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Hiring a Driveway Paving Company in Montgomery: 811, Licenses and Timing
A driveway job involves digging, heavy equipment and weather. Here is what Alabama law says about calling 811, how contractor licensing works, when hot mix asphalt can be placed, and the questions worth asking before you sign.
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The Short Version
- Call 811 before any digging. Alabama requires notice at least two working days before digging, and if you hire a contractor you should confirm that they made the request.
- Check the license. Alabama licenses residential builders and general contractors based on the size of the job. Ask which license, if any, applies to your job and verify it with the licensing board.
- Get insurance and a written scope. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope that names the base preparation, thickness, drainage and cleanup.
- Timing matters. Hot mix asphalt needs minimum temperatures and a dry base when it is placed.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For a specific project, check the rules with the agencies named below.
Alabama 811: Who Must Call
Alabama law requires anyone who plans to dig, excavate or move earth to contact Alabama 811 at least two full working days before starting, regardless of depth. Requests are free, by phone at 811 or online, and locators then mark the approximate location of buried utility lines with paint and flags. The Alabama Public Service Commission urges homeowners and contractors alike to make the call, and it recommends confirming that a hired contractor has contacted 811.
Driveway replacement, widening and new construction often involve digging out an old surface or preparing a base, so ask the company who will make the 811 request and when, and ask to see confirmation that it was made. Marked lines are approximate, so careful digging near the marks is part of the job. A state electric cooperative's safety page notes that Alabama law allows a utility to bill for damage to its line.
Licenses: What to Ask For
Alabama has separate state licensing boards. The Home Builders Licensure Board covers residential construction, remodeling, repair and improvement work once the cost, including labor and materials, passes a threshold set by the board. The Licensing Board for General Contractors covers commercial and larger projects above a higher threshold. Both boards publish their current thresholds on their websites.
Whether a particular paving job needs a license depends on the work and its cost, so ask the company which license applies and check it directly with the board before you sign. Also ask for a certificate of insurance. Our how it works page explains how this referral service connects you with independent, insured local companies.
Timing a Paving Job
State highway specifications, and the Federal Highway Administration's hot mix asphalt review guidance, commonly set 50 degrees Fahrenheit as the minimum temperature for placing hot mix, and many specifications bar placing it on a wet or frozen base. Hot mix cools quickly, and paving guides warn that placing it in cold or wet conditions risks poor compaction, a surface that ravels and early cracking. Warm mix asphalt is an alternative some companies use in marginal temperatures.
Montgomery's mild winters leave many workable days, but a cold snap or a wet stretch can still push a job back. A company that is willing to reschedule rather than pave in poor conditions is protecting the result. Our new asphalt driveway page and resurfacing page explain what the work involves.
Permits and the Public Right of Way
Work in the public right of way, such as a curb cut or driveway apron, can require approval from the city or county, depending on where your property sits. Rules vary, so ask the City of Montgomery or Montgomery County whether any approval applies to your project, and ask your company who will handle it.
Questions to Ask Before You Sign
- Which license do you hold, and can I verify it with the state board?
- Can you send proof of insurance?
- Who will contact 811, and when? Can I see confirmation?
- What does the written scope say about removing the old surface, base preparation, thickness, drainage and edges?
- What happens if weather delays the job?
- How long before we can drive and park on the new surface, and who answers questions afterward?
- Is anything in the public right of way part of the job, and who handles any needed approval?
Sources
Facts on this page come from the sources below. Check them for current rules.
Common Questions
Do I have to call 811 for a driveway job?
Alabama requires notice to Alabama 811 at least two working days before digging or excavating. If a contractor is doing the work, the Public Service Commission recommends confirming that they made the request.
Does a paving contractor need a license in Alabama?
Alabama licenses residential builders and general contractors based on the size of the job, and whether a given paving job needs a license depends on the work and its cost. Ask the company which license applies and verify it with the state licensing board.
What temperature is too cold to pave?
State highway specifications and Federal Highway Administration guidance commonly use 50 degrees Fahrenheit as the minimum for placing hot mix asphalt, and many bar placing it on a wet or frozen base.
Can driveways be paved in winter in Montgomery?
Some winter days are workable, but the minimum temperature and dry base requirements still apply, and warm mix asphalt is an option some companies use. A company that reschedules instead of paving in poor conditions is protecting the result.
What should a driveway paving proposal include?
Look for a written scope that names removal of the old surface, base preparation, thickness, drainage, edges and cleanup, along with the license, proof of insurance and who will contact 811.
Who handles permits for a driveway?
Rules for work in the public right of way vary by city and county. Ask the City of Montgomery or Montgomery County whether any approval applies, and ask your company who will handle it.
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