Hoover requires a permit for work costing $1,000 or more, fences and roofs included. Pay in person only. Building Inspections: 205-444-7522.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Hoover’s Property Development & Building Permits, Residential Permits and Planning & Zoning Commission pages.
The City of Hoover requires a building permit before any construction work starts, and the rule applies to homeowners as well as contractors. Permits are issued and paid for in person at the Building Inspections office in the Hoover Public Safety Center, 2020 Valleydale Road, Suite 103. Zoning questions go to the Planning and Zoning Office in the same building.
Who to call
- Residential permits and inspections: Building Inspections, 205-444-7522, permits@hooveralabama.gov, 2020 Valleydale Road, Suite 103
- Architectural control and new-home questions: 205-444-7586
- Zoning, rezoning, variances: Planning and Zoning Office, 205-444-7517, zoning@hooveralabama.gov
- Commercial development: Business Ambassador Team, 205-739-7162, development@hooveralabama.gov
- Official page: Property Development & Building Permits
When you need a permit
According to the city’s Building Inspections FAQ, a building permit is required for any construction with a total contract cost of $1,000 or more, or that requires an inspection. The city lists these specifically:
- Fences: a permit is needed to install or replace one.
- Roofs: a permit is needed to replace one.
- Accessory structures such as garages, sheds and pools, because the city checks location and setbacks.
- Decks, additions, interior remodels and generators.
- Not needed: exterior painting, though the painter must hold a City of Hoover business license.
All general contractors and subcontractors working in Hoover must be licensed by the city and hold the required state licenses. Electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical work have their own permits, listed with fees on the Building & Subcontractor Permits page.
What to bring
From the city’s Residential Permits page:
| Project | What to submit |
|---|---|
| New house | Two sets of plans (18 by 24 inches minimum), a plot plan, the permit application, sewer or septic approval, stair and wall detail, erosion control plan, floodplain permit if in a flood hazard area |
| Addition or accessory building | Two sets of drawings, the application, a survey showing the addition, sewer or septic approval if needed |
| Interior remodel | Two sets of drawings, a detailed scope of work, the application |
| Fence | The application, a survey showing the fence, HOA approval if required |
| Deck | The application, two sets of plans (11 by 17 inches minimum), a survey, HOA approval if required |
| Pool | The application, a survey showing the pool and equipment, HOA approval if required |
| Generator | The application, a survey, the generator’s specifications, electrical and gas permit applications |
In neighborhoods with an architectural control committee, the city needs that committee’s final approval in writing before it issues a permit. New homes also need a certified post-foundation survey before any rough inspection is scheduled.
Fees and payment
The city publishes its residential building permit fee schedule (PDF). Since April 1, 2026, an extra $20 fee applies to each residential permit, under Alabama Act No. 2025-398 and city Ordinance No. 26-2687. Building Inspections takes checks or credit cards in person only; it does not take payment online or over the phone. The city can charge a re-inspection fee when work is not ready.
Inspections
Work is inspected at stages by city building inspectors. Call 205-444-7522 at least 24 to 48 hours ahead, with your permit number. The office does not accept inspection requests by email. Hoover has adopted the 2021 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas and Fire codes, with local revisions.
Zoning and rezoning
To find a property’s zoning, look it up on the city’s GIS map, then read the rules for that district on the zoning information page. A use the zoning does not allow needs a conditional use approval or a rezoning, which go to the Planning and Zoning Commission and then the City Council, according to the city’s zoning guide.
| Board | When it meets | What it decides |
|---|---|---|
| Planning and Zoning Commission | First Monday of each month, 6 p.m. (work session 5:30 p.m.), Hoover City Hall, 100 Municipal Lane | Recommends rezonings and conditional uses to the City Council; final say on subdivisions |
| Board of Zoning Adjustment | Third Monday of each month, 5:30 p.m., Hoover City Hall; work session the Thursday before | Variances, special exceptions and appeals of staff decisions |
The commission’s next meeting is Monday, Nov. 2. The Board of Zoning Adjustment canceled its Oct. 19 meeting, according to the city calendar; its next regular date is Monday, Nov. 16. Complete variance applications must reach the Planning and Zoning Department at least 15 calendar days before a board meeting, and the city says it enforces that deadline strictly. Agendas and minutes are on the city’s agendas page.
What this means for you
- Over $1,000 of work, or a fence or roof of any cost, means a permit.
- Bring a check or card in person; there is no online payment.
- HOA approval comes first in architecturally controlled neighborhoods.
- Variance applications are due 15 days before the board meets.
Related: property taxes, who to call at City Hall and moving to Hoover.
Frequently asked questions
When do I need a building permit in Hoover?
The city requires a building permit for any construction with a total contract cost of $1,000 or more, or that needs an inspection. Fences, roof replacements, decks, pools and accessory buildings all need one; exterior painting does not.
Can I pay for a Hoover building permit online?
No. Building Inspections takes checks or credit cards in person only, at 2020 Valleydale Road, Suite 103, and does not take payment online or by phone.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Hoover?
Call Building Inspections at 205-444-7522 at least 24 to 48 hours ahead, with your permit number. Requests by email are not accepted.
When does the Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission meet?
On the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at Hoover City Hall, 100 Municipal Lane, after a 5:30 p.m. work session. The next meeting is Monday, Nov. 2.
How do I find the zoning of a property in Hoover?
Look up the parcel on the city’s GIS map, then check the rules for that zoning district, or call the Planning and Zoning Office at 205-444-7517.
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