Forsyth County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

All properties in unincorporated Forsyth County. City projects inside Cumming use the city permit authority instead. Forsyth County Fire separately performs fire plan review and fire inspections countywide and for city projects where required.

Department

Forsyth County Department of Building and Licensing

Address

110 E. Main Street, Suite 100, Cumming, GA 30040

Phone

770-781-2114

Email

mtweldy@forsythco.com

Website

https://www.forsythco.com/Departments-Offices/Building-Licensing

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine permit type from the Building and Licensing page. The county publishes residential packets for additions, accessory structures, basement finishes, decks and porches, fences and retaining walls, pools, renovations, and other project types, plus commercial plan review guidance.
2. Prepare the permit package. Residential permit packets require the permit details form, contractor authorization and subcontractor affidavits as applicable, owner-contractor exemption documents if owner-pulling the permit, site plan, recorded plat copy, and septic-related approvals if applicable.
3. Submit the application online through the Customer Service Portal or in person at Building and Licensing.
4. Upload plans and supporting documents in CSS for projects requiring plan review. The commercial page strongly recommends an online pre-submittal meeting for new commercial building projects before formal submission.
5. Pay required permit and plan review fees. Forsyth County Fire states fire plans are not reviewed until the fire review fee is paid.
6. Respond to review comments and resubmit if required.
7. After permit issuance, schedule required inspections through the county inspection scheduling team or the online portal. Fire inspections are separately requested from Forsyth County Fire when applicable.
8. Complete final inspections and obtain certificate of occupancy or completion as applicable.

Typical processing time: Forsyth County Fire states fire plan reviews are typically completed within 10 business days after the review fee is paid. The county building pages reviewed did not publish a general countywide building permit issuance timeline.

Source: Forsyth County Department of Building and Licensing

General Requirements

A building permit is required for all construction and land disturbance work in unincorporated Forsyth County. The county publishes permit packets for residential work including additions, accessory structures, basement finishes, decks and porches, pools, fences and retaining walls, renovations, townhomes and condominiums, and trade permits.

Required Documents

• Permit details form
• Contractor documents and notarized affidavits
• Owner-contractor exemption documents if owner-builder
• Site plan
• Approved recorded plat copy
• Septic approval when applicable
• Temporary toilet approval when applicable
• Applicable fee payment

Permit validity

The publicly located county residential packet and fee schedule do not state a general permit-expiration rule. A $100 building permit renewal fee applies if at least one inspection has been approved before renewal. Renewals are limited to one renewal per permit. Full re-permit fees apply if inspections remain expired or the permit has been expired for more than 90 days.

Building code

The county enforces Georgia state minimum standard codes and has adopted local amendments to those codes.

Owner-builder

County residential packets provide an owner-contractor exemption option requiring a notarized self-work affidavit, selection of trades to be covered by the owner-contractor, and subcontractor affidavits for any trades not covered by the owner.

Contractor requirements

Residential contractors performing work over $2,500 must be licensed by the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors. County packets require current business licenses and copies of state licenses for the general contractor and subcontractors.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$18.75 for non-commercial building permits with valuation of $1,000 and less; $37.50 minimum for residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical permits up to 1,000 square feet; $100 commercial plan review for 5,000 square feet or less

Plan check fee

Commercial plan review: $100 for 5,000 square feet or less and $0.025 per square foot over 5,000 square feet. Fire review fees are published separately on the Fire Department page.

Permit fee formula

Non-commercial building permits are valuation-based: $18.75 for the first $1,000 and then graduated per-thousand charges. Commercial building permits are square-foot based at $0.15 per enclosed square foot and $0.07 per open square foot. Trade permits are square-foot based for residential and fixture-based for commercial subcontractor permits.

Trade permit fee

Varies; see fee schedule for residential and commercial trade permits

Reinspection fee

First-time inspections are free. First reinspection is $25, second is $50, third is $75, and each additional reinspection is the previous inspection fee plus $25.

Penalty (no permit)

Building permit renewal is $100. A building re-permit is charged at the full building permit fee.

Payment note

Accepted payment methods include cash, check, Visa, or MasterCard. Forsyth County Fire states fire plan review invoices are sent by email for electronic credit-card payment and that the Fire Safety Division does not accept cash.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Forsyth County Department of Building and Licensing to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Inspection Scheduling Team - 770-781-2114, Option 1 (phone)
• Customer Service Portal (online)
• Fire Inspections - 678-455-8072 or fmorequest@forsythco.com (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Forsyth County Fire asks for inspection requests two business days in advance

Typical inspection sequence: Inspections are required throughout the project and at completion. The exact sequence varies by permit type. Typical residential sequencing is footing or foundation, framing or structural stages, applicable trade rough-ins, insulation or other discipline-specific approvals, then final inspection. Fire inspections run separately where required.

Additional Resources

• Building code: The county enforces Georgia state minimum standard codes and has adopted local amendments to those codes.
• Verify contractor license: Georgia Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building and Licensing Department
• Customer Service Portal
• Commercial Building Permits
• Fire Department - Plans & Inspections
• Deck/Porch Permit Form
• Georgia Department of Community Affairs - Construction Codes
• Forsyth County Code of Ordinances
• License lookup guide: Georgia Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Georgia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Georgia hub: Georgia Contractor License & Permit Hub