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Alabama · Birmingham Metro · Steel City · #181 Most Populous County in the US
Jefferson County, Alabama
Birmingham - the Magic City that rose from the iron and steel industry to become Alabama's largest city, the site of the 1963 Birmingham Campaign that changed American history, and a post-industrial city reinventing itself around healthcare, education, and culture. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Jefferson County residents.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
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Jefferson County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency
Address: 716 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 254-2040
Website: jcemal.org
Alert System: Jefferson County Emergency Alert; CodeRed; Birmingham also has city-level emergency alerts; AL Alert statewide
Shelter Info: Extensive shelter network; contact EMA or visit jcemal.org for locations; significant tornado shelter infrastructure
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: Alabama’s most populous county; Birmingham is the state’s largest city; April 2011 Super Outbreak caused catastrophic damage; sophisticated multi-agency emergency management; multiple hospitals (UAB, Brookwood, Grandview, St. Vincent’s) serve as medical surge capacity; Hazmat team; urban search and rescue capability
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Jefferson County Road and Transportation Department – (205) 325-5350
Public Transit: Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (MAX) – (205) 521-0101 | maxtransit.org; fixed-route bus network throughout Birmingham metro; demand-response (MAX Mobility) available
Notes: Alabama’s transportation hub; I-20, I-59, I-65, I-459, and US-280 all converge in Jefferson County; Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport; Amtrak Crescent Line (New York-New Orleans) stops at Birmingham; comprehensive MAX bus network
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Jefferson County Building and Permits – (205) 325-5321
Website: jeffersoncountyal.gov/building-permits
Services: Building permits, inspections, plan review, certificates of occupancy for unincorporated Jefferson County; online permit portal available
Notes: City of Birmingham (very extensive – separate); Bessemer, Hoover, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Trussville, Gardendale, Center Point, Fairfield, and dozens of other municipalities all have separate permits; Jefferson County’s unincorporated areas generate substantial permit activity
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Jefferson County Veterans Service Office
Address: 716 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 325-5179
VA Medical: Birmingham VA Medical Center – 700 S 19th St, Birmingham | (205) 933-8101 (major VA hospital – serves Alabama and surrounding region)
Vet Centers: Birmingham Vet Center – (205) 212-3397
Services: Full range – benefits claims, healthcare enrollment, pension, compensation, mental health, housing, education, employment assistance; DAV, VFW, American Legion posts numerous throughout county
Notes: Birmingham VA is one of the largest and most comprehensive VA medical centers in the Southeast; serves veterans across Alabama and parts of neighboring states; robust veterans community
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Jefferson County – multiple systems:
Birmingham Public Library (BPL) – bplonline.org | (205) 226-3600; Central Library: 2100 Park Place; 19 branches throughout Birmingham
Jefferson County Library Cooperative (JCLC) – serves suburban communities including Bessemer, Hoover, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Trussville, Center Point, and others
Services: Books, e-books (Alabama Digital Library), public computers, Wi-Fi, genealogy collection (BPL Southern History collection is premier), archives, maker space, art gallery, children’s programs, adult literacy, meeting rooms
Notes: Birmingham Public Library’s Southern History collection and Tutwiler Collection of Southern History and Literature are nationally significant research resources; JCLC member libraries are among the best-funded suburban libraries in Alabama
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
County Parks: Jefferson County parks system – multiple parks including Barber Motorsports Park (world-class racing and museum), Oak Mountain State Park (Alabama’s largest state park – Pelham, Jefferson/Shelby County line)
City of Birmingham: (205) 254-2391; Vulcan Park and Museum (iconic iron statue – symbol of Birmingham); Railroad Park; Rotary Trail; Legion Field; BJCC (Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex)
State Parks: Oak Mountain State Park – alapark.com | (205) 620-2524 (Alabama’s largest and most visited state park)
Notes: Jefferson County has exceptional recreation assets; Barber Motorsports Park hosts major motorcycle and car racing events; Vulcan (world’s largest cast iron statue) overlooks Birmingham; Red Mountain Park is a remarkable urban wilderness; Birmingham has significant greenway and trail infrastructure
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Jefferson County GIS – jeffersoncountyal.gov/gis | (205) 325-5171
Parcel Search: map.jeffersoncountyal.com
Notes: Jefferson County has one of Alabama’s most sophisticated GIS systems reflecting its scale; extensive parcel, zoning, and infrastructure mapping; Birmingham city also maintains separate GIS
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Jefferson County Animal Control – (205) 325-2985
Address: 4521 Pinson Valley Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35215
Notes: Large urban county with sophisticated animal services; Greater Birmingham Humane Society is one of Alabama’s premier humane organizations; active rescue community
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Jefferson County Department of Environmental Services – (205) 325-8634
Recycling: Curbside recycling in Birmingham and major suburbs; drop-off centers; BirminghamRecycles.com
Hazardous Waste: Household hazardous waste events; permanent drop-off through county
Environmental: JCDH Environmental Health – jcdh.org; ADEM – adem.alabama.gov; Jefferson County has legacy industrial pollution (steel, mining) with ongoing remediation
Notes: Jefferson County’s steel and mining heritage created significant environmental legacy issues; multiple Superfund sites; Superfund cleanup of 35th Avenue area in Birmingham was major; active air quality monitoring due to industrial history; JCDH has an independent environmental health division
About Jefferson County
Jefferson County is Birmingham – a city whose history contains some of the most dramatic and consequential events in 20th-century American history, and whose present represents one of the South’s most interesting post-industrial transformations.
Birmingham was founded in 1871 – literally planned on a grid at the intersection of two railroad lines in the Jones Valley between Red Mountain and the valley floor – as a planned industrial city designed to exploit the extraordinary coincidence of iron ore, coal, and limestone deposits within close proximity. It grew explosively in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as the Steel City of the South, producing iron and steel that built American infrastructure. US Steel’s Ensley and Fairfield works and dozens of other mills and furnaces made Jefferson County’s industrial economy among the most productive in the South.
The Birmingham Campaign of 1963 – the strategic civil rights campaign organized by Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference under Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – is one of the defining events of the Civil Rights Movement. The campaign’s deliberate confrontation with Public Safety Commissioner Bull Connor, the use of fire hoses and police dogs against peaceful demonstrators (many of them children), and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing of September 15, 1963 (which killed four young girls – Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Carol Denise McNair) shocked the nation and galvanized support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the 16th Street Baptist Church National Historic Site, Kelly Ingram Park, and the Fourth Avenue Historic District form one of the most significant Civil Rights heritage landscapes in the United States.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) – founded in 1969 – is Jefferson County’s largest employer and one of the most significant academic medical centers in the American South. UAB Health is the state’s largest healthcare system; the university’s research programs draw substantial NIH funding and have made Birmingham a nationally recognized biomedical research hub.
Birmingham’s post-steel reinvention has centered on healthcare (UAB and its ecosystem), culinary arts (Birmingham’s restaurant scene has received national recognition), and outdoor recreation (the Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail System and access to the Appalachian foothills). The Barber Motorsports Park in nearby Leeds is home to the world’s largest motorcycle museum and a nationally renowned road racing facility.
County government is a five-member Jefferson County Commission with a County Manager. Jefferson County famously filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in US history in 2011 – triggered by a sewer system financing scandal and derivative swap losses – and emerged from bankruptcy in 2013. Separately elected: Assessor, Circuit Clerk, Coroner, District Attorney, Probate Judge, Sheriff, and Tax Collector.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Alabama uses a fractional assessment system with some of the lowest effective property tax rates in the United States:
– Residential property (Class III): assessed at 10% of fair market value
– Commercial and industrial (Class II): assessed at 20% of fair market value
– Agricultural (Class I): assessed at 10% of current use value
The Jefferson County Tax Assessor (716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N, Suite A-100, Birmingham, 205-325-5505) handles all property appraisals.
Alabama’s combination of 10% residential assessment and modest millage rates produces effective residential property tax rates well below 1% of market value – among the lowest in the nation.
Senior exemptions: Alabama’s senior property tax benefits are among the most generous in the country:
– Age 65+ with income below $12,000: exempt from all state property taxes (state millage entirely eliminated)
– Additional county and municipal exemptions may apply – contact the Jefferson County Tax Assessor for current local thresholds
The appeal process:
Contact the Jefferson County Tax Assessor informally if you believe your appraised value is incorrect. If unresolved, appeal to the Jefferson County Board of Equalization (205-325-5505). Further appeal goes to the Jefferson County Circuit Court.
No Alabama estate tax. No Alabama inheritance tax. Federal estate tax applies above approximately $13.9 million (2025).
OWNWELL CTA: Jefferson County’s 10% assessment ratio means effective tax rates are very low – but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Senior exemption at 65+ with income below $12,000 eliminates all state property taxes – one of the most generous senior benefits in America. Board of Equalization available for disputed values. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Jefferson County's 10% assessment ratio means effective tax rates are very low - but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Senior exemption at 65+ with income below $12,000 eliminates all state property taxes - one of the most generous senior benefits in America. Board of Equalization available for disputed values. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Public Records
*** JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS AN INDEPENDENT COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT — NOT ADPH ***
Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH): www.jcdh.org
The Jefferson County Circuit Court at 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N, Birmingham (205-325-5300) handles all civil and criminal matters. The Jefferson County Probate Court at 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N (205-325-5327) handles all estate administration, guardianships, trusts, and recording of land documents (in Alabama, the Probate Court serves the recording function). The Jefferson County Circuit Clerk (205-325-5355) maintains all court records.
Alabama probate: the Probate Court handles all estate administration and serves as the recording office for deeds and mortgages. Alabama’s Small Estate Act allows simplified procedures for estates below $25,000. Alabama recognizes Transfer on Death deeds under the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act.
UAB and medical center estate planning: Jefferson County’s large UAB workforce participates in the Teachers’ Retirement System of Alabama (TRS) and the Employees’ Retirement System of Alabama (ERS) – with the same irrevocable joint-and-survivor annuity election issues as other state pension systems. UAB’s significant research enterprise and technology transfer program generate faculty royalty interests and spinout equity that should be addressed in estate plans.
Birmingham municipal bankruptcy legacy: Jefferson County’s 2011 bankruptcy – the largest in US history at the time, at $4 billion – was driven by a sewer system financing scandal involving JPMorgan Chase and Jefferson County officials, compounded by interest rate swap losses. The bankruptcy’s resolution in 2013 required significant rate increases for sewer users and restructured county debt. Property owners should be aware that sewer system charges in Jefferson County remain among the highest in the nation as a legacy of the bankruptcy settlement.
Civil Rights heritage and estate planning: The 16th Street Baptist Church, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and other heritage institutions in Jefferson County are major recipients of philanthropic gifts and planned bequests from donors nationwide – not just locally – who seek to support the preservation of Civil Rights history.
Senior Services: The Jefferson County Office of Senior Citizens Services (205-325-1418) at 2 Perimeter Park South, Suite 228, Birmingham coordinates senior centers, home-delivered meals, transportation, SHIIP Medicare counseling (Alabama’s SHIP), caregiver support, Adult Protective Services, and connections to Alabama Medicaid long-term care programs.
Senior Services
Senior Services: The Jefferson County Office of Senior Citizens Services (205-325-1418) at 2 Perimeter Park South, Suite 228, Birmingham coordinates senior centers, home-delivered meals, transportation, SHIIP Medicare counseling (Alabama’s SHIP), caregiver support, Adult Protective Services, and connections to Alabama Medicaid long-term care programs.
Senior Information Specialist: Dedra Lewis — (205) 325-5567
Incontinence supplies (55+, income-eligible), information & referral, fan distribution (60+, low-income), community resources
Commission on Aging: Via county community services
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
PROBATE JUDGE (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Estates)
716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 325-5355
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 325-5355
Genealogy
Primary research center
Linn-Henley Research Library (Birmingham Public Library, central branch) 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 226-3665 Email: [email protected]
Houses the library’s Southern History Department – Alabama census records, city directories, Birmingham newspaper archives (Birmingham News, Birmingham Age-Herald), church records, and thousands of surname research files compiled by earlier local researchers. Free in-library access to Ancestry, Fold3, and Newspapers.com.
County-level record sources
Jefferson County Probate Court (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds – searchable via Landmark Web, see Probate section above)
Jefferson County Historical Commission, 571 Landmark Center, 2100 First Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203, (205) 324-0988
Local societies
Birmingham Genealogical Society (publishes “Pioneer Trails”)
Birmingham Historical Society, 1 Sloss Quarters, Birmingham, AL 35222 (publishes the “Birmingham Historical Society Journal”)
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Jefferson County has two probate divisions – file in whichever is more convenient, but confirm with the clerk if you’re unsure which handles your case.
Birmingham Division Jefferson County Courthouse 716 North Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 325-5420 Hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Mon–Fri
Bessemer Division Jefferson County Courthouse 1801 3rd Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020 (205) 481-4100 Hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Mon–Fri
Step 1: figure out which path applies
This is the fork in the road that determines everything else – how long it takes, what it costs, and whether you need an attorney.
Small/Summary Distribution – for estates made up of personal property only (no real estate) worth up to roughly $47,000 (the threshold is CPI-adjusted annually; it rose from about $36,000 to ~$47,000 under the Revised Alabama Small Estates Act, effective October 1, 2025). No personal representative is appointed, and there’s no months-long court oversight – just a single verified petition.
Formal Probate – required if the estate includes real property, exceeds the small-estate threshold, or there’s a dispute among heirs. This appoints a personal representative (an executor if there’s a will, an administrator if there isn’t) with legal authority to act for the estate.
If the estate qualifies for summary distribution
Wait at least 30 days after the death before filing – filings submitted earlier will be rejected.
The surviving spouse (if there is one) is the only person who can file; if there’s no surviving spouse, any rightful heir can.
File a verified petition with the Jefferson County Probate Court listing the decedent’s assets, debts, and heirs, plus the will if one exists.
Notice must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county; no distribution can happen until 30 days after publication.
The petitioner must separately notify the Alabama Medicaid Agency by certified mail (Medicaid has 30 days to respond with any claim against the estate – this step is required in every case, not just where Medicaid was involved).
Once both 30-day windows close and the judge approves, the court issues an order you can present to banks or other institutions to claim and distribute the property.
Simple, uncontested cases can wrap up in weeks to a few months. Anything with disputed debts or unclear heirs takes longer.
If formal probate is required
Gather what you’ll need before your first visit: the original will (if any), several certified copies of the death certificate, a list of assets and debts, and names/addresses of all heirs and beneficiaries.
File a Petition for Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Petition for Letters of Administration (without one). Filing fee is a flat $45, plus $3/page for wills over 5 pages, and covers three certified copies of the letters.
Creditor notice must be published once a week for three successive weeks in a Jefferson County newspaper of general circulation.
If uncontested with waivers filed, a hearing may not be required; otherwise the judge holds one and, if approved, issues the Letters.
The personal representative then has 2 months to file a full inventory of estate assets, and creditors have 6 months from the grant of letters (or 5 months from first publication, whichever is later) to submit claims.
After debts and taxes are settled, the representative files a final accounting; once approved, assets are distributed and the estate is formally closed.
Alabama requires an estate to stay open a minimum of 6 months, whether or not there’s a will.
A will must be filed for probate within 5 years of the date of death, or it loses effect.
What it costs
Court filing: $45 flat (plus the per-page will fee noted above).
Personal representative compensation: capped by law at 2.5% of the estate’s value received plus 2.5% of disbursements (extra allowed for genuinely extraordinary work).
Attorney fees: not fixed by statute – negotiated between the family and the attorney. Alabama doesn’t require an attorney for probate, but most formal (non-small-estate) cases benefit from one, especially if there’s a dispute or the estate includes real property.
Where to check case status online
Jefferson County’s Landmark Web system lets you search probate case files, marriage records, and recorded deeds by name or case number, free, no account required.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
PROBATE JUDGE (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Estates)
716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 325-5355
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
2200 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 325-1450
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 325-5550
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Cooper Green Mercy Health Services (safety net hospital)
1400 6th Ave. S., Birmingham, AL 35233
(205) 930-3400
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Jefferson County Dept of Health (JCDH — independent from ADPH)
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) – fully independent county health department (not under state ADPH structure)
Address: 1400 6th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233
Phone: (205) 930-1212
Website: jcdh.org
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI/HIV testing and treatment, environmental health, restaurant inspections, vital records (birth/death), epidemiology, refugee health, tuberculosis program, dental clinic, childhood lead poisoning prevention, emergency preparedness
Notes: Jefferson County has its own independent health department – one of the most sophisticated county health departments in Alabama; significantly more comprehensive than the state-run health departments in most Alabama counties; JCDH is accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board
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