Rockdale County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

Applies in unincorporated Rockdale County only, not inside the City of Conyers. Related reviews may involve Rockdale County Stormwater, Fire Rescue Fire Marshal's Office, Water Resources, Environmental Health, and GDOT depending on project scope.

Department

Licensing and Permitting Division, Department of Planning and Development, Rockdale County

Address

1117 West Avenue, Conyers, GA 30012

Phone

770-278-7100

Email

permits@rockdalecountyga.gov

Website

https://www.rockdalecountyga.gov/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine whether the project is in unincorporated Rockdale County and whether a separate Land Disturbance Permit (LDP) is required before the building permit. An LDP is required if the lot is part of a common development or over one acre.
2. Submit the building permit application and all required supporting documents to the Licensing and Permitting Division. For residential work, submit the application, energy-code affidavit, OCGA 50-36.1 affidavit, water and sewer or septic documentation, contractor licenses, building plans, structure location plan, fee, impact fee where applicable, affidavits, and ID. For commercial work, submit permit application, review fee, structural or architectural plans, and site or parking plans.
3. Where an LDP is required, first submit the stormwater package to the Department of Stormwater Management. That package is reviewed and issued separately before building permit approval.
4. County staff routes plans to necessary reviewers, including the Building Official, Fire Department, Water Resources, Environmental Health, and Zoning. Commercial comments are ready for pickup two weeks later on Friday. Stormwater residential LDP reviews are completed within 14 business days for initial reviews and 5 business days for resubmittals.
5. Resolve comments, obtain site release or approved BMP inspection where applicable, and provide proof of water meter and sewer or septic approvals.
6. Pay required fees and impact fees. A separate impact fee of $2,330.03 is required for all new homes.
7. After issuance, begin work and call or email for sequential inspections. A Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion is issued after applicable inspections are approved.

Typical processing time: Commercial building comments are stated to be ready two weeks later on Friday. Residential stormwater LDP reviews: 14 business days for initial review and 5 business days for resubmittals.

Source: Licensing and Permitting Division, Department of Planning and Development, Rockdale County

General Requirements

Permits are required for residential construction, commercial buildings and structural work, accessory structures, demolition, driveway work, electrical work, signs, and land disturbance where applicable. A separate Land Disturbance Permit must be issued first when triggered by site conditions.

Required Documents

• Building permit application
• Residential energy-code affidavit (for residential)
• OCGA 50-36.1 affidavit (for residential)
• Water meter receipt or sewer tap receipt or septic permit (for residential)
• Contractor business license
• Contractor state license
• Building plans
• House location plan or structure location plan
• Permit fee
• Impact fee (for new homes)
• Subcontractor affidavit (for residential)
• Occupational license affidavit (for residential)
• Copy of driver's license (for residential)
• Structural or architectural plans (for commercial)
• Site or parking plans (for commercial)
• Stormwater Land Disturbance Permit documentation (where applicable)

Permit validity

No general building permit validity or expiration rule was clearly stated in the county building permit packets.

Building code

Rockdale County must enforce the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes adopted by DCA. The county references compliance with the International Building Code, 2018 Edition, and the 2020 NEC. Forms should be read together with the current Georgia DCA code baseline and any local amendments.

Owner-builder

The county's accessory-structure checklist expressly states the homeowner may be the contractor and may sign all required affidavits. For new-home permits, confirm owner-builder filings with the Licensing and Permitting Division for each permit type.

Contractor requirements

Contractors must hold a contractor business license and a contractor state license. Georgia state residential and general contractor licensing rules apply for covered work.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$50 for electrical service (up to 200 amps and up to 400 amps). No general building permit minimum publicly stated.

Plan check fee

The 2025 commercial building permit package requires a review fee, but the amount was not stated in the located source. Stormwater: mandatory $100 plan review fee for every review after the second review.

Permit fee formula

No general county building permit valuation formula publicly stated. Trade-specific flat-fee schedules and itemized charges are published separately.

Trade permit fee

$50 flat fee for permanent signs plus $1 per square foot over 25 square feet. Electrical and other trade fees available on permit applications.

Reinspection fee

No countywide building reinspection fee schedule clearly published. Stormwater: $100 additional review fee after the second review.

Payment note

Fees must be paid before permit issuance. The county residential checklist lists a separate impact fee payment of $2,330.03 for all new homes. Stormwater and fire forms indicate some fees are handled by the reviewing department rather than by a unified online checkout.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Licensing and Permitting Division, Department of Planning and Development, Rockdale County to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 770-278-7100 (phone)
• inspections@rockdalecountyga.gov (email)
• Stormwater: stormwaterinspection@rockdalecountyga.gov or 770-278-7155 (email)
• Fire: FireMarshal@RockdaleCountyGa.Gov (email)

Scheduling deadline

Fire inspection request forms must be submitted at least 14 days before the requested inspection date to allow invoice verification and staffing.

Inspection hours

Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Typical inspection sequence: Inspections are called in sequentially. For projects with a required LDP, the county requires approved BMP installation and erosion-control inspection before building permit issuance. Fire inspections are separately coordinated through the Fire Marshal when the use requires them. Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion is issued after all applicable inspections are approved.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Rockdale County must enforce the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes adopted by DCA. The county references compliance with the International Building Code, 2018 Edition, and the 2020 NEC. Forms should be read together with the current Georgia DCA code baseline and any local amendments.
• Verify contractor license: Georgia DCA Construction Codes
• Conditional Use Permit / Change in Conditions Application
• Fire Inspection Request Form
• Accessory Structure Checklist
• Rezoning Application
• License lookup guide: Georgia Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Georgia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Georgia hub: Georgia Contractor License & Permit Hub