Alabama Airport Hazard Zoning — Title 4 Chapter 6 Enabling and Limits (AL)
Tracked preemption from the Alabama overlay bundle.
Overview
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Effective
1975-01-01
Sunset
—
Authority
state
Scope
state:AL
Other Alabama preemptions
Alabama Short-Term Rentals — No State Preemption (April 2026)Alabama Density / ADU / Inclusionary Zoning / Design Review — No State PreemptionAlabama Black Belt National Heritage Area — Non-Regulatory Heritage DesignationAlabama Land Recycling & Economic Redevelopment Act — Voluntary Brownfield CleanupSelma to Montgomery National Historic Trail — NPS Viewshed Compatible-Use AdvisoryMobile Bay National Estuary Program — CCMP Coordination (Non-Regulatory)Alabama Group-Home Preemption — Multi-Family District InclusionAlabama Manufactured Housing — No Zoning Preemption (Title 40/24 govern taxation, installation)
Trigger predicate
When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.
OR
city.airport_influence_zonesattribute is presentparcel.in_airport_approach_or_clearance_surface==True
Preempted fields
3 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.
| Field | Op | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
base_districts[*].airport_hazard_permit_required | override | True | §4-6-8: airport zoning regulations may require a permit before any new structure or use is constructed, or any existing structure substantially altered, within the regulated airport hazard area. |
base_districts[*].max_height_ft | cap_at | faa_part_77_or_local_hazard_zone_surface | §4-6-8: no permit may be granted creating an airport hazard or making a nonconforming structure higher / a greater hazard to navigation than it was when the regulation was adopted. |
zoning_decision_procedure.airport_variance_requires_administrative_agency | override | True | Variances available where literal application produces practical difficulty / unnecessary hardship and relief is not contrary to the public interest; hazard marking and lighting may be imposed as conditions. |
Citation
Authority source
Ala. Code §§4-6-1 through 4-6-15 (Airport Zoning); §4-6-8 (permits, variances, hazard marking)
§ §§4-6-1 et seq.; §4-6-8
Research notes
Enabling-act-style preemption. Cities and counties operating airports, or near airports, are authorized to adopt airport hazard zoning under §4-6-1 et seq. Layered on top: federal FAA Part 77 imaginary surfaces (14 CFR Part 77) and DoD AICUZ for military airfields. Major AL airports/airfields: Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (BHM), Huntsville International (HSV), Mobile Regional (MOB)/Brookley Aeroplex (BFM), Montgomery Regional (MGM), Dothan Regional (DHN), and military airfields at Redstone Arsenal, Maxwell AFB (Montgomery), Fort Novosel (Cairns AAF, Dale County), Anniston Army Depot. Federal conflict check on for Part 77 overlap.