Building permits and zoning in Madison

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Madison Building, Permitting, Inspections, Current Planning and Zoning, Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeals pages.

Two city departments at Madison City Hall, 100 Hughes Road, cover building in Madison. The Building Department issues permits, runs inspections and enforces property codes. The Planning and Economic Development Department handles zoning, rezoning, site plans, subdivisions, annexation and the historic district. Most permits can be applied for, paid and inspected through the city’s online permitting portal, open 24 hours.

Who to call

• Permits: 256-772-5644, option 1, permits@madisonal.gov. Open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; no permits or payments processed after 3:30 p.m.
• Planning and zoning: 256-772-5630, StartMadBiz@madisonal.gov
• Code enforcement: 256-772-5671, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays
• City Hall: 100 Hughes Road, 256-772-5600

When you need a permit

The Permitting page lists work that needs a permit. Check your lot’s setbacks and easements first.

• Every new single-family house and every new commercial building
• All electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work
• Additions: sunrooms and attached or detached garages
• Storage buildings over 200 square feet
• Most alterations, including new roofs, vinyl siding and window replacements
• Signs, including temporary event banners
• All retaining walls

Each application needs a signed permit form plus an invoice or contract signed by the customer that states the scope of work and the price. The city will not process a request without both.

Applications and fees

The city posts separate applications for residential building, roofing, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, gas, demolition, retaining walls, swimming pools and portable storage containers.

Fees are set by schedule: building, electrical, fuel gas, mechanical, miscellaneous and plumbing. Two add-ons apply: every residential building permit carries a $20 fee for the North Alabama Homebuilding Academy under Ordinance 2020-321, and non-residential permits carry the state’s construction industry craft training fee of $1 for every $1,000 of construction.

Inspections and codes

Request inspections through the online portal; you need an account. Have a contact name and number ready and a copy of the plans on site, the Inspections page says. Madison enforces the 2018 International Residential, Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Property Maintenance and Swimming Pool and Spa codes, the 2021 International Fire Code, the 2017 National Electrical Code and the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code. New one- and two-family homes must show energy code compliance through a third-party verifier, Huntsville Utilities’ program or a certified BPI or HERS rater.

Zoning: what you can build where

Find your property on the city’s interactive GIS portal or the zoning map, then read that district’s rules, including yard setbacks and accessory buildings such as sheds and pools, in the zoning ordinance. The city’s zoning overview lists the districts:

There are also zero-lot-line (RZ), single-family detached (R-3A) and planned unit development (PUD) districts. The City Council approved a comprehensive update of the zoning ordinance on June 22, 2026, and recent rezonings use a newer R-1C (single-family conservation) district, according to the city’s public hearing list; check the current ordinance for district rules. Rezoning takes 90 to 120 days because of state legal advertising rules, the city says; the Planning Commission makes a recommendation and the City Council decides. Applications for rezoning, annexation, site plans, subdivisions, variances and historic district work are on the Current Planning and Zoning page.

Boards and meeting dates

All meet at City Hall, 100 Hughes Road. Agendas post before each meeting.

Dates move: the Zoning Board’s Oct. 8 meeting was canceled for lack of a quorum, and the city calendar lists a Zoning Board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19. On the regular schedule the Planning Commission next meets Thursday, Nov. 19. Check the development review calendar for changes and filing deadlines.

Code enforcement

The city’s Code Enforcement page lists the most-reported violations: grass and weeds over 12 inches; inoperable vehicles that are not on a paved driveway under a cover; parking in the front yard off the driveway; boats, trailers and RVs left on the street; and trash or debris on a lot. Report a problem through the city’s Let Us Know form or call 256-772-5671. Before you dig, utility lines must be located at least 72 hours ahead.

What this means for you

• Replacing a roof or windows? Pull a permit first.
• A shed over 200 square feet needs a building permit.
• Planning a rezoning? Allow three to four months.

More guides: property taxes, who to call at City Hall and moving to Madison.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to build a shed in Madison, Alabama?

The city requires a building permit for new storage buildings over 200 square feet. Placement rules for any shed are in the zoning ordinance; the Planning Department answers questions at 256-772-5630.

Do I need a permit for a new roof in Madison?

Yes. The city lists most alterations, including new roofs, vinyl siding and window replacements, among the work that needs a permit, and it has a separate roofing permit application.

When does the Madison Planning Commission meet?

The Planning Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 Hughes Road.

How long does rezoning take in Madison?

The city says rezoning takes 90 to 120 days because of state legal advertising requirements. Start with the Planning Department at 256-772-5630.

How do I find the zoning of a property in Madison?

Look the address up on the city’s interactive GIS portal or the zoning map, then check the zoning ordinance for what that district allows.