Catoosa County, GA Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- State-adopted Plumbing Code, § 18-31(4)
- Enforcing official
- County building inspector, § 18-32
- Fees
- Set by attachment B, § 18-33
- Self-inspection
- State § 8-2-26(d) allowance disabled locally
- Gas piping
- Requires state HVAC/plumber license, § 18-35
Summary
Unincorporated Catoosa County enforces the state-adopted Plumbing Code under Sec. 18-31, administered by the county building inspector with attachment-B permit fees, and opts out of the state's self-inspection allowance for water and sewer line work under Sec. 18-1.
The county is exempted from the provisions of O.C.G.A. § 8-2-26(d) relating to the self-inspection of certain water and sewer lines, and such provisions shall not be applicable in the county. ... The following codes, the latest editions, as adopted and amended by the state department of community affairs, are hereby adopted by reference and shall be enforced within the county: ... (4)State adopted Plumbing Code including: All appendices. ... The county building inspector shall enforce the provisions of this article and the codes adopted herein as provided in attachment A to the ordinance from which this article was derived. ... The schedule for permit fees applicable under this article shall be as set forth in attachment B to the ordinance from which this article is derived and shall be maintained in the office of the building official in accordance with attachment B. ... The installation of gas piping shall be regulated by the building inspection department. Gas piping shall be authorized to be installed under the HVAC or plumbers license issued by the State of Georgia.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 18, Article II Construction Codes is the source of plumbing permitting rules for unincorporated Catoosa County. Sec. 18-31 adopts by reference 'the latest editions, as adopted and amended by the state department of community affairs' of a list of codes, with item (4) naming the 'State adopted Plumbing Code including: All appendices,' enforceable countywide. Sec. 18-32 places administration and enforcement of that code with the county building inspector, operating under attachment A to the original 1995 construction-codes ordinance, and Sec. 18-33 ties permit fees to attachment B, kept on file in the building official's office.
Sec. 18-1 makes a specific local departure from state law: the county opts the self-inspection allowance in O.C.G.A. § 8-2-26(d), which lets certain water and sewer line work be self-inspected, out of applicability, meaning that shortcut 'shall not be applicable' in Catoosa County. Gas piping installation, closely tied to plumbing work, is separately addressed in Sec. 18-35, which puts gas pipe installation under the building inspection department's regulation and requires it be performed under an HVAC or plumber's license issued by the State of Georgia, while venting of gas appliances stays under the HVAC license only, subject to Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board rules.
Violations & Fines
The county building inspector administers and enforces the adopted Plumbing Code under Sec. 18-32's attachment-A framework, and Sec. 18-1's opt-out means water and sewer line installers in unincorporated Catoosa County cannot rely on the state's self-inspection allowance and must instead undergo the county's normal permit inspection process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What plumbing code applies in unincorporated Catoosa County?
Can a contractor self-inspect water or sewer line work in Catoosa County?
Who regulates gas pipe installation tied to plumbing work?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Catoosa County
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