Contractor Reqs

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Note: The VIEW YOUR LICENSES and RENEW YOUR LICENSE links on this page are not currently used. To view copies of contractor licenses that you have provided to Baldwin County, click on MY ACCOUNT and then click on UPDATE MY INFORMATION.

REQUIREMENTS for CONTRACTORS

During the application review process, Building Department staff will verify that the contractor listed on the application has registered for access to the Citizenserve Portal, that they have provided copies of their licenses, and that they hold the proper licenses for the scope of work and job valuation provided. Contractors may click here to register online now or may click here to download a hardcopy of the Portal Registration form.

Click an option below for Portal Registration:
Register Online Now
Download a Hardcopy of the Portal Registration Form

Click below for a How-To Video:
How To Register in the Portal as a Contractor

Property owners should make sure to hire properly licensed contractors and to always ask to see the contractor's licenses! Here are requirements to check for:

ALL CONTRACTORS:

TRADE CONTRACTORS (ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL/HVAC, PLUMBING, and FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLERS):

  • Electrical contractors are required to hold an active Electrical Contractor license from the Alabama Electrical Contractors Board at https://aecb.alabama.gov/.
  • Mechanical/HVAC contractors are required to hold an active HVAC license from the Alabama Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors Board at https://hacr.alabama.gov/.
  • Plumbing contractors are required to hold an active Master Plumbers license from the Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board at http://www.pgfb.alabama.gov/.
  • Gas contractors are required to hold an active Master Gas Fitters license from the Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board at http://www.pgfb.alabama.gov/.
  • Fire protection sprinkler contractors are required to hold an active Fire Protection Layout Technician – Level III credential from the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technology (NICET) at https://www.nicet.org/ and hold an active Sprinkler System Permit from the State of Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office at https://www.firemarshal.alabama.gov/.
  • Any subcontractor performing commercial or multi-family work (non-residential) with a minimum job valuation (contracts including labor and materials) of $100,000 ($5,000 for swimming pools) under contract to a licensed prime contractor must also be licensed by the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors at https://genconbd.alabama.gov/. 

MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME INSTALLATION CONTRACTORS:

  • Manufactured/Mobile Home Installers are required to hold an active Installers license from the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission at https://amhc.alabama.gov/. 

MANUFACTURED/MODULAR HOME OR BUILDING INSTALLATION CONTRACTORS:

  • Manufactured/Modular Homes and Buildings Installers are required to hold an active Installers license that begins with the number "8" from the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission at https://amhc.alabama.gov/. 

FOR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION and ROOFING:

  • The "Consumers" section of the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board at https://hblb.alabama.gov/consumers/ has great tips to review prior to hiring a contractor.
  • Contractors who will repair or replace a residential roof with a job valuation (cost of labor & materials) over $2,500.00 are required to hold a home builders roofers license and a $10,000.00 bond; OR they can hold an unlimited home builders license.
  • Contractors who work with residential structures with a job valuation (cost of labor & materials) over $10,000.00 are required to have a home builders unlimited or limited license. If the work involves more than one trade and/or affects structural integrity, the builder is required to have an unlimited license.
  • You may search for licensed residential roofers and home builders on the State of Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board website at https://hblb.alabama.gov/.
  • Contractors who construct any swimming pool with a job valuation of $5,000.00 or more are required to be licensed by the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors at https://genconbd.alabama.gov/.

FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL/MULTI-FAMILY CONSTRUCTION:

  • Contractors who work with commercial or multi-family (non-residential) structures with a job valuation (cost of labor & materials) of $100,000.00 or more or who construct any swimming pool with a job valuation of $5,000.00 or more are required to have a general contractors license. Subcontractors performing minimum contracts including labor and materials of $100,000 ($5,000 swimming pools) or more under contract to a licensed prime contractor must also be licensed by the General Contractors board. You may search for licensed General Contractors on the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors website at https://genconbd.alabama.gov/.

REQUIREMENTS for DESIGN PROFESSIONALS

Property owners should make sure to hire design professionals (such as architects, engineers, and surveyors) that are licensed in the State of Alabama.

FIND A LICENSED ARCHITECT:

FIND A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER OR LAND SURVEYOR:

REQUIREMENTS for PROPERTY OWNERS ACTING as THEIR OWN CONTRACTOR

Permits are required even if a property owner acts as their own contractor, performs the construction/work, and does not hire or compensate a contractor.

Click below for a How-To Video:
How To Register in the Portal as a Property Owner
How to Submit Permit Applications in the Portal

FOR TRADE PERMITS:

Property owners can perform their own mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work. However, you should obtain separate permits for each of those trades prior to starting the work. 

Although the Baldwin County Building Department does not currently require or issue permits for gas fitting, you must follow the guidelines of the State of Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board. Property owners should not perform their own gas fitting work. Gas fitting work should be performed only by contractors who hold an active Master Gas Fitter license from the Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board at http://www.pgfb.alabama.gov/.

FOR INSTALLATION OF MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOMES AND MANUFACTURED/MODULAR BUILDINGS:

The State of Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission (https://amhc.alabama.gov/) requires all manufactured homes and/or manufactured buildings (modulars), new or used, to be installed by a person duly certified by their commission. Property owners are not permitted to transport, install, or setup their own manufactured homes or modular buildings. 

Manufactured/Mobile Home Installers are required to hold an active Installers license from the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission at https://amhc.alabama.gov/.

Manufactured/Modular Homes and Buildings Installers are required to hold an active Installers license that begins with the number "8" from the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission at https://amhc.alabama.gov/. 

FOR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION:

The State of Alabama Home Builders Licensure Law (https://hblb.alabama.gov/law/) requires residential construction to be performed by a licensed residential home builder. The property owner can request an exemption to that law. This exemption allows the owner of the property to act as his/her own builder even though he/she does not have a license.

You may build or improve your own residence, but it must be for your use and occupancy. It may not be built or improved for the purposes of selling. If you place the residence for sale within one year after the construction is complete, the law will presume that you built it for sale, which is a violation of this exemption.

You may not hire or compensate anyone to supervise the building or improvement of the residence. It is your responsibility to make sure that subcontractors employed by you have the proper licenses required by state law and a State of Alabama business license issued through any county in the state. Your construction must comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, building codes, and zoning regulations.

By claiming exempt status, the property owner waives his/her rights for protection under the provisions of the Home Builders Licensure law. In the event of litigation involving activities resulting from the granting of a permit, the property owner may not make demand of any money from the Homeowner's Recovery Fund, established by the Home Builders Licensure law.

Click to access the Sworn Statement of the Property Owner Claiming Exemption from the Requirements of the State of Alabama Home Builders Licensure Law form. To qualify for this exemption, the property owner must review, complete, and return this form to the Building Department before the permit is issued.

FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL / COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION:

Property owners are exempt from the licensing requirements of the State of Alabama General Licensure Law (https://genconbd.alabama.gov/Law.aspx) pursuant to Section 34-8-1 when acting as their own contractor and providing all materials and supervision for the construction. Any of the work contracted out must comply with the definition in this chapter for general contractor. Section 34-8-7 (a)(3). The property owner should be fully aware of the State Laws and remain in compliance with the requirements for exemption to permit as an owner. Section 34-8-9 (amended 2006).

The property owner should understand that by claiming exempt status, they waive their rights for protection under the provisions of the General Contractors Licensure law and that in the event of litigation involving activities resulting from the granting of this permit.

The property owner should also understand that permits for subcontractor work in electrical, plumbing, gas, heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration must hold valid licenses from the appropriate state board of contractors.

Any permit obtained by an owner acting as his/her own contractor may be subject to a review and approval by the Alabama General Contractors Licensure Board.

Click to access the Sworn Statement of the Property Owner Claiming Exemption from the Requirements of the State of Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors Licensure Law form. To qualify for this exemption, the property owner must review, complete, and return this form to the Building Department before the permit is issued.