Public Notice: Proposed Amendments to the Jefferson County Zoning Resolution
The Jefferson County Commission will consider proposed amendments to the Jefferson County Zoning Resolution in an effort to align local development regulations with the policies recently adopted in the Forward Together Comprehensive Plan for Jefferson County.
The goal of the zoning ordinance is to enable economic development balanced with natural and rural conservation.
Provisions of the update include:
- Workforce housing
- Mixed-use and master planned developments
- Disaster resiliency
- Economic and fiscal impact analysis
- Sensitive areas and agricultural preservation
- Economic cluster districts
- Transportation-oriented development
The ordinance update includes administrative corrections based on previous variance cases.
Public Hearing Information
Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Jefferson County Courthouse – Commission Chambers, 2nd Floor
716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Opportunities for Public Comment
Citizens may provide feedback in one of the following ways:
- In person at the hearing
- Submit comments via email to: contact_zoning@jccal.org
The hearing will also be live-streamed on the County’s website and our social media channels for those who wish to watch remotely. Comments posted on social media during the meeting will not be considered as feedback.
Viewing the Proposed Changes
Links to the proposed zoning regulations changes for review are below
- Additions/modifications to the zoning text are highlighted in light blue
- deletions to the text are struck through and/or in red
Click here to view the full proposed zoning amendments (PDF)
Director: Joshua Johnson
- ePermitJC Online Permitting
- On-Line Permitting Helpful Resources page.-
- Public Hearings Calendar
- Consolidated Fee Schedule
Mission Statement: Development Services is a customer focused department that facilitates investment in the County and promotes orderly growth and environmental quality to create a balanced, sustainable community, one that enhances quality of life and protects the health, safety, and welfare of residents, business owners and visitors.
- Forward Together is a comprehensive update and replanning of unincorporated Jefferson County, Alabama, planning and zoning guidelines. It is reflective of citizen feedback provided in community meetings and responds to the critical need for a cohesive growth and development strategy that is both visionary and practical, accounting for the diverse geographic, economic, and social contexts that define the County. The plan serves as a roadmap for managing development and conservation in Jefferson County’s unincorporated areas. It supports context-sensitive development, promotes mixed-use and walkable environments where appropriate, and reinforces rural and agricultural identity in outlying areas.
This plan was adopted at the Public Hearing held on September 11, 2025.
Forward Together: Jefferson County, AL Comprehensive Plan
Forward Together: Jefferson County, AL Future Land Use Map - Online Permitting
Development Services is entirely digital. All permits and applications are available electronically and all payments may be made online, thus reducing, if not eliminating your need to visit in person. Permits, zoning amendments, subdivision, beverage cases, site plan and all other applications may be applied for online at our online portal, ePermitJC. Architectural, Trade and Site Plans are requested to be submitted electronically in Adobe PDF format, uploaded during your application process. Plans will be reviewed digitally giving you instant access 24/7 to staff review comments.
Inspection requests for building permits may be made by calling our IVR system at 205-918-7762, by texting “Schedule” to 844-752-6068, or through the website at ePermitJC. For older permits, call our staff at 205-325-5321, “Option 1”. IVR, SelecTXT and ePermitJC options are available to you 24/7.
Learn how to create a new account and discover helpful resources for online permitting with Jefferson County on our ePermitJC Info page. If you are actively pulling permits in person and would like to start applying on online, you will need to connect your registered professional license to your ePermitJC account, here's how. - Consolidated Fees
On November 5, 2020, the Development Services Fees were consolidated into one fee ordinance, Ord 6349, which supersedes any previous fees. You may find this consolidated Fee Schedule document here. - Amendments to the Building, Fuel Gas, Plumbing, and Electrical Code Ordinances
On July 9, 2020, the Jefferson County Commission adopted amendments to the previously adopted Building, Fuel Gas, Plumbing, and Electrical Code Ordinances. Read more
Office Hours:
Monday to Friday
7:30 am to 4:30 pm (Except on Holidays)
Address:
Jefferson County Courthouse Suite B200
716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N.
Birmingham, AL 35203
General Information: The core functions of the Development Services Department include:
Building
- Residential and Commercial Permitting
- Land Disturbance
Planning
- Subdivisions
- Zoning
- Site Plan Review & Processing
- Comprehensive Planning
- Strategic Planning
- Future Land Use Map
- Beverage Licensing
Site Plan Review
Code Enforcement (zoning and litter)
Stormwater
- Water Quality
- NPDES and MS4 Stormwater Management
- Erosion and Sedimentation Control, Permitting, and Enforcement
- Environmental Education
- FEMA Flood Zone Administration
GIS
- Address Assignment and 911 Database Support
- GIS Mapping and Historical Research (aerial photography)
The Jefferson County Development Services department maintains the official zoning map of Jefferson County. Only this office has the OFFICIAL zoning of unincorporated county property; zoning information obtained from ANY other source, including other County Departments, should be verified through our office before taking any kind of action.
Regulations and Ordinances
Click here to visit our page of information about and copies of the Jefferson County regulations & ordinances.
Publications
Click here to visit our page with printable brochures, forms and other publications with information about Zoning, Dividing Property,
Enforcement, Floodplain and other functions of Development Services.
Inspections - Option 1
Permit/Plans Review Questions - Option 2
Engineering - Option 3
Planning/Zoning/Public Hearings - Option 4
Subdivisions - Option 5
Code Enforcement - Option 6
Additional Assistance - Option 9
Reach staff by name - Option 0
Stormwater Hotline - 205-325-5792
Zoning/Litter Violations - 205-582-6555
Fax - 205-325-5516
