Administrative overview · FIPS 01079
Lawrence 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
Lawrence County Commission and County Engineer; City of Moulton Building Department and other municipal authorities having jurisdiction
For a project in or near Lawrence 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
(256) 974-0663 (Lawrence County Commission); (256) 974-3875 (Moulton Building Inspector/Code Enforcer)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Lawrence County Commission, 14330 Court Street, Moulton, AL 35650; City of Moulton Building Department, 720 Seminary Street, Moulton, AL 35650
Operating hours
Lawrence County Commission: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM. Moulton City Clerk/building contact is at 720 Seminary Street; the verified building page does not separately publish building-counter hours.
Review expectation
Moulton states simple remodels or additions may receive plan review in as little as 24 hours. Commercial projects require Technical Review Committee review and a pre-construction meeting; no fixed maximum timeline is published.
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 Lawrence 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 (256) 974-0663 (Lawrence County Commission); (256) 974-3875 (Moulton Building Inspector/Code Enforcer).
How long might review take?
Moulton states simple remodels or additions may receive plan review in as little as 24 hours. Commercial projects require Technical Review Committee review and a pre-construction meeting; no fixed maximum timeline is published.
How are inspections scheduled?
Within Moulton, call the Building Inspector/Code Enforcer at (256) 974-3875 with 24-48 hours’ lead time. Typical inspections are foundation/footer before concrete, rough plumbing/electrical for slabs, rough plumbing/electrical/mechanical and framing before insulation, and final; the Certificate of Occupancy is issued at final. Unincorporated county land has no ordinary county building inspections, but the county inspects applicable road-access pipe locations and sizes the required pipe.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Unincorporated Lawrence County has no county building-permit or occupancy-permit requirement under the County Engineer’s official notice. Within the City of Moulton, the official building page says the city adopted and utilizes the 2018 International Building Codes under Ordinance 2018-002; the city ordinances page also references the 2017 National Electrical Code. For unincorporated county land, the official county notice says no building permit is required. Within Moulton, permits are required for construction, alteration, projects costing more than $500, fences, decks, pools, outbuildings, detached garages and roofing; painting, new flooring and projects costing less than $500 are listed as exempt. Separate electrical, plumbing, gas, heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration permits may still be required.