Augusta-Richmond County, GA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- construction, alteration, repair, occupancy change
- Residential building fee
- $0.09 per square foot
- First-offense penalty
- $500 fine (Sec. 7-1-91)
- Minor repair exemption
- Building Official approval, no code violation
- Permits issued by
- License & Inspection Department
Summary
Augusta-Richmond County requires a building permit before any construction, alteration, repair, or occupancy change to a building, issued by the Building Official under the county's adopted International Building Code.
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 technical codes, or to cause any such work to be done shall first make application to the Building Official and obtain the required permit for the work.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Recodification).
Full Breakdown
Under Augusta-Richmond County Code Title 7, § 7-1-81(a), any owner, agent, or contractor who wants to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building, or to install or alter its electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems, must first apply to the Building Official and obtain a permit before starting work. Permit valuation includes labor and materials; residential building permits run $0.09 per square foot plus separate electrical, mechanical, and plumbing fees, while commercial work is billed on a valuation-based schedule. Ordinary minor repairs that don't violate the technical codes may proceed without a permit if the Building Official approves.
Violations & Fines
Starting construction, alteration, or repair work without a permit brings a $500 fine for a first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense under Sec. 7-1-91.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to renovate my home in Augusta-Richmond County?
What if I skip the permit and start work anyway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Augusta-Richmond County
Compare Augusta-Richmond County to another location·View the Georgia building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.