Building permits in unincorporated Cobb County are issued by the Community Development Agency through its Development & Inspections Division, with applications filed through the county's Citizen Access portal. Cobb is emphatic about jurisdiction: its first prompt to applicants is to confirm whether an address is inside a city or in unincorporated Cobb.
This Cobb County building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how fees work, the Citizen Access process, trade permits, and inspections — so your Cobb project starts clean.
This guide covers unincorporated Cobb County. The Inspections office permits only the unincorporated areas; Cobb's cities (Marietta, Smyrna, Kennesaw, Acworth, Austell, Powder Springs) run their own. Use the county's "Am I Located in a City?" map to confirm before applying. Georgia's mandatory codes updated to the 2024 International Codes effective January 1, 2026.
What requires a building permit in Cobb County?
Under the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes and Cobb County's adopted code amendments, a permit is required before most new construction, additions, remodeling, and related work in the unincorporated county. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New construction, additions, and accessory structures
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Reroofing, window and door replacement, and exterior work
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Swimming pools and spas (with licensed pool builders)
- Retaining walls, basements, and solar
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Like-for-like minor repairs not altering structure or systems
- Certain low non-structural fences (confirm limits)
- Routine maintenance not extending or rerouting systems
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Building without one exposes the owner to penalties and stop-work orders. Confirm jurisdiction and apply through Citizen Access first.
Who handles permitting in Cobb County?
Permitting runs through the Community Development Agency: Development & Inspections reviews plans and inspects; the Planning Division handles zoning; the Zoning Division handles variances; and the Business License Division licenses contractors. Applicants may elect third-party provider inspections when applying.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 1150 Powder Springs Street, Suite 400, Marietta, GA 30064 |
| Phone | (770) 528-2070 (Development & Inspections); comdev@cobbcounty.gov |
| Online portal | Citizen Access (submit permits online); some documents by email |
| Jurisdiction check | "Am I Located in a City?" county map |
| Inspections | Text "SCHEDULE" to 877-376-1455, or online |
| Enforced code | Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes |
Confirm jurisdiction, then apply in Citizen Access. Submit permits through the online portal; certain documents are accepted by email at subpermits@cobbcounty.gov. When applying, designate whether you'll use county or third-party-provider inspections. Schedule inspections by texting "SCHEDULE" to 877-376-1455.
Cobb County building permit cost
Cobb County building permit fees are set by the county fee schedule: fees for new buildings and additions are based on square footage, while renovations and remodels are based on total project cost, and certain trade permits carry flat fees.
Plan review, inspection, and impact fees may also apply. Because schedules are updated periodically, confirm current amounts in Citizen Access before budgeting. Note that an Occupation Tax Certificate (business license) is not a Certificate of Occupancy.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| New buildings / additions | Based on square footage of the project |
| Renovations / remodels | Based on total project cost |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Certain trade permits carry flat fees |
| Plan review / impact fees | May apply depending on project |
| Third-party inspections | Optional; designate when applying for the permit |
| Work-without-permit | Penalties and possible stop-work orders |
Want a precise number for a specific Cobb County project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Cobb County trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work generally needs its own permit and a state-licensed contractor, each filed in Citizen Access.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations, performed by a contractor licensed through the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board.
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heater changeouts, fixtures, and gas piping, performed by a state-licensed plumbing contractor.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration, performed by a state-licensed conditioned-air contractor. Specialized systems are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, signs, retaining walls, and solar are permitted separately. Under a 2025 Cobb amendment, pools and spas require a county permit and pool builders must hold a Georgia General Contractor's license or a recognized pool-builder certification.
Verify your contractor's license. Georgia licenses general and residential contractors through the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, and electrical, plumbing, HVAC/conditioned-air, and low-voltage contractors through the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board (both under the Secretary of State). Most projects over $2,500 require a licensed contractor, and only a licensed contractor — or a homeowner on their own residence — may pull a permit. Verify before signing; the property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in Cobb County
Confirm you're in unincorporated Cobb
Use the county's "Am I Located in a City?" map to verify the parcel is unincorporated, then identify the right residential or commercial checklist.
Prepare your documents
Gather the application packet, valuation, stamped/sealed plans, and the project-specific checklist items (pools, accessory structures, additions, solar, etc.).
Apply in Citizen Access
Submit your permit online (or required documents by email), and designate county or third-party inspections.
Plan review & corrections
Development & Inspections reviews plans for code compliance, with Planning/Zoning as needed; resolve comments and resubmit.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay the calculated fees, then download and post the permit on site with approved plans available.
Schedule inspections through close-out
Text "SCHEDULE" to 877-376-1455 or schedule online. Clear all required inspections, then obtain your Certificate of Occupancy.
Inspections in Cobb County
Schedule inspections by texting "SCHEDULE" to 877-376-1455 (follow the prompts for permit number and inspection code, then confirm) or online. Typical checkpoints include foundation, rough-in MEP, framing, insulation, and final. Post the permit and approved plans on site.
A re-inspection fee applies to failed inspections and must be cleared before a final inspection or Certificate of Occupancy can be requested.
Official Cobb County permitting resources
- 🏛️ Cobb County Building & Development
- 💻 Residential permitting & Citizen Access
- 📋 Community Development forms & checklists
- 🪪 GA contractor licensing (Secretary of State)
- 📘 Georgia State Minimum Codes (DCA)
- 🗺️ Cobb zoning
Simplify Cobb County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Cobb's jurisdiction-first emphasis, project-specific checklists, and third-party-inspection options reward applicants who confirm the parcel and submit complete packages. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Cobb County — our permit expediting services pair AI-driven document review with experts who know Citizen Access and the Development & Inspections process, so your Cobb submissions move faster.
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
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More Georgia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the Cobb County Community Development Agency before filing. This is not legal advice.