Each county shall appoint a building official or contract with other political subdivisions as authorized in Section 6-9-20 so that the unincorporated area of the county is under the jurisdiction of a building official. Each municipality shall appoint a building official or contract for a building official within the municipal limits. Based on the needs established by each municipality or county, the building official or appointing authority may appoint and employ other personnel and assistants necessary to perform the required inspections and duties and may prescribe fees for construction permits and inspections. The appointment of a building official and the establishment of a building inspection program for all municipalities and counties must be accomplished according to the following dates and populations based on the population figures of the latest official United States Census:

1. (1) municipalities and counties with a population above 70,000: one year after the effective date of this provision;
2. (2) municipalities and counties with a population of 35,000 to 70,000: two years after the effective date of this provision;
3. (3) municipalities and counties with a population under 35,000: three years after the effective date of this provision.