County Building Permits
Upson County, GA - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Upson County, Georgia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Georgia Updated March 2026
Permit Authority
The county Building and Zoning Department handles permitting for unincorporated Upson County. The county and City of Thomaston have separate building inspection programs. The Upson County zoning ordinance applies to unincorporated Upson County.
- Department
- Upson County Building and Zoning Department
- Address
- 305 S Hightower Street, Suite D100, Thomaston, GA 30286
- Phone
- 706-647-1297
Application Process
- Review the county Building and Zoning page and determine whether related approvals are also needed. The county states land clearing of one acre or more requires a land disturbance permit first.
- Download and complete the county Building Permit Application and Land Owner Permit Affidavit from the county page.
- Email, fax, or mail the application package to the county. The county expressly directs that all permit applications be emailed to garagon@upsoncountyga.org.
- Deliver hard-copy construction plans to the Building and Zoning office. The county states plans must be hard copies, 36x24 or larger, and will not accept construction plans by email.
- Submit the required supporting materials. The county's published new-construction requirements call for project value, contractor and subcontractor information, power provider, map and parcel data, acreage, physical address, site plan, zoning and floodplain information, two sets of plans, and as applicable COMcheck, erosion permit, driveway certificate of compliance, septic permit, well permit, homeowner checklist, and homeowner affidavit.
- Wait for county review and permit processing. The county page states staff will get in touch after the permit has been processed.
- Schedule and complete required inspections through the county program before final approval and occupancy.
General Requirements
The county's public permitting page and published application materials show permits are required for new home builds and other construction handled through the Building and Zoning office. The county also publishes separate applications or packets for demolition, manufactured homes, swimming pools, and land disturbance. No single county public handout was found that lists every permit trigger and every exemption.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application and landowner affidavit
- Hard-copy plans
- Site plan
- Project valuation
- Contractor and subcontractor information
- Map and parcel information
- Power provider
- Zoning and floodplain information
- Where applicable: COMcheck, erosion permit, driveway certificate of compliance, septic permit, well permit, homeowner inspection checklist, and homeowner affidavit
- Building code
- Georgia state minimum standard construction codes apply statewide. Upson County's zoning ordinance also references 'Upson County Building Codes (as amended)' as adopted by reference. No separate public county webpage listing local construction-code amendments was found.
- Owner-builder
- The county's new-construction requirements state state-licensed contractors are required to pull permits unless the owner pulls the permit for an owner-occupied home. The county also publishes a Residential by Owner homeowner affidavit and homeowner inspection procedures checklist.
- Contractor requirements
- The county's published requirements state contractors and subcontractors must submit copies of their state licenses and occupational tax certificates, must sign the permit before their trade work starts, and must do so before a certificate of occupancy will be issued. Georgia residential contractor licensing rules also apply statewide.
Fees
- Payment note
- The county permit page states applications may be returned by email, fax, or mail, but no public payment-processing instructions were found.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Upson County Building and Zoning Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 706-647-1297 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed every Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for a staff meeting.
- Time windows
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed every Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for a staff meeting.
Typical inspection sequence: The county page states Upson County requires inspections for footings, framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and final inspection.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Georgia state minimum standard construction codes apply statewide. Upson County's zoning ordinance also references 'Upson County Building Codes (as amended)' as adopted by reference. No separate public county webpage listing local construction-code amendments was found.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- County property facts verification
- Upson County Service Delivery Strategy
- Current Georgia state minimum codes
- Georgia contractor FAQ
- 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 Upson County Building and Zoning Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Upson County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Upson County, GA?
- The county's public permitting page and published application materials show permits are required for new home builds and other construction handled through the Building and Zoning office. The county also publishes separate applications or packets for demolition, manufactured homes, swimming pools, and land disturbance. No single county public handout was found that lists every permit trigger and every exemption.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Upson County, GA?
- 1. Review the county Building and Zoning page and determine whether related approvals are also needed. The county states land clearing of one acre or more requires a land disturbance permit first. 2. Download and complete the county Building Permit Application and Land Owner Permit Affidavit from the county page. 3. Email, fax, or mail the application package to the county. The county expressly directs that all permit applications be emailed to garagon@upsoncountyga.org. 4. Deliver hard-copy construction plans to the Building and Zoning office. The county states plans must be hard copies, 36x24 or larger, and will not accept construction plans by email. 5. Submit the required supporting materials. The county's published new-construction requirements call for project value, contractor and subcontractor information, power provider, map and parcel data, acreage, physical address, site plan, zoning and floodplain information, two sets of plans, and as applicable COMcheck, erosion permit, driveway certificate of compliance, septic permit, well permit, homeowner checklist, and homeowner affidavit. 6. Wait for county review and permit processing. The county page states staff will get in touch after the permit has been processed. 7. Schedule and complete required inspections through the county program before final approval and occupancy.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Upson County, GA?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: 706-647-1297.
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This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.