THE DIRTBID REGIONAL MODEL · ALABAMA
Sitework in Alabama on the same Richmond Metro = 1.00 scale as the rest of DirtBid: 14 cost regions and 67 counties, each with a soil-risk rating from USDA and USGS data. Daphne Metro runs highest at 0.92×; Florence Metro lowest at 0.80×.
Alabama multipliers and county ratings are planning-level: built from federal price and soil data, and not yet checked against local bids or a local estimator.
Dominant ground: Nauvoo, Townley, Luverne
7 counties in this region. 5 of 7 rate high for shallow rock. 1 of 7 rate high for water table. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 1 of the 7. Highest risk score: Bibb County (5 of 10).
Counties: Bibb County, Blount County, Chilton County, Jefferson County, St. Clair County, Shelby County, Walker County
Dominant ground: Luverne, Smithdale, Orangeburg
36 counties in this region. 13 of 36 rate high for water table. 8 of 36 rate high for shallow rock. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 8 of the 36. Highest risk score: Barbour County (5 of 10).
Counties: Barbour County, Bullock County, Butler County, Chambers County, Cherokee County, Choctaw County, Clarke County, Clay County, Cleburne County, Coffee County, Conecuh County, Coosa County, Covington County, Crenshaw County, Cullman County, Dale County, Dallas County, DeKalb County, Escambia County, Fayette County, Franklin County, Jackson County, Lamar County, Marengo County, Marion County, Marshall County, Monroe County, Perry County, Pike County, Randolph County, Sumter County, Talladega County, Tallapoosa County, Washington County, Wilcox County, Winston County
Dominant ground: Dickson, Decatur, Fullerton
2 counties in this region. 1 of 2 rate high for water table. 1 of 2 rate high for dewatering. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 2 of the 2. Highest risk score: Limestone County (5 of 10).
Counties: Limestone County, Madison County
Dominant ground: Wadley, Heidel, Benndale
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Mobile County (5 of 10).
Counties: Mobile County
Dominant ground: Sumter, Smithdale, Heidel
4 counties in this region. 2 of 4 rate high for water table. 2 of 4 rate high for dewatering. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 2 of the 4. Highest risk score: Autauga County (5 of 10).
Counties: Autauga County, Elmore County, Lowndes County, Montgomery County
Dominant ground: Smithdale, Luverne, Shubuta
4 counties in this region. 3 of 4 rate high for water table. 3 of 4 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Greene County (5 of 10).
Counties: Greene County, Hale County, Pickens County, Tuscaloosa County
Dominant ground: Lakeland, Malbis, Cuthbert
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Baldwin County (5 of 10).
Counties: Baldwin County
Dominant ground: Pacolet, Cecil, Marvyn
2 counties in this region. 1 of 2 rate high for water table. Highest risk score: Macon County (5 of 10).
Counties: Lee County, Macon County
Dominant ground: Muskingum (Gorgas), Wynnville, Colbert
2 counties in this region. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 2 of the 2. Highest risk score: Lawrence County (5 of 10).
Counties: Lawrence County, Morgan County
Dominant ground: Saffell, Chisca, Decatur
2 counties in this region. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 1 of the 2. Highest risk score: Colbert County (5 of 10). This multiplier sits outside the range the model was tested on, so treat it as rougher.
Counties: Colbert County, Lauderdale County
Dominant ground: Dothan, Orangeburg, Troup
3 counties in this region. 1 of 3 rate high for water table. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 2 of the 3. Highest risk score: Houston County (6 of 10). This multiplier sits outside the range the model was tested on, so treat it as rougher.
Counties: Geneva County, Henry County, Houston County
Dominant ground: Gorgas, Clarksville, Fullerton
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for shallow rock. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of it. Highest risk score: Calhoun County (5 of 10). This multiplier sits outside the range the model was tested on, so treat it as rougher.
Counties: Calhoun County
Dominant ground: Hartsells, Minvale, Conasauga
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for shallow rock. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of it. Highest risk score: Etowah County (5 of 10). This multiplier sits outside the range the model was tested on, so treat it as rougher.
Counties: Etowah County
Dominant ground: Conecuh, Luverne, Springhill
1 county in this region. Highest risk score: Russell County (4 of 10).
Counties: Russell County
FAQ
From USDA soil survey data, the most common across the state: water table (24 of 67 counties rate high), shallow rock (15 of 67 counties rate high), dewatering (15 of 67 counties rate high). A parcel can differ from its county, so read the survey for your exact site.
From the Commerce Department's Regional Price Parities, on the same Richmond Metro = 1.00 scale as Virginia. Across 29 reviewed regions that method missed by about 0.03 on average. They have not been checked against executed bids in Alabama, so use them for planning, not a final bid.
They are screening ratings from federal soil and geology data, not a local estimator's review and not a geotechnical report. Tested against 511 reviewed counties, they land within one level most of the time, and exact matches are less common. Get borings before you price a real site.
Soil Report
A $350 DirtBid AI Soil Report reads the official USDA survey for your exact parcel, flags the hazards above, and prices the risk — before you buy land or sign a contract.