Administrative overview · FIPS 01069
Houston County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
Municipal Fallback
This profile identifies a handoff outside the county’s ordinary structural permitting lane.
Required jurisdiction check
Confirm the controlling local or state authority before filing.
The record is marked Municipal Fallback. That means the county profile should be treated as a routing brief: incorporated municipalities, a state building department, or a state fire marshal may control plan review, permits, and inspections. Contact the named agency below and verify the parcel’s jurisdiction before paying a fee or scheduling field work.
Responsible agency
Houston County Commission; City of Dothan Building Inspection Services and other incorporated-community authorities
For a project in or near Houston County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
334-677-4740 (Houston County Commission); (334) 615-4450 (Dothan Building Inspection Services)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
462 N. Oates Street, 6th Floor, Dothan, AL 36303 (County Commission); 126 N Saint Andrews Street, Dothan, AL 36303 (Dothan Building Inspection Services)
Operating hours
Houston County Commission: Monday-Thursday, 7:00 AM-5:30 PM. Dothan Building Inspection Services: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM; customer service 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
Review expectation
Dothan’s new residential submittal checklist states completed applications are reviewed within 5 business days; countywide and other municipal timelines were not identified.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Houston County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
This record is marked Municipal Fallback. Confirm whether a city, state agency, or other local authority controls the parcel before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 334-677-4740 (Houston County Commission); (334) 615-4450 (Dothan Building Inspection Services).
How long might review take?
Dothan’s new residential submittal checklist states completed applications are reviewed within 5 business days; countywide and other municipal timelines were not identified.
How are inspections scheduled?
For Dothan projects, schedule online at https://permits.dothan.org, call (334) 615-4450, or email permits@dothan.org. Provide inspection type, job-site address, permit number and contractor name. Requests are due by 4:00 PM for the following business day; morning and afternoon windows are available.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Within the City of Dothan, effective January 1, 2025 under Ordinance 2024-343: 2021 IBC without appendices; 2020 NEC; 2021 IEBC, IFGC, IMC, IPC, IPMC, ISPSC, IRC with listed appendices, and IFC with Appendices B-E and I; 2015 IECC; and ICC A117.1-2017, plus applicable NFPA standards. Dothan’s official FAQ states a City of Dothan building permit is not required outside city limits; confirm requirements with the applicable municipality or state authority. Dothan’s official permit-requirements page says permits are not required for painting or replacing floor covering, regardless of valuation. It requires permits for new construction, alterations, additions, electrical/plumbing work, accessory structures, portable buildings and fences. A property owner may use owner’s privilege for their own work; otherwise a contractor licensed to work in Dothan must obtain the permit. These are municipal rules, not countywide exemptions.