County Building Permits
Cherokee County, GA - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Cherokee County, Georgia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated Cherokee County only. Does not include properties within Canton, Ball Ground, Holly Springs, Nelson, Waleska, Woodstock, or other municipalities.
- Department
- Development Service Center, Cherokee County — Building Permits and Inspections
- Address
- Cherokee County Administration Building, 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton, GA 30114
- Phone
- 770-721-7810
Online Permit Portal
Platform: CityView • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Determine whether the property is in unincorporated Cherokee County and gather the required building and trade documents.
- Register in the CityView portal and upload the permit application and supporting materials.
- Submit trade affidavits, surveys, engineer letters, and other required documents as the project progresses.
- County staff reviews the application and assesses permit fees under the county fee schedule.
- Pay the fees and obtain permit issuance.
- Schedule inspections online in CityView and upload required documents before rough and final inspections.
Typical processing time: Inspection requests submitted before 5:00 PM are generally scheduled for the following business day, depending on volume.
Source: Development Service Center, Cherokee County — Building Permits and Inspections
General Requirements
The Development Service Center is the county point of entry for building permits, land development permits, planning and zoning services, environmental health services, fire marshal services, and business licenses. The county fee schedule covers residential, commercial, manufactured home, swimming pool, renovation, service, specialty, and temporary permits.
Required Documents
- Permit application
- Plans
- Trade affidavits
- Foundation survey
- Engineer letters (as required)
- Floodplain certificates (where applicable)
- Other project-specific documents
- Permit validity
- County land disturbance permits and several planning review approvals are listed as valid for one year in the fee schedule.
- Building code
- Cherokee County applies Georgia state minimum standard construction codes and uses ICC Building Valuation Data for permitting fee calculations.
- Contractor requirements
- Georgia contractor licensing rules apply where state law requires a licensed contractor.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $50
- Plan check fee
- Land development and planning review fees are itemized separately in the county fee schedule; building permit review is built into the fee structure for standard building permits.
- Permit fee formula
- Residential, commercial, manufactured home, pool, and renovation permit fees are based on square footage multiplied by ICC construction cost and a county department multiplier. Current published multipliers are 0.0035 for residential and 0.004 for commercial. Service, specialty, and temporary permits are generally flat fee permits.
- Reinspection fee
- First reinspection $25, second $50, third and additional $100. All reinspection fees must be paid before the next inspection can be scheduled.
- Payment note
- Effective January 1, 2026, the Development Service Center will no longer accept cash.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Development Service Center, Cherokee County — Building Permits and Inspections to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- CityView portal (online)
- Time windows
- Requests submitted before 5:00 PM are generally scheduled for the following business day. Cancellations should be made before 6:30 AM to avoid charges.
Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence: erosion control and setback, temporary pole, footing/foundation, plumbing in slab, slab/concrete floor systems, bracing, deck footing, rough inspection, temp-to-perm construction power, insulation, and final inspection. Commercial projects may also require third-party special inspections and fire, engineering, and health approvals before certificate of occupancy.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Cherokee County applies Georgia state minimum standard construction codes and uses ICC Building Valuation Data for permitting fee calculations.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Development Service Center
- Fee Schedule
- CityView Portal
- Building Inspections Info for Customers
- Zoning Ordinances
- 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 Development Service Center, Cherokee County — Building Permits and Inspections before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cherokee County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Cherokee County, GA?
- The Development Service Center is the county point of entry for building permits, land development permits, planning and zoning services, environmental health services, fire marshal services, and business licenses. The county fee schedule covers residential, commercial, manufactured home, swimming pool, renovation, service, specialty, and temporary permits.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Cherokee County, GA?
- The minimum permit fee is $50. Fees are calculated as: Residential, commercial, manufactured home, pool, and renovation permit fees are based on square footage multiplied by ICC construction cost and a county department multiplier. Current published multipliers are 0.0035 for residential and 0.004 for commercial. Service, specialty, and temporary permits are generally flat fee permits.. Plan check fee: Land development and planning review fees are itemized separately in the county fee schedule; building permit review is built into the fee structure for standard building permits..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Cherokee County, GA?
- 1. Determine whether the property is in unincorporated Cherokee County and gather the required building and trade documents. 2. Register in the CityView portal and upload the permit application and supporting materials. 3. Submit trade affidavits, surveys, engineer letters, and other required documents as the project progresses. 4. County staff reviews the application and assesses permit fees under the county fee schedule. 5. Pay the fees and obtain permit issuance. 6. Schedule inspections online in CityView and upload required documents before rough and final inspections.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Cherokee County, GA?
- Typical processing time is Inspection requests submitted before 5:00 PM are generally scheduled for the following business day, depending on volume..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Cherokee County, GA?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: CityView portal.
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