The City of Buford issues building permits and carries out inspections for work inside the city limits. Hall County lists Buford among the cities with their own inspection department.
What requires a permit in Buford?
A building permit is needed before a structure is built, moved, added to or structurally altered. Grading, clearing and grubbing, development, sign and right-of-way utility work have separate City permit applications.
Who issues building permits in Buford?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Buford City Hall, 2300 Buford Highway, Buford, GA 30518 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| Phone | 770-945-6761 |
| Inspections | inspections@cityofbuford.com or 678-546-3514 |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Buford permit types and filing
Buford’s forms page lists separate applications for a building permit, a grading permit, a clearing and grubbing permit, a development permit, a sign permit and a permit to install utilities in the right-of-way.
Permit costs and fees in Buford
Buford publishes a plan review fee table with separate rates for building permit, interior, house location plan, grading, clearing and grubbing, and development plan reviews. The first and second reviews are covered by the base fee; third and later reviews are charged extra.
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work
Plumbing, electrical and HVAC contractors file the City’s Affidavit Plumbing Electrical HVAC form for their work.
Do not conceal rough work before the required inspection.
Application documents and plan review
The City’s forms page includes these common filing items:
- Application for building permit
- Plans for the permit type
- Development route sheet, when applicable
- Affidavit for plumbing, electrical and HVAC work
- Grading or clearing and grubbing permit, when site work is included
- Architect’s design affidavit, building design structure affidavit or building completed engineer affidavit, when required
- Homeowner’s affidavit, if the owner is doing the work
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →How to apply: 6-step Buford process
Verify the parcel is inside the City of Buford and identify any outside-agency approvals.
Separate building, trade, development, zoning and specialty approvals that apply.
Download the City forms for the scope and include plans, affidavits and any supporting approvals.
File with the City and answer plan-review comments. The first two reviews are covered by the plan review fee.
Email inspections@cityofbuford.com or call 678-546-3514 by 4 p.m. for the next business day.
Pass required finals and obtain the applicable completion or occupancy documentation.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Buford inspections
Inspection requests must be received by 4:00 p.m. for next-business-day service; the City cannot process same-day requests. Email inspections@cityofbuford.com or call 678-546-3514. General questions go to City Hall at 770-945-6761.
Local Buford details that matter
Separate site permits: Grading, clearing and grubbing, and development permits are separate from the building permit, and each has its own plan review fee.
Larger commercial buildings: Non-residential buildings of 1,500 square feet or more need sworn affidavits from a Georgia professional engineer and a Georgia architect.
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
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Official Buford permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Georgia DCA current construction codes
- Buford Inspection Department
- Buford applications, forms and regulations
Buford permit FAQs
Does Buford issue its own building permits?
Yes. The City of Buford issues building permits and carries out inspections inside the city limits.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Which Georgia construction codes apply?
The Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes, which the state Department of Community Affairs sets for every jurisdiction.
Do trade permits need separate coordination?
Yes. Plumbing, electrical and HVAC contractors file the City’s trade affidavit, and their work is inspected separately.
Can another approval delay the building permit?
Yes. Zoning, development, fire, utility, floodplain, environmental or land-disturbance approvals can be separate when the project triggers them.
How are plan reviews charged?
From the City’s plan review fee table, which sets a fee by review type that covers the first two reviews, with extra charges for later rounds.
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More Georgia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Buford permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.