County Building Permits
Union County, GA - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Union County, Georgia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated Union County only. Union County Building & Development issues building permits, conducts building inspections, and issues land disturbance permits for unincorporated areas.
- Department
- Union County Building & Development
- Address
- 46 Hughes Street, Suite A, Blairsville, GA 30512
- Phone
- 706-439-6045
- ucpermit@uniongov.com
Online Permit Portal
Platform: CivicPlus webpage with email submission routing • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Confirm the project is in unincorporated Union County and determine whether it meets any county permit trigger, including dwellings, accessory structures over 150 square feet, footprint changes, utility connections, flood hazard or stream buffer work, mountain protection tree removal, or any land disturbance.
- Assemble the county submittal package, including basic property and project information, licensed builder or subcontractor affidavit, recorded plat with setbacks and water features, recorded deed, floor plan and work description, and any project-specific items such as culvert permit, DOT driveway permit, elevation certificate, engineered plans, septic permit, GA EPD notice of intent, or approved erosion and sediment plan.
- If the project is commercial, pay the initial commercial plan review fee at first submission and pay any revision fee when revised plans are submitted.
- Submit the package to Union County Building & Development by email, fax, or direct office contact before grading or starting the project.
- After review and permit issuance, complete required inspections during construction and renew or replace the permit if it passes the one-year validity period.
General Requirements
Union County requires permits for projects that are dwellings, accessory structures over 150 square feet, alter the existing footprint of a structure, require water, sewer, or electric connection, are in a designated stream buffer or flood hazard area, require tree removal in a designated mountain protection area, or require any land disturbance. Examples include commercial and residential buildings, mobile homes, RVs or tiny homes used as residences, garages and barns, renovations or finishing work, decks and porches, additions, used manufactured-home evaluations, and upgrades or modifications to electrical, HVAC, plumbing, gas, or structural components.
Required Documents
- Basic property and applicant information
- Licensed builder or subcontractor affidavit
- Recorded plat with site plan and setbacks
- Recorded warranty deed or quitclaim deed
- Floor plan and work description
- Culvert permit if applicable
- DOT driveway permit if applicable
- Elevation certificate if applicable
- Engineered plans if applicable
- Septic permit if applicable
- GA EPD notice of intent if applicable
- Approved erosion and sediment plan if applicable
- Permit validity
- Building permits are valid for one year from the date of issue, after which renewal or a new permit is required.
- Building code
- Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes administered by DCA apply statewide. No county page listing a separate local code-adoption ordinance or code-edition table was found.
- Owner-builder
- The county states that permitting is the responsibility of the owner. No separate public owner-builder affidavit or rule sheet was found in the reviewed county sources.
- Contractor requirements
- County materials require a licensed builder or subcontractor affidavit and provide a contractor registration form. Georgia contractor licensing rules also apply, including the statewide residential contractor licensing rule for covered work over $2,500.
Fees
- Plan check fee
- $500 commercial plan review fee
- Permit fee formula
- Public county page does not post a full permit-fee table; only verified public fees are a $500 commercial plan review fee due at initial submission and a $100 fee for each commercial revision submission.
- Penalty (no permit)
- Violations are punishable under Union County Code Chapter 18 and Chapter 46
- Payment note
- Commercial plan review and revision fees must be paid in cash or check at submission; county also accepts submission by email or fax
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Roofing material changes
- Exterior siding changes
- Replacement of floor covering
- Painting and wallpapering
- Sidewalks and driveways
- Fences
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 706-439-6045 (phone)
- ucpermit@uniongov.com (email)
- Direct office contact (fax)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, closed for lunch from noon to 12:30 pm daily
Typical inspection sequence: County states permits and inspections are required before grading or the start of a project; no more detailed public inspection sequence was found
Additional Resources
- Building code: Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes administered by DCA apply statewide. No county page listing a separate local code-adoption ordinance or code-edition table was found.
- Building & Development
- Georgia DCA Construction 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 Union County Building & Development before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Union County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Union County, GA?
- Union County requires permits for projects that are dwellings, accessory structures over 150 square feet, alter the existing footprint of a structure, require water, sewer, or electric connection, are in a designated stream buffer or flood hazard area, require tree removal in a designated mountain protection area, or require any land disturbance. Examples include commercial and residential buildings, mobile homes, RVs or tiny homes used as residences, garages and barns, renovations or finishing work, decks and porches, additions, used manufactured-home evaluations, and upgrades or modifications to electrical, HVAC, plumbing, gas, or structural components.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Union County, GA?
- Fees are calculated as: Public county page does not post a full permit-fee table; only verified public fees are a $500 commercial plan review fee due at initial submission and a $100 fee for each commercial revision submission.. Plan check fee: $500 commercial plan review fee.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Union County, GA?
- 1. Confirm the project is in unincorporated Union County and determine whether it meets any county permit trigger, including dwellings, accessory structures over 150 square feet, footprint changes, utility connections, flood hazard or stream buffer work, mountain protection tree removal, or any land disturbance. 2. Assemble the county submittal package, including basic property and project information, licensed builder or subcontractor affidavit, recorded plat with setbacks and water features, recorded deed, floor plan and work description, and any project-specific items such as culvert permit, DOT driveway permit, elevation certificate, engineered plans, septic permit, GA EPD notice of intent, or approved erosion and sediment plan. 3. If the project is commercial, pay the initial commercial plan review fee at first submission and pay any revision fee when revised plans are submitted. 4. Submit the package to Union County Building & Development by email, fax, or direct office contact before grading or starting the project. 5. After review and permit issuance, complete required inspections during construction and renew or replace the permit if it passes the one-year validity period.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Union County, GA?
- The following work is generally exempt: Roofing material changes; Exterior siding changes; Replacement of floor covering; Painting and wallpapering; Sidewalks and driveways; Fences.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Union County, GA?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: 706-439-6045, ucpermit@uniongov.com, Direct office contact.
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