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

The Technical Standards and Provisions of the National Electric Code, published by the National Fire Protection Association and adopted in its current edition and amendments, govern all electrical work in buildings and structures countywide (section 20-202). The section makes it unlawful to wire or install electrical equipment in or on any building or structure unless the work complies, and the County separately layers in Electrical Code Amendments as adopted by the State (section 20-210).

Electrical-only permit pricing is not printed as a flat figure in Chapter 20; section 20-309 instead points applicants to Article "T" of the County Revenue ordinance for the fee, in addition to any non-refundable plan review fee charged at plan submission (section 20-304). If a submitted construction valuation looks understated, the Director of Building Safety independently sets the value used to calculate the fee (section 20-203).

Electrical permits share the same lifespan rules as other building permits: they lapse if work does not begin within 180 days of issuance or is abandoned for 180 days after starting, subject to Director-granted extensions (section 20-307), and a $30 re-inspection fee applies each time a follow-up inspection is needed because corrections were not made or work was not ready when called (section 20-306). A Director's electrical-permit decision can be appealed in writing within five days to the nine-member Board of Adjustments and Appeals, which includes a seated Master Electrician, for a $100 fee (section 20-203).