Gilmer County Planning & Zoning in Ellijay permits and inspects residential and commercial construction in the county, and a building permit is needed before construction or excavation starts. Getting one is a two-step process, a site location permit and then the building permit, and under the County code a new house costs $400 for the first 1,000 heated square feet plus $0.35 for each square foot above that.
What requires a permit in Gilmer County?
Planning & Zoning permits and inspects all phases of residential and commercial construction, including new construction, additions and accessory structures. The County’s fee code and forms cover:
Building
- New homes, additions and alterations
- Decks, porches, garages and carports
- Sheds, barns and greenhouses
- Commercial buildings, additions and alterations
- In-ground pools and poultry houses
- Mobile homes and storage containers
- Demolition
Site and systems
- Site location permits
- Driveways on county and GDOT roads
- Meter bases and temporary power
- Plumbing and HVAC
- Land disturbance
- Signs and cell towers
- Building in a floodplain
Who issues permits in Gilmer County?
Gilmer County Planning & Zoning issues building permits, inspects construction, runs zoning and sign permits, reviews subdivision plats and issues business licenses for the unincorporated county. Jim Smith is the Director, and every permit is reviewed by the Director or Assistant Director before it is issued. The City of Ellijay enforces the construction codes inside its own limits through a city building official. The City of East Ellijay lists Building Inspection among its own city departments; its City Hall is at 107 East Oak Street (706-276-3111).
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Get a free quote →| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | 1 Broad Street, Suite 002, Ellijay, GA 30540 |
| Phone / fax | 706-635-3406 / 706-635-3405 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| Director | Jim Smith |
| Septic approval | Environmental Health, courthouse basement, 706-635-6050 |
| 911 addresses | E911 Addressing, 706-635-4653 |
Gilmer County building permit fees
The Planning & Zoning page says its fee schedule is being updated. The current figures are in the County code (Sec. 66-40, last amended on December 12, 2024):
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New house, heated area up to 1,000 sq ft | $400 |
| Heated area over 1,000 sq ft | $0.35 per additional sq ft |
| Unfinished basement | $0.20 per sq ft |
| Deck, porch, garage or carport | $0.20 per sq ft ($100 minimum) |
| Addition or alteration | $0.35 per sq ft |
| Residential utility shed | $0.20 per sq ft ($100 minimum) |
| Barn or greenhouse | $0.15 per sq ft ($100 minimum) |
| Commercial new, addition or alteration | $0.40 per sq ft ($250 minimum) |
| In-ground pool | $200 |
| Poultry house | $400 |
| Meter base / plumbing / HVAC | $100 each |
| Single-wide / double-wide mobile home | $200 / $400 |
| Land disturbance permit | $100; $50 per acre over one acre |
| Re-inspection | $50 each, through final C.O. |
| Permit renewal within one year | $100 |
| Building without a permit | Double the permit fee plus a $500 fine |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →For example, a house with 2,000 sq ft of heated space is $400 plus 1,000 × $0.35, or $750, before deck, garage or basement fees.
Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work
Plumbing and HVAC permits are $100 each, and a meter base permit is $100. The building permit application names the grading contractor with their blue card number, the building, electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors with their state licence numbers, and the gas line installer. If no Georgia-licensed subcontractor is hired, the owner signs a homeowner affidavit for electrical, plumbing and HVAC work.
A meter base for a camper or RV is limited to 100 amp service and needs an approved septic system first, and a licensed electrician’s affidavit is required before the inspection. No utility may connect a building, home or meter base without the building inspector’s written approval and the Environmental Health permit. Commercial projects need Fire Marshal plan approval before the documents are brought to Planning & Zoning.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Documents for a Gilmer County building permit
- Site location permit number (step 1); no need to resubmit the deed and plat used for it
- Recorded plat showing the structure, porches, decks and steps with measurements to all property lines, and the driveway (at least 10 feet wide with 13 feet of clearance)
- Recorded deed; everyone on the deed signs all paperwork, or names an agent on the Authorized Permit Agent Form
- Plans for the structure and foundation, neat and to scale, with windows, doors, rooms, elevations, foundation width and depth, grade beams and pier holes
- Driveway permit approved by the Road Department, for county or GDOT roads
- Septic approval from Environmental Health (new, existing evaluation or purple stamp)
- Proof of current property taxes and the 911 address
- Homeowner affidavits if no licensed general contractor or subcontractors are hired
How to get a Gilmer County building permit
Step 1 of 2: bring the plat, deed and driveway permit, and flag the property lines, structure and setback lines in different colours for the site inspection.
Get the Environmental Health septic approval and the 911 address before applying.
Fill in every field, including all contractor and tradesman details; missing information delays the permit.
The application goes to Planning & Zoning, Public Works and Public Safety for approval, and the Director or Assistant Director reviews it.
Planning & Zoning contacts you when the permit is ready to collect.
Homeowner builders send a surveyor’s setback verification once the footers or piers are poured.
Rather not deal with the Gilmer County building department?
Get a free quote →Gilmer County inspections
Planning & Zoning inspects all phases of residential and commercial construction, and the County code says inspections follow the International Codes, state law and County ordinances. Each re-inspection costs $50, up to the final certificate of occupancy.
The site location permit has its own inspection, and the property lines and setbacks must be marked before it; if the property pins cannot be found, the owner may have to hire a Georgia-licensed surveyor. In a floodplain, two elevation certificates are needed: one before the footing inspection and one before the final inspection.
Local Gilmer County rules
Floodplain: Planning & Zoning must view property in the 1% floodplain and discuss the County flood ordinance with the owner before a permit is issued, and a surveyor’s plat must show the floodplain boundary.
Mountain protection: land 2,200 feet or more above sea level with a slope of at least 25% over 500 feet horizontally is in a mountain protection district, and land disturbance there needs a site plan meeting Sec. 70-80.
Land disturbance: a permit is needed before any land-disturbing activity, with five copies of the erosion and sedimentation control plan.
Dwellings: every dwelling unit must have at least 500 square feet. Container homes are not habitable, homes on wheels count as RVs, and storage containers need a permit and a privacy fence at least 3 feet higher than the container.
Short-term rentals and mobile homes: short-term rentals must be registered with the County, and mobile homes need a location decal by May 1 each year.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →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
Gilmer 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.
- Gilmer County — Courthouse Phone Directory
- Gilmer County — Department Directory
- Gilmer County — Planning & Zoning
- Gilmer County Code, Chapter 66 (building permit fees, Sec. 66-40)
Gilmer County permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Gilmer County?
Gilmer County Planning & Zoning, 1 Broad Street, Suite 002, Ellijay (706-635-3406). Inside Ellijay city limits, the City enforces the construction codes, and East Ellijay has its own Building Inspection division.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much is a building permit for a new house in Gilmer County?
$400 for the first 1,000 sq ft of heated space and $0.35 for each square foot above that, so a 2,000 sq ft house is $750 before other fees.
What is a site location permit?
Step 1 of the building permit process. With the plat, deed and driveway permit, the County inspects the marked property lines, structure and setbacks before you apply for the building permit itself.
Can I live in a container home or an RV?
No. Container homes are not considered habitable, homes on wheels are treated as RVs, and non-dwelling structures cannot be used as dwellings outside the ORL district.
What happens if I build without a permit?
The County charges double the permit fee plus a $500 fine.
Where do I get septic approval?
From Environmental Health in the basement of the courthouse (706-635-6050). A copy of the approval is needed for the building permit.
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More Georgia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Gilmer County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.