Alabama Density / ADU / Inclusionary Zoning / Design Review — No State Preemption (AL)

Tracked preemption from the Alabama overlay bundle.

Overview

Effective
2026-04-18
Sunset
Authority
state
Scope
state:AL

Trigger predicate

When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.

never true

Preempted fields

0 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.

Citation

Authority source
Alabama Legislature 2023-2026 sessions — no enacted state preemption on density, ADU, inclusionary zoning, or design review
§ No CA SB 9 / TX SB 840 / MT SB 528 analog enacted in 2024RS, 2025RS, or 2026RS
https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/

Research notes

Tracked as explicit non-preemption. Alabama's strict Dillon's Rule means cities retain full delegated authority on density, ADU permitting, inclusionary zoning, and design review under Chapter 52. HB 281 / Act 2025-331 (2025RS) amended only §11-52-81 BZA appeal procedure (30-day window, de novo circuit review) — procedural, not substantive. 2026RS (adjourned April 9, 2026 per ALISON) produced no comprehensive housing-preemption bill. SB 308 (2026RS) restructured the Strengthen Alabama Homes program (DOI hardening / insurance) — not zoning. Re-verify each session.