Unincorporated Hall County

Hall County requires permits for site-built residences, manufactured homes, accessory structures over 144 square feet, accessory structures under 144 square feet with permanent foundations, basement finishes, deck construction or repair, adding or enlarging porches/decks/patio covers/arbors/pergolas, enclosing porches or carports, interior additions and remodels, retaining walls over 4 feet, fences over 7 feet, structural roof work or metal reroofing over decking changes, swimming pools and spas, and many other projects.

• Exempt Pre-fabricated playhouses, playgrounds, or similar equipment
• Exempt Non-structural deck repairs limited to replacing floorboards or guards on decks less than 30 inches above grade
• Exempt Garage door repair or replacement
• Exempt Painting, tiling, carpeting, and trim work
• Exempt Siding replacement
• Exempt Fences 7 feet high or lower
• Exempt Re-roofing where old shingles are replaced without roof decking replacement or structural change
• Exempt Retaining walls under 4 feet high

Building code

Hall County enforces the International Building Codes as prescribed by the ICC and mandated and amended by the State of Georgia.

Permit validity

Hall County's public permit packet says permits expire if work has not started within 180 days or is not substantially completed within 2 years of issuance.

Owner-builder

Hall County requires a homeowner affidavit if work is being performed by the homeowner.

Contractor requirements

General contractor information is required if work is not being performed by the homeowner; Georgia state contractor licensing rules apply for covered work.

1. 01
   Confirm the property is in unincorporated Hall County rather than inside a city.
2. 02
   Submit the permit application through Accela or in person at the Building Inspections office. Hall County's packet says environmental health approval must be obtained before submittal if the property is on septic.
3. 03
   Upload or provide the required documents. Hall County's public checklist commonly requires application form, site plan, owner authorization or homeowner affidavit, contractor information if work is not being performed by the homeowner, recorded plat, and deed if owner name differs from tax records.
4. 04
   Hall County routes the application internally for any required Engineering, Planning, and Building reviews.
5. 05
   Respond promptly to requests for additional information. The county says applications left in Awaiting Applicant or Additional Information Required status for more than 30 days are withdrawn for inactivity.
6. 06
   Once approved, pay fees and receive the permit.
7. 07
   Post the permit on site and request inspections in Accela.
8. 08
   Complete final inspection and obtain certificate of occupancy or completion.

Typical processing time: Applications in additional-information status more than 30 days are withdrawn for inactivity.

Source: Building Inspections Division ↗

Hall County's official fee schedule PDF is labeled FY 2023 on extraction, while the permit portal and packet are current. Applicants should verify current invoiced totals before payment.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective FY 2023) before budgeting.

• Accela Citizen Access portal (online)

Scheduling deadline

For next-day inspections, requests must be submitted before 3:00 p.m.

Inspection hours

Inspectors go out between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.; inspector office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Typical sequence: Temporary power pole, footing/foundation or monolithic slab, under-slab utilities, basement slab if applicable, electrical rough-in, plumbing rough-in, HVAC rough-in, framing, insulation, final inspection, then certificate of occupancy

Source: Building Inspections Division ↗