Duties & Responsibilities

The City of Phenix City Building Department covers Phenix City limits and its police jurisdiction. The police jurisdiction is a 1.5-mile area outside of the city limits in Russell County. Although we have property annexed into Phenix City that is located in Lee County and we abut the Lee County line, there is no police jurisdiction in Lee County.

Primary Functions

The primary functions of the Phenix City Building Department are as follows:

  • Review of all residential and commercial plans of new construction and alterations to an existing structure for code compliance
  • Issue permits for building, electrical, plumbing, gas fitting, HVAC / mechanical, Certificates of Occupancy, swimming pools, demolition, signs, house moving, and fences
  • Field inspections on permits to ensure code compliance
  • Property maintenance / condemnation of structures
  • Environmental issues – junk cars, weeds, etc.
  • Enforce local ordinances / codes
  • Business license enforcement
  • Zoning – types, special exceptions, variances, zoning ordinance

Current Code Editions

Full copies of the current code editions are available for review at the Building Department.

  • International Building Code – 2021 Edition with Alabama Commercial Energy Code Amendments to include Appendixes A, B, C, E, F, H, I, and J.
  • International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings – 2021 Edition with Alabama Residential Building and Energy Code amendments, to include Appendixes AA, AB, AC, AD, AE, AF, AG, AH, AJ, AK, and AM; Amend R315 – Carbon Monoxide Detectors required in all Dwelling Units.
  • International Energy Conservation Code – 2021 Edition.
  • International Fire Code – 2021 Edition with Appendixes A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and N (Delete Section D107).
  • International Mechanical Code – 2021 Edition with Appendix A.
  • International Fuel Gas Code – 2021 Edition with all Appendixes.
  • International Plumbing Code – 2021 Edition with Appendix, B, C, D, and E.
  • International Property Maintenance Code – 2021 Edition (Delete Section 111.2), which code shall be inapplicable in the police jurisdiction.
  • International Existing Building Code – 2021 Edition.
  • International Swimming Pool and Spa Code – 2021 Edition.
  • ICC A117.1 – Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities – 2017 Edition.
  • National Electrical Code – 2020 Edition.

Ordinance

Current code editions are in accordance with Ordinance 2023-09 passed, approved and adopted July 18th, 2023 and shall take effect and be in force August 1, 2023, the public welfare requiring it.