Rockdale County, GA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Section 302-49(a) spells out how broad the county's building permit requirement is: it is unlawful to remove or disturb natural resources, excavate or fill a lot, construct, demolish, move or alter any building or structure (including accessory buildings and structures), until the director of the Department of Planning and Development has issued a permit for the work. The application must include a dimensioned site sketch or scaled plan showing the lot's shape and size, the height and use of every structure to be built, demolished, altered or moved, the number of dwelling units planned, buildings on adjoining lots within 50 feet, erosion and sedimentation control measures, and landscaping or tree-protection compliance.

Under § 302-49(b), building plans must be reviewed and approved by the director before any permit issues, and under (c) the plan has to be consistent with the property's land disturbance permit and confirm required public improvements, stormwater facilities and utilities are either complete or bonded. Section 302-49(e) layers on a sewage-disposal check: an on-site system needs a health department permit, and a property on public sewer needs Rockdale Water Resources' approval, before the building permit can issue. A single- or two-family home permit can issue once the final plat is recorded, per § 302-49(f), but under § 302-49(g) permits generally issue only for conforming lots, with narrow exceptions for model homes and phased non-residential subdivisions.

Once issued, § 302-49(h) gives the permit a 180-day shelf life: if work does not start, or stalls for 180 days, the permit lapses and the applicant has to resubmit and pay a new fee before continuing.