In force in Alabama

Fire, building, elevator, boiler and pool codes in force in Alabama now.

Who enforces each one, what edition applies, and what changes next. 7 of 7 areas verified on primary sources. Federal OSHA state.

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In force in Alabama now

Statewide · county and city rules sit on top
AreaIn forceAuthorityNext
Fire2021 International Fire Code (IFC), Ala. Admin. Code ch. 482-2-101, effective Jan 1, 2025Applies prospectively to projects contracted after each rule's effective date, not retroactively. The chapter's parallel 2015 IBC adoption was repealed Jan 1, 2023; a 2015 International Existing Building Code (482-2-109) still governs existing-building alterations. SourceVerified on the sourceState Fire Marshal (Alabama Dept of Insurance), statewide via district deputies; local fire departments also inspect and enforce locallyFee rule update Jan 1, 2027Permit-fee regs update Jan 1, 2027 (ch. 482-2-105/106/107/108); the 2015 IEBC (482-2-109) has not been updated to match the 2021 IFC cycle
Building2021 International Building Code, Ala. Admin. Code ch. 355-12-1, amended eff. Mar 17, 2025Covers only state-owned/state-funded buildings, public and private schools (25+ occupants), hotels with 15+ bedrooms, and movie theaters; all other private construction is set by local jurisdictions, not this code. SourceVerified on the sourceAlabama Dept of Finance, Division of Construction Management (plan review, inspection for covered buildings); municipalities/counties set codes for everything elseIn forceMar 17, 2025 amendment folded in select 2024 IBC provisions; no further edition or date scheduled on DCM's page
ElevatorsAla. Code Title 25 Ch. 13 + rules 480-8-1/2/3; Board auto-adopts the newest ASME A17.1/A17.3 (and CSA B44) about 6 months after ASME publishes it (480-8-2-.03(1)), not a fixed edition yearAnnual inspection by a licensed inspector using ASME A17.1 Category 1 tests (Sec. 25-13-24); violations get 30 days to fix. Operating certificate renews annually; inspector/contractor license renews every 2 years. SourceVerified on the sourceAlabama Dept of Labor, Elevator Safety Division (licenses inspectors/contractors, issues operating certificates)In forceNo dated edition change; A17.1/A17.3 roll forward automatically under 480-8-2-.03(1) as ASME issues new editions
BoilersBoiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act (Act 2000-315, Ala. Code Title 25 Ch. 12) + rule 480-7-5; adopts ASME BPVC Sec. I/IV/VIII and the NBIC by reference, no single edition year stated in the rule text reviewedCertificate-inspection cadence by type: power/high-pressure water boilers annually; low-pressure steam heating boilers biennially with internal inspection every 4 years; hot-water heating/supply boilers and pressure vessels biennially. SourceVerified on the sourceAlabama Dept of Labor, Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety DivisionIn forceIn force; no pending amendment found on primary pages
Poolsunknown as a single state code: no statewide ADPH pool/spa chapter found; county boards of health (e.g., Shelby, Baldwin Cos.) each adopt their own public-pool/spa construction and operation rulesCoverage and water-chemistry specifics vary by county rather than one state code. Statewide, ADPH's hotel rule (ch. 420-3-11) separately requires hotel pools to keep a shepherd's crook and life buoy. SourceVerified on the sourceCounty boards of health / county health departments set and enforce pool rules; ADPH sets a statewide hotel-pool equipment baselineIn forceIn force; no statewide pool-specific amendment found
LodgingAla. Admin. Code ch. 420-3-11 (Construction, Maintenance, and Operation of Hotels) - statewide ADPH hotel permit and sanitation codeState Health Officer is ex officio State Hotel Inspector. Hotels need an ADPH permit and annual inspection (more often if score is under 85), quarterly-tested smoke detectors in every guest room, and code-compliant construction. SourceVerified on the sourceAlabama Dept of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental and Health Service Standards; county health departments issue permits and inspect locallyIn forceIn force; no pending amendment found on primary pages
WorkplaceFederal OSHA jurisdiction - Alabama has no OSHA-approved State PlanCovers most private-sector employers directly under federal OSHA (Region IV). State and local government employees have no OSHA coverage at all, since no state plan extends it to them. SourceVerified on the sourceFederal OSHA (Region IV)In force

Dated items in Alabama

Next 24 months
Jan 1, 2027
New fee-schedule versions take effect for State Fire Marshal permits: fireworks, explosives, cigarette certification, and fire-alarm permits (regs 482-2-105/106/107/108)Alabama State Fire Marshal (Dept of Insurance)
Dated

Questions about Alabama

Which fire code is in force in Alabama?

2021 International Fire Code (IFC), Ala. Admin. Code ch. 482-2-101, effective Jan 1, 2025. Applies prospectively to projects contracted after each rule's effective date, not retroactively. The chapter's parallel 2015 IBC adoption was repealed Jan 1, 2023; a 2015 International Existing Building Code (482-2-109) still governs existing-building alterations. Enforced by: State Fire Marshal (Alabama Dept of Insurance), statewide via district deputies; local fire departments also inspect and enforce locally.

Which building code applies in Alabama?

2021 International Building Code, Ala. Admin. Code ch. 355-12-1, amended eff. Mar 17, 2025. Covers only state-owned/state-funded buildings, public and private schools (25+ occupants), hotels with 15+ bedrooms, and movie theaters; all other private construction is set by local jurisdictions, not this code. Enforced by: Alabama Dept of Finance, Division of Construction Management (plan review, inspection for covered buildings); municipalities/counties set codes for everything else.

Who inspects elevators and boilers in Alabama?

Elevators: Alabama Dept of Labor, Elevator Safety Division (licenses inspectors/contractors, issues operating certificates) (Ala. Code Title 25 Ch. 13 + rules 480-8-1/2/3; Board auto-adopts the newest ASME A17.1/A17.3 (and CSA B44) about 6 months after ASME publishes it (480-8-2-.03(1)), not a fixed edition year). Boilers: Alabama Dept of Labor, Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Division (Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act (Act 2000-315, Ala. Code Title 25 Ch. 12) + rule 480-7-5; adopts ASME BPVC Sec. I/IV/VIII and the NBIC by reference, no single edition year stated in the rule text reviewed).

Is Alabama a federal OSHA state or a state-plan state?

Alabama is a federal-OSHA state: the U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA enforces workplace safety rules directly.

What changes next in Alabama?

Fire: Fee rule update Jan 1, 2027 (Permit-fee regs update Jan 1, 2027 (ch. 482-2-105/106/107/108); the 2015 IEBC (482-2-109) has not been updated to match the 2021 IFC cycle); Jan 1, 2027: New fee-schedule versions take effect for State Fire Marshal permits: fireworks, explosives, cigarette certification, and fire-alarm permits (regs 482-2-105/106/107/108).

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