Where the facts come from
We start with original records: Alabama statutes and agency rules, city and county codes, NOAA and FEMA data, Corps and ADEM documents and public bid sheets. Each fact is stored with its publisher, link, effective date and limits. The current set was verified on October 31, 2026.
For example, the rule that a bulkhead or dock in unincorporated Baldwin County is applied for as a marine accessory flood permit comes straight from the county checklist. Baldwin County marine accessory checklist Claims we cannot confirm on a primary source stay off the pages.
Storm and tide figures keep their reference
A water level means little without its reference. We report each reading with its gauge, datum and storm. An example is feet above mean higher high water (the average of daily higher high tides) at a named NOAA station.
For example, the Corps tide-gage table lists Ivan at 8.8 feet NGVD at Perdido Pass. Corps tide-gage table The storm guide lists each event with its source.
Fees, forms and prices stay dated
Official forms lag behind fee schedules. ADEM Form 328 still prints a $700 fee for a seawall, while ADEM's schedule adopted for October 15, 2026 lists $2,545. ADEM Form 328 ADEM Fee Schedule B
When two sources disagree, we use the newer one and say so. Price ranges come from public bids and named guides, and each carries its date and scope. The cost guide shows them.
How corrections work
If you spot an error, send the page, the sentence and a link to the source. We check it against the primary record and fix the page if the record agrees. Changes to rules, fees or phone numbers are dated when we make them.
- Facts are rechecked when an agency changes a rule or fee.
- Pages show only what a source supports.
- See the disclosure page for how the site works.
The responsible publisher
Published by Orange Beach Seawall. Editorial contact: contact@orangebeachseawall.com.
Built on Baldwin County permit rules, Alabama coastal law, public records and storm data.
Show sourcesHide sources
- Permit Application Checklists | Baldwin County Building DepartmentSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Hurricane Ivan - September 16, 2004 (Table 3, observed storm surge data, courtesy USACE Mobile District)Source reviewed 2026-10-31
- ADEM Form 328, Application for a Permit for the Construction of Single Family Dwellings, Duplexes, or Other Similar Structures on Properties Intersected by the Construction Control Line (rev. 5/14)Source reviewed 2026-10-31
- ADEM Admin. Code Chapter 335-1-6 Application Fees, adopted rule effective October 15, 2026Source reviewed 2026-10-31