HB285 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: April WeaverSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2016
Title: Sewage discharges to ground, unlawful, Sec. 22-26-5 repealed; Sec. 22-26-2 am'd.
Summary: HB285 removes the requirement for state and county health boards to permit, inspect, or approve plumbing outside municipal limits and repeals the county inspection mandate, while keeping authority to require installation and sewer connections under state rules.
What This Bill Does
The bill repeals the provision that county boards of health must inspect plumbing outside municipalities. It amends Section 22-26-2 to state that the State Board of Health and/or county boards may require property owners to install prescribed plumbing facilities and connect to a sanitary sewer where available, following state rules, and to dispose of sewage in an approved sanitary manner. It removes the duty that the State Board of Health must permit, inspect, or approve such plumbing outside municipal jurisdiction. The act becomes effective immediately after the Governor signs it.

Who It Affects
Property owners and occupants of property outside municipal jurisdictions: must install the required plumbing facilities and connect to a sanitary sewer where available, and dispose of sewage as approved, with reduced inspection oversight from health boards.
State Board of Health and county boards of health: lose the requirement to permit, inspect, or approve plumbing outside municipalities, but keep authority to require installation and sewer connections through their rules and regulations.

Key Provisions
Repeals Section 22-26-5, removing the requirement that county boards of health perform certain plumbing inspections outside municipal jurisdictions.
Amends Section 22-26-2 to require property owners to install specified plumbing facilities, sewage collection, treatment, and disposal facilities, and to connect to a sanitary sewer where available and not regulated by a municipal corporation, in accordance with rules of the State Board of Health and/or county boards of health.
Facilities and disposal must conform to the applicable rules and regulations and be maintained as prescribed by the State Board of Health and/or county boards of health.
Effective immediately upon the Governor's 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: Sewage