Towns County, GA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

County authority for unincorporated areas of Towns County. Towns County issues building permits for residential, commercial, and mobile-home permits in unincorporated areas; however, both Hiawassee and Young Harris post their own municipal permit materials and handle their own jurisdictions

Department

Towns County Building Department

Address

1100 Jack Dayton Circle, Young Harris, GA 30582

Phone

(706) 896-3159

Email

townscbi@gmail.com

Website

https://www.townscountyga.org/building-department.html

Application Process

1. Confirm the project is in unincorporated Towns County and obtain the applicable county form set from the Building Department page, including the main building permit application and any related E911, culvert, subcontractor, or energy-code forms
2. Prepare the county application package and any job-specific supporting documents required by the county forms and site conditions
3. Submit the permit package directly to the Towns County Building Department
4. Pay the applicable permit fee based on the county fee table posted on the Building Department page
5. Coordinate required building and trade inspections with the county inspector before final completion

Source: Towns County Building Department

General Requirements

The county issues building permits for residential, commercial, and mobile homes, performs building inspections for the same, and also inspects electrical, plumbing, mechanical, additions, and renovations. The county also separately states that permits are required for any land disturbance above 2200 feet of elevation before disturbance begins

Required Documents

• County building permit application
• Mobile-home form if applicable
• Out-building form if applicable
• E911 address form if applicable
• Culvert form if applicable
• Subcontractor sheet if applicable
• Energy-code forms if applicable
• Project-specific supporting materials required by those forms

Building code

The county complies with International Building Codes with Georgia State Amendments. Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes administered by DCA apply statewide

Owner-builder

Georgia state owner-builder rule in O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(h) applies where a local permit is required

Contractor requirements

Georgia contractor licensing rules apply. Residential contractors performing covered work over $2,500 must be appropriately licensed. The county also posts a subcontractor sheet and separate trade-permit forms

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$75.00 for stand-alone building/framing, plumbing, mechanical, or electrical permits; $100.00 for out buildings 120 square feet or larger

Permit fee formula

Flat square-footage tiers for residential and commercial new construction; flat fees for mobile homes, tiny homes, decks, trade permits, and mountain-protection permits; per-square-foot adders over threshold sizes

Trade permit fee

$75.00 minimum for stand-alone trade permits

Payment note

No public online permit payment workflow found

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Towns County Building Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

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Typical inspection sequence: Building Department page confirms building inspections for residential, commercial, and mobile-home permits, plus electrical, plumbing, mechanical, additions, and renovation inspections

Additional Resources

• Building code: The county complies with International Building Codes with Georgia State Amendments. Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes administered by DCA apply statewide
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• License lookup guide: Georgia Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Georgia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Georgia hub: Georgia Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Towns County Building Permit FAQ

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

The county issues building permits for residential, commercial, and mobile homes, performs building inspections for the same, and also inspects electrical, plumbing, mechanical, additions, and renovations. The county also separately states that permits are required for any land disturbance above 2200 feet of elevation before disturbance begins

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

The minimum permit fee is $75.00 for stand-alone building/framing, plumbing, mechanical, or electrical permits; $100.00 for out buildings 120 square feet or larger. Fees are calculated as: Flat square-footage tiers for residential and commercial new construction; flat fees for mobile homes, tiny homes, decks, trade permits, and mountain-protection permits; per-square-foot adders over threshold sizes.

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

1. Confirm the project is in unincorporated Towns County and obtain the applicable county form set from the Building Department page, including the main building permit application and any related E911, culvert, subcontractor, or energy-code forms 2. Prepare the county application package and any job-specific supporting documents required by the county forms and site conditions 3. Submit the permit package directly to the Towns County Building Department 4. Pay the applicable permit fee based on the county fee table posted on the Building Department page 5. Coordinate required building and trade inspections with the county inspector before final completion

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

Inspections can be scheduled via: .