The Macon County Building Department at the County Courthouse in Oglethorpe reviews plans, issues building and trade permits and inspects the work in unincorporated Macon County and the City of Oglethorpe; its department page also lists Montezuma and Ideal. Apply in person (walk-in hours 7:00–10:00 a.m. and 1:00–3:00 p.m.), and book inspections one working day ahead on 478-472-7023.
What requires a permit in Macon County?
The Building Department’s FAQ lists the projects that need a permit and the work that is exempt. Agricultural buildings are not exempt.
Permit required
- New buildings, including homes, storage buildings, boat houses, docks, greenhouses, pole barns and screen enclosures
- Room additions, patios and decks, interior alterations and structural repairs
- Re-roofing and siding replacement
- Swimming pools and spas, including in-ground and above-ground pools that need excavation
- Masonry fence walls, and retaining walls over 4 feet (these must be engineered)
- Driveways and parking pads
- Temporary buildings and demolition
- New electrical, plumbing, gas and air-conditioning systems
- Fire sprinklers, kitchen hood suppression and security systems
- Signs, awnings and fireplaces
- Manufactured home placement
No permit needed
- One-storey detached accessory structures up to 200 sq ft
- Fences up to 6 feet high
- Retaining walls up to 4 feet that do not support a surcharge
- Water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons
- Sidewalks and driveways no more than 30 inches above grade
- Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and counter tops
- Prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep, and above-ground pools that need no excavation
- Playground equipment at a one- to three-family home
- Window awnings projecting up to 54 inches without extra support
In unincorporated Macon County and the City of Oglethorpe, an electrical permit and inspection are also required for every new electrical service, every service upgrade and any service that has been off for more than 30 days.
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Get a free quote →Who handles permitting in Macon County?
The Building Department reviews plans, issues building permits and inspects construction, electrical, plumbing, fuel gas and heating and air work. Under the County code, applications for building permits, grading plans and land disturbance permits all go to the Building Department, which routes the plans to the other County departments that must review them and collects all fees.
The County’s own pages describe the area differently. The Building Department page says it permits and inspects throughout Macon County and in the cities of Montezuma, Oglethorpe and Ideal, while the Building Department FAQ says construction permits are issued for unincorporated Macon County and the City of Oglethorpe. Marshallville is not named on either page.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Office | County Courthouse, Sumter Street, Oglethorpe (mail: PO Box 297, Oglethorpe, GA 31068) |
| Phone and fax | 478-472-7023 · fax 478-472-5643 |
| building_inspections@maconcountyga.gov | |
| Walk-in hours | 7:00–10:00 a.m. and 1:00–3:00 p.m. |
| Septic permits | Macon County Health Department, 478-472-8121 |
Permit costs and fees in Macon County
Building permit fees are set by the Board of Commissioners and kept in a fee schedule on file with the County Clerk and the Building Department; the County’s online code lists them only as “TBD”. The permit packets state that fees are based on the value of the work, including materials and labor, and that impact fees apply to all new finished space. The published charges are:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1st, 2nd or 3rd re-inspection | $25 each |
| 4th and later re-inspections | $100 each |
| Work started before the permit | Penalty of 200% of the permit fee, plus the permit fee |
| Permit renewal (up to two 6-month extensions) | Renewal fee |
| Temporary Certificate of Occupancy | Additional fee |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →A re-inspection fee is charged when an inspection fails, the work is not ready or the inspector cannot get to the area.
Electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits in Macon County
The Building Department issues separate permits for each trade, and no inspection is carried out until every permit for the job has been obtained. A new home normally needs:
- A building permit
- An electrical permit for the wiring and the temporary pole, plus a temporary electrical permit to the house if temporary service is used
- A plumbing permit
- A mechanical (heating and air) permit
Separate application packets are published for plumbing, HVAC, electrical temporary pole, electrical reconnection and roofing permits. Anyone working for you must hold the right state licence; an owner can do their own work only on the home that is their primary residence and where they currently live. Electrical service releases, temporary services, upgrades, reconnections, irrigation pivots and well installations are all inspected, and connecting to an existing water line needs a licensed plumbing contractor because backflow protection is required.
How to apply in Macon County
Zoning sets lot sizes and setbacks, and it is handled at the Building Department during planning. Commercial projects get a soil erosion permit where needed and go through Planning and Zoning plan review first.
For a new home, get the septic tank permit (with proof of a perc test) and any well permit from the Health Department before you apply. Final power is not released until the septic system is installed and approved.
Complete the Building Permit Packet; pages 4, 5 and 6 must be returned. Add the Property Owner Authorization Form and the Contractor State License Form (original, with licence copies) where they apply, or the notarised Self-Work Affidavit if you are doing the work yourself, in which case you apply in person.
Bring the recorded plat, two copies of a scaled 8½ x 11 site plan and the building plans. Commercial jobs need three complete sets of architectural, structural, electrical, plumbing and HVAC plans.
Some projects are permitted over the counter; others leave plans for review. Work can start only after full plan approval and once the permit is paid for and issued.
Call for each inspection a working day ahead, then request the Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion after the final.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Documents for a Macon County permit
New home
- Recorded plat showing lot lines and lot size
- Septic tank and well permits, or a receipt for a water meter application where there is a water system
- Site plan with property lines, streets, setbacks, all buildings and projections, driveways, pools, retaining walls, floodplain limits, buffers and easements, parcel number, address and zoning
- Building plans with foundation and slab, anchor, bearing wall, header, shear wall, roof truss (engineer-stamped) and roof sheeting details, and at least two elevations
- Proof of a temporary toilet on site if there are no facilities
- Erosion and sediment control certification card where land disturbance requires it
Manufactured home
- Septic tank and well permits, unless on county or city water
- Square footage of the home
- A copy of the purchase contract
- The installer’s state licence
- Where it applies, the state manufactured housing permit, placed in the electrical panel before the Certificate of Occupancy
For an addition, give the square footage; if it adds a bedroom, Environmental Health must certify that the septic system can handle it. Soil erosion plans are required for sites disturbing more than one acre or within 200 feet of a stream, unless exempt. The site plan must also show where dumpsters, portable toilets (at least 15 feet from a side property line), construction parking and material storage will go.
Rather not deal with the Macon County building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Macon County
Call the Building Department at 478-472-7023 with the permit number at least one working day ahead. Inspections are not made on weekends or holidays, and because of the area covered an inspection can take up to 72 hours. The property owner is responsible for making sure inspections are called in.
- Footing: before concrete is poured, with the temporary power pole if needed. A monolithic slab needs 4 inches of gravel and is inspected before the pour, along with any plumbing or electrical under it.
- Rough-in: framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and gas before drywall, then insulation and fireplace.
- Temporary to permanent power: between rough-in and final. If you need power early to work inside in bad weather, ask in writing for a special electrical inspection.
- Final: all trades, including an air pressure test on gas lines, plus driveway and culvert pipe, house number, landscaping and soil erosion measures.
A termite treatment letter is required before the Certificate of Occupancy is issued, and occupying a building without a final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy is a misdemeanor. Permits expire if work has not begun within 6 months or stops for 6 months; a demolition permit is valid for 30 days.
Local Macon County rules
Setbacks are the owner’s responsibility: the permit packets warn that a building permit does not confirm setbacks or easements. If a structure does not meet the zoning setbacks, the permit is void and the structure must be removed or relocated. Nothing may be built inside an easement.
Accessory buildings: they must sit in the side or rear yard, except in AR-1 and AR-2 zones on lots of 5 acres or more.
Retaining walls: walls over 4 feet must be engineered and permitted, and walls over 6 feet need an engineer’s certification that they were built to the approved plans.
Floodplain: every application asks whether the parcel is in a flood plain, and floodplain questions go to the Building Official.
Site visits: after you apply, a Building Department representative may visit the site before the permit is issued. Permit cards and site plans stay on site until the Certificate of Occupancy.
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
Macon 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
- Macon County — Official Website
- Macon County — Building Department FAQ
- Macon County Building Department
- Macon County Plan Requirements
- Macon County Construction and Inspection Reminders
- Macon County Building Department Documents (permit packets and forms)
- Code of Macon County, Chapter 10: Buildings and Building Regulations
Macon County permit FAQs
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Where do I get a building permit in Macon County?
At the Building Department in the County Courthouse on Sumter Street in Oglethorpe. Walk-in hours are 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; call 478-472-7023 for appointments.
How much does a Macon County building permit cost?
Fees are based on the value of the work, materials plus labor, from a schedule set by the Board of Commissioners and kept at the Building Department and the County Clerk’s office. Impact fees apply to new finished space, and re-inspections are $25 for each of the first three and $100 after that.
Do I need a permit for a shed?
Not for a one-storey detached accessory building of 200 sq ft or less. Larger storage buildings, pole barns and agricultural buildings need a permit.
Do I need a permit for a fence or an above-ground pool?
Fences up to 6 feet and pre-made above-ground pools that need no excavation are exempt. Masonry fence walls and in-ground pools need a permit.
Can I do the work myself?
Yes, on a home that is your primary residence and where you currently live. You sign a notarised Self-Work Affidavit, apply in person, and still need the permits; anyone you hire must be state licensed.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Call 478-472-7023 with the permit number at least one working day ahead. Inspections are not done on weekends or holidays and can take up to 72 hours.
Why does my power need an inspection after it was off?
In unincorporated Macon County and the City of Oglethorpe, a permit and electrical inspection are required before reconnecting a service that has been off for more than 30 days.
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More Georgia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Macon County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.