Residential permit rules in Georgia
Representative cities: Atlanta, Savannah. Covers 16 common home projects.
| 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. |