White County, Georgia Building Permit Guide

In unincorporated White County, building and trade permits come from the County Building Department (706-865-6496), part of Community and Economic Development, and applications go through the County’s online Citizen Permit Portal. Every application needs a recorded plat, and incomplete ones are not accepted for review; electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas permits are $50 each on a house.

What requires a building permit in White County?

The County requires a permit to build, enlarge, alter, repair, move or change a building or structure, and to install, alter, repair or replace any part of an electrical, gas, plumbing or HVAC system.

Separate County approvals cover land disturbance, tree cutting in Mountain and Hillside Protection areas, signs, driveways and utility work in County rights-of-way.

Who handles permitting in White County?

The Building Department reviews plans, issues building permits and inspects structural, accessibility, electrical, plumbing, fuel gas and heating and air work. Under the County code it is the building inspections division of the Community and Economic Development Department, run by the chief building official, and its permits apply in the unincorporated county. The City of Helen issues its own building, demolition, electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing permits.

White County permit types and online filing

Applications are filed in the Citizen Permit Portal. Pick the permit type, search for the property and the contractor at the top of the form, fill in the details and upload the documents at the bottom.

Contractor registration: contractors can register once with the Building Department so their licences stay on file; White County-based contractors include their County business licence. Unregistered contractors must send copies of their licences with every permit.

Self-Work Affidavit: owners doing their own building, mechanical, plumbing or electrical work upload a notarized affidavit with the application, confirming that they and their family will live on the property and that they will not sell it.

White County permit fees

Fees come from the County’s Building Permit Fee Schedule, revised July 1, 2024, and are based on square footage.

New-home square footage includes basements, covered porches and attached garages or carports. The schedule’s larger plan review fee applies to buildings of 5,000 sq ft or more, groups of three or more stores or offices, and assembly, educational and institutional buildings, hotels, motels, boarding houses and apartments. Starting work before the permit is issued adds a penalty of 100% of the usual permit fee. A used mobile home brought in from outside the county also pays a $500 inspection fee.

Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas permits in White County

Trade work is permitted by the same Building Department. Homeowners and contractors can file an Electrical/Plumbing/HVAC/Gas Only permit in the portal for stand-alone trade work, and new homes carry separate electric, mechanical, plumbing and fuel gas fees of $50 each ($75 each on commercial jobs). Generators and solar panels have their own application types.

On a new home the rough-in inspection covers framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and gas systems, plus any fireplace, in one visit before drywall.

Application documents

Since June 20, 2022 the Building Department has not accepted incomplete applications for review. Every application needs:

• A copy of the recorded plat of the property
• Parcel ID or tax map and parcel number
• Directions to the property
• The septic evaluation (a septic-served building cannot be permitted until the Health Department has issued a septic permit)
• Contractor licences and contact details, unless the contractor is registered
• The Self-Work Affidavit, if the owner is doing the work

Stamped drawings are not required for new homes or accessory structures. Assembly and educational buildings, and commercial buildings of 5,000 sq ft or more, need architect- or engineer-stamped drawings. For any commercial permit, start with a pre-application meeting with the Planning Department and bring a plat of the property.

How to apply: 6 steps in White County

White County inspections

Call 706-865-6496 the day before you want the inspector, with your 5-digit permit number (printed on the permit and the yellow job card), the inspection needed and a contact name and phone number. Inspectors check code compliance, not workmanship or appearance.

Mobile homes get two inspections: a set-up inspection with footings, tie-downs, ductwork, septic and electrical service ready and no skirting, then a final once grading, decks and porches are done. Permanent power is released after the final. A permit expires 12 months after issue, or if work stops for 6 months, and can be renewed once for 12 months.

Local White County details that matter

Tiny homes: allowed if they meet the residential code and pass every inspection, but since June 5, 2023 the minimum is 672 sq ft of heated space. Storage buildings cannot be used as homes.

Mobile homes: one acre per dwelling is the minimum, there is no age limit on homes moved in, and no County road permit is needed to transport one, but a Mobile Home Permit is needed to set it up.

Addresses: White County does not address vacant land or lots with only storage buildings or pole sheds; an address needs a valid building or mobile home permit.

Land disturbance: since June 1, 2025 Community and Economic Development has inspected land disturbance permits on site, including permit cards, the erosion control plan, construction entrances, stabilization and the engineer’s seven-day inspection letter.

Trees and signs: cutting trees 8 inches or more in diameter in a Mountain and Hillside Protection area, without a building or land disturbance permit, needs a $100 tree cutting permit. Sign permits from Planning cost $50 and do not cover any building permit, such as for electrical work, that the sign needs.

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

White County permit search and official resources

• White County — Building Inspections
• White County — Building Permits
• White County — Building Department
• White County Online Citizen Permit Portal
• White County Building Permit Fee Schedule (rev. July 2024)
• White County Self-Work Affidavit
• White County Contractor Registration
• White County Land Disturbance
• White County Code of Ordinances (Municode)
• City of Helen forms and building permits

White County permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in White County, GA?

The White County Building Department, 1241 Helen Highway, Suite 200, Cleveland (706-865-6496), for the unincorporated county. Kevin Bullock is the Building Official.

How much is a building permit for a new house in White County?

It depends on size: $75 plus $0.15 per sq ft over 200 sq ft for 673–2,500 sq ft, and $450 plus $0.12 per sq ft over 2,500 for 2,501–5,000 sq ft. Electric, mechanical, plumbing and fuel gas permits add $50 each.

Do I need a permit for a roof, fence or shed?

Not for new shingles, roof repair or a fence. Storage buildings, decks, covered porches and pole barns do need a permit.

Can I build a tiny home in White County?

Yes, if it meets the residential code, passes all inspections and has at least 672 sq ft of heated space.

Can I pull my own permit?

Yes, for a home you and your family will live in. Upload the notarized Self-Work Affidavit with the application.

How do I schedule an inspection?

Call 706-865-6496 the day before, with your 5-digit permit number and the inspection type.

How long does it take to get an address?

Usually 1–2 weeks after the building permit is issued, once the house and driveway are staked.

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