Call the permit office for your parcel
| Office | Phone | What it handles |
|---|---|---|
Orange Beach Community Development | (251) 981-2610 | Bulkhead site and marine accessory permits |
Orange Beach Coastal Resources | (251) 981-1063 | Gulf-front coastal use, beach ordinances |
Gulf Shores Building Department | (251) 968-1150 | Bulkhead and pier permits in the city |
Baldwin County Building Department | (251) 972-6837 | Unincorporated areas and three towns |
Foley Building Department | (251) 952-4011 | Foley permits and riparian structure permits |
Fairhope Building Inspection | (251) 990-0153 | Permits inside Fairhope |
Spanish Fort Building Department | (251) 626-4993 | Permits inside Spanish Fort |
Orange Beach Community Development handles permits inside the city, and Coastal Resources also handles wildlife lighting. The three towns are Elberta, Magnolia Springs and Perdido Beach. Foley's riparian structure permits run through its Environmental Department, and Spanish Fort lists no marine-specific form.
Check the county parcel map first. Properties in a city are permitted by that city, and the rest by Baldwin County. Baldwin County permit jurisdiction
State and federal permit offices
| Agency | Phone | What it handles |
|---|---|---|
ADEM Coastal Program | (251) 304-1176 | Coastal permits and consistency review |
State Lands Coastal Section | (251) 621-1216 | Consent of Use, easements, dredge permits |
Corps of Engineers Mobile District | (251) 690-2658 | Federal permits via Regulatory Request System |
Fish and Wildlife Service Daphne office | (251) 441-5181 | Beach mouse, sea turtle and species checks |
ADEM is at 1615 South Broad Street, Mobile, and the State Lands Coastal Section is in Spanish Fort.
Most in-water work needs all three of ADEM, State Lands and the Corps, so call early. ADEM coastal program
Parcel, deed and permit records
- Revenue Commission property search: by name, parcel, subdivision or address, help line (251) 937-0245. Baldwin County Revenue Commission
- Probate Office records: deeds and mortgages from 1899, with offices in Bay Minette, Fairhope and Foley. Baldwin County Probate Office Baldwin County Probate offices
- Baldwin County permits: permit history and a public records request page. Baldwin County permit reports
- ADEM eFile: searchable ADEM documents by county, including Baldwin. ADEM eFile
Public records requests follow the Alabama Open Records Act, with a 10-day acknowledgment for a standard request. Code of Alabama 36-12-44
Check flood zones and maps
FEMA's Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov) holds the current flood maps. Baldwin County has 216 map panels, all effective April 19, 2019. FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer
Orange Beach tells owners to use the Baldwin County map. FEMA Community Status Book
Tide stations and gauges
NOAA runs no live water-level gauge on the Baldwin County shore. Tide predictions exist for Alabama Point at Perdido Pass (8730667), Wolf Bay (8730849), Arnica Bay (8730561), the Gulf State Park Pier (8731269) and Point Clear (8733821). NOAA CO-OPS station list
For live readings, watch Dauphin Island (8735180) and the Mobile Bay gauges. NOAA CO-OPS station list
License lookups
- Home Builders Licensure Board: online search and a hotline at 800-304-0853. Home Builders Licensure Board
- General Contractors Board: license search at licensesearch.alabama.gov/genconbd, phone (334) 272-5030. General Contractors Board
See the contractor check guide and the project planner.
Show sourcesHide sources
- Permit Portal | Orange Beach, ALSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Coastal Resources | Orange Beach, ALSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Building Permits | Gulf Shores, ALSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Contact Us | Baldwin County Building DepartmentSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Building Department | City of FoleySource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Building and Permitting | City of Fairhope, ALSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- BUILDING DEPARTMENT | City of Spanish FortSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Permitting FAQs | Baldwin County Building DepartmentSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Alabama Coastal Area Management Program (ADEM Coastal Program page)Source reviewed 2026-10-31
- Contact Us (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources)Source reviewed 2026-10-31
- South Atlantic Division > Missions > Regulatory > AlabamaSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Contact Us, Alabama Ecological Services Field OfficeSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Search For Property - AssuranceWeb Property (Baldwin County Revenue Commissioner)Source reviewed 2026-10-31
- Recording | Baldwin County Probate OfficeSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Contact Us | Baldwin County Probate OfficeSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Search Permits, Reports, Certificates of Occupancy, & Elevation Certificates | Baldwin County Building DepartmentSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- eFile: MainSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- SB270 Enrolled (2024 Regular Session), enacted as Act 2024-278, amending Code of Alabama Sections 36-12-40 and 36-12-41 and adding 36-12-43 to 36-12-46Source reviewed 2026-10-31
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) map service, layer 3 FIRM PanelsSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Community Status Book Report: Alabama, Communities Participating in the National Flood Program (report date 10/31/2026)Source reviewed 2026-10-31
- CO-OPS Metadata API: water level stationsSource reviewed 2026-10-31
- Contact Us (Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board)Source reviewed 2026-10-31
- Contact (Alabama State Licensing Board for General Contractors)Source reviewed 2026-10-31