County Building Permits
Barrow County, GA - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Barrow County, Georgia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Covers unincorporated Barrow County only. Incorporated cities with their own permit programs handle city-limit projects unless a city routes the permit through the county
- Department
- Barrow County Planning and Community Development
- Address
- 30 North Broad Street, Winder, GA 30680
- Phone
- 770-307-3000
- planning@barrowga.org
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Tyler EnerGov Citizen Self Service Portal • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Create a CSS portal account
- Choose the correct application type and upload all required documents through the portal
- For septic-served parcels, upload Environmental Health approval; for sewer-served parcels, provide sewer documentation instead
- Submit all supporting site and construction documents shown on the county building permit checklist
- County Planning and Community Development reviews the submittal and routes it internally
- Pay invoiced fees
- Request inspections through the CSS portal after login
Typical processing time: 2 to 3 weeks
General Requirements
A permit is required for any structural change in an existing structure and for any building or structure added to the property
Required Documents
- Septic approval for non-sewer parcels
- Sewer tap receipt where applicable
- Paid water-meter receipt
- Driveway permit
- NOI/secondary/tertiary erosion approvals where applicable
- Site plan
- Recorded plat
- Floor plan
- Soil erosion card for grading work
- Notarized general contractor affidavit with current business license
- Building code
- The county fee schedule and public materials operate under the county's Unified Code and Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes; Barrow County public permit pages do not post a separate current code-edition table
- Contractor requirements
- County checklist requires contractor affidavit and current business license; Georgia state licensing rules apply for covered residential work
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- 75
- Plan check fee
- For all occupancies except residential, plan review is one-half of the building permit fee
- Permit fee formula
- Residential primary and accessory structures are charged at $0.30 per square foot, commercial and industrial heated space at $0.20 per heated square foot, and commercial and industrial non-heated space at $0.10 per square foot, plus base fees
- Reinspection fee
- 75
- Penalty (no permit)
- Fees are doubled if work starts before permit issuance
- Payment note
- County permit pages direct applicants to submit and track applications through the CSS portal
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Barrow County Planning and Community Development to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- ()
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: The county public pages do not publish a full universal sequence by permit type on the permit landing page; use the issued permit packet and portal guidance for the specific project
Additional Resources
- Building code: The county fee schedule and public materials operate under the county's Unified Code and Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes; Barrow County public permit pages do not post a separate current code-edition table
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- License lookup guide: Georgia Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Georgia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Georgia hub: Georgia Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Barrow County Planning and Community Development before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Barrow County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Barrow County, GA?
- A permit is required for any structural change in an existing structure and for any building or structure added to the property
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Barrow County, GA?
- The minimum permit fee is 75. Fees are calculated as: Residential primary and accessory structures are charged at $0.30 per square foot, commercial and industrial heated space at $0.20 per heated square foot, and commercial and industrial non-heated space at $0.10 per square foot, plus base fees. Plan check fee: For all occupancies except residential, plan review is one-half of the building permit fee.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Barrow County, GA?
- 1. Create a CSS portal account 2. Choose the correct application type and upload all required documents through the portal 3. For septic-served parcels, upload Environmental Health approval; for sewer-served parcels, provide sewer documentation instead 4. Submit all supporting site and construction documents shown on the county building permit checklist 5. County Planning and Community Development reviews the submittal and routes it internally 6. Pay invoiced fees 7. Request inspections through the CSS portal after login
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Barrow County, GA?
- Typical processing time is 2 to 3 weeks.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Barrow County, GA?
- The following work is generally exempt: Fence permits are not required in unincorporated Barrow County.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Barrow County, GA?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: .
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