Do I need a permit for window replacement in
Northport, Alabama?

Northport window replacement—the key details

Northport's Building Department enforces the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC), which permits like-for-like window replacements without a permit in most cases. The exemption is codified in IRC R101.2 (Chapter 1 General), which allows 'ordinary repairs' and 'replacement of in-kind components' without plan review or permitting. For a window, 'in-kind' means the same sash type (single-hung, double-hung, casement, slider), the same rough-opening dimensions, and no change to egress or safety compliance. Northport's Building Department confirms this exemption in their FAQ and over-the-counter conversations; if you're doing a straight swap of a residential window—pulling out a 36-inch-by-48-inch double-hung and installing a new 36-by-48 double-hung with the same U-factor or better—no permit is required. However, this is not a license to ignore code. Replacement windows in Alabama climate zone 3A must meet or exceed the 2015 IECC window U-factor requirement of 0.32 for air conditioning zones (Northport is cooling-load dominated). If you install a window with a higher U-factor (worse insulation), technically you're not meeting code, but in practice, the city only catches this if a permit is pulled and the window is inspected. The key takeaway: exempt work doesn't mean uncode work—it just means the city isn't mandating an inspection.