Permit offices on the west shore and Mobile County
Which office permits you depends on where the lot sits. Ask first, since city and county lines cross the same river.
- City of Mobile: Build Mobile, (251) 208-5895. Build Mobile website The office is at Government Plaza, 205 Government Street. Build Mobile office
- Unincorporated Mobile County: Inspection Services, (251) 574-3507. Mobile County Inspection Services
- Bayou La Batre: City Hall, (251) 824-2171. Bayou La Batre directory
- Town of Dauphin Island: Building Department, (251) 861-5525. Dauphin Island Town Hall
- Saraland: Building Department, (251) 679-5502. Saraland Building Department
- Satsuma: Building Inspection, (251) 675-1440, ext. 5307. Satsuma Building Inspection
- Chickasaw: Building Department, (251) 452-6450. Chickasaw Building Department
- Prichard: the city lists only its 3-1-1 line, (251) 452-7841. Prichard Inspections page
- Creola: Building Inspector, (251) 454-0281. Creola Building Inspection
See the Mobile County hub for how these offices fit together.
Permit offices on the Eastern Shore
On the Eastern Shore, the city limits decide who permits. Outside them, Baldwin County does.
- Baldwin County Building Department: (251) 972-6837. It permits unincorporated land. Three small towns also use it: Elberta, Magnolia Springs and Perdido Beach. Baldwin County Building Department Baldwin permit jurisdiction
- Daphne: call Environmental Programs for piers and bulkheads, (251) 620-1700. Daphne Building Inspection page
- Fairhope: Planning and Zoning, (251) 990-0214. Fairhope Planning and Zoning Building permits are at (251) 990-0153. Fairhope Building Inspection
- Spanish Fort: Building Department, (251) 626-4993. Spanish Fort Building Department
The Baldwin County hub explains the Eastern Shore in more detail.
State and federal permits
Work at the water line can involve state and federal offices. Call these before you plan.
- ADEM Coastal Program, on South Broad Street in Mobile: (251) 304-1176. ADEM Coastal Program
- ADCNR State Lands Division, Coastal Section, Spanish Fort, (251) 621-1216. State Lands Coastal Section
- Corps of Engineers, Mobile District Regulatory Division, (251) 690-2658. Corps Mobile District
The permit guide shows the order to call them in.
Flood maps and water gauges
FEMA flood maps for all of Mobile County have been effective since June 5, 2020, with elevations in feet NAVD88. FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer
NOAA runs water-level gauges at the State Docks, the Coast Guard Sector, Dog River Bridge, the Fowl River bridges, Bayou La Batre and Dauphin Island. NOAA gauge list
The flood zone guide explains how to read a zone and a base flood elevation.
Check a contractor license
Alabama licenses builders and general contractors through two boards. Both have online lookups.
- Home builder licenses, toll-free line 800-304-0853. Home Builders Licensure Board
- General contractor licenses, board office (334) 272-5030. General Contractors Board
Marine work has its own class on the general contractor list. General contractor classes See how to verify a contractor.
Property and permit records
Mobile County Revenue Commission runs the parcel search. Its phone is (251) 574-8530. Mobile County Revenue and Probate
Baldwin County Revenue Commissioner has a parcel search. Its help line is (251) 937-0245. Baldwin County property search
Alabama residents have a right to inspect public records. Alabama open records law The guide library shows where permit records are kept.
Show sourcesHide sources
- Permitting | Build MobileSource reviewed 2026-11-04
- Build Mobile | City of MobileSource reviewed 2026-11-04
- Inspection ServicesSource reviewed 2026-11-04
- Staff and Department DirectorySource reviewed 2026-11-04
- Building Department | Town of Dauphin IslandSource reviewed 2026-11-04
- Building Department | City of SaralandSource reviewed 2026-11-04
- Building Inspection | Satsuma, ALSource reviewed 2026-11-04
- Building Department | City of ChickasawSource reviewed 2026-11-04
- Permits & Inspections | City of PrichardSource reviewed 2026-11-04
- Building Inspection | City of CreolaSource reviewed 2026-11-04
- Contact Us | Baldwin County Building DepartmentSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Permitting FAQs | Baldwin County Building DepartmentSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Permits, Fees & Requirements | Daphne, ALSource reviewed 2026-11-04
- Planning & Zoning, City of FairhopeSource reviewed 2026-11-04
- Building and Permitting | City of Fairhope, ALSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- BUILDING DEPARTMENT | City of Spanish FortSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Alabama Coastal Area Management Program (ADEM Coastal Program page)Source reviewed 2026-10-31
- Contact Us (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources)Source reviewed 2026-10-31
- South Atlantic Division > Missions > Regulatory > AlabamaSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) MapServer, layers 3 and 28 (FIRM panels, flood hazard zones)Source reviewed 2026-11-04
- CO-OPS Metadata API, station records for Mobile Bay gaugesSource reviewed 2026-11-04
- Contact Us (Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board)Source reviewed 2026-10-31
- Contact (Alabama State Licensing Board for General Contractors)Source reviewed 2026-10-31
- Ala. Admin. Code Chapter 230-X-1 (State Licensing Board for General Contractors), r. 230-X-1-.27 Major ClassificationsSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Mobile County Revenue Commission; Probate Court Records SearchSource reviewed 2026-11-04
- Search For Property - AssuranceWeb Property (Baldwin County Revenue Commissioner)Source reviewed 2026-10-31
- SB270 Enrolled (2024 Regular Session), enacted as Act 2024-278, amending Code of Alabama Sections 36-12-40 and 36-12-41 and adding 36-12-43 to 36-12-46Source reviewed 2026-10-31