County Building Permits
Seminole County, GA - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Seminole County, Georgia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Applies only in unincorporated Seminole County. The official county page directs all Seminole County project submittals and Building Department services to the county department for permitting, inspections, and environmental code enforcement.
- Department
- Seminole County Zoning and Code Enforcement Department / Planning and Development
- Address
- 230 Cherry Street, Donalsonville, GA 39845
- Phone
- 229-524-2878
Online Permit Portal
Platform: CivicPlus Community Development 4.0 • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Start with the county Planning and Development page or the CivicPlus portal and identify the correct permit type. The public portal lists residential, commercial, zoning, and mobile home permit categories.
- Gather plans and supporting documents before filing. The county states each permit requires completion of required information fields and upload of plans and other documentation, and warns incomplete applications may be delayed or rejected.
- Submit the application online through the portal or direct the submittal to the county office. The county page says all Seminole County project submittals and requests for Building Department services should go to the Zoning and Code Enforcement Department.
- Include contractor credentials where applicable. The county states all contractors must submit copies of both a state contractor license and an occupational tax certificate with each permit.
- Pay assessed fees. The county states it accepts checks and all major credit cards and that checks should be payable to the Seminole County Board of Commissioners.
- Request required inspections after issuance. Inspection requests must be received by 4:00 p.m. before the requested inspection date.
Typical processing time: No public permit issuance timeline found
Source: Seminole County Zoning and Code Enforcement Department / Planning and Development
General Requirements
The county portal publicly lists active application types for residential work, commercial work, zoning approvals, driveways, pools, fences, mobile homes, electrical hookup, renovation, new construction, signs, and related categories. The county page also states a site plan and site inspection are required for all new building permits and additions to existing structures.
Required Documents
- Permit application
- Site plan for all new building permits and additions
- Plans and other required documentation for portal filings
- State contractor license and occupational tax certificate for contractor-filed permits
- Erosion control plan where disturbance exceeds 1 acre, is within 200 feet of state waters, or is within a qualifying subdivision/common development
- Permit validity
- No public county permit expiration rule was found
- Building code
- The county Planning and Development page publicly lists 2018 IBC, IRC, IMC, IPC, IFGC, IFC, IEBC, IPMC, ISPSC, 2020 NEC, and 2015 IECC among the codes it enforces. Georgia DCA's current statewide minimum code page should also be consulted because state minimum codes are mandatory statewide and updated at the state level.
- Owner-builder
- No public county owner-builder handout was found
- Contractor requirements
- County public guidance requires a state contractor license and occupational tax certificate with each permit. Georgia state licensure also applies as applicable, including the residential contractor threshold over $2,500.
Fees
- Plan check fee
- No separate public plan review fee found
- Permit fee formula
- Not publicly posted
- Reinspection fee
- $50 reinspection fee when a project is not ready or when an inspection is turned down
- Payment note
- County page says checks and all major credit cards are accepted and checks must be payable to the Seminole County Board of Commissioners
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Seminole County Zoning and Code Enforcement Department / Planning and Development to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Email inspection requests (email)
- Scheduling deadline
- Requests must be received by 4:00 p.m. before the requested inspection date
- Inspection hours
- 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: County public guidance lists driveway and culvert, erosion and sediment control, temporary power pole, footing, foundation wall, under slab plumbing, underground electrical, slab, exterior building envelope, rough-in, insulation, final electrical, certificate of occupancy, and certificate of completion
Additional Resources
- Building code: The county Planning and Development page publicly lists 2018 IBC, IRC, IMC, IPC, IFGC, IFC, IEBC, IPMC, ISPSC, 2020 NEC, and 2015 IECC among the codes it enforces. Georgia DCA's current statewide minimum code page should also be consulted because state minimum codes are mandatory statewide and updated at the state level.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- County Directory
- Georgia DCA Current State Minimum Codes
- Georgia Secretary of State Construction Industry Licensing Board Rules
- 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 Seminole County Zoning and Code Enforcement Department / Planning and Development before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Seminole County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Seminole County, GA?
- The county portal publicly lists active application types for residential work, commercial work, zoning approvals, driveways, pools, fences, mobile homes, electrical hookup, renovation, new construction, signs, and related categories. The county page also states a site plan and site inspection are required for all new building permits and additions to existing structures.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Seminole County, GA?
- Fees are calculated as: Not publicly posted. Plan check fee: No separate public plan review fee found.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Seminole County, GA?
- 1. Start with the county Planning and Development page or the CivicPlus portal and identify the correct permit type. The public portal lists residential, commercial, zoning, and mobile home permit categories. 2. Gather plans and supporting documents before filing. The county states each permit requires completion of required information fields and upload of plans and other documentation, and warns incomplete applications may be delayed or rejected. 3. Submit the application online through the portal or direct the submittal to the county office. The county page says all Seminole County project submittals and requests for Building Department services should go to the Zoning and Code Enforcement Department. 4. Include contractor credentials where applicable. The county states all contractors must submit copies of both a state contractor license and an occupational tax certificate with each permit. 5. Pay assessed fees. The county states it accepts checks and all major credit cards and that checks should be payable to the Seminole County Board of Commissioners. 6. Request required inspections after issuance. Inspection requests must be received by 4:00 p.m. before the requested inspection date.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Seminole County, GA?
- Typical processing time is No public permit issuance timeline found.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Seminole County, GA?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Email inspection requests. Requests must be received by 4:00 p.m. before the requested inspection date.
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