Rules differ between the City of Tuscaloosa, other cities and the county, and they change. Confirm each point for your lot with the office named.

1. Find out who governs the lot

A Tuscaloosa mailing address does not tell you which government sets the rules. A lot may be inside the City of Tuscaloosa, inside another city, or in the county outside any city. Ask the seller, then confirm with the planning or permit office before you rely on the answer. The office that issues the building permit is the one whose rules apply.

2. Ask what may be built there

  • What is the zoning, and does it allow the house you have in mind?
  • How far must the house sit from each property line? The answer comes from the zoning office and from the recorded plat, and it is specific to the lot.
  • Are there easements across the lot for utilities, drainage or access?
  • Are there covenants or a homeowners association with rules on size, materials or design? These are private rules. They apply in addition to the government's.
  • Is the lot in a historic district? In the City of Tuscaloosa, historic projects go through Planning and Zoning.

3. Check access and utilities

  • Does the lot front a public road, and can a driveway be built where you need it?
  • Is public water available at the lot? Is power?
  • Is the lot served by a city or central sewer system?

4. If there is no sewer, ask about a septic system before you buy

The Alabama Department of Public Health advises buyers to check, before buying, whether the property is served by a city or central sewer system. If it is not, you need to know whether the lot has a suitable site for a septic system and room for a replacement area. The department's guide says soils can change within a short distance, so a neighbor's working system does not show that your lot is suitable.

  • Ask whether soil tests have been done, and get the results.
  • Ask your county health department whether the lot meets the minimum size.
  • For a subdivision lot, ask the county health department whether the developer has final approval for sewage disposal, water supply and solid waste.
  • A permit to install an onsite sewage system comes from the local health department. Ask that office what it needs for this lot.

5. Look at slope, water and flooding

The same state guide lists soil, seasonal ground water, nearness to a lake or stream, flooding, slope and water supply as things to consider before you place a house. Ask whether the lot is in a mapped flood area and whether a lake or watershed approval applies. In the City of Tuscaloosa, the Office of the City Engineer handles land development and watershed permits. A soil classifier or an engineer can answer questions a listing cannot.

6. Put a number on the site work before you compare lots

Two lots at the same price can cost different amounts to build on. Clearing, grading, a long driveway, utility connections and a septic system are part of the cost of the house. Ask your builder what site work each lot is likely to need before you choose between them. Our guide to comparing estimates explains how site work is described in a price.

What to bring when you talk to a builder about a lot

  • The address or parcel number, and the survey or plat if you have it.
  • Any soil, septic or flood information the seller has given you.
  • The covenants, if there are any.
  • Your house plan, or a list of the rooms you need and the size you expect.
  • How you want the house to sit: views, sun, garage and driveway.
  • The date by which you must decide on the lot.

If you are thinking about building a custom home, bring what you have learned about the lot to your first conversation with a builder.

Official sources