Building Safety in Houston County, GA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Houston County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Every short-term rental in unincorporated Houston County must have working carbon monoxide detectors in each bedroom and on every habitable floor, under Sec. 19-24(a)(1) of the county's short-term rental standards, adopted by Ordinance No. 2025-001 on May 20, 2025. The same rule requires a working smoke detector alongside the CO detector in each location.
Houston County Short-Term Rentals Need CO Detectors
Some RestrictionsHouston County, GA Code of Ordinances § 19-24(a)(1)
Short-term rentals, as defined in section 19-22, shall be subject to the following general requirements in addition to the zoning district regulations for the zoning district in which the short-term rental is located:(a)Short-term rentals shall meet all applicable building, health, fire, and related safety codes at all times. Each short-term rental shall also have:(1)Working smoke and carbon mo...
Building Permits
Houston County requires a permit before almost any construction or system work on a building: Sec. 14-91(a) of the county's Code of Ordinances covers new construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition or occupancy changes, plus electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing installations regulated by the adopted technical codes. Applications go to the county building official.
When Houston County Requires a Building Permit
Some RestrictionsHouston County, GA Code of Ordinances § 14-91(a)
Any owner, authorized agent or contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the technical codes, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first ...
Electrical Permits
Any electrical installation, alteration, repair or replacement in unincorporated Houston County falls under the electrical code adopted in Chapter 14 of the county's Code of Ordinances: Georgia's Minimum Standard Electrical Code, which is the National Electrical Code (NEC) with Georgia amendments. Sec. 14-91 requires the owner, agent or contractor to apply to the building official and obtain a permit before starting the work.
Houston County Requires Permits for Electrical Work
Some RestrictionsHouston County, GA Code of Ordinances § 14-53(c)
Electrical. The provisions of the International Electrical Code with Georgia Amendments shall apply to the installation of electrical systems, including alterations, repairs, replacement, equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and appurtenances thereto.
Plumbing Permits
Every plumbing installation in unincorporated Houston County, from new piping to a fixture replacement, is governed by the Georgia State Minimum Standard Plumbing Code adopted in Chapter 14 of the county's Code of Ordinances, and Sec. 14-91 requires a permit from the building official before that work begins.
Houston County Requires Permits for Plumbing Work
Some RestrictionsHouston County, GA Code of Ordinances § 14-53(f)
Plumbing. The provisions of the International Plumbing Code with Georgia State Amendments shall apply to every plumbing installation, including alterations, repairs, replacement, equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and appurtenance, and when connected to a water or sewerage system.
All Houston County ordinances
See every category we cover for Houston County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Houston County Ordinance Hub →