No additional regulations or requirements are imposed by state or
local governments. Etowah County is in compliance with federal ambient
air quality standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency.
There are no Class I air quality maintenance areas nearby.
If your project requires an air permit, the average length of time
it takes is 60-120 days following submission of a completed application.
The major steps are: pre-application conference, application submission,
technical review and compliance determination, recommendation of permit
issuance, public comment period, public hearing (if needed), evaluation
of comments and final permit decision.
If your project will
discharge 25,000 gallons per day or more into a municipal sanitary sewer
system, federal law requires you to obtain a State Indirect Discharge
Permit.
Building
No building permits are required in unincorporated portions of Etowah
County. Most municipalities do require building permits. The City of
Gadsden Building Department typically approves site plans in one day
and building plans within five days. The city follows the guidelines
set forth in the 2003 International Building Code, 2003 International
Plumbing Code, 2003 International Mechanical Code, 2003 International
Fuel Gas Code, 2003 International Fire Code, and 2005 International
Electrical Code.
Click http://www.cityofgadsden.com/Sites/S11/Documents/Building/BDsch.pdf for
more information and a link to a fee schedule. Most industrial sites
are in an enterprise zone,
allowing a 50% reduction in building permit fees.
Building contractors must be licensed to do business in Alabama and
file proof of a general liability insurance policy, including products
and completed operations coverage, with minimum limits of $100,000
for personal injury, death and property damage.
Storm Water Runoff
In accordance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II
requirements, a storm water runoff permit is required if a development
exceeds one or more acres. Applications are available at the Planning and
Engineering Department of the City of Gadsden in Room 302 of City Hall.
The application fee is $25.00. Details are at www.cityofgadsden.com/Sites/S11/Documents/Planning/Phase%202/2005068.2.Stormwater.doc.
Zoning
Property in unincorporated portions of Etowah County is not zoned.
Most municipalities have zoning ordinances. In Gadsden, for example,
industrial property is zoned either I-1 (Light Industrial) or I-2 (Heavy
Industrial). In both cases, the maximum building site coverage is 75%;
setbacks are 25 feet in the front and 15 feet in the sides and rear. The parking standard is one space per peak shift employee.
Examples of uses permitted by right in I-1 zones are: assembly, printing,
cabinet making, mattress manufacturing, and orthopedic brace and limb
production. Examples of uses permitted by right in I-2 zones are: air
products, chemicals, insulation, rubber, metal ingot and glass manufacturing.
Examples of uses permitted by right in both zones are: tool manufacturing,
welding shop, plastics fabrication, gasket production and metal products
machining.
Noise
For property zoned I-1 or I-2, no person shall operate or cause to
be operated any source of sound in such a manner as to create a sound
level which exceeds a one-hour average sound level limit of 75 dB(A)
when measured at or within the property boundary of the receiving land
use.
Safety and Health
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has jurisdiction
in Alabama; there are no additional state, county or city regulations.
Labor
Alabama is a Right to Work state. There are no state or local wage
and hour laws, other than for child labor. There are no state or
local regulations pertaining to family and medical leave. The state
requires employers to notify the Alabama Department of Economic
and Community Affairs of reductions of more than 50 jobs, or of
more than a third of the employees in one location.
