The City of Fairburn Building Division, at 314 NW Broad Street, issues building and trade permits, reviews plans and inspects construction inside city limits, with applications moving to a new online portal. Permits are priced on job value with a $300 minimum, residential plan review is $150, and inspections are carried out the next business day.
What requires a permit in Fairburn?
Fairburn lists permits for new residential and commercial construction, additions/build-outs, fences, retaining walls, accessory structures, decks/stoops/porches above the City’s stated height trigger, structural alterations, room additions, regulated trade work, pools/hot tubs/fountains and demolition.
The City lists triggers for several of these: accessory structures of 100 square feet and over, decks, stoops and porches over 29 inches high, and pools, hot tubs and fountains holding at least 24 inches of water.
The City says its list is not all-inclusive, so ask the Building Division before starting work that is not listed.
Fairburn building department: who handles permitting
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 314 NW Broad Street, Fairburn, GA 30213 |
| Phone / hours | 770-964-2244 Ext. 401; Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Filing | City online permit portal (soft launch) or the Building Division |
Permit costs and fees in Fairburn
Fairburn's fee schedule (Resolution 2023-01) sets a minimum permit fee of $300 for residential and commercial work. Permits valued up to $25,000 are $14 per $1,000, with lower rates per $1,000 above that. Residential plan review is $150, non-refundable and due at application.
Valuation for new construction is the contract cost or the latest ICC building valuation data; interior completions are valued at 50% of the ICC figure.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| Job value $1 to $25,000 | $14 per $1,000, minimum $300 |
| $25,001 to $50,000 | $350 for the first $25,000, plus $10 per additional $1,000 |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $600 for the first $50,000, plus $7 per additional $1,000 |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $950 for the first $100,000, plus $6 per additional $1,000 |
| $500,001 to $1,000,000 | $3,350 for the first $500,000, plus $5 per additional $1,000 |
| Over $1,000,000 | $5,850 for the first $1,000,000, plus $3 per additional $1,000 |
| Commercial/industrial plan review | 50% of the permit fee, minimum $200 |
| Administrative fee (all permits) | $25 |
For example, a home valued at $300,000 has a permit fee of $950 plus 200 × $6, or $2,150, plus the $150 residential plan review and the $25 administrative fee.
Flat fees cover smaller jobs: a residential re-roof or siding replacement is $150, a fence, portable storage building or carport $75, an in-ground residential pool $600 and an above-ground pool or hot tub $300. Demolition of a house or an interior is $150 and of a commercial building $300. Reinspections and full plan resubmittals are $100 each, permit extensions $100 residential or $200 commercial, and inspections outside business hours $125 per hour with a 3-hour minimum. Work started without a permit pays double the permit fee.
New house lots also need a residential site development (foundation) permit: $150 per lot for site plan review, $300 per lot for erosion control review and $1,800 per lot for site development inspections.
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work
Fairburn states that trade work other than minor repair performed by the homeowner requires a permit, and that work performed by a licensed trade individual requires a permit.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Contractors applying for a permit supply their state licence, business licence and the licence holder's driver's licence. Subcontractors also supply a subcontractor affidavit with the same credentials.
Electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits cost $80 plus $5 for each $1,000 of the value of the work; a temporary pole or power reconnection is $150. For an HVAC replacement or reconnection, bring proof of ownership, a signed lease or the owner’s notarized authorization, and mechanical contractors include a copy of their state licence. Rooftop equipment needs a roof hatch or a secured ladder for the inspector. For a reconnection the inspector must see inside the panel, and replacing a panel or service conductors means smoke and CO detectors must be installed to code. Once the reconnection passes, the City sends a release to the utility.
Alliance handles electrical permit filing for contractors here. More on this: who pulls the electrical permit.
Application documents and plan review
Fairburn publishes supporting-document guidance and project-specific processes for decks, electrical reconnection, mechanical replacement, reroofing, residential plan review, swimming pools and rough-in inspections.
Residential plan review needs plans such as the foundation plan, floor plan, floor framing, roof plan, wall section, elevations, deck or porch details and a survey. Permits are issued only after all reviews are approved and all fees are paid.
The contractor, the homeowner or an authorized permit agent can apply. Fairburn is moving its permitting to an online portal, currently in a soft launch.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to apply: 6-step Fairburn process
Check the parcel is inside Fairburn city limits.
List the building, trade, site and specialty permits the work needs.
Prepare the application, plans and contractor or subcontractor credentials.
File through the City portal or the Building Division and pay the plan review fee at application.
Respond to City comments with complete revised documents.
Request each required inspection at the proper stage and complete final or occupancy requirements before use.
Fairburn inspections
Call the inspection request line, 770-964-2244 ext. 401, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. All inspections are next-day inspections.
You can also email the City's inspection request form to inspections@fairburn.com; requests sent before 4:00 p.m. are inspected the next business day.
Keep the inspection report on site. Deficiencies must be reinspected and approved before work continues.
Email requests should give the permit number, address, inspection type, a contact number and any special instructions such as call-ahead or lock box codes. The permit must be posted on site; the inspector signs the permit card when an inspection passes and leaves a correction notice when it fails. For a re-roof, email photos of the felt, any replaced decking, the flashing and the drip edge with the final inspection request.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Local Fairburn details that matter
Utility connections: the fee schedule lists a residential water tap at $2,700 or $3,150 depending on location and a sewer tap at $3,500. Inside the Fairburn Utilities electric service area, temporary electricity is $150 and permanent electricity $1,500, and new developments must have underground service.
Retaining walls: the Building Division lists retaining walls among the projects that need a permit, with taller walls requiring an engineer’s certification.
Unpermitted work: the City warns that work without the proper permits can lead to penalties, stop-work orders, citations and removal of the structure.
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
Fairburn 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 →- Georgia DCA current State Minimum Codes
- Fairburn online permit portal
- Fairburn fee schedule (Resolution 2023-01)
- Fairburn Building Division
- Fairburn supporting documents required for submittal
- Fairburn residential plan review flyer
- Fairburn re-roofing inspection process
- Fairburn mechanical replacement inspection process
- Fairburn electrical reconnection process
Fairburn permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Fairburn?
The City of Fairburn Building Division handles building permits and inspections.
How much is a building permit in Fairburn?
Fees are based on job value: $14 per $1,000 up to $25,000, with lower rates above that, and a $300 minimum. Residential plan review adds $150 and every permit a $25 administrative fee.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Fairburn?
Yes. Residential and commercial re-roofs need a permit and inspection; a residential re-roof is $150.
Do I need a permit for a shed or deck?
Accessory structures of 100 sq ft or more need a permit, as do decks, stoops and porches over 29 inches high.
Can a homeowner pull a permit?
Yes. The contractor, the homeowner or an authorized permit agent can apply, each with the supporting documents the City lists.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →What is Fairburn’s inspection cutoff?
Phone requests go in between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; emailed requests received by 4:00 p.m. are inspected the next business day.
Are trade permits required in Fairburn?
Yes, for anything other than minor repair work done by the homeowner. They cost $80 plus $5 per $1,000 of the work’s value.
Simplify Fairburn 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.
Ready to break ground in Fairburn sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Fairburn permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Georgia permitting guides
Fulton County
Read guide →Alpharetta
Read guide →East Point
Read guide →Fannin County Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Fayette County Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Fayetteville Building Permit Guide
Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Fairburn permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.