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Alabama: homes, climate zones and who licenses the work

Alabama has 2.3 million housing units. 42.1% were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1986. 70.2% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

How old the homes are

Alabama housing units, by year built

Layers drawn to scale

Alabama housing units by year built 42.1% of Alabama housing units were built before 1980 and 57.9% in 1980 or later. 2020 or later: 2.3%; 2010–2019: 10.9%; 2000–2009: 15.4%; 1990–1999: 15.8%; 1980–1989: 13.5%; 1970–1979: 15.4%; 1960–1969: 10.7%; 1950–1959: 7.7%; 1940–1949: 3.5%; 1939 or earlier: 4.9%. Before 1980 42.1% 1980 or later 57.9% 2020 or later 2.3% 2010–2019 10.9% 2000–2009 15.4% 1990–1999 15.8% 1980–1989 13.5% 1970–1979 15.4% 1960–1969 10.7% 1950–1959 7.7% 1940–1949 3.5% 1939 or earlier 4.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035 and B25003; heating fuel below from B25040.

Age changes what applies to a house. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which Alabama Department of Public Health administers in Alabama.

How homes are heated

How homes in Alabama are heated

Main heating fuel, share of 2.0 million occupied homes

  • Electricity 67.4%
  • Utility gas 25.7%
  • Propane or other tank gas 5.3%
  • No fuel used 0.7%
  • Wood 0.7%
  • Fuel oil or kerosene 0.1%
  • Other fuel 0.1%
  • Solar energy <0.1%
  • Coal or coke <0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25040 (occupied housing units).

Climate and building zones

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code assigns every county a climate zone from 1 to 8 and a moisture regime: A for moist, B for dry, C for marine. Zones 7 and 8 have no letter. Here is how Alabama's residents divide among them, by the county they live in.

IECC 2021 zoneShare of residentsCounties
3A80.6%58
2A19.4%9

ENERGY STAR rates windows, doors and skylights for four climate zones of its own. Alabama spans 2: South-Central (80.6% of residents), Southern (19.4% of residents).

By NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, counties here average 49 days a year with a low of 32°F or colder, weighted by where people live. The range runs from 18 days in the mildest county to 96 in the coldest.

Flood risk and flood insurance

1.3% of residential structures in Alabama carry a National Flood Insurance Program policy: 25,579 policies, in FEMA's count as of August 3, 2026.

In FEMA's National Risk Index, 4 of 67 counties rate high or very high for riverine flooding; 2 of 67 counties rate high or very high for coastal flooding; 5 of 67 counties rate high or very high for hurricanes.

Fire ants and termites

All 67 of Alabama's counties are inside the federal imported fire ant quarantine. The federal quarantine requires a certificate to move soil, sod, nursery plants with soil attached, used soil-moving equipment, and hay or straw stored on the ground out of the quarantined area.

Who licenses the work in Alabama

Before anyone starts work, check the license with the agency below. Where the state does not license a trade, cities and counties may; ask the one where the house is.

Checked 2026-09-29. Licensing rules change; the agency's own page is the authority.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25003 data.census.gov
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates basc.pnnl.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy Prototype Building Models (climate zones 1–8 and moisture regimes A, B, C) energycodes.gov
  4. ENERGY STAR Climate zones by county for windows, doors and skylights energystar.gov
  5. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual and seasonal ncei.noaa.gov
  6. Federal Emergency Management Agency OpenFEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (as of 2026-08-03) fema.gov
  7. Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index, county ratings fema.gov
  8. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Imported fire ant quarantine map aphis.usda.gov
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR part 301, subpart P, Imported Fire Ant ecfr.gov
  10. Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries agi.alabama.gov agi.alabama.gov
  11. Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors hacr.alabama.gov hacr.alabama.gov
  12. Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors admincode.legislature.state.al.us admincode.legislature.state.al.us
  13. Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board hblb.alabama.gov hblb.alabama.gov
  14. alabamapublichealth.gov alabamapublichealth.gov alabamapublichealth.gov
  15. Alabama Department of Public Health epa.gov epa.gov
  16. Alabama Department of Public Health alabamapublichealth.gov alabamapublichealth.gov