§ 45-40-142 — Definitions

For the purposes of this part, the following words have the following meanings:
(1) COMMERCIAL BUILDING. Any building, structure, or other improvement to real property used for a commercial or business purpose. If there is more than one business, occupation, or enterprise occupying the building or structure, each business, occupation, or enterprise shall be treated as a separate commercial building for the purposes of assessing a fire protection fee. The term includes any structure in which commercial, industrial, or other nonresidential activity is conducted.
(2) COUNTY ASSOCIATION. Lawrence County Firefighters and Rapid Responders Association, Incorporated.
(3) COUNTY COMMISSION. The Lawrence County Commission.
(4) DWELLING. A structure that is intended to be used as a residence, regardless of whether the structure is also used as a business, including all of the following:
a. A structure or improvement assessed for purposes of ad valorem taxation as Class III single-family, owner-occupied, residential property.
b. A unit in a condominium, duplex, or apartment building.
c. Any manufactured home, mobile home, house trailer, or camper with living quarters which has a connection to a sewer or septic tank and electricity.
(5) ELIGIBLE MEMBER. An individual who has a business or a dwelling that is in the service area of a fire district and who is not in arrears on any assessed fire protection fee.
(6) LARGE COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE. Any commercial building as defined in this section that encloses an area of 50,000 square feet or more and which is occupied by one entity for use as a plant, assembly facility, warehouse, distribution center, or other commercial, industrial, or nonresidential activity.
(7) SERVICE AREA. A territory that is under the fire protection of a volunteer fire department, municipality, or a fire district. The territory that comprises a fire district.
(8) UNINCORPORATED AREA. Any territory outside of the corporate limits of a municipality, regardless of whether the territory is within the municipality’s police jurisdiction.
(9) VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. A volunteer fire department that is a member in good standing of the county association and is certified by the Alabama Forestry Commission pursuant to Section 9-3-17.

Legislative History

(Act 2025-185, §2.)