Bryan County, GA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Unincorporated Bryan County; Building and Codes Division performs all residential and commercial inspections in unincorporated Bryan County

Department

Bryan County Community Development Department, Building and Codes Division

Address

51 North Courthouse Street, Pembroke, GA 31321 and 66 Captain Matthew Freeman Drive, Suite 111, Richmond Hill, GA 31324

Phone

(912) 756-7962

Email

dmonaco@bryancountyga.gov

Website

https://www.bryancountyga.gov/government/departments-a-g/community-development/digitalsubmission

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Open Bryan County's digital permitting page and enter the Evolve Public portal
2. Create an account, then use 'Permit Application' to submit the permit (examples: trade permits, new homes, new commercial buildings, accessory structures, detached garages, additions, remodels)
3. Upload the project documents the portal requires; system identifies required uploads
4. Include county-specific prerequisites: proof taxes are paid, public-health approval before issuance for individual septic systems, fire-fee payment in person for all new residential/commercial construction, final site plan checklist for new residential lots, water/sewer demand analysis for applicable non-residential projects
5. If Bryan County water and sewer service requested for new construction, Water and Sewer Department automatically notified from building permit application
6. Await county review and permit issuance before starting work
7. Once permit issued, schedule and track inspections in Evolve

Typical processing time: Inspections requested before 4:00 pm typically scheduled for next day; no general permit-review turnaround publicly stated

Source: Bryan County Community Development Department, Building and Codes Division

General Requirements

Building permits required when a building or structure meets the permit threshold; examples include fences 7 feet or greater in height, buildings greater than 200 square feet, replacement of an electrical panel; portal lists trade permits, new residential/commercial buildings, accessory structures, detached garages, house additions, and remodels; permits are all-inclusive and subcontractor permits not separately issued

Required Documents

• State contractor license or Authorized Permit Agent Form
• Owner or contractor exemption affidavit where license exemptions claimed
• Proof of paid taxes
• Septic/public-health approval before issuance for properties with individual septic
• Fire-fee receipt for new residential/commercial construction
• Final site plan checklist for new residential lots
• Water/sewer demand analysis for applicable non-residential work
• Project-specific inspection documents: compaction study, termite bond, flood elevation certificate before inspections

Building code

County adopts International Building Code, National Electrical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code, International Residential Code, International Energy Conservation Code, and International Fire Code; county formally adopted 2018 ICC codes in 2019 effective January 1, 2020; applicants should read in conjunction with Georgia's statewide minimum code updates

Owner-builder

Bryan County's 'Who Can Apply for a Building Permit' notice states exemptions and exceptions may be allowed under O.C.G.A. 43-41-17; applicable Property Owner Exemption or Contractor Exemption affidavit must be submitted before permit issuance

Contractor requirements

County will not issue building permit for work requiring licensed residential or general contractor unless applicant submits copy of state-issued license or completed Authorized Permit Agent Form; Georgia state licensing rules apply

Fees

Minimum permit fee

75

Plan check fee

5% of building permit fee, with $100 minimum and $1,500 maximum

Permit fee formula

Residential: $70.00 x 0.0075 x total square feet of heated/unheated construction under roof; Commercial: $90.00 x 0.0075 x total square feet of construction; Manufactured homes: width x length x 0.18; Enclosed non-heated/cooled accessory structures: $25.00 x 0.007 x square feet or $75 whichever is greater; Open shelters: $18.00 x 0.007 x square feet under roof or $75 whichever is greater; many flat-fee permits also available

Reinspection fee

First reinspection $0; second $50; third $75; fourth $75; $500 max

Penalty (no permit)

Work started without permit or subject to stop-work order doubles the corresponding fee

Payment note

Online permit-fee payments can be made through Payment button in Evolve once permit ready; Impact fees, NPDES fees, and water/sewer tap fees cannot be paid by credit card; County charges 3.5% service charge for credit-card transactions

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2026).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Bryan County Community Development Department, Building and Codes Division to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

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Scheduling deadline

Requests before 4:00 pm Monday-Friday typically scheduled for next business day; requests after 4:00 pm typically scheduled for day after next; cancellations must be made by 8:15 am on day of inspection

Time windows

Monday through Friday

Typical inspection sequence: County posts residential inspection checklist beginning with pre-first-inspection site prerequisites, then saw pole, plumbing in slab, sewer tie-in, footings/stem walls/slabs or monolithic slab, nail inspection, framing, rough plumbing, electrical rough, mechanical, insulation, and later final items; applicable inspection steps identified in checklist materials

Additional Resources

• Building code: County adopts International Building Code, National Electrical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code, International Residential Code, International Energy Conservation Code, and International Fire Code; county formally adopted 2018 ICC codes in 2019 effective January 1, 2020; applicants should read in conjunction with Georgia's statewide minimum code updates
• 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

Frequently Asked Questions

Bryan County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Bryan County, GA?

Building permits required when a building or structure meets the permit threshold; examples include fences 7 feet or greater in height, buildings greater than 200 square feet, replacement of an electrical panel; portal lists trade permits, new residential/commercial buildings, accessory structures, detached garages, house additions, and remodels; permits are all-inclusive and subcontractor permits not separately issued

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Bryan County, GA?

The minimum permit fee is 75. Fees are calculated as: Residential: $70.00 x 0.0075 x total square feet of heated/unheated construction under roof; Commercial: $90.00 x 0.0075 x total square feet of construction; Manufactured homes: width x length x 0.18; Enclosed non-heated/cooled accessory structures: $25.00 x 0.007 x square feet or $75 whichever is greater; Open shelters: $18.00 x 0.007 x square feet under roof or $75 whichever is greater; many flat-fee permits also available. Plan check fee: 5% of building permit fee, with $100 minimum and $1,500 maximum.

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Bryan County, GA?

1. Open Bryan County's digital permitting page and enter the Evolve Public portal 2. Create an account, then use 'Permit Application' to submit the permit (examples: trade permits, new homes, new commercial buildings, accessory structures, detached garages, additions, remodels) 3. Upload the project documents the portal requires; system identifies required uploads 4. Include county-specific prerequisites: proof taxes are paid, public-health approval before issuance for individual septic systems, fire-fee payment in person for all new residential/commercial construction, final site plan checklist for new residential lots, water/sewer demand analysis for applicable non-residential projects 5. If Bryan County water and sewer service requested for new construction, Water and Sewer Department automatically notified from building permit application 6. Await county review and permit issuance before starting work 7. Once permit issued, schedule and track inspections in Evolve

How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Bryan County, GA?

Typical processing time is Inspections requested before 4:00 pm typically scheduled for next day; no general permit-review turnaround publicly stated.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Bryan County, GA?

Inspections can be scheduled via: , , . Requests before 4:00 pm Monday-Friday typically scheduled for next business day; requests after 4:00 pm typically scheduled for day after next; cancellations must be made by 8:15 am on day of inspection.