Putnam County, GA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

This section covers unincorporated Putnam County only. The same department also handles City of Eatonton permitting under the SSD agreement, but county zoning and permitting authority applies directly to unincorporated county properties.

Department

Putnam County Planning and Development

Address

117 Putnam Drive, Suite B, Eatonton, GA 31024

Phone

(706) 485-2776

Email

pdsubmittals@putnamcountyga.us

Website

https://www.putnamcountyga.us/planning

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine the permit type from the county Planning and Development forms page, then download the applicable county permit packet.
2. Obtain prerequisite approvals required by the packet, such as septic approval or location approval from the county health department, sewer approval from EPWSA or Piedmont where applicable, water approval, recorded plat, parcel identification, and driveway permit from Public Works if a new driveway is proposed.
3. Prepare the required plans and site documentation. Residential packets call for full plan sets plus a digital PDF set; commercial packets call for scaled plan packages and, for larger or specified occupancies, licensed design professional seals and signatures.
4. Submit the completed packet by email to pdsubmittals@putnamcountyga.us or hand deliver it to the Planning and Development office. The county states incomplete applications will not be processed.
5. County staff conducts plan review and coordinates any required zoning, environmental health, fire marshal, and land disturbance approvals.
6. Pay fees once review is complete and before issuance. Separate land disturbance fees and NOI fees apply when land disturbance permitting is triggered.
7. Do not start work until the permit is issued. County packets state construction may not begin until the building permit is issued.

Typical processing time: Residential/modular plan review may take at least 4 weeks. Commercial/industrial plan review may take at least 3 weeks. A county solar checklist states one- and two-family solar permit reviews are typically completed within 3 to 4 days and commercial/non-residential solar permits in 5 to 6 days, but those timelines are for solar permit review rather than all building permits.

Source: Putnam County Planning and Development

General Requirements

County Planning and Development states building permits are required for agricultural, residential, and commercial construction, including additions, remodels, new construction, accessory structures such as storage buildings, carports, barns, detached garages, and swimming pools, plus manufactured homes, DCA modular homes, and existing home relocation.

Required Documents

• Applicable permit application
• recorded plat
• parcel identification
• site plan
• septic approval or locate approval where applicable
• sewer and water approvals where applicable
• building plans
• erosion and sediment control materials when applicable
• land disturbance package when required
• driveway permit when installing a new driveway
• copies of contractor state license and occupational tax certificate
• Commercial submissions may also require architect or engineer sealed plans depending on occupancy, height, area, or the Building Official's determination

Permit validity

County forms state work must commence within 6 months of issuance and not be abandoned for more than 6 months. If plans are altered or additional work is done, an amended permit must be purchased. A county solar checklist also states permits expire after 6 months if work has not commenced and required inspections are not scheduled, and all work must be completed within 12 months.

Building code

Putnam County Code section 18-36 adopts by reference the International Building Code, National Electrical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code, International Residential Code, International Energy Conservation Code, International Fire Code, International Property Maintenance Code, and International Existing Building Code, with later editions or amendments as required by the Georgia Uniform Codes Act. Georgia DCA publishes the current statewide minimum standard code editions and amendments.

Owner-builder

Public forms allow permit documents to be signed by the owner or authorized agent and include owner/contractor responsible-party affidavit language, but no standalone county owner-builder policy page was found.

Contractor requirements

The county requires copies of both the state contractor license and occupational tax certificate with each permit. For state-level contractor licensing information and license verification, use the Georgia Secretary of State.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$55.00 minimum fee for any permit

Plan check fee

No separate public plan review or plan check fee line item was found in the published fee schedule.

Permit fee formula

Residential permits are primarily square-foot based: $0.35 per square foot of enclosed residential space, $0.30 per square foot of garage/storage/barn space, and $0.20 per square foot of porches, decks, or open shed space. Manufactured home permits use $0.30 per square foot enclosed area and the same accessory/open-space rates. Alterations/remodels are $5.00 per $1,000 of estimated cost. Permanent residential pools are $110.00. Commercial permits are valuation based in stepped brackets.

Reinspection fee

First reinspection $55.00; second reinspection $55.00; all additional reinspections $110.00. Failure to obtain a permit is $100.00 or double the permit fee, whichever is greater. Permit renewal is 50 percent of the original permit fee.

Payment note

The county fee schedule does not publish a detailed building-permit payment policy. A county solar permit checklist says payments can be made by cash, check, or credit card, including credit card payments by phone.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Putnam County Planning and Development to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

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Inspection hours

County offices are generally open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Typical inspection sequence: County code confirms field inspections during permitted work. Public materials do not publish one universal building inspection sequence for all permit classes. The most specific publicly posted sequence found is from the solar checklist, which lists rough-in and final inspections.

The fee schedule publishes reinspection charges of $55.00 for the first and second reinspections and $110.00 for each additional reinspection.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Putnam County Code section 18-36 adopts by reference the International Building Code, National Electrical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code, International Residential Code, International Energy Conservation Code, International Fire Code, International Property Maintenance Code, and International Existing Building Code, with later editions or amendments as required by the Georgia Uniform Codes Act. Georgia DCA publishes the current statewide minimum standard code editions and amendments.
• Verify contractor license: Georgia Construction License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• https://www.putnamcountyga.us/planning/page/building-inspections
• https://www.putnamcountyga.us/planning/page/contact-us
• https://www.putnamcountyga.us/publicworks/page/permit-portal
• https://dca.georgia.gov/community-assistance/construction-codes/current-state-minimum-codes-construction
• https://dca.georgia.gov/document/publications/alphabetical-listing-all-cities-resident-county-and-county-part/download
• License lookup guide: Georgia Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Georgia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Georgia hub: Georgia Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Putnam County Building Permit FAQ

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

County Planning and Development states building permits are required for agricultural, residential, and commercial construction, including additions, remodels, new construction, accessory structures such as storage buildings, carports, barns, detached garages, and swimming pools, plus manufactured homes, DCA modular homes, and existing home relocation.

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

The minimum permit fee is $55.00 minimum fee for any permit. Fees are calculated as: Residential permits are primarily square-foot based: $0.35 per square foot of enclosed residential space, $0.30 per square foot of garage/storage/barn space, and $0.20 per square foot of porches, decks, or open shed space. Manufactured home permits use $0.30 per square foot enclosed area and the same accessory/open-space rates. Alterations/remodels are $5.00 per $1,000 of estimated cost. Permanent residential pools are $110.00. Commercial permits are valuation based in stepped brackets.. Plan check fee: No separate public plan review or plan check fee line item was found in the published fee schedule..

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

1. Determine the permit type from the county Planning and Development forms page, then download the applicable county permit packet. 2. Obtain prerequisite approvals required by the packet, such as septic approval or location approval from the county health department, sewer approval from EPWSA or Piedmont where applicable, water approval, recorded plat, parcel identification, and driveway permit from Public Works if a new driveway is proposed. 3. Prepare the required plans and site documentation. Residential packets call for full plan sets plus a digital PDF set; commercial packets call for scaled plan packages and, for larger or specified occupancies, licensed design professional seals and signatures. 4. Submit the completed packet by email to pdsubmittals@putnamcountyga.us or hand deliver it to the Planning and Development office. The county states incomplete applications will not be processed. 5. County staff conducts plan review and coordinates any required zoning, environmental health, fire marshal, and land disturbance approvals. 6. Pay fees once review is complete and before issuance. Separate land disturbance fees and NOI fees apply when land disturbance permitting is triggered. 7. Do not start work until the permit is issued. County packets state construction may not begin until the building permit is issued.

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

Typical processing time is Residential/modular plan review may take at least 4 weeks. Commercial/industrial plan review may take at least 3 weeks. A county solar checklist states one- and two-family solar permit reviews are typically completed within 3 to 4 days and commercial/non-residential solar permits in 5 to 6 days, but those timelines are for solar permit review rather than all building permits..

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

Inspections can be scheduled via: , .