Building Safety in Chatham County, GA (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Chatham County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Childcare Center Rules
Chatham County requires anyone operating a child day care agency in the unincorporated county, defined as care for four or more unrelated children more than one day a week, to hold an annual license from the Occupational Tax Section. Licensing requires a state 'Bright From the Start' certificate plus sign-off from the County Zoning and Fire Inspectors under Sec. 16-603.
Chatham County Child Day Care Licensing Rules
Significant RestrictionsCode of Chatham County § 16-603
Before issuing or renewing a license to any person for the operation of a child day care agency, the application must include a current "Bright From the Start" certificate issued by the State of Georgia and shall be referred to the Chatham County Zoning and Fire Inspector for their respective inspections and a recommendation regarding the application from an authorized representative of each of...
Green Building Code
Chatham County has no standalone "green building" ordinance, but every construction project in the unincorporated county must meet the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted under Code of Chatham County § 20-201. The Director of Building Safety enforces it alongside the IBC, IRC, IMC, IPC and Fire Code as one adopted set of Standard Codes.
Chatham County, GA Green Building & Energy Code
Some RestrictionsCode of Chatham County § 20-201
20-201 Adoption of Standard Codes. The regulations and administrative procedures of the following Standard Codes recommended and published by the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in book form are hereby adopted as the regulations governing the construction of buildings and other structures in the County; ... and it shall be unlawful to erect o...
Building Permits
Chatham County adopts the International Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical Codes under Code § 20-201, making it unlawful to erect, alter or wire any building or structure in the unincorporated county without complying with them. Starting work before the permit issues doubles the fee or adds a flat $250, whichever is greater, under § 20-303, on top of the underlying code violation.
Building Permits Required in Chatham County
Some RestrictionsChatham County Code § 20-201
The regulations and administrative procedures of the following Standard Codes recommended and published by the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in book form are hereby adopted as the regulations governing the construction of buildings and other structures in the County ... and it shall be unlawful to erect or construct any building or structur...
Electrical Permits
Chatham County enforces the National Electric Code on all electrical work in the unincorporated area under section 20-202, making it unlawful to wire or install electrical equipment without complying. A permit from Building Safety and Regulatory Services is required, priced through the County Revenue ordinance under section 20-309.
Electrical Permits in Chatham County, GA
Some RestrictionsChatham County Code § 20-202; § 20-210; § 20-309
§20-202 National Electric Code. The Technical Standards and Provisions of the National Electric Code promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association, current edition and amendments, governing all electrical work in buildings and other structures in the County; and it shall be unlawful to wire or install electrical equipment in/on any building or on any structure in the County unless sai...
Plumbing Permits
Chatham County requires all plumbing work in the unincorporated area to comply with the International Plumbing Code, adopted countywide under section 20-201(2). A permit from Building Safety and Regulatory Services is mandatory before installation begins, and it voids if work does not start within 180 days or sits abandoned that long after starting.
Plumbing Permits in Chatham County, GA
Some RestrictionsChatham County Code § 20-201(2); § 20-310
§20-201 Adoption of Standard Codes. The regulations and administrative procedures of the following Standard Codes recommended and published by the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in book form are hereby adopted as the regulations governing the construction of buildings and other structures in the County... it shall be unlawful to erect or con...
Building Inspections
Chatham County Code § 20-306 puts re-inspections in the hands of the Director of the Department of Building Safety and Regulatory Services: a failed inspection earns one free re-check once corrections are made, but a second trip triggered by an unready site or uncorrected defects costs $30 a visit. Let a permit sit idle and the inspections never get called, and it lapses after 180 days under § 20-307.
Building Inspection Rules in Chatham County
Some RestrictionsChatham County Code § 20-306
If the Director of the Department of Building Safety and Regulatory Services or his duly authorized representative shall, upon his/her inspection after the completion of the work or apparatus, find the same does not conform to and comply with the provisions of this Code, he/she shall notify the contractor, indicating the corrections to be made, and then he/she shall again inspect the work or ap...
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