Overview
Atlanta’s Department of City Planning / Office of Buildings administers building permitting for City projects. Establish City jurisdiction and the required building, trade and zoning approvals before choosing the application.
Permit authority
Atlanta Department of City Planning / Office of Buildings
Building and trade codes
2024 ICC codes with 2026 Georgia amendments
Trades
Select a trade for its permit path, licensing, code resources, fees and filing pitfalls.
Electrical installations and services
Atlanta Office of Buildings / Georgia licensing boardApplicable Code
2023 NEC with 2026 Georgia amendments; local administration and fee provisions also apply.
License Requirement
Verify the Georgia electrical or low-voltage contractor category and responsible license holder.
License Fee
Georgia board application and renewal schedule
CEUs
Check the electrical/low-voltage credential’s current renewal rules
Permit Fee
Codified Appendix B electrical components: 1–200 amp service/disconnect $10 each; 1–30 amp branch circuit $3 each. MEP minimum, application/technology and other charges are separate.
Plan Review Time
Confirm the application and drawing requirements with the Office of Buildings.
Common Pitfalls
- Low-voltage scope is not unlimited electrical contracting authority.
- Do not total only circuits while omitting the applicable permit minimum and administrative charges.
Permit-to-closeout workflow
Define the scope
Confirm Atlanta jurisdiction, zoning, occupancy and required trade work.
Prepare the submission
Use the Office of Buildings project requirements and identify responsible license holders.
Submit for City review
Use the application route identified by the Office; coordinate building and trade records.
Resolve comments and fees
Obtain the actual assessment rather than treating individual code fee lines as a total.
Arrange inspections
Confirm inspection types and eligibility for virtual or in-person inspections.
Complete closeout
Clear required corrections and obtain the applicable certificate before occupancy.
Permit fees and worked estimates
The City’s official codifier was reviewed in its September 24, 2026 version. It provides fee components, but the Office’s newer fee form was unavailable during this check. The codified plumbing/HVAC minima and broader MEP minimum differ; do not infer a final invoice from these examples.
| Trade | Permit fee | License fee |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical installations and services | Codified Appendix B electrical components: 1–200 amp service/disconnect $10 each; 1–30 amp branch circuit $3 each. MEP minimum, application/technology and other charges are separate. | Georgia board application and renewal schedule |
| Plumbing fixtures, heaters and piping | Codified plumbing component lines: $10 per fixture and $20 water heater. The table’s $50 minimum conflicts with a separate $150 MEP minimum; confirm the complete Office assessment. | Georgia Plumbing Board schedule |
| Conditioned air and ventilation | Codified HVAC component: heating up to 125,000 BTU input $35. Separate MEP minimum and administrative charges apply; this is not a quoted invoice. | Georgia conditioned-air schedule |
| Alarm, sprinkler and life-safety review | Codified plumbing schedule lists a $0.40 per-head fire-sprinkler component. Separate fire review, permits, minimum and administrative charges may apply. | System-specific credential schedule |
| Buildings, additions and tenant improvements | Codified building valuation component is $7 per $1,000, with application fee separate; $10,000 accepted valuation gives $70 component only. Ask the Office for current minimum/base, technology and other charges. | Georgia residential/general contractor schedule |
Codes and Georgia amendments
Georgia DCA identifies the 2024 building, residential, plumbing, mechanical and fuel-gas codes with Georgia amendments and the 2023 NEC with 2026 amendments. Its December 2025 adoption memorandum sets January 1, 2026 commencement. The energy code remains the 2015 IECC with separate supplements; confirm fire/life-safety requirements with the responsible office.
Submission checklist
Homeowner rules
An owner application does not eliminate building-code review or regulated trade qualifications. Confirm any owner exemption and who must sign each trade application with the Office and Georgia licensing boards; do not treat home ownership as unlimited contracting authority.
Enforcement
The codified fee provisions address work started without permits and correction reinspections. Keep the work within the issued scope and resolve any stop-work or violation instructions through the City before proceeding.
Inspections and closeout
Arrange the City inspection types required for the issued scope and resolve written corrections. Ask whether the work is eligible for a virtual inspection rather than assuming all inspections can be remote. Confirm certificate-of-occupancy/completion requirements with the Office before opening the space.