Building Permitting
The Building Department within the Department of Planning and Development is responsible for the enforcement and the construction codes of Chapter 300, Buildings of the Snellville Unified Development Ordinance.
Any owner, authorized agent, or contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the construction codes, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the Building Department and obtain the required permit for the work. Exception: Permits shall not be required for the following mechanical work:
(1) Any portable heating appliance;
(2) Any portable ventilation equipment;
(3) Any portable cooling unit;
(4) Any steam, hot or chilled water piping within any heating or cooling equipment regulated by the construction codes;
(5) Replacements of any part which does not alter its approval or make it unsafe;
(6) Any portable evaporative cooler;
(7) Any self-contained refrigeration system containing ten pounds (4.54 kilograms) or less of refrigerant and actuated by motors of one horsepower (746 watts) or less.
Work Requiring Building Permits
The following table shows work that requires a building permit. It is not a comprehensive list. For questions please call the Department of Planning and Development at 770-985-3513 or 3514.
| Scope of Work | Permit Needed |
|---|---|
| Above-ground pool and hot-tubs | Yes |
| Addition to home, detached garage or roofed accessory structure | Yes |
| Appliance replacement using hard-wired devices such as wiring or piping | Yes |
| Appliance replacement using plug-in devices | No |
| Basement finish | Yes |
| Bathroom fixture repair and/or replacement | No |
| Bathroom fixture repair and/or replacement needed piping or wiring alterations | Yes |
| Change in building use or classification | Yes |
| Deck or porch repairs (non-structural) | No |
| Deck or porch repair, replacement, or enlargement (structural) | Yes |
| Detached garage (new) | Yes |
| Door and window replacement without structural alterations to openings | No |
| Door and window replacement requiring structural alterations to openings | Yes |
| Driveway concrete/asphalt minor repair | No |
| Driveway replacement, enlargement or addition | Yes |
| Heating and air ductwork replacement | Yes |
| Electrical service repair or new electrical service | Yes |
| Fencing of residential property (see fencing regulations) | No |
| Fire damage repair | Yes |
| Freestanding arbors, gazebos, and pergolas | Yes |
| Furnace/HVAC system replacement | Yes |
| Garage door repair and/or replacement | No |
| Garage enclosure | Yes |
| Gas piping | Yes |
| Generator installation | Yes |
| Interior remodel including framing, drywall, and/or lighting | Yes |
| Interior remodel of painting, tiling, flooring or trim work | No |
| Kitchen cabinet remodel | No |
| Minor repairs to siding, brick, masonry or stucco | No |
| New building construction | Yes |
| New deck, porch, portico, balcony, stoop or structural repairs | Yes |
| New electrical circuit | Yes |
| New exterior siding, brick, masonry or stucco | Yes |
| New fireplace or wood stove | Yes |
| New plumbing fixture requiring piping alterations | Yes |
| Roofed accessory structure greater than 20 sq. ft. in size | Yes |
| Retaining wall less than 48" in height (footing to top of wall) | No |
| Retaining walls greater than 48" in height (footing to top of wall) | Yes |
| Screened porch addition | Yes |
| Solar panel installations | Yes |
| Sunroom addition | Yes |
| Swimming pools and spas | Yes |
| Water heater replacement | Yes |
Building Permits & Inspections
Development Permitting
The Department of Planning and Development is also responsible for the review, permitting, and approval of all civil site plans, final plats, and various other land development activity located in the City of Snellville.
Development Permitting Process