Building permits in unincorporated Paulding County — in the northwest metro-Atlanta Piedmont around Dallas and Hiram — are issued by the Building & Permitting Division of Community Development. The division issues permits, reviews plans, and inspects for compliance with the Georgia State Minimum Codes.
This Paulding County building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how fees work, the application process, trade permits, and inspections — so your Paulding County project starts clean.
This guide covers unincorporated Paulding County. The cities of Dallas, Hiram, and Braswell run their own permitting. Work that affects a county road requires a Paulding County DOT permit before a building permit is issued, and a 75-foot buffer (50 feet undisturbed, 25 feet no-impervious) is required along flowing creeks and streams.
What requires a building permit in Paulding County?
Under the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes (the International Codes as adopted with Georgia amendments by the Department of Community Affairs), a permit is required before you construct, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of most structures. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New construction, additions, and renovations
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Reroofing, windows, doors, and exterior work
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Accessory structures, decks, pools, and retaining walls
- Driveways/road access and land disturbance
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Like-for-like minor repairs not altering structure or systems
- Routine maintenance not extending or rerouting systems
- Small projects expressly exempt (confirm with the department)
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Building without one exposes the owner to penalties and stop-work orders. If work affects a county road, obtain the Paulding County DOT permit first; reinspection fees escalate ($25, then $50, then $100).
Who handles permitting in Paulding County?
Permitting, plan review, and inspections run through the Building & Permitting Division of Community Development, with sign-offs coordinated across Zoning, the Marshal Bureau (fire), Addressing, and the Tax Commissioner for occupancy. Work in a county road right-of-way needs a county DOT permit first.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 240 Constitution Boulevard, Dallas, GA 30132 |
| Phone | Permitting 770-443-7571; Inspections 770-505-1398 |
| Sign-offs | Zoning (770-443-7601), Marshal Bureau (fire), Addressing, Tax Commissioner |
| County road | Paulding County DOT permit (770-445-4759) before building permit |
| Stream buffer | 75 ft (50 ft undisturbed + 25 ft no-impervious) |
| Enforced code | Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes |
Apply through Community Development. Submit applications and documents to the Building & Permitting Division (240 Constitution Boulevard); building permit technicians can be reached at 770-443-7571 or commdevpermits@paulding.gov. Work affecting a county road requires a Paulding County DOT permit first, and a Building Occupancy Inspection routes through several departments for sign-off.
Paulding County building permit cost
Paulding County building permit fees are set by the county fee schedule and based on the type and valuation of work, with separate trade permit fees; a Building Occupancy Inspection (for commercial occupancy) carries its own application fee.
Reinspection fees escalate ($25, then $50, then $100). Because schedules are updated periodically, confirm current amounts before budgeting.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit fee | Based on type and valuation of work |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Charged separately per trade |
| Reinspection fees | $25 / $50 / $100 (escalating) |
| Building Occupancy Inspection | Separate application fee (commercial) |
| County DOT permit | Required first for county-road access work |
| Work-without-permit | Penalties and possible stop-work orders |
Want a precise number for a specific Paulding County project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Paulding County trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work needs its own permit and a Georgia-licensed contractor, each filed with the Building & Permitting Division.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations, performed by a Georgia-licensed electrical contractor.
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heater changeouts, fixtures, and gas piping, performed by a Georgia-licensed plumbing contractor.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration, performed by a Georgia-licensed conditioned-air contractor. Specialized systems are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, decks, pools, and retaining walls are permitted separately. Stamped engineering is required for items like retaining walls over four feet, and the 75-foot stream buffer (50 ft undisturbed + 25 ft no-impervious) must be protected during land disturbance.
Verify your contractor's license. Georgia licenses general and residential contractors through the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, and electrical, plumbing, HVAC/conditioned-air, and low-voltage contractors through the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board (both under the Secretary of State). Most projects over $2,500 require a licensed contractor, and only a licensed contractor — or a homeowner on their own residence — may pull a permit. Verify before signing; the property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in Paulding County
Confirm jurisdiction & road access
Confirm the parcel is unincorporated and obtain a Paulding County DOT permit first if work affects a county road.
Prepare your documents
Assemble the application, stamped plans (engineered where required, e.g., retaining walls over 4 ft), site plan with stream buffers, and Georgia license documents.
Apply with Building & Permitting
Submit the application and documents to the Building & Permitting Division (Community Development).
Plan review & corrections
Building & Permitting (with Zoning, Marshal Bureau, and others as needed) reviews; resolve comments and resubmit.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay the calculated fees, then post the permit on the lot (at the driveway if the home isn't visible from the road).
Schedule inspections through close-out
Schedule inspections (footing, rough, insulation, final); commercial occupancy routes through multi-department sign-off. Clear all inspections for your Certificate of Occupancy.
Inspections in Paulding County
Schedule inspections through the Building & Permitting Division (770-505-1398); the building permit must be posted on the lot — at the driveway if the home isn't visible from the road. Typical checkpoints include footing, rough-in (framing/plumbing/electrical/HVAC), insulation, and final.
Reinspection fees escalate ($25, then $50, then $100) and must be cleared before a final inspection or Certificate of Occupancy can be requested.
Official Paulding County permitting resources
- 🏛️ Paulding County Building & Permitting
- 💻 Documents & forms
- 📋 Paulding County, GA (paulding.gov)
- 🪪 Georgia Secretary of State — contractor licensing
- 📘 Georgia DCA — State Minimum Codes
- 🗺️ Zoning & Marshal Bureau
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More Georgia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the Paulding County Building & Permitting Division before filing. This is not legal advice.