State Building Permits

Georgia Building Permit Guides

Permit authority, application process, fees, and requirements for counties and cities across Georgia. Select your county to find your local permit guide.

19 Counties 118 Jurisdictions Updated March 2026

How Georgia State Permitting Works

Building permits in Georgia are issued at the local city or county level. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) sets statewide minimum construction codes — currently the 2024 International Building Code (IBC), 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), and associated codes with Georgia amendments, effective January 1, 2026 — but enforcement is the responsibility of each local jurisdiction.

Several Georgia counties operate as consolidated city-county governments, including Atlanta (Fulton County), Athens-Clarke County, Columbus-Muscogee County, Macon-Bibb County, and Augusta-Richmond County. In these jurisdictions, the unified government issues all permits for the entire county.

Contractor licensing in Georgia is administered by the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors for residential contractors, and the Georgia Secretary of State for other trades. Verify contractor licenses at verify.sos.ga.gov before hiring. Select your county below to find the permit authority, portal links, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements that apply to your project.

Georgia Counties

Bibb County 1 jurisdiction → Chatham County 9 jurisdictions → Cherokee County 7 jurisdictions → Clarke County 1 jurisdiction → Clayton County 9 jurisdictions → Cobb County 8 jurisdictions → Columbia County 4 jurisdictions → DeKalb County 12 jurisdictions → Douglas County 3 jurisdictions → Fayette County 6 jurisdictions → Forsyth County 2 jurisdictions → Fulton County 15 jurisdictions → Gwinnett County 17 jurisdictions → Hall County 8 jurisdictions → Henry County 5 jurisdictions → Muscogee County 1 jurisdiction → Paulding County 5 jurisdictions → Richmond County 3 jurisdictions → Rockdale County 2 jurisdictions →

More Georgia counties coming soon.

Related Georgia Resources

Contract Template Free Georgia homeowner-contractor agreement → License Requirements Verify a Georgia contractor license →

Statewide Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with your local building department before applying.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from your local permit authority. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Contractor licensing questions should be confirmed directly with the Georgia Secretary of State or the Georgia State Licensing Board. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.