LOCAL RULES

Alabama home inspection report requirements

Your Alabama home inspection report has 7 rules to meet. ReportDraft puts every one on your checklist and checks your draft before you sign.

  • Inspection methods for the crawl space, attic and roof, and the shut-off valve locations
  • Any solid aluminum branch wiring and any missing smoke detectors
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Alabama licenses home inspectors through the Department of Finance's Division of Construction Management under the Alabama Home Inspectors Registration Act (Code of Ala. 34-14B). The Act puts your registration number, name and address on every document you prepare, and the Standards of Practice (Ala. Admin. Code 355-18-1) set what the report covers. Here is each rule with a link to the official text, and how field notes become an Alabama report.

Last reviewed October 15, 2026 against the official sources listed below.

Home inspectionALABAMA / SAMPLE

Sample notes, 149 words

Client: Dana Whitfield
Inspector: Sam Ortega
Date: October 3, 2026
1408 Larkspur Lane, Montgomery, AL
Weather: clear, 74F. Occupied. Built 1987.
...
FREE PREVIEW OF THESE NOTES
67%of your draft is ready from these notes

We sorted 14 items into 8 sections and flagged 4 to fix first.

  • Fix firstElectrical

    Main panel has a double tapped breaker and an open splice in the attic junction box.

  • Fix firstElectrical

    No GFCI protection at the kitchen counter outlets.

  • Fix firstGarage

    Garage door opener did not reverse when it hit the test board.

7 Alabama rules on your checklist, including inspection methods for the crawl space, attic and roof, and the shut-off valve locations.

Still to add

  • Alabama lawAlabama home inspector registration number
  • Alabama lawInspector's registered name and address
  • RecommendedNotes for cooling

Filled in for you

Client nameDana Whitfield
Property address1408 Larkspur Lane, Montgomery, AL
Inspection dateOct 3, 2026
Licensed home inspectorSam Ortega
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What Alabama requires

  • All advertisements, contracts, correspondence and other documents a home inspector prepares show the inspector's registration number, name and address as registered under the ActCode of Ala. 34-14B-7
  • The registered name and address appear with the registration number, and a registered inspector may not do business under another name unless that name is also registeredCode of Ala. 34-14B-7
  • The inspector reports on the systems and components inspected that, in the inspector's professional opinion, are significantly deficient (unsafe or not functioning) or near the end of their service lives, with a reason why if it is not self-evidentAla. Admin. Code 355-18-1-.01 (2) (b) 2. (i), (ii); (1) (u)
  • The report gives the inspector's recommendations to correct or monitor each reported deficiencyAla. Admin. Code 355-18-1-.01 (2) (b) 2. (iii)
  • The report covers any systems and components designated for inspection that were present at the time of the inspection but were not inspected, and a reason they were not inspectedAla. Admin. Code 355-18-1-.01 (2) (b) 2. (iv)
  • The standards have the inspector describe the foundation, floor, wall, ceiling and roof structure, the exterior wall covering and roof covering, the piping materials, the water heating equipment and its energy source, the location of the main water and main fuel shut-off valves, the service amperage and voltage, the main disconnect and subpanel locations, the wiring methods, and the heating and cooling energy sources and methods, and report the methods used to inspect the crawl space, the attic and the roofAla. Admin. Code 355-18-1-.01 (3) to (9), (11), (12)
  • For the electrical system the inspector reports on the presence of solid conductor aluminum branch circuit wiring and on the absence of smoke detectorsAla. Admin. Code 355-18-1-.01 (7) (a) 3.
  • Home inspectors must hold a current license from the Division of Construction Management; a license is current only for the calendar year it was issued and expires December 31 unless renewed. Doing home inspections unlicensed, or knowingly violating the Standards of Practice or Code of Ethics, is a Class A misdemeanorAla. Admin. Code 355-17-1-.04 ยท Code of Ala. 34-14B-9 (a)
  • Under the Code of Ethics the inspector does not disclose inspection results without the client's approval, does not take pay from more than one interested party without everyone's consent or commissions from parties dealing with the client, promptly discloses any business interest that may affect the client, and does not use the inspection to obtain work in another fieldAla. Admin. Code 355-18-1-.02 (3) to (6)
  • The standards apply to buildings with four or fewer dwelling units and their garages or carports; inspections are not technically exhaustive, and inspectors are not required to determine market value, the advisability of purchase, code compliance or the costs of correctionsAla. Admin. Code 355-18-1-.01 (13)
  • The Director may revoke or suspend a license and fine up to 3,000 dollars per violation for violating the Standards of Practice or Code of EthicsAla. Admin. Code 355-17-1-.21 (1)

Registration number, name and address

Every advertisement, contract, letter and other document you prepare shows your registration number, name and address as registered. If you do business under another name, register that name too. Licenses run for the calendar year and expire December 31 unless renewed.

What the report covers

Report what you inspected that is significantly deficient, meaning unsafe or not functioning, or near the end of its service life, with the reason when it is not self-evident, and recommend correcting or monitoring each one. Report anything the standards designate that was present but not inspected, and why.

The standards cover homes of four or fewer units. They are not technically exhaustive, and you are not required to judge market value, whether to buy, code compliance or repair costs.

What to describe

Describe the structure, the exterior wall covering and roof covering, and report how you inspected the crawl space, the attic and the roof. Give the piping materials, the water heater and its energy source, and where the main water and main fuel shut-off valves are. For electrical, give the service amperage and voltage, where the main disconnects and subpanels are and the wiring methods, and report any solid conductor aluminum branch wiring and any missing smoke detectors.

Code of Ethics and discipline

Keep results confidential without the client's approval, take pay from only one party unless everyone consents, accept no commissions from parties dealing with your client, disclose any business interest that may affect the client, and never use an inspection to win work in another field. Violations can cost a license and fines of up to 3,000 dollars each, and knowing violations are a misdemeanor.

From field notes to a finished Alabama report

Put your registration number and registered name and address in the header once, then note what you found, what you could not reach and why, how you looked at the roof, attic and crawl space, and where the shut-offs are. ReportDraft writes up each significant deficiency with its reason and a correct or monitor recommendation, marks what was not inspected with the reason, and prints your registration details above the signature line.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the registration number or registered address off the report.
  • A deficiency with no reason when it is not self-evident.
  • Skipping the crawl space or attic without saying why.
  • Not reporting missing smoke detectors or solid aluminum branch wiring.
  • Using the report to sell your own repair or trade services.

Sources

Last reviewed October 15, 2026. Next review due January 15, 2027. This page explains published rules to help you write your report. It is not legal advice; the official text linked above governs.