Tift County, Georgia Building Permit Guide

In unincorporated Tift County and the cities of Ty Ty and Omega, building permits, plan review and inspections are handled by Tift County Community Development Services at 225 Tift Avenue, Building D, in Tifton (229-386-7961). A permit is required for new construction or renovation costing more than $500, inspections are booked by phone 24 hours ahead, and the City of Tifton issues its own permits inside city limits.

What requires a permit in Tift County?

County Code Sec. 22-39 requires a building permit for all new construction or renovation in the unincorporated county costing more than $500. The Unified Development Code (UDC) adds that a building permit, or a sign permit for a sign, is needed before any building or structure is built, moved, demolished or altered, and only for a lot of record.

A site development plan is not needed for accessory structures, farm development on a bona fide farm, or a single-family house in an approved recorded subdivision or on an existing lot of record.

Who handles permitting in Tift County?

Community Development Services handles planning and zoning, permitting, building inspections and plan review, and code enforcement. Under the County code, permits are issued by the building official or the county assessor’s office. Environmental Health issues permits for on-site sewage systems and carries out the site evaluations and inspections for them.

City of Tifton: inside Tifton city limits, building permits come from the City’s Department of Community Development, not the County.

Tift County permit fees

Permit costs are set by the Board of Commissioners in the Tift County Fee Schedule, which is not posted on the County website. Under Sec. 22-40 the building permit fee is paid when the application is filed, and the UDC treats an application as incomplete until every required fee is paid. A land clearing permit also carries a state fee on top of the local fee, payable before the land disturbance permit is issued.

Electrical, plumbing and HVAC details

The County’s building checklist folds the trade work into the building application: it asks for the number of 110-volt and 220-volt outlets, the electrical service amperage, the number of plumbing drains and the number of HVAC units, so the inspectors can check the plans against the code. Contractors listed on the application must be licensed and must sign the permit or confirm the installation in writing. Mobile homes need a state-licensed installer and electrician.

What to bring for a house, addition or accessory building

• Property owner’s name, or a letter of permission from the landowner
• A copy of the plat or deed (the UDC asks for a recorded plat showing the lot is a lot of record)
• A site plan showing the setbacks from the road centre line and the side and rear lines, and the building’s position relative to any existing house
• Construction materials, dimensions and heated and unheated square footage
• Outlet counts, service amperage, plumbing drains and HVAC units
• Contractor names and licences
• A copy of the house plans
• A septic tank permit for new site-built homes and bathroom additions, or a letter from the Tifton/Tift County Utility Department proving city water and sewer
• A 911 Address Request Form and a driveway application

Commercial projects need a site plan showing existing and proposed topography, drainage, entrances, water and sewer lines, meters and fire hydrants. Land in a flood hazard area needs the technical information the flood rules require, and land with possible wetlands needs a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit or clearance letter before the County will issue a permit.

How to apply in Tift County: 5 steps

Tift County inspections

Schedule inspections by calling Community Development Services at 229-386-7961 at least 24 hours in advance. A certificate of occupancy or completion is required before a new building is used, and the County will not issue one if the work departs from the approved site plan without approval.

A building permit becomes void if work has not started within six months of issue, or stops for six months once started. The Manager can grant written extensions of up to six months at a time.

Local Tift County rules

Mobile homes: homes built before June 15, 1976 cannot be moved into or within Tift County unless already there. A mobile home must be underpinned within 45 days and needs a landing or porch of at least 3 by 3 feet at each entrance, with handrails and guardrails as required. The application needs a recorded plat or a notarised landowner letter, the home’s year, make and serial number, a site plan, Health Department water and septic approval (with a pump-out report from the last 5 years for an existing tank), the property record card from the Tax Assessors (Room 110) and proof of taxes and the decal from the Tax Commissioner (Room 105).

Zoning: the Greater Tift County Planning Commission hears rezoning, text amendment and annexation requests for Tift County, Ty Ty and Omega on the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in Room 207 of the Charles Kent Administration Building, 225 N. Tift Avenue.

Land disturbance: a land disturbance permit expires if work has not started within six months, or six months after work stops.

Large projects: developments that meet the state’s Development of Regional Impact thresholds go to the Southern Georgia Regional Commission before any local permit is issued.

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

Tift 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.

• Tift County — Official Website
• Tift County — Unified Development Code
• Tift County Community Development Services
• Tift County permits and licenses forms
• Building checklist: new home, addition, accessory building
• Checklist for a mobile home permit
• Tift County Unified Development Code (September 2026)

Tift County permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Tift County?

Tift County Community Development Services, 225 Tift Avenue, Building D, Tifton (229-386-7961), for unincorporated Tift County and the cities of Ty Ty and Omega. The City of Tifton issues permits inside its own limits.

When do I need a building permit in Tift County?

For any new construction or renovation in the unincorporated county costing more than $500, and before building, moving, altering or demolishing any building or structure.

How much is a building permit in Tift County?

Fees come from the Tift County Fee Schedule adopted by the Board of Commissioners and are paid when you file the application. The schedule is not posted on the County website.

How do I schedule an inspection?

Call 229-386-7961 at least 24 hours in advance.

How long is a Tift County building permit valid?

It becomes void if work does not start within six months, or stops for six months; written extensions of up to six months can be granted.

Can I put an older mobile home on my land?

Not if it was built before June 15, 1976, unless it is already located in the County. Newer homes need a state-licensed installer and electrician and must be underpinned within 45 days.

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