The Spalding County Community Development Office issues permits in unincorporated Spalding County as well as the towns of Sunny Side and Orchard Hill. Griffin, the county seat, permits its own construction.
Spalding runs a contracted model: the Building Official and Building Inspector are provided by an outside firm, with the county having access to numerous ICC certified professionals who perform all inspections and plan reviews.
Applies to unincorporated Spalding County plus Sunny Side and Orchard Hill. The City of Griffin permits its own work from the same town.
The hearing calendar is fixed. The Planning Commission meets the last Tuesday of each month and the Board of Appeals the second Thursday, both at 6:00 p.m. Submittal deadlines run ahead of those dates and are confirmed with the office.
What requires a permit in Spalding County?
The Spalding County Community Development Office is responsible for issuing permits in unincorporated Spalding County as well as the towns of Sunny Side and Orchard Hill. Griffin, the county seat, permits its own construction.
Spalding runs a contracted model. Both the Building Official and the Building Inspector are provided by an outside firm, Charles Abbott & Associates, and the county describes having access to numerous International Code Council certified professionals who perform all inspections and plan reviews. The standards are the county’s while the people are not county employees.
The permit categories are stated plainly: permits for new residential and new commercial structures, permits for remodeling of existing residential and commercial structures, and permits for residential and commercial accessory structures that exceed 120 square feet in total floor area.
Permit required
- New residential and new commercial structures
- Remodeling of existing residential and commercial structures
- Residential and commercial accessory structures exceeding 120 square feet
- Work in the towns of Sunny Side and Orchard Hill, which the county serves
- Development subject to the Unified Development Ordinance
- Rezoning and conditional use applications, heard on a fixed monthly calendar
- Variance applications, heard by the Board of Appeals
Typically exempt
- Accessory structures of 120 square feet or less in total floor area
- Painting, flooring, and other cosmetic work
- Work inside the City of Griffin — permitted by the city
- Ordinary repairs that do not touch structure or a regulated system
Georgia’s State Minimum Standard Codes apply statewide; the Department of Community Affairs adopts them, with Georgia Amendments, and city and county building departments enforce them under their own permit rules. Georgia rules
Spalding County building department: who handles permitting
Community Development works from 119 East Solomon Street, Suite 203, Griffin, GA 30223, with mail to P.O. Box 1087, Griffin 30224, open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. The permit technician is on 770-467-4219, and the contracted building official and building inspector on 866-530-4980. The department covers long and short-range planning for unincorporated Spalding County and administers the regulations that implement those plans.
Applications, inspection scheduling, and status checks run through the county's online permitting system. The county notes that anyone previously registered with its earlier permitting provider can log in with their existing credentials; everyone else creates a new account — a useful detail for contractors returning after a gap.
Development in unincorporated Spalding is regulated through the Unified Development Ordinance, which sets the zoning districts for the unincorporated area, the permitted and conditional uses allowed in each, and the minimum dimensional requirements such as lot size and setbacks. Check it before design rather than at review.
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Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Authority | Spalding County Community Development Office |
| Scope | Unincorporated Spalding County plus the towns of Sunny Side and Orchard Hill |
| Address | 119 East Solomon Street, Suite 203, Griffin, GA 30223 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm |
| Phone | Permit technician 770-467-4219; building official and inspector (Charles Abbott & Associates) 866-530-4980 |
| Model | Building Official and Building Inspector provided under contract |
| Land use | Spalding County Unified Development Ordinance |
| Planning Commission | Last Tuesday of each month, 6:00pm |
| Board of Appeals | Second Thursday of each month, 6:00pm |
Two towns file through the county here. Sunny Side and Orchard Hill are both served by the Spalding County Community Development Office, while Griffin permits its own work. A small-town address in Georgia rarely settles which counter you use. The county issues the electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and low-voltage permits in those towns too.
Spalding County and the City of Griffin share a name in the school district and sit in the same town, but permit separately. Note also that Spalding's building official and inspector are contracted from an outside firm, so the person inspecting your work may not be a county employee — the standards, however, are the county's.
Spalding County permits: record types and what each covers
Spalding states its permit categories plainly, with land use handled through the Unified Development Ordinance. These are the records you will file:
Residential permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | New dwellings, additions, and accessory structures above the local size threshold | Full plan review against the 2024 IRC with Georgia Amendments, plus zoning | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural changes, layout changes, or added plumbing, mechanical, or electrical | Plan review scaled to scope; existing-building provisions apply only where locally adopted | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Roof covering replacement, recover, and structural deck repair | Dry-in and deck inspection; plan review rarely required | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Rooftop or ground-mount arrays, with or without battery storage | Electrical review led, with structural review of the attachment | Flat or system-size based |
| Battery energy storage | Wall or floor-mounted storage added to a dwelling | Electrical review plus fire separation and location check | Flat or per-permit minimum |
| Electrical | Service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, EV chargers, and rewiring | Trade review; filed as its own record under a Class I or Class II licence | Per-permit minimum or per-device |
| Plumbing | New piping, repipes, fixtures, gas piping, and water heater replacement | Trade review; filed under a Master Plumber Class I or Class II licence | Per-permit minimum or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Changeouts, new ductwork, and refrigeration | Trade review; conditioned air licence class keyed to system capacity | Per-permit minimum or per-unit |
| Deck and porch | New decks, screened porches, and structural rebuilds | Footing and framing review against the residential code | Flat or valuation-based |
| Pool and spa | In-ground and above-ground pools, spas, barriers, and bonding | Structural, barrier, and electrical bonding review under the 2024 ISPSC | Valuation-based |
| Accessory structure | Sheds, detached garages, and carports above the local size threshold | Zoning first, then structural review where applicable | Flat or valuation-based |
| Demolition | Full or partial demolition of a structure | Utility disconnect verification and asbestos notification | Flat |
| Land disturbance | Clearing, grading, and any disturbance above the local threshold | Erosion and sedimentation review on its own statutory clock | Per-acre or valuation-based |
| Accessory structure permit | Residential or commercial accessory structures | Required above 120 square feet in total floor area | Set by the county |
| Existing portal credentials | Contractors registered with the county's earlier provider | Previous credentials still work; others create a new account | No separate fee |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Commercial permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | Ground-up commercial, industrial, and multifamily buildings | Full multi-discipline review; sealed plans required | Valuation-based |
| Tenant build-out | Interior fit-ups and suite build-outs in an existing shell | Concurrent building, trade, and fire review | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural, envelope, or system changes to an existing building | Plan review scaled to scope; accessibility triggers attach | Valuation-based |
| Change of occupancy | Converting a building from one occupancy classification to another | Life-safety, accessibility, and zoning review | Valuation or flat |
| Shell building | A building permitted without a known tenant or use | Shell review only; no certificate of occupancy until a build-out closes | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Commercial roof covering replacement or recover | Structural check on added dead load; fire review where applicable | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Commercial rooftop, carport, and ground-mount arrays | Structural, electrical, and fire access review | Valuation or system-size based |
| Electrical | Service, distribution, and branch circuit work | Trade review; separate record from the building permit | Valuation or per-device |
| Plumbing | Supply, waste, vent, grease, and gas systems | Trade review; backflow and grease interceptor sign-offs attach | Valuation or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Rooftop units, ductwork, exhaust, and refrigeration | Trade review; energy compliance documented against the 2015 IECC | Valuation or per-unit |
| Fire protection | Sprinkler, standpipe, alarm, hood, and suppression systems | Fire review under the state Safety Fire Commissioner's adopted codes | Valuation or per-device |
| Sign | Wall, monument, and illuminated signage | Zoning review plus electrical where illuminated | Flat or per-sign |
| Land disturbance | Site clearing, grading, and stormwater installation | Erosion and sedimentation review as a Local Issuing Authority | Per-acre or valuation-based |
| Rezoning or conditional use | Uses needing discretionary approval | Heard by the Planning Commission, last Tuesday monthly | Set by the county |
| Variance application | Relief from a dimensional or use requirement | Heard by the Board of Appeals, second Thursday monthly | Set by the county |
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Residential
- Single-discipline review in most cases
- Trade records filed separately under Chapter 14 licences regardless of job value
- State licence required for residential work once its total value exceeds $2,500; commercial work at any value
- A private professional provider may be engaged to shorten the review path
Commercial — multi-discipline
- Concurrent review across building, trades, fire, and zoning
- Signed and sealed plans across every affected discipline
- Land-disturbance review runs on its own statutory clock under Title 12
- Accessibility and life-safety review attach to any change of occupancy
Records you will actually see in Spalding County
| Record | What it covers |
|---|---|
| New residential structure permit | New homes in the unincorporated county or the two towns |
| New commercial structure permit | Ground-up commercial construction |
| Residential remodeling permit | Remodeling of an existing residential structure |
| Commercial remodeling permit | Remodeling of an existing commercial structure |
| Accessory structure permit | Residential or commercial, exceeding 120 square feet in total floor area |
| Rezoning application | Heard by the Planning Commission on its monthly calendar |
| Conditional use application | Also heard on the Planning Commission calendar |
| Variance application | Heard by the Board of Appeals on its own monthly date |
Rather not deal with the Spalding County building department?
Get a free quote →Solar permits in Spalding County
Solar in unincorporated Spalding — or in Sunny Side or Orchard Hill — is reviewed by the county's contracted certified professionals against the state codes and the Unified Development Ordinance. Check the UDO for setback and dimensional requirements before siting a ground-mount array.
Roofing permits in Spalding County
Reroofs go through the county's online permitting system, with inspections performed by the contracted provider. If you registered under the county's earlier permitting software, your existing login still works.
Solar and roofing work are built to the statewide codes, permit rules are set locally, and utilities run interconnection on their own timeline. Georgia rules
Spalding County permit cost
Spalding prices from the county's schedule, with applications, inspection scheduling, and status checks handled through its online permitting system. Because the building official and inspector are contracted, the fee structure reflects that arrangement — confirm current figures against your scope rather than assuming a neighbouring county's rates.
The cost that is really a schedule item is the hearing calendar. A rezoning or conditional use application that misses its submittal deadline waits for the next Planning Commission meeting on the last Tuesday of the following month, and a variance waits for the next second Thursday.
Land disturbance is regulated separately from the building permit under the state framework, on top of the county's Unified Development Ordinance. Land disturbance is regulated separately from building under the Erosion and Sedimentation Act (O.C.G.A. Title 12, Chapter 7). Most Georgia jurisdictions are certified Local Issuing Authorities that issue the land-disturbance permit themselves; where a jurisdiction is not certified, the Environmental Protection Division issues it. The 25-foot undisturbed state waters buffer — 50 feet along designated trout streams — is measured from the point where wrested vegetation begins, and a variance is a separate application on its own timeline.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit | County fee schedule, applied through the online permitting system |
| Accessory structures | Permitted above 120 square feet in total floor area |
| Rezoning or conditional use | Planning Commission, last Tuesday monthly |
| Variance | Board of Appeals, second Thursday monthly |
| Submittal deadlines | Confirmed with the office; dates subject to change |
| City projects | Priced by the City of Griffin |
Want a precise number for a specific Spalding County project? Send us the scope and we will price the permit path before you file.
Spalding County trade permits
Spalding's inspections are performed by certified professionals under contract to the county, which changes who turns up but not what they are checking.
Contracted inspectors
The county has access to numerous International Code Council certified professionals who perform all inspections and plan reviews under its building official arrangement.
Returning users keep their login
Anyone previously registered with the county's earlier permitting provider can log in with their existing credentials rather than creating a new account.
Know the 120 square foot line
Accessory structures are permitted above 120 square feet in total floor area, residential and commercial alike.
State licence still governs
Chapter 14 trade licences authorise the work regardless of job value, and the residential contractor threshold is $2,500 of total job value.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Georgia licenses residential contractors through a state board once a job passes $2,500, licenses commercial general contractors at any job value, and licenses electrical, plumbing and conditioned air contractors separately at any job value. Georgia rules
Spalding County permit application: how to apply step by step
Here is how to get a building permit in Spalding County, from confirming the requirement through to close-out. Each step below corresponds to a real decision point where projects commonly stall.
The county serves unincorporated Spalding plus the towns of Sunny Side and Orchard Hill. Griffin permits its own construction from the same town, so check the parcel.
The UDO sets the zoning districts for the unincorporated area, the permitted and conditional uses in each, and minimum dimensional requirements such as lot size and setbacks. Establish those before design rather than at review.
Rezoning and conditional use applications go to the Planning Commission on the last Tuesday of each month; variances go to the Board of Appeals on the second Thursday. Contact the office for the submittal deadlines, which run ahead of those dates.
Apply for a new building permit, schedule an inspection, or check application status through the county's online system. If you were previously registered with the earlier provider, your existing credentials still work.
Residential and commercial accessory structures need a permit where they exceed 120 square feet in total floor area.
Plan review and inspections are performed by the county's contracted certified professionals against the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes and the county's ordinances. Schedule through the same online system.
Inspections in Spalding County
Plan reviews and inspections in Spalding are performed by International Code Council certified professionals under the county's contracted building official arrangement. The standards applied are the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes and the county's own ordinances; the personnel are provided by an outside firm.
That model is worth understanding rather than worrying about. It generally means broader certification coverage than a small county could employ directly — but it also means questions about scheduling and availability run through the contract rather than a county roster.
Keep the permit and approved plans on site throughout. A Georgia building permit generally becomes invalid if work does not begin within 180 days of issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after commencing, under the administrative provisions of the adopted International Building and Residential Codes — local ordinance may set a different period, and extensions are usually available in writing on request.
Georgia law lets an applicant use a private professional provider for plan review, with set deadlines for the building official. Georgia rules
Spalding County permit search and official resources
Spalding publishes its permit information, planning guidance, and hearing calendar through Community Development, with Griffin publishing separately for city parcels.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →- Spalding County building permits
- Spalding County Planning & Zoning
- Spalding County Community Development
- DCA — current Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes
- DCA — administration and enforcement of the state minimum codes
- Georgia Secretary of State — verify a contractor licence
Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Spalding County, GA?
The Spalding County Community Development Office, at 119 East Solomon Street, Suite 203 in Griffin. It issues permits in unincorporated Spalding County as well as the towns of Sunny Side and Orchard Hill.
Does the county permit work in Griffin?
No. Griffin is the county seat and permits its own construction. The county serves the unincorporated area plus Sunny Side and Orchard Hill.
Who performs inspections in Spalding County?
International Code Council certified professionals under the county's contracted building official arrangement. The county's building official and building inspector are provided by an outside firm, and they perform all inspections and plan reviews.
What permits does the office issue?
Permits for new residential and new commercial structures, permits for remodeling of existing residential and commercial structures, and permits for residential and commercial accessory structures that exceed 120 square feet in total floor area.
Do I need a permit for a small shed?
Accessory structures need a permit where they exceed 120 square feet in total floor area, residential and commercial alike.
What is the Unified Development Ordinance?
The ordinance regulating development in unincorporated Spalding County. It contains the zoning districts allowed in the unincorporated area, the permitted and conditional uses in each district, and minimum dimensional requirements such as lot size and setbacks.
When does the Planning Commission meet?
The last Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm, in the Courthouse Annex on East Solomon Street. Contact the office for the submittal deadlines, and note that dates can change for holidays and board actions.
When does the Board of Appeals meet?
The second Thursday of each month at 6:00pm, also in the Courthouse Annex.
I registered with the old permitting system — do I need a new account?
No. Anyone previously registered with the county's earlier permitting provider can log in with their existing credentials. Everyone else creates a new account.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Through the county's online permitting system, which also handles new permit applications and application status checks.
What code does Spalding County enforce?
The Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes — the 2024 International Building and Residential Codes with Georgia Amendments and the 2023 National Electrical Code with the 2026 Georgia Amendments, effective January 1, 2026. The energy code remains the 2015 IECC with Georgia supplements.
When is a Georgia contractor licence required?
For residential work, once the total value of the work, or the contractor's compensation if higher, exceeds $2,500; commercial general contractors need a licence at any value. Trade licences under Title 43, Chapter 14 are required regardless of job value.
Simplify Spalding County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Spalding runs a contracted inspection model, serves two towns alongside the unincorporated county, and hears its discretionary applications on a fixed monthly calendar. None of that is difficult, but all of it rewards knowing the dates and the boundaries before you file. A permit expediter for Spalding County files inside the calendar rather than against it.
Trusted by leading builders, developers, and national contractors — 21+ years of filing in the jurisdictions we write about.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Spalding County because the work is done by people who have stood at the counter:
- Right authority — unincorporated county, Sunny Side, or Orchard Hill through the county; Griffin on its own.
- On the calendar — rezoning and conditional use to the last Tuesday, variances to the second Thursday, with submittal deadlines confirmed ahead.
- Complete oversight — every Spalding permit, hearing date, and inspection tracked across your jobs in one place.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and expediting service. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice, and we are not the permitting authority.
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More Georgia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Spalding County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.