Elmore and Autauga County Mobile Home Permit Guide

The River Region surrounding Montgomery forms an interconnected metropolitan area spanning Montgomery, Elmore, and Autauga counties. However, property regulation is strictly local. A permit process that applies in Prattville does not apply in Wetumpka, and rural county land operates under different rules than municipal parcels.

Placing a manufactured home on a parcel in Elmore County requires coordinating with both municipal and county bodies depending on parcel location:

• Wetumpka & Millbrook Municipal Zoning: Inside Wetumpka or Millbrook city limits, manufactured homes must comply with specific municipal zoning classifications (e.g., R-M Manufactured Home Residential districts). Placements on individual lots in standard single-family districts require Board of Adjustment approval.
• Elmore County Health Department (ADPH): Unincorporated parcels without municipal sewer require soil percolation testing and an on-site sewage disposal system permit issued through the Elmore County Health Department in Wetumpka.
• County Highway & Driveway Access: Connecting a new driveway to an Elmore County maintained road requires a Right-of-Way Access Permit from the Elmore County Highway Department, specifying culvert pipe size and placement.
• Floodplain Development Review: Parcels adjacent to the Coosa River, Tallapoosa River, or Lake Martin must undergo floodplain hazard review to establish minimum finish floor elevations above 100-year flood levels.

Autauga County maintains a centralized property development and engineering framework for unincorporated land while Prattville administers its municipal core:

• City of Prattville Planning Jurisdiction: Within Prattville municipal limits (and its planning ETJ), manufactured homes are governed by the Prattville Zoning Ordinance and inspected by the City Building Department.
• Autauga County Engineering Department: In unincorporated areas, the County Engineering Department in Prattville administers Property Development regulations, driveway turnouts, and County Flood Zone Regulations.
• Flood Zone Permits & Base Flood Elevation: Autauga County strictly enforces flood hazard development rules along Autauga Creek and the Alabama River. Homes located in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA Zone A/AE) must have piers and chassis elevated above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) on engineered foundations.
• Autauga County Health Department: Septic permits must be secured through the Health Department prior to home delivery or utility connection.

This comparative matrix summarizes key administrative responsibilities across the two counties:

Permit requirements and documentation expectations differ significantly depending on whether you are installing a new factory unit or relocating an existing home:

• New Home Setup: Delivered directly from a licensed retailer or manufacturer. Requires DAPIA setup manual, AMHC installer decal, new septic permit, and utility trade sign-offs.
• Relocating an Existing Home: Requires a moving/hauling permit for highway transit, age-verification compliance (some municipalities restrict homes older than 15–20 years), AMHC-certified setup, and health department septic re-evaluation.
• Foundation Repair & Re-Leveling: Corrective re-leveling of an occupied home on its existing site generally does not require a county building permit, whereas constructing new poured concrete footings or replacing anchoring systems must meet state AMHC standards.

Follow this sequence before scheduling transport or contractor work in Elmore or Autauga County: