Early County Code Enforcement in Blakely issues building, electrical, manufactured home and other permits for unincorporated Early County only; Arlington, Blakely, Damascus and Jakin handle their own. Applications are accepted only from Monday to Thursday, and most permits are flat fees, such as $100 for a new home with a septic system and $75 for its electrical service, each including one inspection.
What needs a permit in unincorporated Early County?
Code Enforcement’s permit application and fee sheet cover these permit types:
Buildings and homes
- New homes and additions
- Accessory buildings
- Commercial and agricultural buildings
- New and used manufactured homes
- Demolition of a building, or moving a manufactured home out
- Travel trailers occupied 90 days or more a year
Other permits
- Electrical service: new, upgraded or reconnected
- Residential, agricultural and commercial solar
- Communications towers and tower upgrades
- Poultry operations and campgrounds
- Junk and salvage yards
- Lot splits and subdivisions
The permit covers only the work and use stated on the application. Converting a storage building into a dwelling voids the permit, and adding power or walls to a structure that did not need a permit is a violation.
Who issues permits in Early County?
Early County Code Enforcement accepts permit applications and issues permits only in unincorporated Early County. It inspects new and upgraded electrical services and every manufactured home brought into or moved within the county, and it is the local floodplain manager for the unincorporated area. It has no authority inside Arlington, Blakely, Damascus or Jakin. A tax map and parcel number that starts with A, B, D or J is inside one of those cities; one that starts with a numeral is under the County.
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Get a free quote →| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | 204 Court Square, Blakely, GA 39823 |
| Phone / fax | 229-723-5163 / 229-723-8684 |
| ecce@earlycounty.org (open permit requests by email only) | |
| Applications accepted | Monday–Thursday, 8:00–10:00 a.m. and 3:00–4:30 p.m.; none on Fridays |
| Payment | Cash, check or money order to E.C. Code Enforcement; no cards |
| Well and septic permits | Early County Health Department (Georgia Department of Public Health), 229-207-0049 |
Early County permit fees
Code Enforcement’s Permit Application & Inspection Fees sheet sets flat fees, and every permit fee includes one inspection. Fees are not refunded for any reason.
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| Accessory building or addition, no septic, on a parcel with a dwelling | $75 |
| Residential building or addition with septic | $100 |
| Commercial or agricultural building or addition, no dwelling on the parcel | $150 |
| New manufactured home | $100 |
| Used manufactured home | $200, plus a $500 refundable condition deposit for homes from outside the county |
| Re-inspection after a failed manufactured home inspection | $100 |
| Travel trailer occupied 90 days or more | $50 a year |
| Residential or agricultural solar array | $75 |
| Commercial solar farm | $500 |
| Lot split (one into two), or per lot for three or more | $100 |
| Junk or salvage yard | $750 |
| Tower upgrade, co-location or ground work | $50, plus $450 consultation escrow |
| New tower or tower height increase | $500, plus $6,500 consultation escrow |
| Demolition or manufactured home move-off | Same as the building or home permit; waived if the permit is pulled before the work |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →All fees are doubled if work starts before the permit is issued, and the applicant can also be prosecuted.
Electrical permits and other trades
An electrical permit is needed whenever a new electrical service is built and whenever an existing service is upgraded or reconnected. Code Enforcement must inspect the service before the power company energizes it. The fee is $75 for a residence or residential accessory building and $100 for commercial or agricultural use, with one inspection included; a re-inspection after a failed initial electrical inspection costs $50 and is collected before the next visit. Code Enforcement publishes minimum service-entrance specifications for panels, meter cans, risers and grounding.
The fee sheet has no separate plumbing or HVAC permits. The County’s owner-builder affidavit says a state-licensed subcontractor hired for electrical, plumbing or HVAC work must submit the permit application for that installation.
Documents for an Early County building permit
Code Enforcement does not accept an application or fee unless every required document is attached. The building and construction checklist asks for:
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →- Property free of code violations such as junk cars and rubbish
- Proof of application for a well and septic evaluation or permit from the Health Department
- A 911 address and sign in place, with written confirmation from the SWGA Regional E-911 Center (229-723-2200)
- Drawings or blueprints to scale, stating the work complies with the current International Building Codes; a digital copy is preferred
- A notarized contractor/subcontractor affidavit with copies of current licences, or, for owners building their own home, photo ID and a notarized owner-builder affidavit signed at the office
- The recorded plat and warranty deed from the Clerk of Court (229-723-3033)
- A lease or letter of permission if the applicant is not the landowner, or a letter of administration for estate property
- Proof that property taxes are current from the Tax Commissioner (229-723-4024)
How to get an Early County permit
Parcels starting with A, B, D or J are inside a city; parcels starting with a numeral are under the County.
Code Enforcement recommends a consultation and an appointment; no fees are taken at that meeting.
A septic permit or existing-system evaluation is needed for a new home, an addition to a home or a manufactured home, and the 911 address marker must be in place.
Bring the permit application, drawings, deed, plat, tax proof and the contractor or owner-builder affidavit together.
Apply Monday to Thursday, 8:00–10:00 a.m. or 3:00–4:30 p.m., and pay by cash, check or money order.
The permit is void if construction or placement has not started within 180 days of issue.
Rather not deal with the Early County building department?
Get a free quote →Early County inspections
Each permit fee includes one inspection, and re-inspections cost extra. Code Enforcement inspects new and upgraded electrical services before they are energized, and inspects every manufactured home brought into the county or moved within it.
Open permit requests are not handled by phone, and phone messages about them are not returned; email ecce@earlycounty.org with the address and, if you have it, the tax map and parcel number.
Local Early County rules
No zoning: unincorporated Early County has no zoning ordinance, and the County does not issue local business licenses. Setbacks depend on the type of permit.
Lot size for a home: at least 1.5 acres with 150 feet of road frontage, a 100-foot lot width where the home sits, 15 feet from side lines and 30 feet from the property line at the road. Lots created before the 1997 ordinance have exceptions, flag lots on a 30-foot easement need 2 acres, and lots on municipal water or sewer can be smaller.
Used manufactured homes: homes from outside the county need a $500 condition bond or cash deposit, forfeited if the home does not meet all requirements within 90 days of the permit.
Floodplain: Code Enforcement can tell you whether any part of a property lies in a flood zone and administers the County’s flood rules.
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
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Early 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.
- Georgia DCA — Current State Minimum Codes
- Early County — Official Website
- Early County Forms & Permits
- Early County — Code Enforcement
- Early County Building Permit Requirements and checklist
- Early County Permit Application & Inspection Fees
- Early County Electric Permit Requirements
- Early County letter: no zoning ordinance in the unincorporated county
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Early County permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Early County?
Early County Code Enforcement, for unincorporated Early County only. Arlington, Blakely, Damascus and Jakin handle work inside their own limits.
How much is a building permit for a new house in Early County?
$100 for a residential building or addition with septic, plus $75 for the electrical permit. Each fee includes one inspection.
When can I apply?
Monday to Thursday, 8:00–10:00 a.m. and 3:00–4:30 p.m. No applications are accepted on Fridays.
Can I pay with a card?
No. Fees are paid by cash, check or money order made out to E.C. Code Enforcement, and they are not refunded.
Does unincorporated Early County have zoning?
No. Any zoning shown in tax records is only for assessment. Lot size, frontage and setback rules still apply to each permit type.
Who issues septic and well permits?
The Georgia Department of Public Health, through the Early County Health Department. A septic permit or evaluation is needed before a new home, home addition or manufactured home permit.
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More Georgia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Early County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.