Residential permit rules in Georgia
Representative cities: Atlanta, Savannah. Covers 20 common home projects.
Check a home project's permit in Georgia
Select a project to see its Georgia permit requirement, fee range, timeline, go / no-go, and the official source to verify.
Georgia
Exact permit fees are set by the local building department. WikEst shows the published or code-based range where one exists, linked to its official source — verify the final amount at the source before budgeting.
🏠 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permit fee in Georgia
Permit requiredCase by casecity authority
Permit fee range
Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 technology fee; total scales with cost of construction. Municipal fees vary.
Typical timeline
Varies
Setback
—
Exempt if
Not size-exempt
Georgia’s mandatory 2024 IRC with Georgia Amendments (eff. Jan 1, 2026) governs construction; ADUs need a building permit plus local zoning approval. Verify with your city (e.g., Atlanta Office of Buildings).
Official sources: City of Atlanta — Residential Construction Permits (Office of Buildings) · GA Dept. of Community Affairs — 2024 IRC w/ GA Amendments (eff. Jan 1, 2026)
Representative cities for Georgia: Atlanta, Savannah.
All 20 project fee ranges in Georgia
Official-source ranges where published; “By local jurisdiction” means no flat fee is published and the amount is set case by case.
| Project | Permit? | Authority | Fee range | Go / no-go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | yes | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 technology fee; total scales with cost of construction. Municipal fees vary. | case-by-case |
| 🪵 Deck / Porch | yes | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 technology fee; total scales with construction cost. | allowed |
| 🧱 Fence / Wall | conditional | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee where a permit is required. | allowed |
| 🛖 Shed / Outbuilding | conditional | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee for permitted sheds. | allowed |
| 🪜 Basement Finish | yes | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee; total scales with scope. | allowed |
| 🚗 Garage / Carport | yes | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee; total scales with valuation. | allowed |
| ☀️ Rooftop Solar PV | yes | city | Electrical/structural permit fee; Atlanta minimum $150 plus $25 fee. | allowed |
| 🌡️ HVAC Replacement | yes | city | Mechanical permit fee; Atlanta minimum $150 plus $25 fee. | allowed |
| 🍳 Kitchen Remodel | yes | city | Building permit fee; Atlanta minimum $150 plus $25 fee, trade permits billed separately. | allowed |
| 🛁 Bathroom Remodel | yes | city | Building permit fee; Atlanta minimum $150 plus $25 fee, trade permits billed separately. | allowed |
| 🏗️ Room Addition | yes | city | Building permit fee based on valuation; Atlanta minimum $150 plus $25 fee plus plan review. | allowed |
| 🪟 Window / Door Replacement | conditional | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee where a permit is required. | allowed |
| 🏘️ Roof Replacement | yes | city | Roof-covering permit fee; Atlanta minimum $150 plus $25 fee. | allowed |
| 🅿️ Driveway / Parking Pad | conditional | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee where a permit is required. | allowed |
| 🏊 Swimming Pool / Spa | yes | city | Building permit fee; Atlanta minimum $150 plus $25 fee; barrier fencing required. | allowed |
| 🧱 Retaining Wall | conditional | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee where a permit is required. | allowed |
| 💥 Demolition / Teardown | yes | city | Demolition permit fee set by the city/county building department; verify locally. | allowed |
| 🚰 Septic System | yes | county | Septic permit fees set by the county health department; verify locally. | allowed |
| 🔌 EV Charger | conditional | city | Electrical permit fee set by the city; verify locally. | allowed |
| ⚡ Standby Generator | yes | city | Electrical (and often mechanical/gas) permit fee set by the city; verify locally. | allowed |
| Project | Permit? | Authority | Typical fee | Timeline | Go / No-Go | Key notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | Permit required | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 technology fee; total scales with cost of construction. Municipal fees vary. | — | Case by case | Georgia’s mandatory 2024 IRC with Georgia Amendments (eff. Jan 1, 2026) governs construction; ADUs need a building permit plus local zoning approval. Verify with your city (e.g., Atlanta Office of Buildings). |
| 🪵 Deck / Porch | Permit required | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 technology fee; total scales with construction cost. | — | Generally allowed | Deck/patio additions require a permit (Atlanta lists deck/patio addition). Attached decks and decks over 30 in above grade always require one. |
| 🧱 Fence / Wall | Conditional | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee where a permit is required. | — | Generally allowed | Many Georgia municipalities exempt fences 6–7 ft or lower; some require a permit. Atlanta processes fence permits (Express allowed for certain stop-work-order fence fixes). Verify locally. |
| 🛖 Shed / Outbuilding | Conditional | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee for permitted sheds. | — | Generally allowed | Larger sheds and any shed with utilities require a building permit. Savannah and other cities follow the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes with local fee schedules. Exempt: Under 120 sq ft typically exempt (IRC); Atlanta lists accessory shed structures as permitted. |
| 🪜 Basement Finish | Permit required | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee; total scales with scope. | — | Generally allowed | Finishing a basement into habitable space requires permits for egress, framing, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. Sleeping rooms need code-compliant egress. |
| 🚗 Garage / Carport | Permit required | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee; total scales with valuation. | — | Generally allowed | A new garage requires a building permit. |
| ☀️ Rooftop Solar PV | Permit required | city | Electrical/structural permit fee; Atlanta minimum $150 plus $25 fee. | — | Generally allowed | Rooftop solar PV requires an electrical and structural permit, filed via a standard/trade permit through the local Office of Buildings. |
| 🌡️ HVAC Replacement | Permit required | city | Mechanical permit fee; Atlanta minimum $150 plus $25 fee. | — | Generally allowed | Furnace, AC, or heat-pump replacement requires a mechanical permit and inspection. |
| 🍳 Kitchen Remodel | Permit required | city | Building permit fee; Atlanta minimum $150 plus $25 fee, trade permits billed separately. | — | Generally allowed | A permit is required when relocating plumbing/electrical, moving walls, or changing fixtures. Cosmetic-only work may be exempt. |
| 🛁 Bathroom Remodel | Permit required | city | Building permit fee; Atlanta minimum $150 plus $25 fee, trade permits billed separately. | — | Generally allowed | A permit is required when relocating plumbing/electrical, moving walls, or changing fixtures. Cosmetic-only updates may be exempt. |
| 🏗️ Room Addition | Permit required | city | Building permit fee based on valuation; Atlanta minimum $150 plus $25 fee plus plan review. | — | Generally allowed | Room additions change the footprint and require a full building permit, zoning approval, and usually a site plan. |
| 🪟 Window / Door Replacement | Conditional | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee where a permit is required. | — | Generally allowed | Swapping windows or exterior doors in the same opening is generally exempt; enlarging or adding openings requires a permit. |
| 🏘️ Roof Replacement | Permit required | city | Roof-covering permit fee; Atlanta minimum $150 plus $25 fee. | — | Generally allowed | Re-roofing is permitted (Atlanta Express covers re-roofing without structural change); minor repairs may be exempt. |
| 🅿️ Driveway / Parking Pad | Conditional | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee where a permit is required. | — | Generally allowed | A permit may be required where the driveway connects to the street/right-of-way or triggers an erosion/grading permit. Verify locally. |
| 🏊 Swimming Pool / Spa | Permit required | city | Building permit fee; Atlanta minimum $150 plus $25 fee; barrier fencing required. | — | Generally allowed | Pools require a separate permit and barrier fencing. Atlanta requires pool permits to be filed separately from any other permit application. |
| 🧱 Retaining Wall | Conditional | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee where a permit is required. | — | Generally allowed | Height and whether the wall supports a surcharge (driveway, structure, or slope above) determine the permit threshold. Verify with your municipality. |
| 💥 Demolition / Teardown | Permit required | city | Demolition permit fee set by the city/county building department; verify locally. | — | Generally allowed | A full teardown or major strip-out requires a demolition (building) permit from the city or county building department under the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes. Demolition permits commonly require utility disconnects and, for older homes, asbestos/lead clearance before work begins. Atlanta processes through the Office of Buildings. |
| 🚰 Septic System | Permit required | county | Septic permit fees set by the county health department; verify locally. | — | Generally allowed | New or replacement onsite wastewater (on-site sewage management) systems require a construction permit from the county health department under GA DPH Rule 511-3-1. Engineered design and a site/soil evaluation are required; the county board of health is the permitting authority. |
| 🔌 EV Charger | Conditional | city | Electrical permit fee set by the city; verify locally. | — | Generally allowed | A home EV charging station needs an electrical permit (dedicated 240V circuit and wall unit) issued by the city under the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes. Georgia has no single statewide EV-permitting fast-track, so review time varies by city. Work must meet the NEC. |
| ⚡ Standby Generator | Permit required | city | Electrical (and often mechanical/gas) permit fee set by the city; verify locally. | — | Generally allowed | A permanently installed standby generator with a transfer switch and fuel (gas/propane) line requires electrical and often mechanical/gas permits, plus inspection. Setback, noise, and carbon-monoxide rules may apply, and HOAs may restrict installation. Verify with the city building department (e.g., Atlanta Office of Buildings). |
Homeowner Tools
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a building permit for home projects in Georgia?
Most structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work does. The project table above shows Georgia-specific permit requirements for 20 common home projects. Always confirm with the local building department before starting.
Who issues building permits in Georgia?
Georgia permit authorities are typically city or county building departments. Use the county permit authority lookup to find the exact office for your property.
Which home projects are exempt from permits in Georgia?
Common baseline exemptions apply widely: detached sheds ≤120 sq ft, fences ≤6–7 ft, decks ≤30 in above grade, same-footprint re-roofs, and in-kind window/door swaps. Georgia or your city may amend these — verify locally.
How much does a permit cost in Georgia?
Permit fees are set by each city or county and scale with project valuation; there is no single Georgia statewide fee. Open the official authority link on this page for the local fee schedule.