(a) The board may establish or adopt, residential building codes and standards of practice for residential home builders within the state. A residential building code or standard of practice adopted or established by the board does not supersede or otherwise exempt residential home builders from a local building law or code adopted by the governing body of county or municipality or from a local or general law.
(b) The county commissions of the several counties are authorized and empowered to adopt building laws and codes by ordinance which shall apply in the unincorporated areas of the county. The building laws and codes of the county commission shall not apply within any municipal police jurisdiction, in which that municipality is exercising its building laws or codes, without the express consent of the governing body of that municipality. The building laws and codes of the county commission may apply within the corporate limits of any municipality with the express consent of the governing body of the municipality. The county commission may employ building inspectors to see that its laws or codes are not violated and that the plans and specifications for buildings are not in conflict with the ordinances of the county and may exact fees to be paid by the owners of the property inspected.
(c) Utilizing the same authority and procedures as municipalities pursuant to Sections
11-53A-20 to 11-53A-26, inclusive, the county commission may condemn buildings, parts of buildings, or structures dangerous to the public and prohibit the use thereof and abate the same as a nuisance.
(d) The county commissions, municipalities, and other public entities may enter into mutual agreements, compacts, and contracts for the administration and enforcement of their respective building laws and codes. (Acts 1992, No. 92-608, p. 1282, § 12; Acts 2002, No. 02-72; Acts 2006, No. 06-105, § 12; Acts 2019, No. 19-482, § 1))