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

The Board of Commissioners adopted the International Plumbing Code (IPC), current edition as amended, as the regulation governing plumbing installations in unincorporated Chatham County (section 20-201(2)). The chapeau to section 20-201 makes it unlawful to install plumbing without complying with the adopted code, and the Director of Building Safety and Regulatory Services issues the permit and inspects the work.

Permit fees for plumbing-only installations are not printed as a flat dollar figure in the building chapter; section 20-310 instead routes pricing to Article "T" of the County Revenue ordinance. A separate, non-refundable plan review fee is charged at submission under section 20-304.

Once issued, a plumbing permit becomes invalid if construction does not begin within 180 days of issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after starting; the Director can grant one or more extensions consistent with the International Building Code (section 20-307). If an inspection finds the work does not conform, the inspector notifies the contractor of the needed corrections and re-inspects at no charge, but a $30 fee applies for each additional re-inspection caused by uncorrected work or work that was not ready when called (section 20-306).

Permit holders who cancel before work starts can recover their payment minus the plan review fee, but no refund is given if construction has not started within six months (absent a granted extension) or if work that has begun is later discontinued (section 20-305). Anyone dissatisfied with a Director's decision can appeal in writing within five days to the nine-member Board of Adjustments and Appeals, paying a $100 filing fee; the Board must rule within 30 days or the Director's decision stands (section 20-203).