Building Permits

Building Own Home

• If you are not a contractor you may build your own home, however, you cannot receive another permit to construct another home within 2 years from the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy.

• Click here for construction requirements in a flood zone.

Manufactured Home

•Pre-owned manufactured homes require a Safety and Aesthetic Inspection prior to issuance of a permit.

•Bulloch County ordinance does not allow building permits to be issued for a mobile home built before June 15, 1976.

• Click here for construction requirements in a flood zone.

Current Codes as Adopted by DCA – Mandatory Codes:

• International Building Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2020)

•International Residential Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2020)

•International Fire Code, 2018 Edition (Contact State Fire Marshal Below)

•International Plumbing Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2020)

•International Mechanical Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2020)

•International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2020)

•National Electrical Code, 2020 Edition (No Georgia Amendments)

•International Energy Conservation Code, 2015 Edition, with Georgia Supplements and Amendments (2020)

•International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2020)

Note: For further information please visit the

Georgia Department of Community Affairs website.

Manufactured Home Installation

•Manufactured Home: Installers Instructions

•Manufactured Home: Owner Installation Instructions

(Installation of the foundation, pillars, tie rods and straps must be performed by a licensed Georgia installer.)

Local Ordinance

•Building Ordinance

•Manufactured Home Ordinance

•Flood Damage Prevention (see Chapter 7)

Residential: New Construction

• Single Family Dwelling: Climate Controlled – $.23 per sq ft

• Single Family Dwelling: Non-climate Controlled – $.10 per sq ft

• Multiple Unit Dwelling: Climate Controlled – $.23 per sq ft

• Multiple Unit Dwelling: Non-climate Controlled – $.10 per sq ft

• Manufactured Home – $.15 per sq ft

• Safety and Aesthetic Inspection (Pre-inspect) – $50 per inspection

• Certificate of Occupancy – $20

Nonresidential: New Construction

• Commercial: Climate Controlled – $.30 per sq ft

• Commercial: Non-climate Controlled – $.25 per sq ft

• Warehouse: 0 – 50,000 sq ft – $.15 per sq ft

• Warehouse: > 50,000 sq ft (additional) – $.05 per sq ft

• Barns/Storage with Electricity and/or Plumbing – $.15 per sq ft

• Barns/Storage without Electricity and/or Plumbing – $.10 per sq ft

• Pole Barn – $.05 per sq ft

• Education, Government and Religious – $.20 per sq ft

• All Other Structures – $.20 per sq ft

Addition and Renovation

• Addition: Climate Controlled – $.25 per sq ft

• Addition: Non-climate Controlled – $.10 per sq ft

Renovation:

• Up to 400 sq. ft. – $150

• 401 to 1,000 sq. ft. – $300

• Over 1,000 sq. ft. – $450

Other Inspections

• Moving House – $125

• Non-permitted Inspection – $100 per inspection

• Re-inspections – $100 per inspection

• Same Day Inspection – $100 per inspection

Plan Review

• Non-residential Building and Site Plan Review – Building permit + 5%

Flood Zone

• Verification Letter (require GPS site visit) – $50

• Verification Letter – $20

Health Department Environmental Fee Schedule

On-Site Sewage Management

Site Evaluation / Permit / Inspection for Systems Treating:

<2,000 gallons per day – $100

2,000 to 5,000 gallons per day – $250

5,000 to 7,500 gallons per day – $500

7,500 to 10,000 gallons per day – $750

Site Re-inspection – $50

Existing System Evaluation – $50

Subdivision or Mobile Home Park Plan Review

4 lots or less – $50

5 to 50 lots – $100

51 to 100 lots – $150

100 lots or more – $200

Sewage Pump Truck Inspection – $75

Well Water Test

Water Sample (bacteriological) – $30

Water Re-sample (bacteriological) – $15

Water Sample (chemical) – $150

Delivery Charge (if delivered to a private lab) – $20

(An additional check for $25.50 should be made payable to the City of Statesboro for water samples tested at the Statesboro Wastewater Treatment Plan)

Please take a few minutes to review the following tips before you hire a contractor to do any work similar to the above projects.

Tips for Hiring a Reputable Contractor

Bulloch County is fortunate to have the Statesboro Home Builder’s Association along with Bulloch County ordinances to promote a high level of experienced contractors. The Home Builder’s Association assists members by offering educational opportunities for contractors to maintain a high standard for business. However, not all contractors operate within the law. Every year consumers become victims of unscrupulous contractors.

Avoid Dealing With Contractors Who:

• Use high-pressure sales tactics.

• Pressure you to sign contracts and documents immediately.

• Tell you they can help you get a loan from a lender they know.

• Only accept cash payments.

• Demand payment for the entire job upfront.

• Ask you to get the required building permits.

Tips For Hiring A Reputable Contractor:

• All contractors who accept money for services provided are required to maintain a current occupation tax (commonly referred to as a business license).

• Find out how long the contractor has been in business.

• Obtain and check several references from former customers, preferable those who had similar work done. If possible, inspect the contractor’s work.

• Talk to subcontractors about the contractor’s payment history. The State of Georgia may allow subcontractors and/or suppliers to file a mechanic’s lien against your home to satisfy their unpaid bills. Ask the contractor, subcontractors, and suppliers for a lien release or lien waiver.

• Make sure that the contractor is responsible for obtaining any permits required for the job.

• Make sure the subcontractors have a current occupation tax.

Other Tips:

• Always get a written contract.

• Make sure all inspections have been performed and completed.

• Make sure the contractor completes the job. Don’t make a final payment until all of the work meets the standards spelled out in the contract, you have received written warranties for materials and workmanship, you have proof that all subcontractors and suppliers have been paid, the job-site has been cleaned up, you have inspected and approved the completed work and that the County has issued a certificate of occupancy.

Do It Yourself

Homeowners may act as their own general contractor if the following steps are met:

• For new home construction and additions only, please call Sterling Starling (912) 764-0156 to schedule an appointment.

• Obtain proper permits. The Residential Permit Requirements are listed on this form.

• Follow all required inspections.

Please contact the Building Permit / Inspections Department the day before you need the inspection.

To better serve the contractors and subcontractors in Bulloch County, a new email address was created to be used exclusively to request all inspections.

1. Inspection Request Phone Line – (912) 489-1356

2. Inspection Request Email Address – Inspections Request Email

Please contact the Building Permits / Inspections Department by 5:00 p.m. the day before you need the inspection by either the above telephone number or email. You will need to specify your permit number as well as the type of inspection needed and your contact information. These requests will be monitored throughout the day.

Required Inspections

Foundation inspection/temporary power: To be made after trenches for footings are excavated and all forms and required re-enforcement materials erected. Temporary electric service should also be erected.

Pre-Slab house: open plumbing – roughed-in plumbing tests on waste lines and water lines and open cell foundation walls with reinforcement, moisture barrier placement and thickness of slab.

Sub-floor house: foundation walls, bond beam/open cell prior to placement of concrete.

Sub-floor: foundation walls, bond beam/cells filled with concrete and anchor bolt placement.

Sub-floor: open framing to verify spans, anchoring and termite protection.

Exterior sheathing: verify nailing patterns, sheathing placement and overlaps and purlins as required.

Dry-in inspection: To be made after the roof, all framing, fire-blocking and bracing is in place. Plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems are to be roughed-in, including all pipes and concealed wiring. Chimney ducts and vents are complete.

Insulation inspection: Inspection shall be made to determine compliance with the Energy Efficiency chapter of the International Building Code and shall include, but not be limited to, inspections for: envelope insulation R and U values, fenestration U value, duct system R value, and HVAC and water-heating equipment efficiency.

Permanent power inspection: Inspection shall be made to determine compliance with the National Electric Code. Upon compliance with the National Electric Code, the Building Department will fax to the appropriate power company an approval to connect power to the building.

NOTE: If any portion of a lot is within the 100 year floodplain, an elevation certificate must be submitted prior to Certificate of Occupancy.

Certificate of occupancy inspection

Inspection Checklist / Tip Sheet

• Building Inspection Checklist

• Manufactured Home Inspection Checklist

• Tip Sheet

Please have the following ready when calling for an inspection:

1. Permit Number

2. Address

3. Type of inspection

4. Contact Information

For a copy of the building permit application please click here and complete the highlighted information before submitting to the Building Permit / Inspection Department. If you are unsure what to submit with the permit application, please click on the links below for the most common types of permits.

New Residential Construction Building Permit Requirements:

Residential Building Permit Instructions

Manufactured Home Permit Requirements:

Manufactured Home Permit Requirements

A Safety and Aesthetics inspection is required for all pre-owned manufactured home. Click to see Safety and Aesthetic Standards.

New Commercial Construction Building Permit Requirements:

Commercial Building Permit Instructions

After the permit application has been submitted you can expect a turn around time frame of approximately 5 days for new residential construction and additions. Manufactured home requests average 3 days. If an engineered grading plan is required, that time frame is dependent on the state and can take up to 3 weeks. The turn around time for new commercial construction and commercial additions varies depending on the size of the project.