HB690 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve McMillan

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Planning Commission, territorial jurisdiction outside corp. limits, exception in counties with population 400,000 or more, Sec. 11-52-30 am'd

Summary

HB690 would expand county control over land subdivisions outside city borders by raising the population threshold to 400,000+ (per the 2010 census) for county planning authority.

What This Bill Does

It changes the law so counties with 400,000 or more people can have the county planning and zoning commission regulate subdivisions outside municipalities, if municipalities aren’t actively exercising that power. It also lets those counties set minimum rules for layout, grading, paving, and utility work for subdivisions outside city limits, and applies to subdivisions within counties that have declined to exercise zoning jurisdiction. The bill keeps existing rules about five-mile jurisdiction, boundary lines where multiple municipalities are involved, and the need for maps to be approved by the appropriate officials before recording. It does not alter prohibitions on eminent domain or taxes outside municipality boundaries, and it takes effect a few months after the Governor signs it.

Who It Affects

• Counties with 400,000+ residents (per the 2010 census or later) — gain authority to regulate subdivisions outside municipal limits through the county planning and zoning commission.
• Municipalities, developers, and property owners in those counties — may be subject to county standards and oversight for subdivisions outside city borders, and must navigate coordination with municipal approval processes when necessary.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 11-52-30 to change the threshold for county planning and zoning authority from 600,000+ (per older census data) to 400,000+ (per the 2010 census or succeeding census).
• Allows the county commission in qualifying counties to establish minimum specifications and regulations for the layout, grading, and paving of streets and the construction of water, sewer, or drainage lines in subdivisions outside municipal limits, and for subdivisions within municipalities in counties that have declined to exercise zoning jurisdiction.
• Maintains existing rules that municipal planning commissions retain authority within five miles of municipal limits and that boundaries between overlapping jurisdictions are measured equidistant from each municipality's limits.
• Subdivision maps and plats must still be submitted for county engineer approval after municipal approval, and the county process does not supersede municipal requirements when extraterritorial jurisdiction is involved.
• Effective date: the first day of the third month after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Municipalities