Unincorporated Decatur County

County regulations require permits for building, electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, and driveway work. The county planning page states this office issues all permits relating to construction, including building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, mobile home, low voltage electrical installation, and sprinkler installation permits.

• Exempt Agricultural equipment-only roof-and-pole structures with no concrete floor, no electrical connections, no human or animal occupancy, and located on 25 acres or more are exempt from building permit requirements only
• Exempt Normal maintenance and repair related to upkeep of existing buildings, structures, and electrical, gas, plumbing, conditioned air, and low voltage systems
• Exempt Residential accessory structures on individual residential lots under 250 square feet that are clearly incidental to the primary residence are exempt from building permit requirements only; separate electrical, plumbing, and other applicable permits still apply

Building code

The reviewed county regulations are older and refer to state-mandated codes then in effect, but Georgia DCA's current statewide minimum mandatory codes now include the 2024 IBC, 2024 IRC, 2024 IPC, 2024 IMC, 2024 IFGC, 2024 ISPSC, 2023 NEC, and 2015 IECC, each with Georgia amendments or supplements as applicable.

Permit validity

Permit becomes invalid if work is not commenced within 6 months after issuance or is suspended or abandoned for 6 months. Written 90-day extensions may be granted for justifiable cause.

Owner-builder

County code allows an individual to construct, alter, repair, remove, or demolish buildings and perform covered trade work in a single-family dwelling owned or occupied by that individual, subject to code compliance. The code notes it is not intended to allow speculative home building without proper county regulatory fees, and building more than one home per 3 years may constitute a violation.

Contractor requirements

Contractors working in unincorporated Decatur County must apply and pay regulatory fees at the County Building Office. State-licensed contractors must show proof of current Georgia licensure and complete the local application. Non-state-licensed contractors must demonstrate proof of competency under county rules. The planning page also requires contractors to complete portal registration before pulling permits.

1. 01
   Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Decatur County and identify all needed permit types.
2. 02
   Create a SmartGov account or apply through the Bainbridge-Decatur County office.
3. 03
   Contractors must complete contractor registration in the portal before pulling permits.
4. 04
   Submit the permit application and all required supporting materials. County regulations require written application and allow the Building Official to require plans, specifications, site plan, deed or plat ownership evidence, and health approvals for private well or septic service.
5. 05
   Await plan review. The Building Official must act without unreasonable or unnecessary delay and will issue the permit if the filing conforms to the code and other laws.
6. 06
   Pay the required fee. County regulations state no permit may be issued until the permit fee has been paid.
7. 07
   Receive the permit, keep approved plans on site, and proceed to required inspections before certificate of occupancy.

Typical processing time: No general public permit issuance SLA was found. The SmartGov portal asks applicants to allow 24 business hours for an email response regarding permit status.

Source: Bainbridge-Decatur County Building Department / Bainbridge-Decatur County Planning Department ↗

• SmartGov portal request inspection function (phone)
• Phone at (229) 248-2000 (phone)
• Email permittech@bainbridgecity.com (email)

Inspection hours

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Time windows

Typical sequence: Building inspections include foundation, frame, insulation, wallboard, and final. Electrical inspections include temporary service, underground or slab, rough-in, and final. Gas, mechanical, plumbing, and swimming pool inspections have rough-in and final stages as published in Section 6.4-4 of the county regulations.