How much does a building permit cost in St. Marys, GA?

The minimum permit fee is $100 minimum on plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and similar trade permits ($50 plus $50 admin fee). Fees are calculated as: Trade permits are 2% of actual contract cost, minimum $50, plus $50 admin fee; the reviewed public sources do not publish a single consolidated formula for every building-permit type.

How do I apply for a building permit in St. Marys, GA?

1. Create a Cloudpermit account using the city-published Forms and Permits link 2. Submit the building request online through Cloudpermit (required as of January 25, 2024) 3. Upload the required packet items including completed permit applications, LDA approval before plan review, survey/site-plan materials, foundation and floor plans, trade plans, contractor licensing and occupational tax documentation, signed contract, and elevation certificates where applicable 4. Submit all materials by 12:00 noon Friday for the city's Wednesday review committee cycle 5. After approval, the city emails the fee schedule and any notes within 2 business days; denials are also emailed within 2 business days 6. Keep the permit, site inspection sheet, and plans on site in a doc box and request inspections through Cloudpermit after issuance

How do I schedule a building inspection in St. Marys, GA?

Inspections can be scheduled via: . 2:00 p.m. the day prior.

City Building Permits

St. Marys, GA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in St. Marys, Georgia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Georgia Camden County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

The Building Department handles permitting and inspections for building and development throughout the City of St. Marys.

Department: Building Department
Address: 418 Osborne Street, St. Marys, GA 31558
Phone: (912) 510-4032
Email: buildinginspections@stmarysga.gov
Website: https://www.stmarysga.gov/departments/building/index.php

Online Permit Portal

Open St. Marys Cloudpermit Portal

Platform: Cloudpermit • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only

Additional resources:

Application Process

Create a Cloudpermit account using the city-published Forms and Permits link
Submit the building request online through Cloudpermit (required as of January 25, 2024)
Upload the required packet items including completed permit applications, LDA approval before plan review, survey/site-plan materials, foundation and floor plans, trade plans, contractor licensing and occupational tax documentation, signed contract, and elevation certificates where applicable
Submit all materials by 12:00 noon Friday for the city's Wednesday review committee cycle
After approval, the city emails the fee schedule and any notes within 2 business days; denials are also emailed within 2 business days
Keep the permit, site inspection sheet, and plans on site in a doc box and request inspections through Cloudpermit after issuance

Typical processing time: Residential packets submitted by Friday noon are reviewed Wednesday morning, with approval or denial notice within 2 business days after review; commercial preliminary plan review can take up to 4 weeks

Source: Building Department

General Requirements

Residential and commercial building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, low-voltage, pool, and related construction work

Required Documents

Completed permit application
Site plan by Georgia registered surveyor
Signed and sealed design documents where required by Georgia law
Foundation plan
Floor plan
Elevations
Wall details
Electrical plan
Plumbing plan
Mechanical plan
Elevation certificates where applicable
Signed contract
Contractor license information
Occupational tax documentation

Building code: IBC 2024 with Georgia amendments, IRC 2024 with Georgia amendments, IFC 2024, NFPA 101 2024, IPC 2024 with Georgia amendments, IMC 2024 with Georgia amendments, IFGC 2024 with Georgia amendments, ISPSC 2024 with Georgia amendments, NEC 2023, IECC 2024 with Georgia supplements and amendments, IPMC 2024 with Georgia amendments, and IEBC 2024 with Georgia amendments
Owner-builder: Homeowner permit affidavit required. Requires owner occupancy, a 2-year no sale or rental period after certificate of occupancy for new construction, and licensed subcontractors for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and low-voltage work.
Contractor requirements: Contractor license information and occupational tax certificates required; license verification should be checked through the Georgia Secretary of State

Fees

Minimum permit fee: $100 minimum on plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and similar trade permits ($50 plus $50 admin fee)
Permit fee formula: Trade permits are 2% of actual contract cost, minimum $50, plus $50 admin fee; the reviewed public sources do not publish a single consolidated formula for every building-permit type
Payment note: The city emails fee schedule after review; online payments are separately available through the city payment vendor

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Building Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

()

Scheduling deadline: 2:00 p.m. the day prior
Time windows: Inspection requests and cancellations must be submitted no later than 2:00 p.m. the day prior

Typical inspection sequence: Setbacks, sediment control, termite treatment record, bond beam, pier/footer/slab, wall and roof nail-off, windows and doors, framing prior to cover-up, insulation, strapping, gas vent, gas letters and code-compliance letters, post-elevation certificates, and final certificate of occupancy; plus separate plumbing, electrical, HVAC, low-voltage, fire/life-safety, public-works, and pool inspection items

Additional Resources

Building code: IBC 2024 with Georgia amendments, IRC 2024 with Georgia amendments, IFC 2024, NFPA 101 2024, IPC 2024 with Georgia amendments, IMC 2024 with Georgia amendments, IFGC 2024 with Georgia amendments, ISPSC 2024 with Georgia amendments, NEC 2023, IECC 2024 with Georgia supplements and amendments, IPMC 2024 with Georgia amendments, and IEBC 2024 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 Department before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

St. Marys Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in St. Marys, GA?: Residential and commercial building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, low-voltage, pool, and related construction work
How much does a building permit cost in St. Marys, GA?: The minimum permit fee is $100 minimum on plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and similar trade permits ($50 plus $50 admin fee). Fees are calculated as: Trade permits are 2% of actual contract cost, minimum $50, plus $50 admin fee; the reviewed public sources do not publish a single consolidated formula for every building-permit type.
How do I apply for a building permit in St. Marys, GA?: 1. Create a Cloudpermit account using the city-published Forms and Permits link 2. Submit the building request online through Cloudpermit (required as of January 25, 2024) 3. Upload the required packet items including completed permit applications, LDA approval before plan review, survey/site-plan materials, foundation and floor plans, trade plans, contractor licensing and occupational tax documentation, signed contract, and elevation certificates where applicable 4. Submit all materials by 12:00 noon Friday for the city's Wednesday review committee cycle 5. After approval, the city emails the fee schedule and any notes within 2 business days; denials are also emailed within 2 business days 6. Keep the permit, site inspection sheet, and plans on site in a doc box and request inspections through Cloudpermit after issuance
How long does it take to get a building permit in St. Marys, GA?: Typical processing time is Residential packets submitted by Friday noon are reviewed Wednesday morning, with approval or denial notice within 2 business days after review; commercial preliminary plan review can take up to 4 weeks.
How do I schedule a building inspection in St. Marys, GA?: Inspections can be scheduled via: . 2:00 p.m. the day prior.

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in St. Marys can be complicated.

Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.

Learn how Jaspector works

Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

Other cities in Camden County

Camden County Unincorporated Kingsland Woodbine

View all Camden County jurisdictions →