Unincorporated Warren County

The county Land Use Ordinance requires a Land Use/Construction Permit unless exempted. Public examples include erecting or moving a single-family dwelling or manufactured home, additions to an existing dwelling or manufactured home, subdivision-related development, agricultural, institutional, commercial, industrial, or mining structures of 150 square feet or more, land disturbance of 200 square feet or more or grading of 50 cubic yards or more, commercial activity, towers, and preparation of land for driveways and parking lots.

• Exempt Public buildings, uses, and structures and semi-public uses and structures
• Exempt Plowing fields, cultivating crops, and timber or forestry management operations, unless preparing land for a building or structure of 150 square feet or more
• Exempt Structures under 150 square feet that are not attached to an existing building or made part of a new building
• Exempt Addition of appurtenances such as antennas, satellite dishes, chimneys, and ancillary equipment to existing buildings
• Exempt Tree removal, grading, or other land disturbance under 200 square feet, or grading under 50 cubic yards, if not preparing land for a 150 square foot or larger building
• Exempt Resurfacing or graveling a driveway serving a single-family residential use or manufactured home
• Exempt Signs, although signs remain subject to ordinance requirements
• Exempt Temporary sales or similar temporary activity lasting no more than 72 consecutive hours and not more often than once in any 90-day period
• Exempt Fences using materials not prohibited by the ordinance
• Exempt Fallout shelters
• Exempt Replacement of existing septic tanks and drainfields, subject to Health Department requirements
• Exempt Installation, relocation, or replacement of utility lines serving individual buildings or uses
• Exempt Land disturbance related to installing a well, subject to Health Department requirements

Building code

Georgia statewide minimum standard construction codes administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, plus any local Warren County amendments that may exist.

Contractor requirements

Georgia state licensing applies. Residential contractors performing work over $2,500 must be licensed by the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors.

Source: Warren County Planning and Zoning Department ↗

1. 01
   Contact the Planning and Zoning Department at (706) 465-0310 to confirm the project type, ordinance path, and whether a Land Use/Construction Permit, subdivision approval, rezoning, conditional use, or variance is required.
2. 02
   Submit the required application form and supporting materials furnished by the Administrator. For zoning-type applications, the ordinance requires an application fee, signed and notarized owner signature, legal description, survey plat, site analysis/topographic map, letter of intent, site plan, development statistics, and any other information required by the Administrator.
3. 03
   The Administrator reviews the filing for completeness and marks it received once it complies with ordinance requirements and deadlines.
4. 04
   For rezoning, conditional use, and variance matters, the Administrator schedules a Planning Commission public hearing with at least 15 days public notice and notice to the applicant.
5. 05
   The Planning Commission issues a recommendation. The Board of Commissioners then holds its public hearing and renders a decision within 65 calendar days after its hearing.
6. 06
   For subdivision and land development work, county staff may require plan review and inspections at multiple stages of land-disturbing and improvement work.

Typical processing time: For rezoning, conditional use, and variance applications, the Board must render a decision within 65 calendar days after the Board public hearing. No public processing-time estimate was found for ordinary Land Use/Construction Permits.

Source: Warren County Planning and Zoning Department ↗

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

• (706) 465-0310 (phone)

Typical sequence: The subdivision ordinance authorizes inspections at various intervals, including erosion control, start of grading or land-disturbing activity, septic or sewer installation, storm drainage installation, detention and stormwater facilities, and street curbing, gutter, road subgrade, base, and paving.