Fayette County, GA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Covers unincorporated Fayette County and also issues the actual building permits for Brooks and Woolsey after town approval

Department

Fayette County Department of Building Safety

Address

140 Stonewall Avenue West, Suite 201, Fayetteville, GA 30214

Phone

770-305-5403

Email

dbsfrontoffice@fayettecountyga.gov

Website

https://fayettecountyga.gov/departments/building_safety/index.php

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Create or log in to a SAGES account at the county e-permits portal.
2. Determine the permit type and gather the required application materials from the county permit requirements page and residential or commercial permitting guides.
3. Upload the application packet, plans, affidavits, and supporting documents through SAGES. Plan review fees are due at submission where required.
4. County staff reviews the application for code compliance and completeness. The county does not publish a general permit turnaround on the pages reviewed here.
5. Pay the remaining permit fees after approval and receive the issued permit through SAGES.
6. Request inspections from the permit record in SAGES and complete the inspection sequence through final approval.

Typical processing time: No general permit turnaround posted on the pages reviewed here. Inspection requests submitted before 4 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day.

Source: Fayette County Department of Building Safety

General Requirements

County permit requirements state that any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy of a building or structure, or install, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems, must first obtain the required permit.

Required Documents

• Application forms
• Plans
• Affidavits
• Supporting documents submitted through SAGES

Permit validity

A county permit is valid for 180 days from issuance and auto-renews for 180 days from each passed inspection. The county allows a one-time extension if requested by email before expiration.

Building code

County permit requirements expressly regulate work under the IRC for one- and two-family dwellings with Georgia amendments and the IBC with Georgia amendments for commercial properties, plus the related Georgia state minimum electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing code systems.

Owner-builder

The county strongly recommends that the licensed contractor obtain the permit. If the owner applies, the owner becomes the owner-builder and assumes responsibility for inspections and certificate of occupancy.

Contractor requirements

The county states it will not issue a permit to a contractor who is not properly licensed. It directs applicants to the Georgia Secretary of State license verification portal.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Many categories have $100 minimums; examples include new or rebuilt residential structures at $0.42 per total square foot or $100 minimum, and stand-alone plumbing and stand-alone electrical permits at $100 minimum

Plan check fee

Commercial new plan review $500; commercial other plan review $150; commercial plan revisions $75 each. Residential new plan review $100; residential other plan review $50; residential revisions $25 each.

Permit fee formula

Mixed county schedule. Residential and commercial structure permits are mostly square-foot based, generally $0.42 per total square foot with category-specific minimums, plus flat fees for many stand-alone permit types.

Reinspection fee

Not ready $100; recalls escalate from $50 to $100 with continued escalation in $50 increments. Stop work order investigation fees are at least equal to the permit fee.

Penalty (no permit)

Work discovered without a permit is charged double permit fees

Payment note

County FAQ states current permitting fees are published on the fee schedule PDF. Plan review fees are due at the time of submission.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures 199 square feet or less used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses without electrical
• Fences not over 8 feet high
• Walls not over 4 feet high, and small masonry pilasters within the county limits stated on the exemption sheet
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet unless supporting a surcharge
• Water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons within the county ratio limits
• Sidewalks and driveways
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, shelving, casing, baseboards, wainscoting, and similar finish work
• Aquatic vessels designed to be filled and drained daily and not connected to a circulatory system
• Swings and other playground sets
• Window awnings within the county limits stated on the exemption sheet
• Decks not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade and not over a basement or story below and not serving an egress door
• Screen and storm doors, storm shutters, and window screens
• Residential reroof work only when new material is identical and structural sheathing replacement stays within the county limit
• Certain siding replacement, same-size same-location door and window replacement, rain gutters, pull-down attic stairs, and other listed county electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing minor work categories

Inspections

How to Schedule

• SAGES Account (online)

Scheduling deadline

Requests submitted before 4 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day. Cancellations must be made through SAGES before 9 a.m. on the scheduled day.

Typical inspection sequence: ESC 1 before slab inspections; rough plumbing, electrical, and mechanical before framing and anchor bolt; ESC 2 before framing and anchor bolt; ESC 3 before final building; county also tracks assigned inspections and outstanding holds in SAGES

Additional Resources

• Building code: County permit requirements expressly regulate work under the IRC for one- and two-family dwellings with Georgia amendments and the IBC with Georgia amendments for commercial properties, plus the related Georgia state minimum electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing code systems.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Permit Requirements
• FAQs
• Inspections
• Residential Permit Exemptions
• License lookup guide: Georgia Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Georgia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Georgia hub: Georgia Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayette County Building Permit FAQ

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

County permit requirements state that any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy of a building or structure, or install, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems, must first obtain the required permit.

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

The minimum permit fee is Many categories have $100 minimums; examples include new or rebuilt residential structures at $0.42 per total square foot or $100 minimum, and stand-alone plumbing and stand-alone electrical permits at $100 minimum. Fees are calculated as: Mixed county schedule. Residential and commercial structure permits are mostly square-foot based, generally $0.42 per total square foot with category-specific minimums, plus flat fees for many stand-alone permit types.. Plan check fee: Commercial new plan review $500; commercial other plan review $150; commercial plan revisions $75 each. Residential new plan review $100; residential other plan review $50; residential revisions $25 each..

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

1. Create or log in to a SAGES account at the county e-permits portal. 2. Determine the permit type and gather the required application materials from the county permit requirements page and residential or commercial permitting guides. 3. Upload the application packet, plans, affidavits, and supporting documents through SAGES. Plan review fees are due at submission where required. 4. County staff reviews the application for code compliance and completeness. The county does not publish a general permit turnaround on the pages reviewed here. 5. Pay the remaining permit fees after approval and receive the issued permit through SAGES. 6. Request inspections from the permit record in SAGES and complete the inspection sequence through final approval.

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

Typical processing time is No general permit turnaround posted on the pages reviewed here. Inspection requests submitted before 4 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day..

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Fayette County, GA?

The following work is generally exempt: One-story detached accessory structures 199 square feet or less used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses without electrical; Fences not over 8 feet high; Walls not over 4 feet high, and small masonry pilasters within the county limits stated on the exemption sheet; Retaining walls not over 4 feet unless supporting a surcharge; Water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons within the county ratio limits; Sidewalks and driveways; Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, shelving, casing, baseboards, wainscoting, and similar finish work; Aquatic vessels designed to be filled and drained daily and not connected to a circulatory system; Swings and other playground sets; Window awnings within the county limits stated on the exemption sheet; Decks not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade and not over a basement or story below and not serving an egress door; Screen and storm doors, storm shutters, and window screens; Residential reroof work only when new material is identical and structural sheathing replacement stays within the county limit; Certain siding replacement, same-size same-location door and window replacement, rain gutters, pull-down attic stairs, and other listed county electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing minor work categories.

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

Inspections can be scheduled via: SAGES Account. Requests submitted before 4 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day. Cancellations must be made through SAGES before 9 a.m. on the scheduled day..