Georgia

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Permit Resources

Permitting how-to’s and local municipal guides.

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Permitting in Georgia

In Georgia, each city and county operates its own permitting structure, so even if statewide codes are familiar, the local variations will define your process and timeline. 

Learn everything you need to know about obtaining building permits in Georgia — from permitting requirements and costs to inspections and common pitfalls.

Who issues building permits in Georgia?

Georgia uses a local issuing model. Each city or county building department handles permits for its jurisdiction. 

Here are examples:

  • Atlanta: Office of Buildings handles building permits and inspections for the city
  • Lawrenceville: Planning & Development Department manages permits through an online portal
  • Cherokee County: Permits issued to licensed contractors or approved owner-builders
  • Troup County: Building, Planning, and Zoning Department handles an array of permits, from swimming pools and accessory structures to erosion control

Georgia building permit requirements

Under Georgia law, if you're doing the following, you must apply for a permit according to local regulations:

  • Constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing occupancy of any structure
  • Installing, modifying, or replacing any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system under the IRC (residential) or IBC (commercial) with Georgia-specific amendments.

Exceptions include minor cosmetic work such as paint, carpeting, countertops, or minor appliance swapping. But always confirm with your local AHJ — permit requirements vary. For example, many jurisdictions require permits for accessory structures over 1,000 sq ft or fences over a certain height. 

While requirements differ by jurisdiction, most permit applications require:

  • A completed application form
  • Scaled construction and site plans
  • Trade-specific documentation (electrical, plumbing, mechanical)
  • Licensed contractor information or owner-builder affidavit
  • Special inspection or geotechnical reports where applicable (e.g., flood zones or commercial structures)
  • Any zoning or environmental approvals (especially for grading or stream buffer impacts)

Georgia building permit costs

Here’s what you can expect in a few representative areas:

Jurisdiction Residential Permits Commercial Permits
Augusta $6 per $1,000 of construction value $6 per $1,000 of construction value
Savannah $25 base + $5 per $1,000 construction value $25 base + $5 per $1,000 construction value
Smyrna $250 flat fee for residential $7 per $1,000 construction value
Fayetteville $300 minimum; increases with valuation $400 minimum; increases with valuation
Forest Park $100 base + $6 per $1,000 of construction value $200 base + $7 per $1,000 of construction value
Cobb County $250 base + plan review fee $500 base + plan review fee

Fees often include plan review, execution, inspections, and sometimes tech or administrative surcharges.

Unique considerations when permitting in Georgia

Licensed contractors only — or owner-builder

Most jurisdictions require state-licensed contractors to pull permits; owner-builders must sign affidavits and accept responsibility.

Impact, erosion, and flood considerations

Counties like Cherokee enforce sediment control plans and erosion inspections for new builds or developments. In Troup County, grading, floodplain, and stream controls are integrated into the permit process.

Technology fees and minimum charges

Some cities (e.g., Smyrna, Savannah) charge additional flat tech fees that can shift the total cost considerably, especially on small jobs.

Strict CO requirements

Certificates of Occupancy are required before use — even for residential projects in jurisdictions like Fayetteville and Cherokee County.

Digital permitting adoption varies

Cities like Lawrenceville and Cherokee County support online permitting, while others may still require paper or in-person submissions.

How to get a building permit in Georgia

  1. Verify jurisdiction
    City or county determines your process.

  2. Meet licensing requirements
    Ensure your contractor is licensed or file an owner-builder affidavit if allowed.

  3. Submit documentation
    Application, plans, trade details, affidavits, and special studies.

  4. Use digital portals where available
    E.g., Lawrenceville’s online portal or Savannah’s submission tools.

  5. Pay associated fees
    This includes tech, plan review, and impact charges.

  6. Coordinate plan review
    Revisions may be required; respond quickly.

  7. Permit issued and posted
    Display it per local regulations.

  8. Schedule inspections
    At key project milestones.

  9. Obtain CO
    Required in most jurisdictions for occupancy.

PermitFlow FAQs

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Is PermitFlow available in my area?

Yes! As part of our commitment to deliver the best possible experience for pulling permits, we’re here to help you whether you permit in the municipality you frequent as well across multiple municipalities nationwide.

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How to get started with PermitFlow?

We have a team that is ready to support you with all of your permitting needs. Speak with an expert today to get onboarded with PermitFlow.

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How long does it take to pull a permit with PermitFlow?

The time it takes to pull a permit is dependent on your project specifics as well as the municipality you are pulling the permit in; however, with PermitFlow’s platform, you will be able to submit requirement ready, error-free applications that save your team hours of time and shorten municipal review cycles by as much as 60%. Speak with an expert today to better understand what your estimated permitting cycle time would be.

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What are the benefits of permit software?

In short, the benefits of using our permit software are two-fold:

  • Faster & error-free permitting
  • Our software enables you to prepare requirement ready, error-free applications that save your team hours of time and shorten municipal review cycles so you can get to construction faster.
  • Centralized permitting
  • Submit, track, and pull permits all of your permits in a single, centralized platform and avoid deciphering municipal websites. Our solution enables you to stay up-to-date on all of your projects across all of the municipalities that you are operating in.

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