Building Permits in Atlanta

Atlanta requires a building permit for most construction, alteration, and repair work that affects structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems. Permits are issued by the City of Atlanta Department of City Planning — Office of Buildings (formerly part of the Department of Planning & Community Development). The Office of Buildings is located at 55 Trinity Avenue SW, Suite 3450, Atlanta, GA 30303, and can be reached at (404) 330-6070.

Atlanta enforces the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes — a suite of I-Codes adopted statewide by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) — with locally adopted Atlanta amendments.

Applicable Building Codes

Georgia mandates minimum standard codes for all local jurisdictions. Atlanta enforces the following mandatory codes:

• International Building Code (IBC) — commercial and multi-family construction
• International Residential Code (IRC) — one- and two-family dwellings
• International Plumbing Code (IPC)
• International Mechanical Code (IMC)
• International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)
• International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
• National Electrical Code (NEC)

The International Fire Code (IFC) and International Existing Buildings Code (IEBC) are permissive adoptions — local jurisdictions may enforce them at their discretion. Atlanta also applies local amendments; always verify the current edition and amendments in effect with the Office of Buildings or the Georgia DCA.

When You Need a Permit

You generally need an Atlanta building permit for:

• New construction, additions, and accessory structures (including ADUs)
• Structural alterations, load-bearing wall changes, and foundation work
• Electrical, plumbing, mechanical (HVAC), and gas line work
• Reroofing and window or door openings in exterior walls
• Swimming pools, hot tubs, and most retaining walls above a height threshold
• Demolition of any habitable structure
• Change of occupancy or use

Minor cosmetic work (painting, floor coverings, cabinetry without plumbing or electrical changes) is typically exempt. When in doubt, contact the Office of Buildings before starting work.

ATLCORE — The Online Permit Portal

ATLCORE is the City of Atlanta's online permitting system, powered by Accela Citizen Access (ACA), accessible at aca.atlantaga.gov. Through ATLCORE you can:

• Create a citizen or contractor account
• Submit permit applications for residential and commercial projects
• Upload construction documents for electronic plan review
• Respond to correction comments and resubmit without visiting City Hall
• Pay permit fees online
• Schedule and track inspections
• View permit history and inspection results

The portal is available 24/7. For complex projects or questions, in-person assistance is available at the Office of Buildings during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:15 AM–3:00 PM).

Permit Costs

Atlanta permit fees are established in the Office of Buildings Fee Schedule, which is updated periodically. Fees are typically based on:

• Building permit fee — scales with project valuation
• Plan review fee — a percentage of the building permit fee
• Trade permit fees — separate fees for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and gas work
• State surcharge — Georgia imposes a state surcharge on building permits
• Impact fees — may apply for new construction or added density

Always check the current Atlanta Office of Buildings Fee Schedule (linked in the sources above) for exact amounts. Do not rely on third-party fee calculators.

Typical Timeline

Turnaround times vary with workload and project complexity. Second and subsequent review cycles are typically faster if all comments are fully addressed. Contact the Office of Buildings or check ATLCORE for current estimates.

The Process

1. Pre-submittal: Verify zoning via the Atlanta GIS portal at gis.atlantaga.gov and confirm applicable codes and overlays for your parcel
2. Plans: Prepare construction documents stamped by a Georgia-licensed architect or engineer where required by code
3. Submit via ATLCORE: Create an account at aca.atlantaga.gov, start a new application, and upload documents for electronic plan review
4. Plan review: Office of Buildings staff review the plans for compliance with Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes and Atlanta amendments; fire, zoning, and other disciplines may also review
5. Corrections: Respond to review comments in ATLCORE and resubmit until all corrections are resolved
6. Permit issuance: Pay remaining fees and download or receive the approved permit
7. Post permit on site: The issued permit must be visible at the job site
8. Inspections: Schedule required inspections at each phase of construction through ATLCORE
9. Final: Pass final inspection and receive a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) where applicable before occupying the structure

Inspections

Typical inspection stages for a residential project include:

• Footing / foundation
• Underground plumbing and electrical
• Framing
• Rough plumbing, electrical, and mechanical
• Insulation
• Drywall / sheathing
• Final building and trade inspections

Schedule inspections through the ATLCORE portal at aca.atlantaga.gov or by calling the Office of Buildings at (404) 330-6070. Schedule at least one business day in advance. Inspection results are posted in the portal.

Atlanta's Location in Fulton and DeKalb Counties

The City of Atlanta spans portions of Fulton County (the majority) and a small portion of DeKalb County. Building permits within Atlanta city limits are issued by the City's Office of Buildings regardless of which county the parcel falls in. Fulton County and DeKalb County each handle property records and tax assessment for their respective portions, but do not administer building permits inside Atlanta city limits.

Common Reasons for Denial or Corrections

• Plans don't meet Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes or Atlanta local amendments
• Missing structural calculations, energy compliance documentation (IECC), or design-professional stamps
• Zoning conflicts — setbacks, height, lot coverage, or use not permitted in the zoning district
• Missing trade permit applications (electrical, plumbing, mechanical filed separately)
• Historic district or overlay zone review not completed (Atlanta has numerous historic districts)
• Incomplete submittal or missing documents in ATLCORE
• State surcharge or fee balance not paid

Official Sources

Always verify current requirements with the City of Atlanta Office of Buildings and the ATLCORE portal before starting your project. See the sources listed in the frontmatter for direct links to the Office of Buildings, ATLCORE, the Atlanta Municipal Code, Georgia DCA codes page, and the Office of Buildings Fee Schedule.

Disclaimer: This guide summarizes publicly available information from official City of Atlanta and State of Georgia sources and is provided for general orientation only. It does not constitute legal or engineering advice. Building code and permitting requirements change — always confirm current rules with the City of Atlanta Office of Buildings at (404) 330-6070 or at atlantaga.gov before submitting plans or starting construction.