County Building Permits
Murray County, GA - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Murray County, Georgia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Georgia Updated March 2026
Permit Authority
Murray County Building Inspection Department performs permitting and inspections for unincorporated Murray County and the City of Eton.
- Department
- Murray County Building Inspection Department
- Address
- 121 N. Fourth Ave., Chatsworth, GA 30705
- Phone
- (706) 517-1400 ext. 1231
Online Permit Portal
Platform: • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Confirm zoning and land-use constraints with Murray County Land Use / Zoning, including setbacks, flood-hazard status, driveway access, mountain-protection, and land-disturbance triggers noted on the county application.
- Obtain prerequisite outside approvals where applicable. Murray County code states building permits will not be issued until water-supply and sewage-disposal plans have been approved by the county board of health.
- Complete the Murray County Land Development Application. The public form asks for applicant and owner information, mailing and site addresses, building type, description of work, square footage, and manufactured-home details if applicable.
- Assemble required attachments identified on the county form as applicable, including property record, pre-bill, decal number, bill of sale/title, aerial photo, zoning map, flood map, and environmental-health septic information.
- Submit the application to the county building office. Public county materials identify the Building Inspection Department at 121 N. Fourth Ave. as the permit office and publish county building-inspector contacts and department phone lines, but do not publish a dedicated online submission workflow.
- After permit issuance, each licensed contractor involved in the project must come into the Building Inspection Office and sign the permit for that contractor's portion of the work, bringing photo ID and contractor license credentials.
- Call inspections at least one day in advance and complete the required inspection sequence before occupancy. Final inspection and issuance of a certificate of occupancy are required before use or occupancy.
Typical processing time: No public permit-review turnaround was found. Inspections must be called at least one day in advance.
General Requirements
Murray County Land Use / Zoning lists building permits among the applications it processes. The county building-inspection page states the department performs permitting and inspections for construction work in unincorporated Murray County.
Required Documents
- Completed land-development application
- Property record
- Pre-bill
- Decal number
- Bill of sale/title
- Aerial photo
- Zoning map
- Flood map
- Environmental-health septic information
- Permit validity
- The county's 2026 land-development application states permits are valid for 1 year from issuance. It also states the application fee is non-refundable once the form has been processed.
- Building code
- Murray County Code Chapter 18 adopts by reference the latest editions of the listed construction codes as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The county building page also links applicants to Georgia amendments and code resources.
- Owner-builder
- No county-specific owner-builder affidavit or public owner-builder rule was located in the sources reviewed for standard building permits.
- Contractor requirements
- The county inspection schedule states all licensed contractors involved with each project must come into the Building Inspection Office and sign the permit for their respective portion of the project, with photo ID and contractor license. Georgia state law separately requires residential contractors performing work over $2,500 to hold the required state license.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Not publicly posted. Murray County Code Section 18-31 states permit and inspection fees are set by a schedule of fees and charges on file in the office of the county clerk.
- Payment note
- The county application states the application fee is non-refundable once the form has been processed.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Ordinary repairs to structures
- Replacement of lamps
- Connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles
Important: Exempt work does not include cutting away walls or partitions, removing structural members or load-bearing supports, changing required means of egress, or adding, altering, replacing, or relocating standpipes, water supply, sewer, drainage, gas, electrical wiring, mechanical systems, or other work affecting public health or general safety. Emergency equipment replacements and repairs still require a permit application by the next business day.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- ()
- Scheduling deadline
- All inspections must be called for at least one day in advance
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Typical inspection sequence: The county's published inspection schedule lists footing, foundation, slab, rough-in, insulation, pre-final power, and final inspection for certificate of occupancy.
No public county reinspection-fee sheet was found. County code requires work to remain accessible and exposed for inspection until approved. County final-inspection materials also state the structure must not be occupied before final inspection and certificate of occupancy.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Murray County Code Chapter 18 adopts by reference the latest editions of the listed construction codes as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The county building page also links applicants to Georgia amendments and code resources.
- Verify contractor license: Georgia Construction License Lookup
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- https://murraycountyga.org/130/Building-Inspections
- https://murraycountyga.org/DocumentCenter/View/1985
- https://murraycountyga.org/DocumentCenter/View/2011
- https://murraycountyga.org/DocumentCenter/View/1875
- https://murraycountyga.org/DocumentCenter/View/1874
- https://dca.georgia.gov/document/publications/alphabetical-listing-all-cities-fips-and-resident-county-fips/download
- https://www.dca.ga.gov/community-assistance/construction-codes/mandatory-and-permissive-state-codes
- 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 Murray County Building Inspection Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Murray County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Murray County, GA?
- Murray County Land Use / Zoning lists building permits among the applications it processes. The county building-inspection page states the department performs permitting and inspections for construction work in unincorporated Murray County.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Murray County, GA?
- Fees are calculated as: Not publicly posted. Murray County Code Section 18-31 states permit and inspection fees are set by a schedule of fees and charges on file in the office of the county clerk..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Murray County, GA?
- 1. Confirm zoning and land-use constraints with Murray County Land Use / Zoning, including setbacks, flood-hazard status, driveway access, mountain-protection, and land-disturbance triggers noted on the county application. 2. Obtain prerequisite outside approvals where applicable. Murray County code states building permits will not be issued until water-supply and sewage-disposal plans have been approved by the county board of health. 3. Complete the Murray County Land Development Application. The public form asks for applicant and owner information, mailing and site addresses, building type, description of work, square footage, and manufactured-home details if applicable. 4. Assemble required attachments identified on the county form as applicable, including property record, pre-bill, decal number, bill of sale/title, aerial photo, zoning map, flood map, and environmental-health septic information. 5. Submit the application to the county building office. Public county materials identify the Building Inspection Department at 121 N. Fourth Ave. as the permit office and publish county building-inspector contacts and department phone lines, but do not publish a dedicated online submission workflow. 6. After permit issuance, each licensed contractor involved in the project must come into the Building Inspection Office and sign the permit for that contractor's portion of the work, bringing photo ID and contractor license credentials. 7. Call inspections at least one day in advance and complete the required inspection sequence before occupancy. Final inspection and issuance of a certificate of occupancy are required before use or occupancy.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Murray County, GA?
- Typical processing time is No public permit-review turnaround was found. Inspections must be called at least one day in advance..
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Murray County, GA?
- The following work is generally exempt: Ordinary repairs to structures; Replacement of lamps; Connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles. Note: Exempt work does not include cutting away walls or partitions, removing structural members or load-bearing supports, changing required means of egress, or adding, altering, replacing, or relocating standpipes, water supply, sewer, drainage, gas, electrical wiring, mechanical systems, or other work affecting public health or general safety. Emergency equipment replacements and repairs still require a permit application by the next business day.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Murray County, GA?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: . All inspections must be called for at least one day in advance.
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This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.