Rome, Georgia Building Permit Guide

Building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and re-roof permits for the City of Rome are issued by the joint Rome-Floyd County Building Inspection Department at 607 Broad Street, which also reviews plans and inspects the work. A new house is charged at $75 per sq ft of valuation times 0.006, so a 2,000 sq ft home pays $900 covering all its permits, and fees are due when you apply.

What requires a building permit in Rome?

The department’s FAQ sorts work into building, demolition, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and re-roof permits:

Exempt projects may still need other permits, such as development or encroachment permits, and must still meet the codes.

Rome building department: who handles permitting

The Rome-Floyd County Building Inspection Department reviews, permits and inspects all construction in the City of Rome, and also enforces nuisance abatement, zoning compliance, historic preservation, land disturbance, erosion control and floodplain rules. James Martin is the Chief Building Official. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Rome permit types and filing

There is no single generic form: each project type has its own application on the Building Inspection page, and most are emailed to the department addresses printed on the form. Simple jobs can sometimes be permitted on the first visit; most need time for plan review first.

• Single Family Dwelling application with its checklist, contractor affidavit and inspection procedures, and a separate Single Family Dwelling Remodel-Addition form.
• Commercial Building Checklist and Application for Non-Residential Plan Review.
• Permit Application (Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing).
• Roofs or Miscellaneous permit application (January 2024 version), priced on job cost.
• Residential Demolition application and procedures.
• Pool and Pool Fence, Storage-Garage, Solar Array, Sign-Billboard and Manufactured Home (2025) applications.
• Land Disturbance permit application and checklist.
• Home Owner Affidavit and the state Authorized Permit Agent Form.
• Small wireless facility and antenna application, with the City code and a flow chart.

Permit costs and fees in Rome

Fees come from the department’s 2008 fee schedule, reposted in 2026 with a flat mechanical fee. Payment is due when you apply, and work started before the permit is issued pays double.

New buildings are priced as gross floor area × the building valuation figure for the occupancy × 0.006. One- and two-family homes (R-3) use $75 per sq ft, and unfinished basements $25. A 2,000 sq ft house therefore costs $900, and the department says that figure covers all permits. A new 8,000 sq ft business (B) building at $89 per sq ft works out at $4,272.

Building permits are valid for six months from the date of issue.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits

Electrical, mechanical and plumbing work use the department’s combined Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing application. On a new house, the contractor affidavit lists the electrical, plumbing and conditioned air contractors with their state card numbers, and the general contractor certifies responsibility for each one.

The commercial checklist requires Fire Marshal approval before the building permit, and the department notes that its codes mirror the Georgia state minimum codes except for fire sprinkler requirements.

Alliance handles electrical permit applications for contractors here. More on this: who pulls the electrical permit.

Application documents and plan review

The department will not accept or review an application until every item on its checklist is in.

A complete plan set includes a site plan, floor plan, foundation plan, floor and roof framing, exterior elevations, cross sections with insulation values, and energy calculations whenever conditioned space is added. Structural calculations by a licensed engineer can be required for large, unusual or more-than-two-storey buildings. Local design criteria are a 12-inch frost depth, 8 psf ground snow load, Seismic Design Category C, 1,500 psf minimum soil bearing and wind speeds up to 115 mph.

For tenant improvements and new commercial builds, Alliance handles commercial permit expediting through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.

How to apply: 6-step Rome process

Rome inspections

All inspections need at least 24 hours’ notice and are booked through the Building Inspection office at 706-236-4480. Have the address, permit number and inspection type ready. Once an inspection is assigned, the inspector may set an appointment as the schedule allows, and time-sensitive inspections such as electrical change-overs, footings and slabs are given priority.

For one- and two-family homes the sequence is: footing and underslab plumbing (with a test), slab and basement walls before concrete, foundation before framing, floor joists, sheathing before siding, the plumbing, electrical, HVAC, gas and fireplace rough-ins, framing, the electrical meter and gas service inspections, the driveway pipe, and the finals together for the Certificate of Occupancy.

No inspection is made if the erosion control measures are not in place, and a $60 reinspection fee is then charged.

Local Rome details that matter

Joint department: the same office permits work in the City of Rome and in Floyd County, so the forms carry both names. Driveway permits outside the city come from Floyd County Engineering, 12 E. 4th Avenue (706-291-5114).

Historic districts: the department enforces historic preservation, and the commercial checklist asks for the property’s historic district status before review.

Homeowner permits: the Home Owner Affidavit is for a single residence that is or will be your home, with no part used or planned for rental or commercial use; signing it means taking on a licensed contractor’s responsibility for the work.

Re-roofs: rotted or fungus-damaged wood must be replaced, and the new roof must be at least Class A or B, 25-year roofing with flashing and ventilation of enclosed spaces.

Permits expire: building permits are valid for six months from issue.

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

Rome 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
• Rome-Floyd single-family dwelling application and inspection procedures
• Rome-Floyd fee schedule (2008 schedule, 2026 version)
• Rome Building Inspection FAQs
• Rome-Floyd Building Inspection
• Rome-Floyd Commercial Building Checklist
• Rome-Floyd Home Owner Affidavit

Rome permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Rome, GA?

The Rome-Floyd County Building Inspection Department at 607 Broad Street, which handles both the City of Rome and Floyd County.

How much is a building permit for a new house in Rome?

Floor area × $75 × 0.006, or $0.45 per sq ft. A 2,000 sq ft house pays $900, which the department says covers all permits. Unfinished basement area is valued at $25 per sq ft.

Do I need a permit for a shed in Rome?

Not for a one-storey detached shed or playhouse up to 200 sq ft with no plumbing or electricity. Larger storage buildings and garages use the Storage-Garage application.

Do I need a permit for a fence?

A building permit is needed for fences over 7 feet, and fences over 6 feet need Planning and Zoning review.

Can a homeowner get a permit in Rome?

Yes, for a single residence you live in or will live in, using the Home Owner Affidavit. You take on the responsibilities of a licensed contractor for the work.

How long is a Rome building permit valid?

Six months from the date it is issued.

How do I schedule an inspection?

Call 706-236-4480 at least 24 hours ahead with the address, permit number and inspection type. A reinspection costs $60.

Simplify Rome 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 Rome permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.