Chief Building Official
Asst. Director Anthony Carter, CBO
3180 Atlanta Rd SE, Smyrna, GA 30080
Phone: 678-631-5387
Effective 1/1/2026, the City of Smyrna will adopt the following construction code changes per the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Office of Construction Codes:
** New permit applications and plan submittals received after 12/31/2025 will be reviewed under these new codes. **
The Building Department is responsible for inspecting all new and remodeled or renovated construction for Residential, Commercial, Office, and Industrial developments. The Community Development Department ensures that all contractors are properly licensed and permitted.
Applicants can apply for Building Permits and Standalone Permits via our online permitting portal .
In-person submittals are no longer accepted.
FAQ
The City of Smyrna follows the current state minimum standard codes for construction as adopted by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs . The State of Georgia establishes the Building, One- and Two-Family Dwelling Residential, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical, Gas, Electrical and Energy codes as mandatory codes. Under state law, any structure built in Georgia must comply with these codes, whether or not the City of Smyrna chooses to enforce these codes.
Since state law gives the enumerated codes statewide applicability, it is not required that the City of Smyrna adopt the mandatory codes. The City, however, has adopted administrative procedures in order to enforce these codes as required by State Statute (O.C.G.A. Section 8-2-25(a)). However, the City can choose which of the mandatory codes it wishes to locally enforce.
Permits are required for:
• New Homes;
• New Decks and Deck Replacements;
• New Roofs and Roof Replacements;
• New Windows and Window Replacements;
• Interior Remodeling/Renovation;
• Building Additions (attached to an existing structure);
• Accessory Structures larger than 200 sq. ft. or taller than one story (detached, e.g. sheds);
• Retaining Walls;
• Pool Installations;
• Solar Panel Installations;
• Generator Installations;
• Projects involving two (2) or more licensed trades;
• Structural and Interior Demolition;
• Replacement of Mechanical Equipment;
• Tree Removals of trees 24" in diameter or larger;
• Land disturbance.
• New Buildings;
• New Roofs and Roof Replacements;
• New Windows and Window Replacements;
• Interior Remodeling/Tenant Finishing;
• White Boxes;
• Building Additions;
• Accessory Buildings/Structures larger than 120 sq. ft. or taller than one story;
• Modular Trailers;
• Racking/Storage Systems;
• Retaining Walls;
• Pool Installations;
• Solar Panel Installations;
• Generator Installations;
• Cell Tower Colocations/Modifications;
• Projects involving two (2) or more licensed trades;
• Structural and Interior Demolition;
• Replacement of Mechanical Equipment;
• Tree Removals;
• Land disturbance.
Penalties for working without a permit include, but are not limited to, additional fees added to the permit, as well as other enforcement actions.
Community Development accepts all applications via our online permitting portal . In-person submittals are no longer accepted.
Review the online permitting portal for the submittal requirements for all permit types. Supplemental plans, documents, and licenses required to obtain a Building Permit vary with the scope of each project. For details, contact the Community Development Department at 678-631-5387.
In order for a homeowner to obtain a Building Permit, the subject property must be their current permanent residence and be listed in their legal name. A landlord may not work on a house to be rented unless they are a Georgia-licensed contractor.
General Building Permits are $7.00 per $1,000.00 of construction cost plus a 10% records fee and a flat $15.00 technology fee. The minimum permit fee is $125.00. Additional fees may be required for commercial construction and new residential homes. For details, contact the Community Development Department at 678-631-5387.
For residential projects, the typical turnaround time for a complete review is 5-10 business days, depending on the scope of work and how many departments are required to review the plans.
For commercial projects, the typical turnaround time for a complete review is 2-3 weeks.
For land disturbance projects, the typical turnaround time for a complete review is 4-5 weeks.
Plans are submitted through the online permitting portal of the City's permitting and licensing system. In-person submittals are no longer accepted.
Inspections can be scheduled within the portal on each application. Inspections are scheduled for the next business day if your request is received by 4 pm. Requests received after 4 pm and on weekends will be scheduled 2 business days out.
The required inspections for your project will be identified on your Building Permit during the plan review process. All required inspections will be listed on your Building Permit.
Once a final inspection has been completed, the Community Development Department will either issue a Certificate of Completion or a Certificate of Occupancy. You may also receive a Life-Safety Certificate of Occupancy from the Fire Prevention office. The final document(s) will be determined at the final inspection.
Final inspections are scheduled with the Building Department, Public Works, Arborist, and Fire Marshal, if required. Once these inspections have passed, applicants will be notified through the online permitting portal that the Certificate of Occupancy is available for pickup at the Community Development front office: 3180 Atlanta Rd SE.
Certificates of Occupancy are only issued for new commercial or residential structures.
Building Permits are only good for six months (if no activity). For details, contact the Community Development Department at 678-631-5387.
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