County Building Permits
Bulloch County, GA - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Bulloch County, Georgia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Applies to unincorporated Bulloch County only; incorporated municipalities have separate municipal authority unless a city routes work elsewhere.
- Department
- Building Permit / Inspection Department, Bulloch County Development
- Address
- 115 North Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30458
- Phone
- (912) 489-1356
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Tyler Technologies EnerGov Self Service • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Confirm zoning, floodplain, and development requirements with Development Services if the project involves land use, floodplain, subdivision, or land disturbance.
- Create an EnerGov account or contact the county for paper/intake assistance.
- Submit the building permit application and any required supporting documents; if land disturbance is involved, secure erosion/sediment approvals first or apply concurrently.
- County staff reviews the application and plans for code compliance; the county does not publish a standard turnaround time.
- Pay permit and any plan-review fees after approval.
- Post the permit on site and request inspections by phone or email no later than 5:00 p.m. the business day before the inspection.
- Complete final inspection and obtain the certificate of occupancy where required.
Source: Building Permit / Inspection Department, Bulloch County Development
General Requirements
Residential, commercial, and industrial new construction; additions; renovation; manufactured home setup; structures over 200 square feet; site-built home moving; signs; towers; swimming pools; swimming-pool enclosures; decks over 200 square feet.
Required Documents
- Building permit application
- Permit-specific requirement sheets as identified on Development Services documents page
- Building code
- IBC 2018 with Georgia amendments; IRC 2018 with Georgia amendments; IFC 2018; IPC 2018 with Georgia amendments; IMC 2018 with Georgia amendments; IFGC 2018 with Georgia amendments; NEC 2020; IECC 2015 with Georgia supplements and amendments; ISPSC 2018 with Georgia amendments.
- Owner-builder
- Homeowners may obtain permits. If you are not a contractor, you may build your own home, but you cannot receive another permit to construct another home within 2 years from the issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
- Contractor requirements
- Registered general contractors, trade contractors, and homeowners may obtain permits. Georgia state licensing rules apply, including residential-contractor licensing for covered work over $2,500.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Certificate of occupancy $35; some other county development fees are lower, but the county does not publish a single universal minimum building-permit fee.
- Plan check fee
- Non-residential building and site plan review is building permit plus 5%, minimum $500; non-residential site-plan review and second review $800 each; third and later revised site-plan review $850 each.
- Permit fee formula
- Square-foot formulas for most new construction and additions; flat brackets for renovation; flat inspection fees; separate land-disturbing fee.
- Reinspection fee
- $100 per inspection; same-day inspection $100; non-permitted inspection $100; county land-disturbing local fee is $100 plus $2 per acre in development plus $40 per disturbed acre.
- Payment note
- The EnerGov portal advertises online payments; no public convenience-fee note was located.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Building Permit / Inspection Department, Bulloch County Development to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- ()
- ()
- Scheduling deadline
- 5:00 p.m. the business day before the inspection
- Inspection hours
- 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Time windows
- Monday through Friday; no public time-window guarantee posted
Typical inspection sequence: Foundation/temporary power; pre-slab or sub-floor stages as applicable; framing; exterior sheathing; dry-in; insulation; permanent power; certificate of occupancy.
Additional Resources
- Building code: IBC 2018 with Georgia amendments; IRC 2018 with Georgia amendments; IFC 2018; IPC 2018 with Georgia amendments; IMC 2018 with Georgia amendments; IFGC 2018 with Georgia amendments; NEC 2020; IECC 2015 with Georgia supplements and amendments; ISPSC 2018 with Georgia amendments.
- 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 Building Permit / Inspection Department, Bulloch County Development before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bulloch County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Bulloch County, GA?
- Residential, commercial, and industrial new construction; additions; renovation; manufactured home setup; structures over 200 square feet; site-built home moving; signs; towers; swimming pools; swimming-pool enclosures; decks over 200 square feet.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Bulloch County, GA?
- The minimum permit fee is Certificate of occupancy $35; some other county development fees are lower, but the county does not publish a single universal minimum building-permit fee.. Fees are calculated as: Square-foot formulas for most new construction and additions; flat brackets for renovation; flat inspection fees; separate land-disturbing fee.. Plan check fee: Non-residential building and site plan review is building permit plus 5%, minimum $500; non-residential site-plan review and second review $800 each; third and later revised site-plan review $850 each..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Bulloch County, GA?
- 1. Confirm zoning, floodplain, and development requirements with Development Services if the project involves land use, floodplain, subdivision, or land disturbance. 2. Create an EnerGov account or contact the county for paper/intake assistance. 3. Submit the building permit application and any required supporting documents; if land disturbance is involved, secure erosion/sediment approvals first or apply concurrently. 4. County staff reviews the application and plans for code compliance; the county does not publish a standard turnaround time. 5. Pay permit and any plan-review fees after approval. 6. Post the permit on site and request inspections by phone or email no later than 5:00 p.m. the business day before the inspection. 7. Complete final inspection and obtain the certificate of occupancy where required.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Bulloch County, GA?
- The following work is generally exempt: Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops, and similar finish work; Fences under 6 feet high; Retaining walls under 3 feet.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Bulloch County, GA?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: , . 5:00 p.m. the business day before the inspection.
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