Marietta, GA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Section 7-4-2-030(C)(1)(b) applies the International Building Code, as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, to the construction, alteration, repair, use, occupancy, maintenance, removal, and demolition of every building or structure in Marietta, except one- and two-family dwellings, which fall instead under the International Residential Code. Section 7-4-2-050(A)(1) requires the owner, authorized agent, or contractor to file an application with the building official before any such work, listing a general description of the project and its location, signed by the owner or an authorized agent.

Applications must include drawings and specifications when required, sealed by a Georgia-registered architect or engineer for Group A, E, and I occupancies, buildings three stories or taller, or buildings 5,000 square feet or larger, though single-family dwellings never need that seal regardless of size. The building official must act on a complete application without unreasonable delay, issuing the permit if the plans conform to the construction codes or returning them with a written refusal stating the reason if they do not. An application is deemed abandoned six months after filing if no permit has issued, and an issued permit becomes invalid if work is not started within six months or is suspended for six months, subject to 90-day extensions granted in writing for justifiable cause.

Fees follow the governing body's schedule and must be paid before issuance; starting work first adds a 100 percent penalty on top of the normal fee.