Back to Alabama

SB304 • 2026

Municipalities; business license for certain businesses in the building trade provided for

Municipalities; business license for certain businesses in the building trade provided for

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Albritton
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
2027-01-01

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or consequences for non-compliance.

Business Licenses for Construction Companies

This law allows cities to require certain construction businesses that work within the city but do not have a physical office there to get a business license, and sets rules for how much these licenses cost.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows cities to ask construction companies without an office in the city to get a business license if they perform work there.
  • Sets different ways cities can charge for these licenses, like a flat fee or based on money made from jobs in the city.
  • Limits how much cities can charge businesses with offices in the city for their licenses to $500 plus an optional additional fee based on gross receipts.
  • Exempts certain construction companies working for county governments on county property from getting business licenses.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Construction companies that work without an office in a city
  • Cities and towns in Alabama

Terms To Know

Physical Business Location
A main or branch office, warehouse, or other fixed place of business. It does not include temporary job sites.
Gross Receipts
The total income from sales before expenses are subtracted.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how cities will enforce these rules.
  • Does not explain what happens if a business does not get the required license.
  • Only applies to certain types of construction businesses listed in the law.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

BY7AN4J-1

R 1291

Adopted

Plain English: BY7AN4J-1 : 4/8/2026 : GED 1ST LEE AMENDMENT TO SB304 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE LEE Page 1 Replace lines 10 through 11 on page 1 with the following: the Code of Alabama 197 5, to further provide for the levying of certain business licenses by municipalities.

  • BY7AN4J-1 : 4/8/2026 : GED 1ST LEE AMENDMENT TO SB304 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE LEE Page 1 Replace lines 10 through 11 on page 1 with the following: the Code of Alabama 197 5, to further provide for the levying of certain business licenses by municipalities.
  • Replace lines 73 through 87 on pages 3 through 4 with the following: a flat fee or be calculated on the basis of the gross receipts derived from the work performed within the municipality.
  • Gross receipts derived from construction, contracting, installation, or service activities shall be attributed to the municipality where the job site is located and where the labor, materials, or services are performed, regardless of the business' physical business location.
  • (c)(1) A municipality may impose a business license on any business listed in subdivision (b)(1) that maintains a physical business location in that municipality and performs work within that municipality.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
CXNZVWQ-1

R 1292 • Lee

Adopted

Plain English: CXNZVWQ-1 : 4/8/2026 : JC 1ST HILL AMENDMENT TO SB304 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE HILL Page 1 Replace lines 10 through 11 on page 1 with the following: the Code of Alabama 197 5, to further provide for the levying of certain business licenses by municipalities.

  • CXNZVWQ-1 : 4/8/2026 : JC 1ST HILL AMENDMENT TO SB304 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE HILL Page 1 Replace lines 10 through 11 on page 1 with the following: the Code of Alabama 197 5, to further provide for the levying of certain business licenses by municipalities.
  • Replace lines 73 through 88 on pages 3 through 4 with the following: a flat fee or be calculated on the basis of the gross receipts derived from the work performed within the municipality.
  • Gross receipts derived from construction, contracting, installation, or service activities shall be attributed to the municipality where the job site is located and where the labor, materials, or services are performed, regardless of the business' physical business location.
  • (c)(1) A municipality may impose a business license on any business listed in subdivision (b)(1) that maintains a physical business location in that municipality and performs work within that municipality.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
V74A6LP-1

R 918 • Albritton

Adopted

Plain English: V74A6LP-1 03/04/2026 GED (L)ma 2026-1199 SUB SB304 ELLIOTT SUBSTITUTE TO SB304 OFFERED BY SENATOR ELLIOTT Page 1 SYNOPSIS: Existing law authorizes municipalities to levy a business license on certain businesses operating within their jurisdictions .

  • V74A6LP-1 03/04/2026 GED (L)ma 2026-1199 SUB SB304 ELLIOTT SUBSTITUTE TO SB304 OFFERED BY SENATOR ELLIOTT Page 1 SYNOPSIS: Existing law authorizes municipalities to levy a business license on certain businesses operating within their jurisdictions .
  • This bill would provide for the circumstances when a municipality may levy a business license on certain businesses in the building trade located inside the municipality's jurisdiction.
  • A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT Relating to municipalities; to add Section 11-51-133 to the Code of Alabama 197 5, to limit municipalities from levying a business license on certain businesses.
  • BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: Section 1.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
MSAMUHW-1

V • Albritton

Adopted

Plain English: MSAMUHW-1 02/17/2026 GED (L)ma 2026-853 SUB SB304 COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT SUBSTITUTE TO SB304 OFFERED BY SENATOR ELLIOTT Page 1 SYNOPSIS: Existing law authorizes municipalities to levy a business license on certain businesses operating within their jurisdictions .

  • MSAMUHW-1 02/17/2026 GED (L)ma 2026-853 SUB SB304 COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT SUBSTITUTE TO SB304 OFFERED BY SENATOR ELLIOTT Page 1 SYNOPSIS: Existing law authorizes municipalities to levy a business license on certain businesses operating within their jurisdictions .
  • This bill would provide for the circumstances when a municipality may levy a business license on certain businesses in the building trade located inside the municipality's jurisdiction.
  • A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT Relating to municipalities; to add Section 11-51-133 to the Code of Alabama 197 5, to limit municipalities from levying a business license on certain businesses.
  • BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: Section 1.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Senate

    Enacted

  2. 2026-04-09 House

    Signature Requested

  3. 2026-04-09 Senate

    Delivered to Governor

  4. 2026-04-09 Senate

    Enrolled

  5. 2026-04-08 House

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1293 (Yeas 92, Nays 4)

  6. 2026-04-08 House

    Lee motion to Table - Adopted Roll Call 1292 (Yeas 80, Nays 5)

  7. 2026-04-08 House

    Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1291 (Yeas 103, Nays 0)

  8. 2026-04-08 House

    Third Reading in Second House (Yeas 101, Nays 2)

  9. 2026-04-08 Senate

    Gudger Motion to Concur In and Adopt House Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1263 (Yeas 33, Nays 0)

  10. 2026-04-08 Senate

    Ready to Enroll

  11. 2026-04-08 House

    Hill 1st Amendment Offered

  12. 2026-04-08 House

    Lee 1st Amendment Offered

  13. 2026-04-01 House

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  14. 2026-04-01 House

    Reported Out of Committee Second House

  15. 2026-03-19 House

    Pending Committee Action in Second House

  16. 2026-03-19 House

    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure

  17. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 919 (Yeas 30, Nays 0)

  18. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Albritton motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 918 (Yeas 30, Nays 0)

  19. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 30, Nays 0)

  20. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Engrossed

  21. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Elliott 2nd Substitute Offered

  22. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Albritton motion to Table - Adopted Voice Vote

  23. 2026-03-17 Senate

    County and Municipal Government 1st Substitute Offered

  24. 2026-02-17 Senate

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  25. 2026-02-17 Senate

    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

  26. 2026-02-17 Senate

    County and Municipal Government 1st Substitute

  27. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  28. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on County and Municipal Government

Official Summary Text

This act adds Section 11-51-133 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) authorize municipalities to require certain construction businesses that perform work within the municipality without a physical location therein to obtain a business license for a flat fee or a fee based on gross receipts from work performed within the municipality; (2) authorize municipalities to require these businesses that perform work within the municipality with a physical location therein to obtain a business license for a flat fee not exceeding $500, a flat fee not exceeding $500 plus a fee based on gross receipts from work performed within the municipality, or a fee based on gross receipts from work performed within the municipality; and (3) prohibit municipalities from requiring such licenses for work done for county governments when on county-owned or maintained property.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB304 ENROLLED
Page 0
SB304
V74A6LP-3
By Senator Albritton
RFD: County and Municipal Government
First Read: 12-Feb-26
1
2
3
4
5
SB304 Enrolled
Page 1
First Read: 12-Feb-26
Enrolled, An Act,
Relating to municipalities; to add Section 11-51-133 to
the Code of Alabama 1975, to further provide for the levying
of certain business licenses by municipalities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 11-51-133 is added to the Code of
Alabama 1975, to read as follows:
§11-51-133
(a) As used in this section, the following terms have
the following meanings:
(1) CERTIFIED HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTOR.
The same meaning as provided in Section 34-31-18.
(2) CERTIFIED REFRIGERATION CONTRACTOR. The same
meaning as provided in Section 34-31-18.
(3) CONCRETE PROVIDER. An individual or business entity
engaged in selling concrete, ready mix, or cement that is to
be installed at a job site in a municipality, other than a
municipality in which the individual or business entity is
eligible to obtain a delivery license pursuant to Section
11-51-194.
(4) DUCT AIR TIGHTNESS TESTING CONTRACTOR. The same
meaning as provided in Section 34-31-18.
(5) ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. The same meaning as provided
in Section 34-36-3.
(6) GENERAL CONTRACTOR. The same meaning as provided in
Section 34-8-1, without regard to the monetary thresholds set
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
SB304 Enrolled
Page 2
Section 34-8-1, without regard to the monetary thresholds set
forth in that section.
(7) JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN. The same meaning as
provided in Section 34-36-3.
(8) MASTER GAS FITTER. The same meaning as provided in
Section 34-37-1.
(9) MASTER PLUMBER. The same meaning as provided in
Section 34-37-1.
(10) ONSITE WASTEWATER LICENSEE. A qualified individual
holding a license issued by the Alabama Onsite Wastewater
Board.
(11) PHYSICAL BUSINESS LOCATION. A principal business
office, branch office, or other office, warehouse, or
permanent fixed place of business. The term does not include a
temporary job site, job trailer, equipment, or materials
stored on a temporary basis in connection with a construction
project or job.
(12) RESIDENTIAL HOME BUILDER. The same meaning as
provided in Section 34-14A-2, without regard to the monetary
thresholds set forth in that section.
(13) SUBCONTRACTOR. The same meaning as provided in
Section 34-8-1, without regard to the monetary thresholds set
forth in that section.
(b)(1) A municipality may impose a business license on
any of the following businesses that perform work within the
municipality but do not maintain a physical business location
within the municipality:
a. A certified heating and air conditioning contractor.
b. A certified refrigeration contractor.
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
SB304 Enrolled
Page 3
b. A certified refrigeration contractor.
c. A concrete provider.
d. A duct air tightness testing contractor.
e. An electrical contractor.
f. A general contractor.
g. A journeyman electrician.
h. A master gas fitter.
i. A master plumber.
j. An onsite wastewater licensee.
k. A residential home builder.
l. A subcontractor.
(2) The amount of the business license shall be a flat
fee or be calculated on the basis of the gross receipts
derived from the work performed within the municipality. Gross
receipts derived from construction, contracting, installation,
or service activities shall be attributed to the municipality
where the job site is located and where the labor, materials,
or services are performed, regardless of the business'
physical business location.
(c)(1) A municipality may impose a business license on
any business listed in subdivision (b)(1) that maintains a
physical business location in that municipality and performs
work within that municipality.
(2) The amount of the business license shall be one of
the following:
a. A flat fee not to exceed five hundred dollars
($500).
b. A flat fee not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500)
plus a fee calculated on the basis of the gross receipts
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
SB304 Enrolled
Page 4
plus a fee calculated on the basis of the gross receipts
derived from the work performed by the business within the
municipality.
c. A fee calculated on the basis of the gross receipts
derived from the work performed by the business within the
municipality.
(3) This subsection may not be construed to allow a
municipality in which a business maintains a physical place of
business to use the gross receipts derived from work performed
by the business in another jurisdiction to impose a business
license on any business listed in subdivision (b)(1).
(d) A municipality may not require any business listed
in subsection (b) to obtain a municipal business license to
work on a project on behalf of a county government when that
project is located on county property or on a
county-maintained road, bridge, right-of-way, or easement.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on January
1, 2027.
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
SB304 Enrolled
Page 5
1, 2027.
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
SB304
Senate 17-Mar-26
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and passed
the Senate, as amended.
Patrick Harris,
Secretary.
House of Representatives
Amended and passed: 08-Apr-26
Senate concurred in House amendment 08-Apr-26
By: Senator Albritton
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139