Brantley County, Georgia Building Permit Guide

Brantley County Planning & Building, now at 10405 Main Street North, Nahunta (912-462-5256 ext. 3), issues building, trade, septic, well and manufactured-home permits. Any construction over 120 square feet needs a building permit; a new home costs $0.70 per square foot of heated space, every plan set has a $40 review that can take up to 2 weeks, and each home needs a lot of at least 1 acre.

What requires a permit in Brantley County?

Section 22-101 of the County code requires a building permit for any building over 120 sq ft. A building under 120 sq ft is exempt unless it is attached to a permanent foundation. The same section lists the other permits the department issues:

A window air-conditioning unit needs no mechanical permit.

Who handles permitting in Brantley County?

The County code establishes the Department of Planning and Building, whose director serves as the building official and is appointed by the Board of Commissioners. Septic and well permit applications are taken at the Planning & Building office. The County’s checklists still print the old 33 Allen Road letterhead; the Planning & Building page and County directory give the Main Street North office.

The joint comprehensive plan for the County, Hoboken and Nahunta notes that the two cities have no zoning, but the published sources do not say who issues building permits inside Hoboken; contact Hoboken City Hall before applying.

Permit costs and fees in Brantley County

From the County’s Planning & Building fee sheet (the “Checklist for Residential Building”):

For example, a new home with 2,000 sq ft of heated space and a 400 sq ft porch has a building permit fee of $1,400 plus $100, or $1,500, before the plan review, address and trade permit fees.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits

Planning & Building issues the trade permits along with the building permit.

On manufactured homes, all work must be done by licensed contractors, and the licensed installer or mover must fax a state licence to the County before any other permit is issued.

Application documents and plan review

The Summary Checklist for Building Permits lists what must be in place before a permit is issued:

• Confirmation from the Tax Commissioner’s Office that no taxes are delinquent on the property
• A 911 address for the site, newly assigned ($25) or existing
• A septic, well or water permit, or access to municipal service
• A culvert assessment by Public Works for a lot on a county-maintained road; access from a state highway is handled by the Georgia Department of Transportation
• Two sets of blueprints or a detailed drawing showing dimensions, walls, plumbing fixtures, counters and cabinets, large appliances and mechanical and major electrical items; commercial jobs need two complete sets including footers or slab, structural members and electrical, mechanical and plumbing plans
• The valuation of the project and the signed application, reviewed with the office
• A site plan with lot dimensions, setbacks, water and sewer locations and tie-ins, elevation and any buffers

All plans get a $40 plan review, which can take up to 2 weeks, and the inspector may reject a drawing that is not detailed enough. Permanent metal buildings must be engineered for the County’s wind-load requirements and come with an engineered foundation plan.

How to apply: 6-step Brantley County process

Brantley County inspections

Under Section 22-109 of the County code, the building official makes each inspection on 24 hours’ advance notice from the permit holder. The required inspections include the footing before pouring, in-slab plumbing (on slabs) or subfloor framing before decking (on crawl spaces), framing and rough-in, temporary (80%) power and the final. Work may not continue past each stage, and no structure, insulation or system may be covered, until the building official releases it.

One re-inspection is included in a new-construction permit; each further re-inspection costs $50.

Manufactured homes in Brantley County

Every manufactured home must be installed to the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s rules (Section 120-3-7) on at least 1 acre. The moving permit costs $600 for a home coming from another county and $300 for one already in Brantley County, and fees double if the home is moved before the permit is issued. Permits expire 30 days after issue unless you call for an extension.

• New homes: bring Form 500 and PT 41 from the dealer; an existing septic tank inspection costs $40, with all 4 corners of the tank lid uncovered.
• Used homes: the home must pass a pre-move habitability inspection ($60 in the county; $100 plus $0.70 a mile round trip outside it). Homes built before 1976 will not get a moving permit. Bring the titles, current paid tax receipts and proof that the title transfer has been applied for.
• Set-up: wiring under the home must be rated for direct burial or in conduit, at least one two-way clean-out is needed before power is connected, and each door needs a 3 by 4 foot landing with 36-inch handrails, plus house numbers, tie-downs and working smoke detectors. Leave a few skirting panels out on all four sides for the inspection.

A culvert application costs $25 at the Planning & Building office.

Georgia building code

Georgia's State Minimum Standard Codes apply statewide: the 2024 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, and Swimming Pool and Spa Codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code, with Georgia Amendments, in force since 1 January 2026; the energy code is still the 2015 IECC with Georgia supplements. The Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes

Brantley County permit search and official resources

County pages, checklists and code for permits in Brantley County:

• Brantley County — Official Website
• Brantley County — County Directory
• Brantley County — Planning & Building
• Brantley County — Checklist for Residential Building (fee sheet)
• Brantley County — Summary Checklist for Building Permits
• Brantley County — Checklist for New Mobile Home
• Brantley County — Checklist for Used Mobile Home
• Brantley County Code, Chapter 22: Buildings and Building Regulations

Brantley County permit FAQs

How much is a building permit for a new house in Brantley County?

$0.70 per square foot of heated space, $0.40 per square foot of enclosed unheated space and $0.25 per square foot of porches and decks, plus a $40 plan review and the trade permits.

Do I need a permit for a shed in Brantley County?

Yes, if it is over 120 sq ft, or smaller but on a permanent foundation. An enclosed shed costs $0.40 per sq ft or $100, whichever is greater.

How long does plan review take?

Up to 2 weeks, and it costs $40 for every set of plans.

How big does my lot need to be?

The County’s checklists require at least 1 acre for each home, including manufactured homes.

What does it cost to move a mobile home in Brantley County?

$300 for a home already in the county and $600 for one coming from another county; fees double if you move it before getting the permit. Used homes also need a pre-move inspection.

What if I start building before I get a permit?

An after-the-fact permit costs all the normal fees plus 100%.

Where do I apply for a septic permit?

At the Planning & Building office; questions go to Environmental Services at 1-855-473-4374.

Simplify Brantley County permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Georgia. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Brantley County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.