Plumbing and HVAC rules in Alabama

Plumbers in Alabama hold master or journeyman certificates from the Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board. Commercial or public plumbing jobs of $100,000 or more also need a subcontractor license from the state's general contractors board.^{1, 2, 3}

Contractors who install, service or repair heating and cooling systems or commercial refrigeration in Alabama must pass an exam and be certified by the Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors. Window units are excluded.⁴

Alabama has no statewide plumbing code for private buildings: the 2021 International Plumbing Code applies to state-owned buildings, schools and hotels, and codes for other buildings are adopted locally.⁵ Alabama's mechanical code works the same way, with the 2021 International Mechanical Code for state-owned buildings, schools and hotels and local adoption for other buildings.⁵

Alabama has no statewide plumbing or mechanical code for private buildings, so the local building department sets the permit rules.⁵

If your home has a backflow preventer, your water utility can tell you whether it needs testing and who can test it.