Commercial Building Permits

Application Procedures for Commercial Building Permits

The Owner, Developer or Architect submits three complete sets of plans to include: site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, electrical, plumbing and mechanical plans. Sprinkler plans will also need to be submitted, if it applies.
Three additional landscape plans are required. If this is a "place of assembly," the drawings are required to be stamped and signed on each page by an Engineer.
Note: Site plan must show flood certification information.
Plans are distributed between the Planning Department, Engineering Department, and the Building Inspection Departments, respectively. A Fire Inspector will also be notified to review the plans for Fire Codes.
Each Department will review the plans. Approvals will be submitted in writing to the Building Inspection Department.
If there are any corrections to be made, the Architect will be notified to make changes and re-submit plans for review.
Once all approvals have been received by Building Inspection, the Owner or Contractor will be notified.
Note: Local and State Licenses must be verified.

The permit application check list must be completed.
The Owner or Developer will be asked to submit complete contract costs.
Note: If the contract cost exceeds $250,000, there will be a plan review fee collected.
Permit applications are then filled out.
Permit fees are collected and the Permit is issued.
Note: Sewer assessment fees must be paid before a permit will be issued.
Permit job site poster is filled out.
The Contractor will be given a copy of general sub list to be filled out and returned to the City of Opelika Revenue Department, located at the City Hall:
204 S 7th Street
Opelika, AL 36801
The Contractors' signatures are required in receipt of all paperwork.
The Contractor will receive a copy of all paperwork filled out for the permit.

The Owner or Contractor is responsible for calling for all inspections.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical contractors must call for their own permits.
When the Owner or Contractor calls for an inspection, an inspection ticket is generated and given to the proper inspector.
The Inspector will go to the job site. If inspection does not pass, the inspector will issue a red tag with a list of the problems that need correcting. If there is a red tag issued, the inspector will retain the request until the Owner or Contractor calls for re-inspection.
Note: If the inspector has to leave a red tag for the same inspection more than once, there will be a re-inspection fee collected before any further inspections are performed.
If there is a green tag issued, the inspector will sign off on the ticket. The ticket will be signed and dated by the inspector, and posted in the office for further reference.

The Owner or Contractor must call for final inspection.
Upon approval of the final inspection, the inspector will request that a certificate of occupancy be written.
If the final inspection does not pass, the Owner or Contractor will be notified of the necessary corrections required, to receive the Certificate of Occupancy.
Upon approval, the Certificate of Occupancy will be written and the Owner or Contractor can pick it up at the Building Inspection Department at the Public Works Facilities located at
700 Fox Trail
Opelika, AL 36801