Who does gutter work
Gutter work comes from a few kinds of businesses: gutter installers, roofers who handle gutters alongside a roof, and exterior companies that do both. Cleaning is sometimes sold on its own. If a new roof is part of your project, the drip edge and the back of the gutter meet at the same joint, so ask how the two jobs will fit together, whoever does them.
What the job involves
On a full install, someone measures each eave, hangs a run along the fascia, ties it into downspouts and decides where each downspout lets the water out. Most of what you're paying for can't be seen from the street: the size of the trough, the thickness of the metal, the spacing of the hangers. The installation guide covers those choices, and the size calculator lets you run your own eave before anyone comes out.
City and county rules
No agency page read for this site says whether gutters need a permit, in any jurisdiction. Here's the exact wording each one does use, and who to call:
| Where | What the page says | Call |
|---|---|---|
| City of Huntsville | A permit for work "in excess of $250 dollars", counting material and labor; structural work at any amount. "Painting, wallpapering, fencing, and floor covering are exempt from permitting." Gutters aren't named either way. | Inspection, 256-427-5331 |
| City of Madison | Alterations listed include "new roofs, vinyl siding, window replacements, etc." The no-permit list doesn't name gutters either. | Building, 256-772-5644 |
| Unincorporated Madison County | "All construction, renovations, repairs, alterations, or additions costing $1000 or more" and "Roofing or re-roofing - regardless of cost". Gutters aren't named. | Inspection, 256-746-2950 |
Huntsville's own advice is the best advice on this: "When in doubt, call the Inspection Department 256-427-5331."
If your house is in a historic district, there's a separate step. If your address is in Limestone County, these guides don't cover that county's rules. Ask Limestone County Engineering at 256-233-6681.
Questions to ask a contractor
- What's your full legal business name, address and phone, as they'll appear on the contract?
- Do you know whether this job needs a permit, and who pulls it?
- Can you give me references?
- How did you size each run, and how many outlets does each one have?
- What thickness and material is the price based on?
- Where will each downspout discharge?
- Will you check the fascia and drip edge first? How will you price rot if you find it?
- What does your workmanship warranty cover, and for how long?
- How much do you want before work starts, and what triggers the rest?
Contract and payment cautions
A written contract should show the contractor's name, address and phone, the work, the dates and the total cost. For gutters, add the size, material and thickness of each run, the number of downspouts and where each one discharges, removal of old gutters, how rot would be priced, and who handles any permit. If a deposit is part of the deal, write down the amount and when the balance comes due.
On money, the state is blunt. Alabama's Attorney General says: "NEVER make a full payment or substantial down payment up front." To report fraud, call the Consumer Interest Division at 1-800-392-5658.
What goes wrong when hiring
- A vague permit answer. No local page names gutters, so "you don't need one" is only a claim. The office for your address can answer.
- No written price. Without one, there's nothing to hold anyone to.
- Paying everything up front. See the Attorney General's warning above.
- A storm-time door knock. See hail and wind damage for the state's warnings.
Who this guide isn't for
If you're doing the work yourself, the size calculator and a call to your permit office still apply. If your question is about a neighbor's drainage, see downspouts and drainage. If you need legal advice on a dispute, this site isn't a substitute for a lawyer.
Questions homeowners ask
Should a roofer or a gutter company do this?
Either can come up, and the questions above are the same. If a roof is part of the job, say so when you call about a permit: unincorporated Madison County lists "Roofing or re-roofing - regardless of cost".
Do I need a permit for gutters here?
Call your jurisdiction. The pages read don't say either way, and the wording above is general. Huntsville's trigger of $250 is low, so don't skip the call.
What should I check before I pay anything?
Ask for references, go through the questions above, and get a written contract. Don't pay in full up front.
Where do I report fraud?
Call the Attorney General's Consumer Interest Division at 1-800-392-5658.
How this site helps: it connects you with one independent local contractor. Ask them the same questions, and get their price in writing.
Related guides
Sources
- Alabama Attorney General, home repair fraud warning, June 21, 2021.
- City of Huntsville: inspections FAQ, modified September 12, 2025.
- City of Madison: permitting and FAQs, undated.
- Madison County: permit document, undated.