Carroll County, GA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Section 18-16(a) makes the building official responsible for inspecting all permitted work "from time to time, during and upon completion," and § 18-16(a)(6) sets the minimum required inspection stages by trade. For building work, that means a foundation inspection after trenches are excavated and forms erected, a frame inspection once the roof, framing, fireblocking and bracing are in place and concealed wiring and piping are complete, and a final inspection once the building is ready for occupancy. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas and energy work each carry their own parallel underground, rough-in and final inspection stages under § 18-16(a)(6)b-f.

The permit card must stay posted in a conspicuous, weather-protected spot visible from the street until the building official grants final approval (§ 18-16(a)(5)), and no portion of the work may be covered or concealed until the building official releases it in writing (§ 18-16(a)(9)-(10)). Once every required inspection is passed, § 18-16(b)(1) bars occupying or using the building until the building official issues a certificate of occupancy stating the approved use, occupant load and floor load limits. A separate certificate of completion can be issued instead when a structure is finished but not yet ready for occupancy, such as a shell building awaiting utility connection (§ 18-16(b)(2)).

This inspection and occupancy scheme applies only in unincorporated Carroll County; Carrollton, Villa Rica, Temple, Bowdon, Whitesburg, Mount Zion and Roopville each run their own inspection programs.