About DCM

The Division of Construction Management (DCM) was established in 2015 as part of Real Property Management (RPM) within the Alabama Department of Finance. The Act which created RPM and DCM also abolished the Building Commission (BC), with BC's responsibilities transferred to DCM.

Jurisdiction

DCM's primary function involves promulgating the State Building Code through plan reviews, serving as the state's contract administrator for state-funded construction, and conducting construction inspections.

The State Building Code is limited to any new construction, addition, renovation, modification of mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems, sitework and generally any and all work on state-owned property and/or using state funds, on all public and private kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) schools, on public higher education institutions (including Alabama Community College System [ACCS] projects with Notices-to-Proceed issued prior to August 1, 2021), on hotels/motels and on movie theaters. DCM's code jurisdiction over plans and specifications of all municipal and county-owned projects is limited to such projects meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards. DCM does not have jurisdiction over residential or commercial property except for hotels/motels and movie theaters. Contact the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and city or county building departments concerning codes for residential and most commercial property. Where there is no local authority having jurisdiction, the default code enforcement is by the State Fire Marshal.

Divisions

  • Plan Review Division: Administers the State Building Code and other regulations through required review of proposed construction plans, specifications, and related documents for projects on property within DCM's jurisdiction which includes any new construction, addition, renovation, modification of mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems, sitework and generally any and all work on state-owned property and/or using state funds, on hotels/motels and movie theaters, on public (including charter) and private schools regardless of funding sources including all K-12 and public universities, and ACCS projects with Notices-to-Proceed issued prior to August 1, 2021. Reviews municipal and county-owned project submittals for ADA Standards compliance only.
  • Contract Administration Division: Administers and reviews owner/architect agreements, amendments, construction contracts, change orders and related documents for state agencies, ACCS projects with Notices-to-Proceed issued prior to August 1, 2021 (issued a DCM project number lower than 2021600), partially or fully Public School and College Authority (PSCA)-funded (including ACCS projects with Notices-to-Proceed issued prior to August 1, 2021) and other bond-funded projects to ensure compliance with state laws, DCM procedures and other regulations.
    Note: Designers submit fully locally-funded public K-12 (including charter) contract documents to the State Department of Education (SDE) for review and approval. SDE then forwards a copy of the documents to DCM.
  • Project Management Division: Supervises and administers state agency projects assigned to DCM to ensure compliance with state laws, DCM procedures and other regulations.
  • Project Inspection Division: Facilitates required pre-construction conferences and conducts required inspections of projects under construction to ensure acceptable building practices, code compliance and conformance with contract documents. In conjunction with the Design Professional and Awarding Authority/Owner, DCM Inspectors establish substantial completion for building occupancy. Conducts required pre-construction conferences, inspections and substantial completions limited to state-funded construction, any project on state-owned property, public K-12 (including charter) schools, on public universities, and on ACCS projects with Notices-to-Proceed issued prior to August 1, 2021.
  • Home Inspectors / EIFS Inspectors Licensing Division: Issues licenses for Home Inspector and EIFS Inspector applicants after confirming compliance with state laws. Reviews compliance during the annual renewal period.
  • Construction Industry Craft Training Program: Grants are provided to help train Alabama’s construction workforce to meet the demands of the marketplace in the shortest time frame possible. Administration of the program is carried out by DCM staff in conjunction with the CICT Board.

Project Types

  • PSCA-Funded or Fully Locally-Funded State Agency and Department Projects: Administered by Plan Review Division, Contract Administration Division and Project Inspection Division. Also supervised by Project Management Division when applicable, see assigned agencies.
  • PSCA-Funded and other Bond-Funded Public K-12, Public University and other non-ACCS Projects: Administered by Plan Review Division, Contract Administration Division and Project Inspection Division.
  • PSCA-Funded or Fully Locally-Funded Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Projects with Notices-to-Proceed issued prior to August 1, 2021: Administered by Plan Review Division, Contract Administration Division and Project Inspection Division.
  • Fully Locally-Funded University Projects: Administered by Plan Review Division and Project Inspection Division.
  • Fully Locally-Funded Public K-12 (including Charter) School Projects: Administered by Plan Review Division and Project Inspection Division.
    Note: Designers submit owner/architect agreements, amendments, construction contract, and change orders to the State Department of Education (SDE) for review and approval. SDE then forwards a copy of the documents to DCM Contract Administration Division.
  • Private K-12 Projects: Administered by Plan Review Division.
  • Hotel/Motel Projects: Administered by Plan Review Division.
  • Movie Theater Projects: Administered by Plan Review Division.
  • County and Municipal Owned Projects: Administered by Plan Review Division for ADA Standards compliance only.