Birmingham residential permit guide

Site Plan for Permit in Birmingham, AL: Residential Permit Plans

Planning a home addition, garage, deck, porch, pool, shed, driveway or other residential project in Birmingham? A clear site plan helps reviewers understand where the proposed work will be placed and how it relates to the property.

The drawing can show the property boundaries, existing residence, proposed construction, setback dimensions, driveway, walkways, utilities, easements and other features needed to explain the project.

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Quick answer

A residential permit site plan is a scaled overhead drawing of the property. It normally shows the lot lines, existing buildings, proposed work and the distances between structures and property boundaries. The exact information required depends on the project, zoning district, site conditions and comments from Birmingham’s Planning, Engineering & Permits Department.

Residential site plan for permit in Birmingham Alabama showing property boundaries existing structures driveway and proposed site work — Example residential site plan illustrating how a property, existing structures, access areas, dimensions and proposed work can be organized on one clear permit drawing.

What Is a Residential Permit Site Plan?

A residential site plan is a scaled, top-down drawing that explains how a proposed project fits on a parcel of land.

Unlike a floor plan, which shows rooms and interior spaces, the site plan focuses on the complete property. It allows a permit reviewer to see the relationship between the project and important site features such as boundaries, streets, neighboring lots, access routes and utilities.

Birmingham’s building plan-review instructions call for a site plan showing the layout of a building in relation to all property lines. For new construction and additions, supporting plans may also need to identify utility connections.
Source:

City of Birmingham Building Plan Review Sheet
.

For a general explanation of site-plan terminology, read

Everything You Need to Know About a Site Plan
.

Residential Projects That May Need a Site Plan

A site plan may be requested whenever proposed work changes the footprint, access, use or exterior layout of a residential property.

Home additions
Bedrooms, family rooms, kitchen additions, attached garages and other extensions that enlarge the house.

Detached garages and carports
Vehicle structures that must be positioned in relation to the house, property boundaries and driveway.

Decks, porches and patios
Outdoor structures that may affect setbacks, access, grading or the relationship between the house and backyard.

Swimming pools
Pools, surrounding decks, equipment areas, barriers and the distances to buildings and lot lines.

Sheds and accessory structures
Storage buildings, workshops and other detached structures placed in a side or rear yard.

Driveways and sidewalks
New or modified vehicle and pedestrian access, especially where work reaches the public right-of-way.

New houses
The proposed residence, driveway, utility connections, grading and relationship to every property line.

Retaining walls and grading
Projects involving slopes, earthwork, drainage, wall placement or changes in finished ground level.

A project may require more than one approval. For example, a garage addition may involve a building permit, zoning review, trade permits and a separate driveway or sidewalk permit when work affects the public right-of-way.

What Should the Birmingham Site Plan Show?

The exact content depends on the project, but a useful residential permit plan commonly includes the following information.

Site-plan item	What the drawing should communicate
Property boundaries	The complete lot outline and available boundary dimensions.
Existing residence	The house footprint and its position within the lot.
Existing structures	Garages, sheds, porches, decks, pools, retaining walls and other relevant improvements.
Proposed construction	A clearly labeled footprint showing the location and dimensions of the new work.
Setback dimensions	The shortest distances between the proposed work and the front, side and rear property lines.
Building separation	Distances between the proposed project and existing buildings where relevant.
Street and access	Adjacent street names, driveway, curb cut, sidewalks, gates and pedestrian paths.
Easements and utilities	Known easements and supplied locations of water, sewer, gas, electrical or storm-drainage connections.
Drainage and grading	Existing or proposed slopes, contours, drainage direction, retaining walls or finished elevations when required.
Drawing information	Property address, north arrow, scale, labels, notes and revision date.

Why Property-Line Dimensions Matter

One of the main purposes of a permit site plan is to show how far the project will be from the property boundaries.

These dimensions help staff review whether the proposal is consistent with the zoning requirements applying to the parcel. Birmingham’s zoning ordinance regulates matters including land use, building height, lot size and required setbacks.
Source:

City of Birmingham Zoning Ordinance
.

There is no single front, side or rear setback that should be copied onto every Birmingham project. The correct requirement can depend on:

The property’s zoning district
The type of residential project
Whether the structure is attached or detached
The building’s height and use
The location of existing buildings
Corner-lot or multiple-street frontage conditions
Easements or recorded restrictions
A previously approved variance or development condition

Do not guess the property boundary

A tax map, fence, hedge or aerial image can help explain the general property layout, but it may not establish the exact legal boundary. When the project is close to a lot line or the boundary is uncertain, Birmingham or the reviewing professional may require information from a licensed surveyor.

Birmingham’s Residential Building Codes

The City of Birmingham’s 2024 Technical Code became effective on October 1, 2024. It applies the 2021 International Residential Code to detached one- and two-family dwellings, qualifying townhouses and their accessory structures, subject to Birmingham’s local amendments.

The city also applies current adopted codes covering plumbing, fuel gas, mechanical work, electrical work, energy conservation and existing buildings.
Source:

City of Birmingham Building Codes
.

A site plan does not replace architectural, structural or trade drawings. Depending on the project, the complete permit package may also need:

Floor plans
Exterior elevations
Building sections
Foundation or footing plans
Structural framing details
Electrical plans
Plumbing plans
Mechanical plans
Energy-code information
Product or manufacturer specifications
Engineering calculations

Online Permitting and Digital Plan Review

Birmingham’s Department of Planning, Engineering & Permits handles most city permit applications. The city provides an Online Permit Center where applicants can apply, pay fees, monitor the application and manage permits.

The city also provides an interactive permit guide designed to help applicants identify the permit process that may apply before beginning an application.
Source:

City of Birmingham Permitting
.

Plans-intensive applications can use Birmingham’s Digital Plan Room. The system supports electronic uploads, review comments, revised sheets, markups, document tracking and downloads of approved plan sets.
Source:

City of Birmingham Digital Plan Room
.

Helpful tip: Use a clear file name, readable dimensions and consistent sheet titles. A site plan that is difficult to read at normal screen size can lead to avoidable questions during electronic review.

Driveways, Sidewalks and the Public Right-of-Way

A private driveway is located primarily on the property, while the driveway approach or curb cut may cross public land between the parcel and the street.

When a project creates, widens, relocates or modifies access across a sidewalk, curb or other public right-of-way, a separate driveway or sidewalk approval may be involved. Birmingham lists the Driveway-Sidewalk Permit among the record types supported by its Digital Plan Room.

A useful plan for this type of project may show:

The driveway inside the property
The garage or parking area
The curb or street edge
The sidewalk and planting strip
The existing or proposed driveway approach
Nearby utility poles, drainage structures or street trees
Driveway width and alignment
Drainage direction and slope where requested

Floodplain and Drainage Considerations

Some Birmingham properties are affected by mapped flood hazards or local drainage conditions. Development within a special flood-hazard area may require additional review and supporting information before a permit can be approved.

The site plan may need to identify:

Flood-zone or floodplain boundaries
Existing and proposed ground elevations
Finished-floor elevation
Drainage channels or waterways
Retaining walls
Areas of excavation or fill
Stormwater flow direction
Required flood-resistant construction information

Property owners with floodplain questions can consult Birmingham’s Floodplain Management staff before finalizing a project location.
Source:

Building and Development in Birmingham’s Special Flood Hazard Area
.

Historic Districts and Property-Specific Controls

Birmingham contains historic neighborhoods and properties that may be subject to additional design or preservation review.

A project involving an addition, porch, garage, accessory structure, fence or major exterior alteration may need to address how the proposed work relates to the existing residence and surrounding neighborhood.

The site plan can help by showing:

The project’s position behind, beside or in front of the house
Visibility from the street
Existing porches and accessory buildings
Driveways and parking areas
Mature trees and landscaping
Distances to property boundaries
Existing and proposed building footprints

The city recommends contacting its Urban Design staff to determine whether a property is located within a historic or commercial revitalization district.
Source:

Birmingham Planning, Engineering & Permits FAQ
.

What to Provide When Ordering Your Site Plan

Good source information makes the drafting process faster and reduces uncertainty.

Provide as much of the following as possible:

Complete Birmingham property address
Parcel number, if available
Property survey or closing survey
Recorded plat or deed sketch
Previous permit site plan
Existing house plans
Project type and description
Proposed structure dimensions
Desired project location
Distances to property boundaries
Photographs of the project area
Hand-drawn layout or marked aerial image
Builder or manufacturer drawings
Driveway and sidewalk information
Known easements
Utility information
Retaining-wall or grading details
Comments received from Birmingham staff

You can also review our

step-by-step guide to creating a site plan

to understand the basic information used in a residential drawing.

A Simple Birmingham Permit-Plan Process

1
Define the project
Confirm what will be built, altered, removed or added to the property.

2
Gather property records
Collect the survey, plat, parcel information, photographs and available plans.

3
Check zoning and site conditions
Review setbacks, easements, flood hazards, historic controls and access requirements.

4
Prepare the site plan
Show the complete property, existing features, proposed work and required dimensions.

5
Coordinate the drawings
Make sure the site plan matches the floor plan, elevations and structural documents.

6
Apply for permits
Submit through the applicable Birmingham permit process with supporting documents.

7
Respond to comments
Review city markups and revise the affected drawings when necessary.

8
Build from approved plans
Wait for approval and complete required inspections during construction.

Common Residential Site Plan Mistakes

Showing only the project area instead of the complete property
Leaving out one or more property boundaries
Not dimensioning the proposed work
Failing to show distances to lot lines
Using an old fence as the assumed legal boundary
Leaving out existing garages, sheds, decks or pools
Showing a driveway without its connection to the street
Using dimensions that do not match the construction drawings
Failing to identify existing and proposed work clearly
Omitting known easements or utilities
Ignoring slopes, drainage or retaining walls
Submitting a blurry aerial image with no scale or dimensions
Using an outdated project revision
Starting construction before the required permits are issued

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every Birmingham residential project require a site plan?

Not necessarily. The required documents depend on the type and scope of work. Projects that change the building footprint, add an accessory structure, alter access or affect property setbacks are more likely to require a site plan.

Can I submit my Birmingham permit application online?

Many permit applications can be managed through Birmingham’s Online Permit Center. The city is continuing to move permit services into that system, so applicants should confirm the current application method for their specific permit type.

Can a site plan establish my legal property boundaries?

No. A drafted site plan can show boundaries based on records supplied for the project, but it does not replace a licensed boundary survey when the exact legal boundary must be located or certified.

Do I need to show every existing structure?

Show all structures and site features relevant to the project. Existing garages, sheds, porches, decks, pools, driveways and retaining walls can affect setbacks, access, drainage and the remaining usable area.

Does the site plan include structural engineering?

No. A site plan shows the project’s location on the property. Foundation design, framing, connections, beams, footings and other structural details are separate documents when required.

What happens if Birmingham requests a revision?

Review the city’s comments carefully and update the affected drawings. Birmingham’s Digital Plan Room supports review issues, revised sheets and electronic resubmissions for applicable permit records.

Can USA Site Plans prepare a plan from an old survey?

An existing survey, plat, previous site plan, project dimensions and current photographs can often provide useful drafting information. If the legal boundary or site elevations must be verified, a new licensed survey may still be required.

Order a Site Plan for Your Birmingham Permit

Send us the property address, project dimensions, proposed location, photographs and any available survey, plat, builder drawing or permit comments.

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Final Thoughts

A clear site plan helps Birmingham reviewers understand the complete property—not only the proposed construction.

The drawing should clearly identify the property boundaries, existing residence, proposed project, dimensions, setbacks, access and other relevant site conditions. Depending on the work, utilities, grading, floodplain information, easements or public right-of-way features may also be needed.

Preparing the plan carefully before submission can reduce avoidable review comments caused by missing dimensions, unclear labels or drawings that do not match the rest of the permit package.

Ready to begin?

Order your Birmingham residential permit site plan
.

Official Birmingham Resources

Disclaimer: This article provides general educational information and does not constitute legal, zoning, surveying, architectural, engineering, drainage, floodplain, building-code or permit-approval advice. Requirements depend on the property, zoning district, project scope and current instructions from the City of Birmingham. USA Site Plans provides drafting services based on supplied property records and project information. An unsigned drafted site plan does not establish legal boundaries or replace a licensed survey, architect, engineer or other licensed professional when one is required.

Site Plan for Permit in Birmingham, AL | Residential Plans