Administrative overview · FIPS 01097
Mobile 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
Mobile County Inspection Services Department
For a project in or near Mobile 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
(251) 574-3507; inspections@mobilecountyal.gov; permit requests: permits@mobilecountyal.gov
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Mobile County Inspection Services, 1110 Schillinger Road N., Mobile, AL 36608
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM-4:30 PM.
Review expectation
Allow 5-10 working days for residential and commercial plan review. Commercial applications require a $100 plan-review fee at submittal; approved plans are then permitted.
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 Mobile County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Mobile County Inspection Services 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 (251) 574-3507; inspections@mobilecountyal.gov; permit requests: permits@mobilecountyal.gov.
How long might review take?
Allow 5-10 working days for residential and commercial plan review. Commercial applications require a $100 plan-review fee at submittal; approved plans are then permitted.
How are inspections scheduled?
Submit the building permit request and supporting plans through Mobile County’s Electronic Plan Review system or contact Inspection Services at (251) 574-3507. Permit requests received after 4:00 PM are processed the following business day. The adopted code requires staged inspections before concealment, including foundation, framing, trade rough-ins and final; a Certificate of Occupancy or Completion is required before permanent utility connection.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Effective July 1, 2026 for unincorporated Mobile County: 2024 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Swimming Pool and Spa, and Existing Building Codes; 2023 National Electrical Code; Alabama Energy and Residential Codes Board energy codes; and Mobile County amendments. The permit request also requires compliance with the 2015 Alabama Energy Code. Mobile County states that almost all residential and commercial work requires a permit. Published exceptions include painting, redecorating, changing countertops, installing new cabinetry, replacing light fixtures or ceiling fans, and replacing equipment that requires no rewiring; fences seven feet or less; one-story detached unconditioned Risk Category I storage sheds or playhouses up to 200 square feet meeting the code’s utility, flood-zone and exposure restrictions; and qualifying private sidewalks and driveways.