Frequently Asked Questions

• International Building Code, 2021 Edition 
• International Residential Code, 2021 Edition 
• International Existing Building Code, 2021 Edition 
• International Fuel Gas Code, 2021 Edition 
• International Plumbing Code, 2021 Edition 
• National Electrical Code, 2020 Edition 
• International Mechanical Code, 2021 Edition 
• International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 Edition 
• International Pool and Spa Code, 2021 Edition 
• International Fire Code, 2021 Edition

• Permits are based on job valuation.  
• Read the Building Permit Fee Schedule (Ordinance 067-12, Section 4.2)

• Residential – Two sets 
• Commercial – Two stamped and signed sets and a digital set (PDF) 

Pelham has a ten business day turn around period for all commercial projects. For all residential projects, Pelham has a three to four business day turn around period.

• If associated with a General Contractor or Home Builders' Building Permit, trades such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, gas, roofing, and landscaping are required to purchase their own permit. 
• Trade permits are charged a flat $65.00 fee upon application approval.  

• Mechanical  
  • Complete the Mechanical Permit Application 
  • Obtain a Pelham Business License 
  • Provide proof of Current Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditional & Refrigeration Contractors Certification 
  • Permit fee: $65.00 
• Electrical 
  • Complete the Electrical Permit Application 
  • Obtain a Pelham Business License 
  • Permit fee: $65.00
• Plumbing
  • Complete the Plumbing Permit Application 
  • Obtain a Pelham Business License 
  • Provide proof of Current State of Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Certification 
  • Permit fee: $65.00 
• Gas 
  • Complete the Gas Permit Application 
  • Obtain a Pelham Business License 
  • Provide proof of Current State of Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Certification 
  • Permit fee: $65.00
• Roofing 
  • Complete the Roofing Permit Application 
  • Obtain a Pelham Business License 
  • Provide proof of Current Alabama Home Builders Roofing Certification 
  • Permit fee: $65.00 
• Landscaping 
  • Complete the Landscaping Permit Application 
  • Obtain a Pelham Business License 
  • Provide proof of Current Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries Certification 
  • $65.00 

• The contractor that holds the permit is required to call in for inspections. 
• Requests must be made by 4:00 p.m. the day before the inspection is needed.
• There is a $50.00 first re-inspection fee for all inspections that are set up but not ready at said time and have to be rescheduled. Costs increase to $75.00 for a second re-inspection and $100.00 for a third re-inspection. This also applies to inspections that do not pass and have to be rescheduled. Your City of Pelham Building Permit Card has to be located on your job site in a waterproof enclosure and visible from the front of the structure being built. Failure to display your building permit card as outlined will result in no inspection and a $50.00 re-inspection fee. This permit card will reflect the status of your job; if the inspector signs and dates the approval of the inspection, continue with work or call 205.620.6495 and ask about the status of the inspection. If the inspection is turned down, the contractor will be charged a re-inspection fee, and the inspector will call the contractor to advise what needs to be fixed. All contractors are given ten (10) business days to pay for re-inspection fees. All re-inspection fees must be paid before a final inspection can be scheduled. 

Yes. Read Ordinance No. 135-136. For more information, please contact the Zoning Department at 205.620.6543. 

The City of Pelham Sign Ordinance requires the issuance of a permit to erect, change or alter any type of sign. The square footage of the building determines the copy area and height. For more information, please contact the Zoning Department at 205.620.6543. 

Why do I need a permit to do work on my own property?
The City has adopted a comprehensive set of building codes that must be followed on construction projects within the City. These building codes govern the design, construction, alterations, and maintenance of structures. Building codes establish the minimum requirements to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the building's occupants. The permitting process is designed to allow the City to ensure that work is in compliance with the building codes. It also allows the City to ensure that contractors working in the City are properly licensed.   

Why was a Stop Work Order issued?
Stop Work Orders are issued by the City of Pelham when work is ongoing that does not conform to the City’s Code of Ordinances. The most common reason for a Stop Work Order being issued is for ongoing construction work not being properly permitted. The reason a Stop Work Order was issued on your property is listed on the Order

How do I obtain a permit?
You can find information about obtaining a permit in several ways:

• Email us your questions.
• Call the Building Department at 205.620.6495, and a member of the building department staff can walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have.
• View all permit applications.

For your new location in Pelham you will need to have an inspection done. We perform a life safety inspection, on "new/added" location businesses to be sure nothing has been added without a permit, no loose wires, life safety items in place, etc. Once the business occupancy inspection request forms are returned we will start the internal zoning approval process. When we have zoning approval, we will accept payment for the inspection fee and set up an inspection on the day and time you choose. The building & fire inspectors will inspect in person at the time and day you choose, pending availability. Forms of payment we accept are cash, check and card. However, if you use card (debit/credit) it will charge an extra $3 as a processing fee and we do not accept American Express. Our office is located at Pelham City Hall, 3162 Pelham Parkway, Pelham, Alabama 35124. 

• Yes. The City of Pelham requires inspections by the Building, Fire, and Police Departments. Inspections are conducted annually prior to renewing or issuing a business license.
• The inspection fee is $75.00 for mobile food units. To set up an inspection, please call 205.620.6495.

Complete the Garage Sale Permit Application.  The permit costs $10. You can submit for a garage sale permit no more than five days prior to the proposed garage sale. Each garage sale permit is valid for a period not to exceed two consecutive days. You are only allowed two garage sales per calendar year. 

Garage Sale signs are only allowed in your yard where the sale is taking place per the sign ordinance. For more information on signage, please contact the Zoning Department at 205.620.6543. 

A food truck is a self contained vehicle, trailer or pushcart that serves prepared foods or prepares and serves food in various locations of the city.

• Yes. The City of Pelham requires inspections by the Building, Fire, and Police Departments. Inspections are conducted annually prior to renewing or issuing a business license.
• The inspection fee is $75.00 for mobile food units. To set up an inspection, please call 205.620.6495.

• All food trucks must be located off of the public rights-of-way
• No food truck may operate past the hours of operation of the business in which they are located, or 11:00 p.m., unless they have the mayor’s written approval.
• You may only operate in areas zoned non-residential unless you have obtained a permit from the Parks and Recreation Department to operate in city mini-parks or have HOA approval to operate in local neighborhoods.
• All food trucks must have written approval of the business owner for each location at which the food truck operates.  
• All food trucks must have a business license from the City of Pelham to operate in the city.
• No food truck shall operate in excess of three consecutive days in any one location.
• No food truck shall operate on more than two individual sites per day.
• No more than 1 food truck shall operate on the same site per day without the mayor’s written approval.
• Food trucks shall not be located within 200 feet of the main entrance of the nearest restaurant during the restaurant’s posted hours of operation.
• No food trucks shall be located a minimum of 25’ away from any fire hydrant, sidewalk, utility box, ADA accessible ramps or building entrance.
• No food truck shall occupy parking spaces required to fulfill the minimum requirement of a principal use.
• No food truck shall obstruct or encroach upon fire lanes, vehicular access ways or pedestrian walkways.
• Food truck signage is limited to signage located on the mobile food unit.  No portable signage is allowed.
• During the time of non-operation, the food truck and all associated vehicles, including any tables, chairs and umbrellas, etc. must be removed from the premises.

No food truck may operate past the hours of operation of the business in which they are located, or 11:00 p.m., unless they have the mayor’s written approval.

Food trucks are responsible for the proper disposal of waste and trash associated with the operation. Trash receptacles must be within three feet of the truck. City trash receptacles shall not be used.

• No amplified bullhorns, flashing lights or other distraction shall be permitted.
• Signage is limited to signage located on the truck; no portable signage is allowed.

If you plan to operate a business in the City of Pelham, you must first meet all requirements:

• Submit your business license application and required documents (see below question for what all may be required). This step will need to be taken prior to your inspections. You will not be charged for the business license until you have completed and passed the inspection process. Click Here to Submit Your Application.
• Apply for a new business inspection with the building department. They will inspect the location to make sure there have been no changes to the building and that the building/space is up to code and the proper zoning for the type of business that is being applied for. Click Here to Apply for New Business Inspection. You must create an account first. 
• Once the inspection process is completed and signed off by the Building Official, we will continue the process of issuing you your business license. 

1.Business Structure:

 LLC/LLP, Corporation or Non-profit  - As an LLC/LLP, corporation or non-profit the documents below are required. You will be required to upload these documents as part of the online application process. All entities must be registered with the Secretary of State of Alabama. 

• Copy of your articles of formation stamped/recorded by probate court including certificate. Proof of registration with the Alabama Secretary of State is required.  
• Operating Agreement if your business is located within our city limits.
• Copy of the owner’s/officer’s current government issued photo ID or valid driver’s license.

 Sole Proprietor -As a Sole Proprietor the following documents are required. You will be required to upload these documents as part of the online application process. 

• Copy of your current government issued photo ID or valid driver’s license

2. Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN):

 If your business is an LLC or corporation, you will have a FEIN associated with that entity. Sole proprietors may use their Social Security Number as their tax ID number; however, they may also apply for a FEIN if they choose to. 

3. Business Activity:

What is the business going to be doing? Providing a service? Selling a product? We will need a detailed description of the nature of your business as well as your NAICS code(s). Visit  https://www.naics.com/search/  to explore the classifications. 

 4. Location: 

• Commercial Property location in Pelham, you will need to apply for a new business inspection and be approved by the building department and zoning prior to your license being issued. 
• Home-Based location in Pelham, you will need to submit the business license application and sign the Home Occupation Acknowledgement Form to be approved by the zoning department prior to your license being issued. 

5. Certifications:

Does your business activity require certification or a permit from a state agency or regulatory board? If required, the certification or permit must be obtained and submitted with your application before a City of Pelham business license is issued. 

- Each person going door-to-door will be required to complete and application and be identified by the Pelham Police Department. Each Door-To-Door Solicitors License is $514 for the year.

Business licenses expire on December 31st of each year. Renewal notices are mailed to currently licensed businesses at the beginning of December. Licenses may be renewed through the end of January without penalty. 
  
 The City of Pelham’s annual license renewal period will begin on December 1st. The renewal form and payment should be mailed together to: City of Pelham, Finance Department, P.O. Box 1238 Pelham AL 35124. This address is for licenses only. Please do not mail payments for anything else to this address. 

Renewals may also be returned in-person at our office located at 3162 Pelham Parkway Pelham AL 35124. The office accepts cash, check, and/or credit cards. Please note that credit card payments incur a convenience fee of 3.95% or a minimum of $2.50 per transaction. Additionally, certain classifications require proof of State certification. Online renewals are not available at this time.

- Cash - Check - Credit cards - the credit card company charges a fee of 3.95% or a $2.50 minimum.

• Yes. The City of Pelham requires inspections by the Building, Fire, and Police Departments. Inspections are conducted annually prior to renewing or issuing a business license.
• The inspection fee is $75.00 for mobile food units. To set up an inspection, please call 205.620.6495.

If you are no longer operating in the City of Pelham you may submit this form and we will close your account. 

Street signs on city streets are installed by the developer at the time of initial development. The developer is responsible for these signs for a period of one year after installation. After this one-year period the Street Department is responsible for maintaining street signs on city streets. You may report a broken or missing street sign by submitting a ticket through our Pelham 311 portal or the Pelham 311 app.

• Streets are selected using evaluations on condition, usage, and street ratings
• The tentative outlay is developed based on priority and upcoming utility work (water, sewer, and storm drains). The schedule may change as new information becomes available.
• Each year will include miscellaneous patching, striping, and paving
• 2023-2027 Five-Year Paving Plan

To order garbage or recycle bins, you may call the Water Department at 205.620.6420.

After the water department repairs a leak, topsoil is normally placed in the yard within 2.5 to 3.5 weeks. Sodding or seeding of the yard is done after the ground has had time to settle. Depending on the severity of the leak, it may take two or three good rainfalls for the necessary settling to occur. For more information, contact us at 205.620.6420.

The Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena is the polling place for municipal elections. 

Alabama House of Representatives

Arnold Mooney - District 43 | arnold@arnoldmooney.com

Kenneth Paschal - District 73 | votepaschal@gmail.com

Alabama Senate

Dan Roberts - District 15 | senatorroberts15@gmail.com

April Weaver - District 14 | senatoraprilweaver@gmail.com

 J.T. "Jabo" Waggoner - District 16 | jabo.waggoner@alsenate.gov

US House of Representatives

Gary Palmer - 6th Congressional District 

• Birmingham Office: 3535 Grandview Parkway, Suite 525, Birmingham, AL  35243 Phone: 205.968.1290
• Washington Office: 170 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC  20515 Phone: 202.225.4921

US Senate

Tommy Tuberville

• Birmingham Office: 3000 Riverchase Galleria, Suite 915, Birmingham, AL 35244 Phone: 205.760.7307
• Washington Office: Russell Senate Office Building, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202.224.4124

Katie Britt

• Birmingham Office: 321 Federal Building, 1800 5th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203 Phone: 205.731.1384
• Washington Office: 416 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202.224.5744

Phone: 205.670.6900 Property Tax Commissioner 102 Depot Street P. O. Box 1298 Columbiana, AL 35051

Call 205.669.3880.

Gary W. Waters - Mayor

David Coram - City Council Place 1

Chade Leverette - City Council Place 2

Rick Wash - City Council Place 3

Maurice Mercer - City Council Place 4, City Council President

Michael Harris - City Council Place 5

Shelby County Health Clinic 1000 County Services Drive Pelham, AL 35124 Phone: 205.664.2470 

Shelby County Branch License Bureau 1000 County Services Drive Pelham, AL 35124 Phone: 205.620.6600 

Call 205.620.6416.

You can pay traffic tickets at Pelham Municipal Court located at: Police/Court Building 32 Philip Davis Street Phone: 205.620.6407

Alabama Power maintains street lights. You can contact their Customer Service at 800.245.2244.

For business licenses or permits, contact the Permit Technician at 205.620.6495 or the Business License Clerk at 205.620.6480.

3162 Pelham Parkway, Pelham, AL 351

The City of Pelham posts job vacancy announcements on its website – pelhamalabama.gov. The City also posts job vacancy announcements in its social media accounts, Facebook and Instagram.  Job vacancy announcements are emailed to various local businesses, colleges, state employment services, civic groups and organizations that align with the posting.

The City of Pelham only accepts online employment applications for job vacancies. In order to apply online, you must set up an account with a username, password and email address. Please keep your username and password for your future reference. Once your account is established, an online employment application can be created and submitted for available positions with the City. An online employment application must be submitted for each available position for which you desire to apply. A resume will not be accepted in lieu of a city online employment application. Online employment applications must be received by 6:00 p.m. on the closing date of the job vacancy announcement. The City of Pelham is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Everyone is required to submit an online employment application for available positions with the City. Required information on the online employment application is denoted with an asterisk (*). The more information you provide, the easier it will be to effectively evaluate your skills, abilities and qualifications. Incomplete employment applications may be rejected.

You will be asked to provide personal information such as your name, address, phone number and etc. You will also need to provide information about your education, employment history, references, etc. An email address is also required.

You may attach multiple documents to the application. Preferably, documents should be in Word (.doc) or Adobe (.pdf) format and must be no larger than 1MB. 

Resumes and paper applications will not be accepted by fax, email and/or postal service. Please apply online in order to be considered for available positions with the City of Pelham.

Once a closing date has passed, no employment applications will be accepted or considered.

The closing date for a particular position will be listed on the position vacancy announcement as posted on the City’s website. Applications must be received by 6:00 p.m. on the specified closing date for the vacant position. Once the position closes, the vacancy announcement will be removed from the website and applications will no longer be accepted. 

There are many factors which can affect how long it takes to fill a position with the City of Pelham, for example: background checks, the hiring department’s schedule, drug screening or etc. However, it can generally take between 4 and 6 weeks after the closing date to fill a position.

A representative from the hiring department or the human resources department will contact selected individuals for an interview and also conduct the actual interview along with peer employees familiar with the position. 

The human resources department will make an offer of employment.

You can sign up to be notified when a position you are interested in becomes available, click here to complete a Job Interest Card.

You can make changes to your online employment application at any time before it is submitted. Once you submit your online employment application for a particular position, you cannot go back and make changes to your submitted online employment application. Also, you may make changes before submitting your online employment application for any new available position in which you are interested.

Please visit www.governmentjobs.com and click on "Career Seeker" tab. Then enter your username and password. Click on "Application Status" and you will see the list of positions in which you have applied and the status of each.

Vehicle owners must come to the Pelham Police Department to obtain a vehicle release.

An impounded vehicle will only be released to the registered owner of the vehicle. The registered owner is considered to be the person who is registered as being the owner according to State of Alabama vehicle records such as the vehicle title or vehicle registration. Ownership must be verified by one of the following: title, application for title, tag receipt, and/or bill of sale.

Picture identification must be presented to verify identity of vehicle owner. Any of the following documents are acceptable: Driver's license from any U.S. state or territory, ID card from any U.S. state or territory, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID, AST-60 form, U.S. Certificate of Naturalization, U.S. permanent resident card, U.S. employment authorization card, foreign driver's license, foreign passport, or consular ID card.

At the time of release, the legal registered owner must provide a valid and current driver's license.

• Current and valid driver's license from any U.S. state or territory.
• AST-60 Form if arrested for DUI (provided at time of arrest).
• If the legal registered owner has no driver's license, an expired license, a suspended license, a revoked license, or a cancelled license, he/she must have a driver, with a valid license, accompany them to the police department to obtain the vehicle release. Only a licensed driver will be allowed to drive the towed vehicle away from the impound lot.

Location of Impound Lots

Impounded vehicles may be retrieved between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seven days a week from the wrecker service impound lots listed below. You must obtain the vehicle release paperwork before going to the wrecker service impound lot.

Kirkland's Wrecker Service
1365 McCain Parkway
Pelham, AL 35124

Wheeler Wrecker Service
3180 Lee Street
Pelham, AL 35124

View the parking map.View the parking map.

Please contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at 205.669.4181.

Contact the Records Division at 205.620.6443 or 205.620.6463 for more information.

Reports are ready in three business days. There is a fee of $10 per report. You can request your report two ways.

Online

You may request a copy of your vehicle crash report or incident report online.

• Vehicle crash report
• Incident report

In Person

The records window is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. We accept cash and check payments only. You must present a valid government-issued photo ID for verification.

Question: What do I do if this is an emergency or if online incident reporting is not right for me?
Answer: If your incident is an emergency, call 911. If non-emergency, call 205.620.6550.

Question: What do I do if the incident took place outside of Pelham city limits?
Answer: If the incident took place outside of the City of Pelham please call the police department for that city.

Question: What is a known suspect and what do I do if I have that information?
Answer: A known suspect is when you or someone else knows the person or where to find the person who committed the crime or the license plate number of the vehicle the suspect(s) were in. If you have known suspect information, please call 205.620.6550 to report the incident.

Question: What do I do if the incident happened on a state freeway?
Answer: If the incident took place on a state freeway please call the Highway Patrol Office nearest you.

Yes. Below is a list of approved bail bond companies:

1. A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds: 205.883.0000 or 205.790.2215
2. A&S BAIL BONDING CO INC: 205.663.4029
3. AA Absolute Bail Bonding, LLC: 205.663.0511
4. AAA Alabama Right Choice Bail Bonding: 205.326.3222
5. Bail Bond Brothers, LLC: 205.419.3004
6. Bill Smith Family First Bail Bonds, LLC: 205.294.1417
7. First Choice Bail Bonds: 205.434.2956
8. Price Bail Bonds: 205.358.7474

Search for registered sex offenders by entering your address in the Sex Offender Registry Website.

• Pelham Police and Fire Resource Guide (English)
• Pelham Police and Fire Resource Guide (Spanish)
• Shelby County Community Resource Guide
• Pelham Police Identity Theft Resources

Review instructions to file a complaint.

A business license is required by any person or other entity prior to starting any service or business activity in the City of Pelham. Inspections from both the Building Department and Fire Department must be made prior to occupancy and the issuance of a business license. When completing the license application, the business must also complete an inspection request form and pay the required inspection fee. Once both inspections have been made and approval is given, the business license will be issued and the business can occupy the location. If you have questions about the process or code requirements please call City Hall at 205-620-6400 or the Fire Department at 205-620-6500. Alternatively you may visit Business Licenses for detailed information and applications. 

Taxes administered by the City of Pelham include: sales/sellers use, consumers use, rental, lodgings, gas, wine, liquor and business licenses.

Yes! Library Cards are free for Shelby County residents or for individuals who work in Shelby County.

Come by the library during our regular hours to register for a library card. Bring your photo ID. If your ID does NOT have your current address, please bring in something that shows your current address and YOUR name. For example, a bill, piece of mail, or lease agreement. If you are under 18, your legal guardian will need to come with you to sign the application. 

Yes. The Pelham Library is part of the Shelby County Library Cooperative. If you have gotten a library card from one of the other libraries in the County, it is good here! 

Sorry, no. Hoover is part of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative, not the Shelby County Cooperative.

1. Visit pelhamlibraryal.gov and click on "Library Account" on the top of the screen.
2. Your barcode number is found on the back of you library card. Type in the full number without spaces.
3. Your password is your birth month and birth date. (Ex: January 1^st = 0101)

1. Visit pelhamlibraryal.gov and log into your library account.
2. Click on the word "Search" and choose "Keyword" from the drop-down menu.
3. Press the search icon (magnifying glass) and scroll through the results. When you find the item(s) you want, click on "Place Request".

1. Visit pelhamlibraryal.gov and log into your library account.
2. Click on "Contact Information and Preferences" and scroll to the bottom.
3. Find and checkmark the box next to "Maintain Reading History".
4. Select "OK" from the pop-up box and then click "Submit Change Request".

We have two services for digital books, movies, music, and other items: Hoopla and Overdrive.

We also offer free access to The Wall Street Journal and New York Times: Learn more about digital Newspapers

Download the Libby App or go to Camellia.Overdrive. Follow the direction to create an account. You will need  your library card number and PIN (month and day of your birthday as a 4-digit number). If you do not have a library card, you may get an instant digital card.

To access materials through Hoopla, download the Hoopla App or go to Hoopla.com. Follow the directions to create an account. You will need  your library card number and PIN (month and day of your birthday as a 4-digit number). If you do not have a library card, you may get a temporary account.

*You must be a Pelham resident for access to Hoopla.

• Genealogy with HeritageQuest Online
• Mango Language Learning
• Daily access to New York Time & Wall Street Journal
• Test prep, job-skill courses, and more with Learning Express Library
• Research databases by visiting Alabama Virtual Library
• Chilton automotive repair manuals
• Live, online tutoring (K-college) with Homework Alabama
• Step-by-step tutorials for Microsoft Excel, Word, computer basics, and more!

• Access the library's calendar of events
• Sign up for the library's newsletter 
• Follow Pelham Public Library on Facebook & Instagram.

For most fences, a permit is not required, but there are location and height requirements for fences. Please call the zoning office if you have questions.

Chickens are only allowed on properties that are zoned for Agriculture. Refer to the FAQ about finding your zoning district to determine whether you are allowed to keep chickens on your property.

Under some circumstances, you can operate a home occupation. Most home occupations are a home office, but as long as you can meet the requirements for a home occupation, you may complete an application and submit it to the revenue office.

We encourage you to visit the Report a Concern page on this website. If you do not have an account, you will need to create one. You can also download the Pelham 311 app. Choose Report a Concern>Suspected Zoning Violation to provide the information

A permit is required for both temporary banner signs and permanent signs. We encourage you to review the Sign Ordinance before applying. When you are ready to apply, fill out the online application.

View the City of Pelham's zoning map. You can always call the zoning office to verify zoning if you are unsure.

Zoning helps communities make the best decisions on how land is used to ensure compatibility. At its best, it protects residential neighborhoods from being subjected to intensive commercial and industrial uses. In a nutshell, it keeps the city organized and balanced.

First, planning and zoning ensure that Pelham residents and business owners are healthy, safe, and thriving. Secondly, we desire to create residential communities that feel like home and are aesthetically pleasing. At the same time, commercial districts are planned in a manner that will be safe and appealing to the citizens while resulting in a growing economy.

The most common violations are rooted in concern for public safety. First, signs with a lot of movement or placed in the public right of way can distract drivers and possibly cause accidents. The second most common violation is illegal parking. Parking in one's yard or areas not approved for parking can pollute the groundwater and environment and can detract from the beauty of our neighborhoods and business districts.

We strive to develop relationships with residents and business owners. Doing so allows us to explain and educate them on the origin and purpose of the ordinance as it relates to the comprehensive plan. Most of the time that helps to de-escalate situations. Once we explain the big picture, most understand why we bring violations to their attention. We aim to communicate in person at first contact and give a reasonable timeframe to comply. When the deadline expires without compliance, we send a letter with a final deadline. If the property owner is still non-compliant after that deadline, the case goes to Pelham Municipal Court, where a judge may impose fines.

Wear the right clothing and gear. This isn't just about boosting your confidence; it's also a form of injury prevention. Things to consider:

• Wear sufficiently warm clothing. Choose trousers, slacks, or figure-hugging long pants that allow for free movement and provide warmth. Wearing pants will help prevent ice burn and can either prevent or minimize grazing on the ice.
• Wear layered clothing. This is important so that you can dress up and down depending on how hot or cold you're feeling as you practice. Polar fleece, merino, other wool, thermals, etc. are all good choices for preventing loss of heat and for repelling water.
• Consider appropriate accessories such as gloves, a hat, and leg warmers to help keep you warm.
• A properly fitted pair of skates is a must. If you're not sure whether you'll stick with skating, rental skates are a good choice. Rental skates are high quality, and you'll be able to try a variety of sizes.
• Helmets and kneepads are recommended for beginning skaters.

The more you practice, the faster and more agile you'll become. Figure skating requires strength for the jumps and flexibility for certain movements. You'll need to do physical conditioning and stretches regularly at home. You'll only see results if you do it regularly, preferably three-to-four times a week. Exercises such as sit-ups and planking can help to train your core muscles for a higher jump. Squats can strengthen your thigh muscles for a sit spin. Even if you haven't reached spinning and jumping yet, you could start training now so that you'll be able to master the jumps and spins faster next time. Utilize the National Dynamic Warm-Up to prepare before you get on the ice.

Joint & Muscles

Skating works nearly every muscle group in the body, and gliding requires synchronized movement of the legs, which is important for joint flexibility. It also builds up the leg and abdominal muscles.

Cardiovascular

Like any workout, skating is great for cardiovascular health. It gets the blood pumping and the heart rate up. And it's a lot of fun to glide around the ice; unlike with other types of exercise, you probably won't even remember that you're working out!

Balance, Coordination & Weight Management

Strengthening your muscles and improving your joint health leads to better balance. So does trying to stay standing on the ice. By learning to engage your muscles to stay standing, you're not only toning them but also improving your control over your body and your endurance. According to Harvard Medical School, ice skating will burn up to 200 calories per hour, making it a great way to lose or maintain weight when combined with a healthy diet.

Stress Management

Working out, in general, is a great way to relieve stress because physical activity releases endorphins in the brain. Learning to ice skate also boosts self-confidence and hones focus as you learn the many new moves skating offers, like crossovers, going backward, and spinning. Bringing friends to the rink or meeting new people during lessons is also a great way to relax and unwind after a long week at work. The Pelham Skate School's Adult Program is a great way to make friends. Having friends who share the same hobbies as you can help you to learn faster. Not only can you exchange skating tips with them to help each other out, but you will also feel less lonely when you are at the rink. This will make your skating experience fun and exciting. Best of all, knowing that your friends are going too will act as a motivation to keep you going!

Look for the signage posted by the City of Pelham or the district Licensee.

No, patrons cannot bring their own alcoholic beverages into the district.

Any on-premise alcoholic beverage licensed retailers in the Arts & Entertainment District may apply for a permit to sell drinks “to go” in a special district plastic cup. The approved cup is light green. Patrons are welcome to explore the Arts & Entertainment district while carrying their drink; however, they will not be able to enter any other licensed establishment with their beverage, including the original place of purchase. Businesses that do not serve alcoholic beverages may elect to allow patrons into their establishments carrying a beverage.

No alcohol is allowed on the street, sidewalks, rights-of-way, or outdoor public areas within the district. Alcohol is also prohibited in parking lots.

Participating establishments are required to display signs near their entrance.

The City has adopted a comprehensive set of building codes that must be followed on construction projects within the City. These building codes govern structures' design, construction, alterations, and maintenance. Building codes establish the minimum requirements to safeguard the building's occupants' health, safety, and welfare. The permitting process is designed to allow the City to ensure that work complies with the building codes.  It also allows the City to ensure that contractors working in the City are properly licensed. 

Stop Work Orders are issued by the City of Pelham when work is ongoing that does not conform to the City’s Code of Ordinances. The most common reason for a Stop Work Order being issued is for ongoing construction work not being properly permitted. The reason a Stop Work Order was issued on your property is listed on the Order. 

For new construction, the City charges a permitting fee. In response to large-scale events such as a tornado or a flood, the City will often waive all permitting fees. 

You can find information about obtaining a permit in several ways:

• Call the Building Department at 205.620.6409, and a member of the Building Department staff can walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have.
• Email any questions to the Permit Technician.

Federal Standards discourage the use of “Children at Play” signs. There is a widespread false belief that traffic signs provide added protection. Studies have shown there is no long-term reduction in speed with these signs nor enforcement of ‘lower’ speeds. These signs may be found in locations throughout the city; however, these signs were placed before the MUTCD  changed the recommendation for the use of this sign. The current edition of the MUTCD does not include this sign and therefore should not be used.

All-way stop signs must meet specific requirements found in the MUTCD. These requirements typically involve traffic volumes, crash history, and pedestrians. The MUTCD specifically states that “Yield or Stop signs should not be used for speed control.” Multiway or All-way stop requests shall be requested separately and are not included in the NTCP.

Per City of Pelham Ordinances, the speed limit for residential streets where not posted is 20 mph.

Yes, we can review current signage and recommend a speed limit sign location(s) should it not be posted. This is at the discretion of the City, per their findings and allowable budget. It should be noted, the City does not supply decorative posts or install decorative posts for signs. If a neighborhood has decorative posts or standards, the City can only supply the sign to the HOA for them to install on their post.