Outside the City of Eastman, building permits in Dodge County are issued by the County, and the County Building Inspector checks the plans and the work. A new house, addition or outbuilding costs $0.20 per square foot, with a $200 minimum and a $500 maximum, and any building that needs a septic system must have its Health Department permit before the County issues the building permit.
What requires a building permit in Dodge County?
The County code says no one may begin a building project on land in the county without first getting a permit from the county commissioners’ office. The County’s fee list, effective January 1, 2026, shows the kinds of work it permits:
Buildings
- New homes, additions and outbuildings
- House remodels and single-room remodels
- Shops and pole barns
- Poultry houses
- Swimming pools
- Mobile homes and tiny homes
Power and equipment
- Service poles, irrigation and well services
- Service change-outs, meters and panels
- Generators
- Center pivots
- Residential and commercial solar panels
- Cell towers and additions to towers
Cell tower permits need a set of plans. Within 3 miles of the Heart of Georgia Regional Airport, anyone building or altering a structure must file FAA form 7460-1 before asking the Building Inspector for a permit; between 3 and 5 miles the FAA filing is needed only for structures over 200 feet tall.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who issues building permits in Dodge County?
The County Building Inspector, Rob Stanley, handles building permits and inspections. The County’s service delivery strategy splits building inspection between two providers: the City of Eastman inside its own limits, and Dodge County everywhere else, including Chauncey, Chester, Milan and Rhine. The same strategy lists planning and zoning as a City of Eastman service only, with no County zoning in unincorporated areas.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Building Inspector | Rob Stanley, 478-374-8127 (office), 478-285-3658 (cell) |
| Inspector’s office | 5016 Courthouse Circle, Eastman, GA 31023 |
| Board of Commissioners | 643 Pearl Bates Avenue, Eastman, GA 31023; 478-374-4361, fax 478-374-8121 |
| Septic permits | Dodge County Health Department |
| Inside Eastman | City of Eastman, 478-374-7721 |
Dodge County building permit fees
Most County permits are flat fees. New homes, additions and outbuildings are charged by floor area. These are the rates on the fee sheet effective January 1, 2026:
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New home, addition or outbuilding | $0.20 per sq ft ($200 minimum, $500 maximum) |
| Remodel of a house | $200 |
| Swimming pool or single-room remodel | $75 |
| All shops | $200 |
| Pole barn | $200 |
| Poultry house | $350 |
| Single-wide mobile home | $150 |
| Double- or triple-wide mobile home | $200 |
| Tiny home | $200 |
| Service pole, irrigation or well | $65 |
| Service change-out, meter or panel | $50 |
| Generator | $125 |
| Center pivot | $125 |
| Solar panels, residential / commercial | $250 / $500 |
| Cell tower | $3,000 |
| Addition to a cell tower | $250 ($500 maximum) |
For example, a 1,800 sq ft house is $360, and any house over 2,500 sq ft reaches the $500 cap.
Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work in Dodge County
The County’s fee sheet has no separate electrical, plumbing or HVAC permit rates. The electrical items it does price on their own are service poles, irrigation and well services ($65), service change-outs, meters and panels ($50) and generators ($125). Every contractor on a permitted job must file a copy of their state licence with the County before the permit is issued.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get a Dodge County building permit
Property inside Eastman city limits goes to the City of Eastman. The rest of the county, including the smaller cities, goes to the County Building Inspector.
Within 3 miles of the Heart of Georgia Regional Airport, file FAA form 7460-1 first and bring a copy of the filing and the FAA response with the permit request.
If the building needs a sewage disposal system, get the permit from the Dodge County Health Department before the building permit.
The written application must name the contractor and owner with their addresses, state the purpose of the work and include drawings or plans detailed enough for the inspector to check them against the state codes.
Contractors file a copy of their state licence, and the fee is paid from the County fee sheet. The County issues or denies the permit in writing; a denial lists the changes needed.
Display the permit in a conspicuous place on the site while the work goes on.
Inspections and violations
The Building Inspector checks the work against the state minimum codes during construction and before the building is occupied. If he finds a violation, he issues a deficiency notice that gives a reasonable time to fix it.
Rather not deal with the Dodge County building department?
Get a free quote →If the work is still not brought up to code, the inspector can issue an immediate stop-work order or cite the contractor or owner to the Dodge County Magistrate Court, where a hearing is set within 30 days. A contractor with an unresolved code violation cannot apply for or receive a new building permit until it is fixed.
Local Dodge County rules worth knowing
No County zoning: the County’s service delivery strategy lists planning and zoning only for the City of Eastman, so unincorporated land has no general County zoning review before a building permit, although the County’s 2026 data-center ordinance requires a special use permit for that use.
Airport area: the FAA filing rule around the Heart of Georgia Regional Airport was added to the County code on February 3, 2025.
Data centers: the County’s data center regulation requires a special use permit with a $10,000 base application fee, a County business license, one advertised community meeting held between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., buildings at least 200 feet from property lines and public roads, and a construction traffic management plan approved before the building permit is issued.
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
Dodge County permit search and official resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- Dodge County — Official Website
- Dodge County Building Permit Fees (effective January 1, 2026)
- Dodge County — Public Information
- Dodge County Contact Information (Building Inspector)
- Dodge County Code, Chapter 8: Building Permit and Inspections
- Dodge County Service Delivery Strategy
- Dodge County Data Center Regulation
Dodge County permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Dodge County?
The County, through its Building Inspector, for all property outside Eastman city limits, including Chauncey, Chester, Milan and Rhine. Inside Eastman, the City handles building inspection.
How much is a building permit for a new house in Dodge County?
$0.20 per square foot, with a $200 minimum and a $500 maximum. A 1,800 sq ft house is $360.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Do I need a septic permit first?
Yes, if the building needs a sewage disposal system. The Dodge County Health Department permit has to be issued before the County issues the building permit.
What does a mobile home permit cost?
$150 for a single-wide and $200 for a double- or triple-wide. A tiny home is also $200.
Does Dodge County have zoning?
Not in unincorporated areas. The County’s service delivery strategy lists planning and zoning only for the City of Eastman.
How do I reach the Building Inspector?
Rob Stanley can be reached at 478-374-8127 (office) or 478-285-3658 (cell). The office is at 5016 Courthouse Circle, Eastman.
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More Georgia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Dodge County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.