Clayton County, GA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Sec. 18-23(a)(3) applies the National Electrical Code, as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, to "the installation of the electrical systems, including alterations, repairs, replacement, equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings, and appurtenances thereto" throughout the unincorporated county. Sec. 18-41(a) folds electrical work into the same permit requirement as building work: anyone who wants to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace an electrical system regulated by the construction codes must first apply to the county official and obtain a permit.

The section carves out three narrow electrical exceptions: minor repair work such as replacing lamps or plugging approved portable equipment into approved receptacles; radio and television transmission equipment itself, though the power supply wiring and any towers or antennas still need a permit; and temporary systems installed solely to test or service electrical equipment (18-41, Electrical exceptions (1)-(3)). Sec. 18-45 requires any electrical contractor to hold whatever state license the work requires and to supply the license number to the county before a permit is issued.

Fees follow the same schedule as other construction-code permits under Sec. 18-47(d), and starting electrical work before the permit issues triggers a penalty of 100 percent of the usual fee on top of the fee itself (18-47(b)).