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County building permits

Unincorporated McIntosh County

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated McIntosh County, Georgia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Min. permit fee
$50 trade permit fee
Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

McIntosh County Building & Zoning

Street address
100 Madison Street, Darien, GA 31305
Coverage
County authority for unincorporated areas of McIntosh County outside the incorporated City of Darien
Online portal
Permit portal
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for McIntosh County

County permits are used for new residential construction, remodels, additions/accessory structures, docks, pools, demolition, mobile homes, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, move-offs, and land-use approvals

Note: No public exempt-work list was found

Required documents
  • For new residential: septic approval, county water tap-in receipt or proof of water, road department approval for driveway/culvert, approved plat, elevation certificate if in flood zone, current deed, plot plan, two printed plan sets, one digital copy of plans, contractor state/business licenses, permit application pages, homeowner affidavit if owner acts as general contractor
  • Other permit types require separate forms with project-specific requirements
Building code
Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs; county applications require compliance with county codes and reference McIntosh County Municipal Codes and zoning ordinance for additional requirements
Owner-builder
County new residential packet requires a signed and notarized Homeowner's Affidavit if the owner is acting as general contractor; Georgia state owner-builder rule in O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(h) applies
Contractor requirements
County new residential packet requires copies of state and business licenses for the general contractor, electrician, plumber, HVAC contractor, and concrete contractor's business license; trade-permit forms also require contractor license information; Georgia state contractor licensing applies
§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: County zoning ordinance states the Building and Zoning Administrator shall issue the building permit within 10 days after payment if the proposed work conforms to the ordinance

  1. 01
    Start from the county Building & Zoning page and download the applicable permit form
  2. 02
    Assemble the required supporting materials for the permit type
  3. 03
    Submit the package to McIntosh County Building & Zoning at 100 Madison Street; incomplete applications will not be accepted
  4. 04
    County staff reviews the submission for code, zoning, and floodplain compliance
  5. 05
    Pay the required permit and inspection fees
  6. 06
    Obtain inspections during construction; starting work before permit issuance triggers double fee

Typical processing time: County zoning ordinance states the Building and Zoning Administrator shall issue the building permit within 10 days after payment if the proposed work conforms to the ordinance

Source: McIntosh County Building & Zoning ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

McIntosh County building permit fees

Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$50 trade permit fee
02
Permit fee formula
Residential permit fee $0.30 per square foot, doubled to $0.60 per square foot if work starts before obtaining permit; trade permits are flat-fee based: plumbing permit $50 plus $100 inspection; HVAC permit $50 plus $100 inspection; electrical permit $50 plus $100 inspection; move-off permit $100
03
Trade permit fee
$50 electrical/HVAC/plumbing plus $100 inspection
04
Penalty (no permit)
Double fee if work starts before permit issuance for residential construction

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule
  • Phone: (912) 437-6603 (phone)

Typical sequence: Separate inspection fees on trade permits; floodplain review required where applicable; septic inspection required for new residential construction

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated McIntosh County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated McIntosh County, GA?
County permits are used for new residential construction, remodels, additions/accessory structures, docks, pools, demolition, mobile homes, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, move-offs, and land-use approvals
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated McIntosh County, GA?
Building permit fees in unincorporated McIntosh County, GA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $50 trade permit fee. Fees are calculated as: Residential permit fee $0.30 per square foot, doubled to $0.60 per square foot if work starts before obtaining permit; trade permits are flat-fee based: plumbing permit $50 plus $100 inspection; HVAC permit $50 plus $100 inspection; electrical permit $50 plus $100 inspection; move-off permit $100.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated McIntosh County, GA?
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated McIntosh County, GA, follow these steps: 1. Start from the county Building & Zoning page and download the applicable permit form 2. Assemble the required supporting materials for the permit type 3. Submit the package to McIntosh County Building & Zoning at 100 Madison Street; incomplete applications will not be accepted 4. County staff reviews the submission for code, zoning, and floodplain compliance 5. Pay the required permit and inspection fees 6. Obtain inspections during construction; starting work before permit issuance triggers double fee
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated McIntosh County, GA?
Building permit processing times in unincorporated McIntosh County, GA typically run County zoning ordinance states the Building and Zoning Administrator shall issue the building permit within 10 days after payment if the proposed work conforms to the ordinance. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated McIntosh County, GA?
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated McIntosh County, GA via: Phone: (912) 437-6603.
last verified April 2026 source McIntosh County Building & Zoning ↗ entry id permits/georgia/mcintosh/unincorporated

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with McIntosh County Building & Zoning before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.