Fulton County building department

Fulton County’s own building department covers very little ground. The county’s A-Z service guide sends building permits in all 15 cities to the city itself: Alpharetta, Atlanta, Chattahoochee Hills, College Park, East Point, Fairburn, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Palmetto, Roswell, Sandy Springs, South Fulton, and Union City. Since July 3, 2017, when the City of South Fulton took over planning, zoning, permitting, and inspections for most of what had been unincorporated south Fulton, the county has issued building permits only for the Fulton Industrial Business District. Fulton County Public Works handles planning, zoning, permitting, building inspections, and land development inspections there, through its Planning and Development Division at 141 Pryor Street SW, Suite 6001. The county’s old service center at 5440 Fulton Industrial Boulevard no longer operates as the planning department. Older county forms still show that address. Before applying, check the parcel on the county’s GIS maps.

Permits the county issues

The Permits and Plan Review section reviews building permits and land disturbance permits (LDPs). Its application library includes:

• Building permit application (four pages, with the site plan checklist on page 4)
• Demolition, fence or retaining wall, sign, and custom street sign permits
• Address application, temporary power pole (T-pole), and temp-to-perm power affidavits
• Administrative permits for events, produce stands, roadside vending, seasonal business, off-site parking, towers, and antennas. Event permits must be filed at least 30 calendar days in advance.

Tents: A building permit is not required for a tent under 10,000 square feet. Tents of 10,000 square feet or more need plan review and a building permit. Any tent for a festival or event needs an application with the Fulton County Fire Marshal, regardless of size.

Trade permits

Electrical, mechanical (HVAC), and plumbing work each need a trade permit. A paid permit is used when only trade work is involved. When the trade fees are paid under a combination building permit, a no-pay permit (the installation list) is filed instead. It costs nothing but must be submitted before work begins. Fees are paid electronically at issuance. The county takes MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express.

Retaining walls

Wall	Permit requirement
Poured with and tied to a foundation shown on the building permit plans	No separate permit
Over 4 ft, not shown on an LDP	Permit required
4 to 6 ft	Permit with an Owner Certification/Indemnification
Over 6 ft, or 4 to 6 ft without the owner form	Engineer and owner certifications/indemnification

Each wall needs its own permit and fee, design plans and details, and a completed retaining-wall drawing checklist. Cast-in-place walls 6 feet and over need calculations.

Application requirements

The county accepts only complete applications with original signatures. It no longer accepts photocopied signatures or notary stamps. A new-home application must include:

• The building permit application and an authorized agent form, if one applies
• The contractor’s Georgia license, business license, and photo ID
• Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing installation lists, each with the trade’s Georgia license, business license, and ID
• Notarized T-pole and temp-to-perm power affidavits
• A copy of the Georgia NPDES Notice of Intent and the lot’s LDP
• Applications for an Atlanta water meter and Fulton sewer service
• Three copies of the site plan

A sealed survey must be filed before a building permit is issued.

Commercial plan review

Commercial plans are submitted electronically by email to the plan review coordinator. Submittals are accepted Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A $125 plan review deposit is charged when the project is accepted. Plans are reviewed in the order received, and the county says to allow about ten working days for each review and re-review. An LDP isn’t required before building plan review. Under O.C.G.A. 43-4, an architect’s seal is required for buildings over 5,000 square feet and for assembly, educational, health care, detention, lodging, multifamily, and care occupancies. Food service and auto service projects also need Public Works wastewater pretreatment approval. Restaurants also need Fulton County Environmental Health approval.

Inspections

Request building and trade inspections through the county’s online Building and Trade Inspection Request Form. Requests received by 4 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day, and you get an automatic confirmation. Site and infrastructure inspections use a separate form with a noon cutoff the business day before, and staff contact you to schedule.

Residential inspections must happen in order. A request made out of order is denied.

1. Permit card posted at the front of the site, at eye level, in a weatherproof box. Photocopies aren’t accepted. No card means no inspections.
2. Erosion control and T-pole (210)
3. Footing/foundation (100) and slab trades (200, 300, 400). A footing survey (145) is required if the structure is within 5 feet of a setback line.
4. Roughs: building (180, a two-visit inspection covering fire blocking, then insulation), mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and gas
5. Temporary power (215)
6. Finals: building (190, including the energy certificate), mechanical, plumbing, and electrical
7. Final site inspection (530), which assesses infrastructure next to the lot

The Certificate of Occupancy is not issued on the same day as the last inspection. A permit expires after 180 days without an approved inspection.

Codes

Fulton County enforces the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes adopted by the Department of Community Affairs. The state’s current list is the 2024 IBC, IRC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, and ISPSC with Georgia amendments, the 2023 NEC, and the 2015 IECC with Georgia supplements.