Unincorporated Rockdale County

Permits are required for residential construction, commercial buildings and structural work, accessory structures, demolition, driveway work, electrical work, signs, and land disturbance where applicable. A separate Land Disturbance Permit must be issued first when triggered by site conditions.

Note: No consolidated exempt-work list was located in the county building permit sources. The county's public materials focus on required permit types and prerequisite reviews rather than publishing a single exemption chart.

Building code

Rockdale County must enforce the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes adopted by DCA. The county references compliance with the International Building Code, 2018 Edition, and the 2020 NEC. Forms should be read together with the current Georgia DCA code baseline and any local amendments.

Permit validity

No general building permit validity or expiration rule was clearly stated in the county building permit packets.

Owner-builder

The county's accessory-structure checklist expressly states the homeowner may be the contractor and may sign all required affidavits. For new-home permits, confirm owner-builder filings with the Licensing and Permitting Division for each permit type.

Contractor requirements

Contractors must hold a contractor business license and a contractor state license. Georgia state residential and general contractor licensing rules apply for covered work.

1. 01
   Determine whether the project is in unincorporated Rockdale County and whether a separate Land Disturbance Permit (LDP) is required before the building permit. An LDP is required if the lot is part of a common development or over one acre.
2. 02
   Submit the building permit application and all required supporting documents to the Licensing and Permitting Division. For residential work, submit the application, energy-code affidavit, OCGA 50-36.1 affidavit, water and sewer or septic documentation, contractor licenses, building plans, structure location plan, fee, impact fee where applicable, affidavits, and ID. For commercial work, submit permit application, review fee, structural or architectural plans, and site or parking plans.
3. 03
   Where an LDP is required, first submit the stormwater package to the Department of Stormwater Management. That package is reviewed and issued separately before building permit approval.
4. 04
   County staff routes plans to necessary reviewers, including the Building Official, Fire Department, Water Resources, Environmental Health, and Zoning. Commercial comments are ready for pickup two weeks later on Friday. Stormwater residential LDP reviews are completed within 14 business days for initial reviews and 5 business days for resubmittals.
5. 05
   Resolve comments, obtain site release or approved BMP inspection where applicable, and provide proof of water meter and sewer or septic approvals.
6. 06
   Pay required fees and impact fees. A separate impact fee of $2,330.03 is required for all new homes.
7. 07
   After issuance, begin work and call or email for sequential inspections. A Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion is issued after applicable inspections are approved.

Typical processing time: Commercial building comments are stated to be ready two weeks later on Friday. Residential stormwater LDP reviews: 14 business days for initial review and 5 business days for resubmittals.

Source: Licensing and Permitting Division, Department of Planning and Development, Rockdale County ↗

Fees must be paid before permit issuance. The county residential checklist lists a separate impact fee payment of $2,330.03 for all new homes. Stormwater and fire forms indicate some fees are handled by the reviewing department rather than by a unified online checkout.

• 770-278-7100 (phone)
• inspections@rockdalecountyga.gov (email)
• Stormwater: stormwaterinspection@rockdalecountyga.gov or 770-278-7155 (email)
• Fire: FireMarshal@RockdaleCountyGa.Gov (email)

Scheduling deadline

Fire inspection request forms must be submitted at least 14 days before the requested inspection date to allow invoice verification and staffing.

Inspection hours

Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Typical sequence: Inspections are called in sequentially. For projects with a required LDP, the county requires approved BMP installation and erosion-control inspection before building permit issuance. Fire inspections are separately coordinated through the Fire Marshal when the use requires them. Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion is issued after all applicable inspections are approved.