Tucker, Georgia Building Permit Guide

In Tucker, the Building & Permitting Division of Community Development reviews plans, issues building and trade permits and inspects the work inside city limits. Applications go to permits@tuckerga.gov or through the City’s BS&A permit portal, and a residential building permit costs 0.65% of the construction value plus a 10% plan review fee (minimum $50) and a $50 administrative fee.

What requires a permit in Tucker?

Tucker’s building regulations require a permit before a building or structure is built, altered or repaired, and before regulated mechanical, gas, plumbing, electrical or energy systems are installed or changed. The City gives these examples:

New buildings, additions, alterations, renovations and demolitions need a residential or commercial building permit. Subdivision covenants may still control some of the work the City does not regulate, so check with your homeowners association.

Tucker building department: who handles permitting

The Building & Permitting Division enforces the building, mechanical, plumbing and electrical codes: it processes permits, reviews plans, collects fees, issues permits and conducts inspections. Ken Miller is the Building Official. Land development is handled by the City’s Land Development Division: Tucker calls the Land Disturbance Permit (LDP) the horizontal development stage (clearing, grading, roads, utilities and stormwater) and the building permit the vertical stage.

Permit types and application routing

Building and trade permits can be submitted electronically to permits@tuckerga.gov or started in the City’s BS&A Online permit portal, linked from the Building & Permitting page. Use the form for the specific permit and attach the plans and affidavits it asks for:

• Residential: building permit, model home building permit, demolition, electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing applications, plus the Residential Homeowner Affidavit for owners doing their own work.
• Commercial: building permit, demolition, electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing applications.
• Contractor forms: Authorized Permit Agent Affidavit, Subcontractor Affidavit and Renovation Firm Certification Application.
• Other: small cell applications, multifamily development guidance and the Public Works right-of-way permit.

Permit fees in Tucker

The City’s residential and commercial fee schedules split each building permit into three parts, all due when the permit is issued:

For example, a $40,000 home renovation has a permit fee of $260, plan review at the $50 minimum and the $50 administrative fee: $360 in total. Work started before the required permit is obtained carries a penalty of 100% of the usual permit fee on top of the permit fee.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas and fire

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work are City trade permits issued by Building & Permitting, each on its own residential or commercial application. On top of the base fee ($50 residential, $100 commercial), items are priced from the fee schedule:

Since May 15, 2026, DeKalb County Fire Rescue provides most Fire Marshal services for Tucker. Tucker must issue a city services routing sheet before plans can be submitted to DeKalb Fire; contact permits@tuckerga.gov to get one.

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

Application documents and land-development coordination

Use the residential or commercial application that matches the scope and include the plan set and any affidavits. Tucker publishes an Authorized Permit Agent Affidavit, a Subcontractor Affidavit and a Residential Homeowner Affidavit.

An LDP is required for more than 5,000 sq ft of disturbance at a commercial site, more than 1 acre at a residential site, or any disturbance within 200 feet of state waters.

How to apply: 6-step Tucker process

Tucker inspections

The Building & Permitting Division carries out building and trade inspections and issues certificates of occupancy and completion, whose cost is covered by the administrative fee.

Fire inspections on active building, fire suppression and land development permits are requested from the DeKalb County Fire Marshal’s Office: email dekalbfmo@dekalbcountyga.gov and copy permits@tuckerga.gov, with the subject “TUCKER Fire Inspection Needed at” followed by the project address. In the email give the project type and description, the inspection needed, any earlier fire inspections and the Tucker permit number. The approved building and life-safety plans must be on site, or DeKalb Fire will not complete the inspection.

Local Tucker details that matter

Business certificates of occupancy: Tucker still issues certificates of occupancy for new buildings and new businesses. Business certificate of occupancy applications are reviewed and inspected by third-party life safety professionals through a partnership with SAFEbuilt; questions go to bco@tuckerga.gov, and the City publishes a New Business Life Safety Inspection Checklist.

Right-of-way is separate: Tucker Public Works maintains a dedicated right-of-way permit request path for work in City right-of-way.

Homeowner permits: the Residential Homeowner Affidavit is for an owner who lives or will live in the property, will not sell or lease it, and personally does or directly supervises the work. Sub-contracted work must go to Georgia-licensed contractors, and plumbing, electrical, HVAC and low-voltage work need separate permits.

Homeowner associations: the City reminds owners that subdivision covenants can govern projects the City does not regulate.

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

Tucker 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.

• Tucker Public Works
• Tucker Land Use & Development
• Tucker Fire Marshal
• Tucker Building & Permitting
• Tucker building regulations
• Tucker Planning & Zoning FAQs
• Tucker Community Development
• Georgia DCA current construction codes
• Tucker BS&A permit portal
• Tucker residential building fee schedule
• Tucker commercial building fee schedule
• Tucker Residential Homeowner Affidavit

Tucker permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Tucker?

The City of Tucker Building & Permitting Division within Community Development. Ken Miller is the Building Official.

How much is a residential building permit in Tucker?

The permit fee is 0.0065 times the construction value (ICC valuation data for new homes and additions, cost of construction for renovations), plus plan review at 10% of that fee (minimum $50) and a $50 administrative fee.

How do I apply for a permit in Tucker?

Email the application and plans to permits@tuckerga.gov or use the BS&A Online permit portal linked from the Building & Permitting page.

Do I need a permit to replace a water heater or AC unit in Tucker?

Yes. Both are on the City’s list of trade permits; residential trade permits start with a $50 base fee.

Does a shed need a building permit in Tucker?

A detached, non-habitable structure under 200 sq ft does not, but it still needs a site plan for planning review.

Who handles fire inspections in Tucker now?

Since May 15, 2026, DeKalb County Fire Rescue handles most Fire Marshal services. Request inspections by email to the DeKalb County Fire Marshal’s Office with the Tucker permit number.

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