Administrative overview · FIPS 01089
Madison 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
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Madison County Building and Fire Inspection Department
For a project in or near Madison 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) 746-2950; inspection@madisoncountyal.gov
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Madison County Building Inspection Department, 266-A Shields Road, Huntsville, AL 35811
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM-3:30 PM.
Review expectation
Commercial plan review: typically 2-6 weeks for initial responses. The county targets next-business-day inspections in most cases; residential Certificate of Occupancy processing is within 2 business days after final requirements are complete.
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 Madison County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Madison County Building and Fire Inspection Department is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area 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) 746-2950; inspection@madisoncountyal.gov.
How long might review take?
Commercial plan review: typically 2-6 weeks for initial responses. The county targets next-business-day inspections in most cases; residential Certificate of Occupancy processing is within 2 business days after final requirements are complete.
How are inspections scheduled?
Apply, pay, and request inspections through CityView, or request by email/phone. Requests must be received by 2:00 PM one business day before the desired inspection date; later requests are not scheduled for the next business day. Typical residential stages include footing/foundation, framing, under-slab plumbing, rough-ins, energy compliance, temporary power and final. A Certificate of Occupancy is issued within 2 business days after all required inspections and documents pass.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Madison County enforces the 2018 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Swimming Pool & Spa and Fire Codes; 2017 National Electrical Code; 2018 NFPA Life Safety Code; and the state-mandated 2015 International Energy Conservation Code. Residential work uses the 2018 IRC with local amendments under the 2021 Residential Construction Resolution. The county’s current inspection page refers applicants to its Residential Construction Resolution for exceptions. The verified residential guidance states permits are required for new homes; work costing $1,000 or more; septic/plumbing-line changes; main-power work; gas work; mechanical-unit replacement; manufactured-home setup; pools/spas 24 inches or deeper; and roofing/re-roofing. Minor work below the applicable thresholds may be exempt, but the current resolution should be checked for the complete list.