the city. The New Business Start-Up Guide has been created to assist in this process. Information is also provided for the Home Occupation business licenses.
Business Start-Up Guide for Home Occupation
All contractors must be licensed by the City of Gardendale.
Additionally…
A contractor / sub-contractor performing any commercial construction work of $50,000 or more must be licensed by the State of Alabama General Contractors Board:
Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (Commercial)
(334) 272-5030
genconbd.alabama.gov
An Alabama Home Builders License is required, as follows:
Unlimited Licenses: The UNLIMITED Home Builders License is unlimited in scope and allows the license holder to perform ALL residential construction activities including new residential construction, remodeling, repair, improvement, and re-improvement of a residence. This license also covers roofing.
Limited Licenses: The LIMITED Home Builders License is limited in scope. It allows the license holder to perform ONLY jobs involving a single trade that DOES NOT affect the structural integrity of the residence. Remodeling, repair, or improvement does not include working in a single trade that is licensed by a state agency, such as plumbing, electrical, HVACR, etc. when you are working within the scope of that license. A LIMITED license holder MAY NOT perform residential roofing in Alabama without holding a separate ROOFERS License.
Roofers Licenses: The ROOFERS License allows the license holder to perform ONLY residential roofing. Residential roofing is “installing products or repairing surfaces on the external upper covering of a residence or structure that seals, waterproofs, or weatherproofs the residence or the structure when the cost of the undertaking exceeds $2,500”.
If you or your company holds BOTH LIMITED and UNLIMITED and ROOFERS licenses, please note the following:
- You cannot use both licenses on a single For example, you cannot use your ROOFERS license to perform residential roofing on a structure and then use your LIMITED license to perform an additional trade, such as flooring or painting, when the cost of the undertaking of the additional trade would be over $10,000.
- If you perform work outside the scope of the license, you may be subject to fines, suspension, or revocation of your Home Builders License pursuant to Ala. Code 34-14A-8.
Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board (Residential)
(334) 242-2230
hblb.alabama.gov
Below are additional State of Alabama licensing boards:
Alabama Electronic Security Board of Licensure (AESBL)
(334) 264-9388
aesbl.alabama.gov
Alabama Electrical Contractors Board
(334) 420-7232
aecb.state.al.us
Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board
(205) 945-4857
pgfb.state.al.us
Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors
(334) 241-0840
hvacboard.state.al.us
