Kennesaw, Georgia Building Permit Guide

The City of Kennesaw Building Services Department administers and enforces the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes and related permitting and inspection procedures for buildings within the City.

What requires a building permit in Kennesaw?

Kennesaw’s Building Services FAQ states that a permit is required when an owner, agent or contractor wants to construct, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a structure, or alter, repair, remove or replace regulated electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems.

If you are unsure whether a permit is needed, or whether the property is inside city limits, call Building Services at 770-429-4554 or email permits@kennesaw-ga.gov before filing.

Who issues permits in Kennesaw?

Building Services is at the Dale Burrell Government Complex, 3080 Moon Station Road, where Community Development moved in March 2024.

Some related reviews are outside Building Services. The City specifically directs applicants to Kennesaw Planning & Zoning, Kennesaw Public Works, Cobb County Fire Marshal, Cobb County Water System and Cobb & Douglas Public Health when those agencies apply.

Kennesaw permit types and iWorQ filing

All Kennesaw permits must be applied for online, through the City's iWorQ portal.

Land-disturbance permits are separate from building permits. A site review is required before applying for a land-disturbance permit, and Public Works decides how many land-disturbance permits the project gets.

The City publishes a Certificate of Occupancy process checklist and a homeowner affidavit for homeowner permits.

Permit costs and fees in Kennesaw

Permit fees are set in Kennesaw's Master Fee Schedule. The current version, RES 2026-54 Master Fee Schedule Updates, was posted on October 6, 2026.

Impact fees apply only to new development, as its proportionate share of the cost of system improvements needed to serve it.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire coordination

Electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work regulated by the technical codes needs a permit from Building Services.

Fire review can involve Cobb County. Building Services lists the Cobb County Fire Marshal’s Office (770-528-8000) as an outside agency, and the City’s business licence guidance tells new businesses to take two copies of the floor plan to the Fire Marshal for approval.

Application documents and plan review

Required documents depend on the project type. Building Services provides the Certificate of Occupancy process checklist, the homeowner affidavit and development submittal procedures on its page.

For development projects, the Plan Review Committee (Building Services, Planning and Zoning, Public Works and Economic Development) meets on Thursdays by appointment in 30-minute slots at City Hall. Book through Building Services (770-429-4554) or Planning and Zoning (770-590-8268) at least 3 business days before the meeting.

How to apply: 6-step Kennesaw process

Kennesaw inspections

Kennesaw requires all inspections to be scheduled through the City’s online portal. The City states that the permit number and contractor code are required to schedule an inspection.

Requests for the next business day must be in before 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Inspections are carried out by the City's Community Development Department.

For land-disturbance permits, contact Building Services (770-429-4554) or Public Works (770-421-8582).

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

Official Kennesaw permitting 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
• Kennesaw iWorQ portal
• Kennesaw permitting FAQs
• Kennesaw Master Fee Schedule
• Kennesaw Building Services
• Community Development office move
• Kennesaw business licence guidance

Kennesaw permit FAQs

Does Kennesaw issue its own building permits?

Yes. City Building Services administers permitting and inspections for buildings within Kennesaw.

Are permit applications online?

Yes. The City states that all permits must be applied for online.

What is the next-day inspection cutoff?

The current Building Services page sets the cutoff before 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Who handles land-disturbance permits?

Apply for a site review first, then for the land-disturbance permit, both through the City portal. Public Works decides how many land-disturbance permits the project needs.

Is fire review always handled by Building Services?

No. The City lists the Cobb County Fire Marshal’s Office as an outside agency for applicable projects.

Simplify Kennesaw 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.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Kennesaw permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.