Bolthole Index

Baldwin County, Alabama

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Foley, Alabama

Foley, Alabama (Baldwin County) requires a City building permit for construction inside city limits1, and the city's own zoning ordinance sets uses, setbacks and lot sizes by district2. The Foley Building Department issues permits and inspections. We could not confirm the septic permit rule inside the city, so call the Baldwin County Health Department before you buy.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside Foley city limits; fee paid before work starts1
Zoning
Yes, the City of Foley zoning ordinance applies inside city limits2
Building code
2024 International Building Code and International Residential Code, with amendments3
Permit timeline
On average seven to ten days to process an application4
Camping
Unlawful without the property owner's consent, inside the city and its police jurisdiction5
Septic
Baldwin County Health Department is the contact; rule inside city limits not confirmed6
Owner-builder
Alabama has a state owner-builder licensing exemption; City of Foley exemption not confirmed7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Foley Building Department

Building permits and inspections inside Foley city limits

251-952-4011

120 S. McKenzie Street, Foley, AL 36535

Zoning

City of Foley Planning and Development Services

Zoning ordinance, zoning districts and subdivision regulations inside Foley city limits

251-952-4011

120 S McKenzie Street, Foley, AL 36535

Septic permits

Baldwin County Health Department (Environmental and Vital Statistics)

Onsite sewage (septic) contact for Baldwin County, including addresses in Foley

251-947-3618

22251 Palmer Street, P.O. Box 369, Robertsdale, Alabama 36567

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 15, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Foley means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Foley, Alabama have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The City of Foley code and zoning ordinance apply within the city boundaries2, and the ordinance lists uses allowed, setbacks and area requirements for each zoning district8. Baldwin County's separate zoning does not cover land inside the city; see the Baldwin County page for land outside it.

District matters. In Foley's Restricted Residential Single Family district, the minimum lot area is 30,000 square feet, or the lot may instead meet Health Department requirements9. Required yards in that district are 35 feet in front, 30 feet in the rear and 10 feet on each side, with a 75-foot waterfront setback10. Buildings may cover up to 25% of the gross lot area11 and may rise to 50 feet or 2 stories12. Other districts have different numbers, so ask Planning and Development Services which district a parcel sits in before you count on any of these.

Do you need a building permit in Foley, and who issues it?

Yes. Anyone doing construction or construction-related work inside Foley that requires a City building permit must pay the permit fee before work begins1. The City of Foley Building Department issues these building permits and runs the inspections13. Foley has adopted the 2024 International Building Code and the 2024 International Residential Code, with amendments and exclusions3.

Expect inspections on permitted work; the city prefers at least 24 hours' notice to schedule one14. A new or completed building also needs a certificate of occupancy after inspection and approval from the city's environmental, fire and engineering departments, and a certificate of completion does not authorize occupancy or utility connection15. The city says application processing averages seven to ten days, longer for complex projects4.

How do septic permits work inside Foley?

Septic permits are a health department matter, not a City of Foley building permit. Alabama requires a permit for onsite sewage systems for properties not connected to a public sanitary sewer16, and the program is run through county health departments6. In Baldwin County that office is the Baldwin County Health Department17.

We could not confirm whether a given address inside Foley must connect to public sewer or may use a septic system, or how septic inspections work within city limits. Call the Baldwin County Health Department's Environmental office18 and the City of Foley Building Department13 with the parcel address before you offer on the lot. Soils add a reason to ask early: only about 9% of Baldwin County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation19.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Foley?

We could not confirm a Foley rule that lets you live in an RV or tiny home on a lot, and Planning and Development Services is the office to ask8. Foley's ordinance does make it unlawful to camp on public or private property in the corporate limits or police jurisdiction without the owner's or tenant's express consent5; that rule is about camping and does not answer whether a trailer can serve as a dwelling.

Foley's adopted building code includes an appendix for tiny houses, but we could not confirm that zoning allows every tiny-home form as a home. Alabama allows manufactured homes meeting the state definition and connected to required utilities as residences20, though a city's zoning district can still limit where they go.

Building a home in Foley: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district with Planning and Development Services and check lot size and setbacks for that district8.
  2. Confirm the lot is an approved subdivision lot or fronts an approved public or private street, because Foley will not issue a building permit for a new habitable structure otherwise21.
  3. Ask the Baldwin County Health Department about sewer or septic for the address18.
  4. If the lot is in a special flood hazard area, plan for the elevation rules: Foley sets a minimum elevation of 2 feet above base flood elevation in the designated A zones22.
  5. Apply for the building permit and pay the fee before starting work1.
  6. Schedule inspections with 24 hours' notice14.
  7. Get the certificate of occupancy before moving in15.

What stays with Baldwin County, and what to check before you buy in Foley

City rules end at the city limits. For land outside Foley, Baldwin County's building, zoning and septic rules apply instead, so use the Baldwin County page for those parcels. Septic permits for new or repaired systems come from the Baldwin County Health Department in either case17.

County-level numbers to keep in mind: Baldwin County's effective property tax rate is 0.3%, with a median bill of $881 a year2324. Annual rainfall averages 64 inches25, and typical home insurance runs about $2,281 a year26. Before you buy, ask the city about flood zone status, because Foley regulates development in special flood hazard areas and coastal high hazard areas22. Owner-builders should know that Alabama has a state licensing exemption for owners building their own home7, but we could not confirm a separate owner-builder exemption from Foley's own building permit, so ask the Building Department13.

Watch-outs

  • Foley's zoning varies by district, so lot size, setbacks and height for one parcel can differ sharply from the Restricted Residential numbers27.
  • A City of Foley permit does not replace septic approval; confirm sewer or septic with the Baldwin County Health Department18.
  • Foley's city limits and its police jurisdiction are not the same area, and the camping ordinance reaches both5.
  • We could not confirm Foley's current rules on short-term rentals, private wells or minimum house size; ask Planning and Development Services before you rely on any of them8.

Sources

  1. Permit Fees (Foley), quoted and re-checked
  2. Code of Ordinances - City of Foley (Foley), quoted and re-checked
  3. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 4-1 - Technical codes adopted; amendments (Foley), quoted and re-checked
  4. Building Department - City of Foley (Foley), quoted and re-checked
  5. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 11-151 - Camping prohibited; exceptions (Foley), quoted and re-checked
  6. Soil and Onsite Sewage (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Exemptions (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. City of Foley Planning and Development Services (cityoffoley.org)
  9. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 14.1 - Residential Districts (Foley), quoted and re-checked
  10. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 14.1 - Residential Districts (Foley), quoted and re-checked
  11. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 14.1 - Residential Districts (Foley), quoted and re-checked
  12. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 14.1 - Residential Districts (Foley), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of Foley Building Department (cityoffoley.org)
  14. Building Department - City of Foley (Foley), quoted and re-checked
  15. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 4-1 - Technical codes adopted; amendments (Foley), quoted and re-checked
  16. Onsite Sewage Disposal (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Onsite Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  18. Baldwin County Health Department (Environmental and Vital Statistics) (alabamapublichealth.gov)
  19. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  20. What are the requirements for titling a manufactured home? (Alabama statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 4-1 - Technical codes adopted; amendments (Foley), quoted and re-checked
  22. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 4-36 - Specific technical standards (Foley), quoted and re-checked
  23. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Planning and Development Services - City of Foley (Foley), quoted and re-checked

Written October 15, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Foley

Foley’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction and construction-related activity inside Foley city limits for which a City building permit is required.

    • The fee must be paid before commencement of work.
    • Permit requirements vary by project type and applicable code.
    “Each person, firm, corporation or other entity engaged in any construction or construction-related activity for which a City building permit is required shall, before the commencement of work, pay the appropriate building permit fee.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction inside Foley city limits.

    • The ordinance includes listed amendments and exclusions.

    building code edition: 2024 International Building Code (Together with Appendices B, C, and I, subject to amendments and exclusions.) · residential code edition: 2024 International Residential Code (Together with the Coastal Construction Supplement and adopted appendices, subject to amendments and exclusions.)

    “International Building Code, 2024 Edition, together with Appendices B (Board of Appeals), C (Group U - Agricultural Buildings), and I (Patio Covers);”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Foley city limits.

    • The City prefers at least 24-hour notice for scheduling an inspection.
    • Inspections occur under the applicable adopted codes and permit conditions.

    preferred inspection notice: >= 24 hours (The city states it prefers at least 24-hour notice.)

    “How much time is needed to schedule an inspection? We prefer at least a 24-hour notice for scheduling inspections.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New or completed buildings inside Foley city limits where occupancy approval is required under the adopted building code.

    • The building official issues the certificate after inspection and approval from the city's environmental, fire, and engineering departments.
    • A certificate of completion does not authorize occupancy or utility connection before a certificate of occupancy.
    “After the building official inspects the building or structure and does not find violations of the provisions of this code or other applicable laws enforced by the department, and after receiving approval for occupancy from the city's environmental, fire, and engineering departments, the building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy containing the following:”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Foley city limits.

    • The City of Foley code and zoning ordinance apply within the city boundaries.
    “The Zoning Ordinance contains uses allowed, setbacks, area requirements and other information relating to the zoning district.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Foley city limits.

    • The city states that its GIS depicts current zoning districts.
    • The applicable uses, setbacks, and area requirements vary by zoning district.
    “The Zoning Ordinance contains uses allowed, setbacks, area requirements and other information relating to the zoning district.”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Camping on public or private property in Foley's corporate limits or police jurisdiction.

    • Camping on public property requires express permission of the city council or mayor.
    • Camping on privately owned property requires express consent of the owner or tenant.
    • The cited ordinance also covers parks, rights-of-way, and other city-owned property.
    “It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally or knowingly camp on publicly or privately owned property in the corporate limits or police jurisdiction of the City of Foley without the express consent of the owner or tenant of the property.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and development inside Foley city limits.

    • Requirements vary by subdivision type.
    • Applications and deadlines are handled through the city's planning process and Citizenserve portal.
    “What is needed to subdivide my property? It varies based on the type of subdivision requested. The Subdivision Regulations contain information related to the process and requirements.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New construction or expansion of a habitable structure inside Foley city limits.

    • The lot must have been approved as a subdivision lot, have frontage on an approved public or private street, or have approved and improved access to a public right-of-way via easement or private street.
    • The access must be perpetually maintained by others to City of Foley road-construction standards.
    “no building permit shall be issued for the new construction or expansion of a habitable structure unless the structure is located on a lot which: (1) has previously been approved as a subdivision lot by a Planning Commission; or (2) has frontage directly on a public or private street that was approved by a Planning Commission; or (3) has access to a public right-of-way via an easement or private street over the land of others that obtained prior approval and has been improved and that shall perpetually be maintained by others to the road construction standards of the City of Foley”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in Foley special flood hazard areas and coastal high hazard areas.

    • In A, AE, and AH areas with BFE data, residential and nonresidential structures must meet the cited elevation and floodproofing standards.
    • In approximate A-zones, Zone A development must meet the cross-referenced requirements.
    • Coastal high hazard areas have additional pile, column, shear-wall, anchoring, breakaway-wall, and elevation requirements.

    minimum elevation above BFE: >= 2 feet (For the lowest floor in the cited A, AE, and AH provisions.)

    “In all special flood hazard areas designated as A, AE, AH (with engineered or estimated BFE), the following provisions are required:”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    City building-permit process inside Foley city limits.

    • Many services are handled online through Citizenserve.
    • The city states processing averages seven to ten days, varying by project complexity.
    • The city prefers at least 24-hour notice for inspection scheduling.

    average processing time: 7-10 days (The city says the time varies according to project complexity.)

    “How long will it take to process the application? The time frame varies according to complexity of the project. On average it is seven to ten days.”

Rules another office applies inside Foley

Foley does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Foley R-1R Restricted Residential Single Family district.

    • The ordinance states the lot area may instead meet Health Department requirements.

    minimum lot area: >= 30000 square feet (or meet Health Department requirements)

    “Minimum Lot Area 30,000 square feet* Minimum Lot Width at Building Line 100 feet Minimum Depth of Front Yard 35 feet Minimum Depth of Rear Yard 30 feet”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Foley R-1R Restricted Residential Single Family district.

    • The cited section also provides a 75-foot waterfront setback, a 30-foot side-yard setback abutting a street, and a 10-foot rear-yard setback with a pool/screen enclosure.

    front yard setback: >= 35 feet · rear yard setback: >= 30 feet (10 feet with pool/screen enclosure) · side yard setback: >= 10 feet · waterfront setback: >= 75 feet · side yard abutting street: >= 30 feet

    “Minimum Depth of Front Yard 35 feet Minimum Depth of Rear Yard 30 feet Minimum Depth of Rear Yard with Pool/Screen Enclosure 10 feet Minimum Waterfront Setback Line 75 feet Minimum Width of each Side Yard 10 feet Minimum Depth of Side Yard Abutting Street 30 feet”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Foley R-1R Restricted Residential Single Family district.

    maximum building area: <= 25 percent of gross lot area

    “Maximum Building Area (% Gross Lot Area): 25% Maximum Building Height (feet): 50 feet Maximum Building Height (stories): 2 stories”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Foley R-1R Restricted Residential Single Family district.

    • The district also limits buildings to two stories.

    maximum building height: <= 50 feet · maximum building height: <= 2 stories

    “Maximum Building Height (feet): 50 feet Maximum Building Height (stories): 2 stories”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Foley or Baldwin County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction inside Foley city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential dwellings inside Foley city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Foley city limits.
  • Septic permit — Septic systems inside Foley city limits.
  • Septic inspection — Septic systems inside Foley city limits.
5 more unanswered
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Foley publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Baldwin County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Baldwin County: county rules, score and offices