In Lanier County, all construction permits are obtained at the Tax Assessor’s Office, 56 W Main Street, Suite 2, Lakeland (229-482-2090), open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sites on septic also need a permit from Lanier Environmental Health, where a new system costs $120 for the site evaluation and $120 for the permit.
What requires a permit in Lanier County?
The County’s Planning & Zoning and Code Enforcement pages both state that all construction permits must be obtained at the Tax Assessor’s Office. Other approvals come from separate offices:
Tax Assessor’s Office
- All construction permits
Environmental Health
- Site evaluation and septic permit for a new or repaired system
- Well site and location permit
- Subdivision lot and mobile home park plan review
The County’s Land Development Ordinance, published in its Code of Ordinances, is marked as under review on the County website.
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Get a free quote →Who handles permitting in Lanier County?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Construction permits | Lanier County Tax Assessor’s Office |
| Address | 56 W Main Street, Suite 2, Lakeland, GA 31635 |
| Phone and fax | 229-482-2090; fax 229-482-2105 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Code Enforcement | 162 W. Thigpen Ave., Suite D, Lakeland; 229-569-1652; laniercode@laniercountyboc.com |
| Septic and wells | Lanier Environmental Health, Lanier County Health Department, 114 South Oak Street, Lakeland; 229-482-3294 |
Code Enforcement works jointly with the Lanier County Inspections Department and with the Lakeland and Lanier County zoning departments. It responds mainly to complaints about overgrown lots, inoperative vehicles, unsafe structures, illegal dumping and similar problems, and takes complaints through an online form. The City of Lakeland has its own zoning department.
Ray City: the city lies mainly in Berrien County, and the Berrien County Code Enforcement Office in Nashville (229-686-2149, option 2) lists Ray City in its service area and issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits there. Neither county’s pages say who permits the part of Ray City inside Lanier County, so call Ray City Hall (229-455-2501) before applying.
Septic and well fees
Lanier Environmental Health, part of the Georgia Department of Public Health’s South Health District, charges these land use fees (effective April 10, 2024):
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Site evaluation, new system | $120 |
| Septic permit, new system (includes the installation inspection) | $120 |
| Site evaluation, repair | $90 |
| Septic permit, repair | $90 |
| Septic installation re-inspection | $120 |
| Existing septic system evaluation | $80 |
| Well site and location permit | $80 |
| Filled site certification | $200 |
| Subdivision lot or mobile home park plan review | $120 per lot |
A new home on septic therefore pays $240 to Environmental Health before any County construction permit fee.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work
The County directs all construction permits, including trade work, to the Tax Assessor’s Office, and its Inspections Department carries out the inspections. Septic installation is inspected by Environmental Health as part of the septic permit.
How to apply: 4 steps in Lanier County
For a site without public sewer or water, book the site evaluation and septic or well permit with Lanier Environmental Health (229-482-3294).
Inside Lakeland, the City’s zoning department applies; elsewhere, the County’s zoning rules apply.
Visit 56 W Main Street, Suite 2, Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., to obtain the construction permit.
The County Inspections Department inspects the work under the permit.
Inspections
Building inspections are carried out by the Lanier County Inspections Department, which works with Code Enforcement and the zoning departments. Septic systems are inspected by Environmental Health when they are installed; a re-inspection after faults are found costs $120.
Rather not deal with the Lanier County building department?
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
Lanier County permit search and official resources
- Georgia DCA — Current State Minimum Codes
- Lanier County — Tax Assessor
- Lanier County — Code Enforcement
- Lanier County — Planning and Zoning
- Lanier Environmental Health (South Health District)
- Lanier County Environmental Health fee structure (2024)
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Lanier County permit FAQs
Where do I get a building permit in Lanier County?
At the Lanier County Tax Assessor’s Office, 56 W Main Street, Suite 2, Lakeland (229-482-2090). The County states that all construction permits are obtained there.
What are the office hours?
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How much is a septic permit in Lanier County?
$120 for a new system permit, which includes the installation inspection, plus $120 for the site evaluation. Repairs are $90 for each.
Who handles zoning in Lakeland?
The City of Lakeland has its own zoning department; the County has a separate one for unincorporated land.
How do I report unpermitted construction or an unsafe building?
Contact Lanier County Code Enforcement at 229-569-1652 or laniercode@laniercountyboc.com, or use the online complaint form.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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More Georgia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Lanier County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.