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

Sec. 14-36 of the Houston County, Georgia General Code adopts the "Georgia State Minimum Standard Electrical Code (National Electrical Code with Georgia State Amendments)" by reference for unincorporated Houston County, one of eight technical codes the article incorporates alongside the building, residential, fire, plumbing, mechanical, gas and energy codes. Sec. " Before any of that work starts, Sec. 14-91(a) requires the owner, authorized agent or contractor to "first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit for the work" whenever the installation is regulated by the technical codes.

An application filed under Sec. 14-91(d) must be made on the county's form, describe the proposed work and its location, and be signed by the owner or an authorized agent. Under Sec. 14-91(e), that application lapses if a permit is not issued within six months of filing, though the building official can grant one or more 90-day extensions on a written, justified request. The building official also holds inspection authority under Sec. 14-72, entering a building or premises at reasonable times to check for unsafe electrical conditions, and stop-work power under Sec. 14-73 if work proceeds without the required permit.