Before You Build in Dunwoody, GA: Permit & Rule Checklist (2026)

Dunwoody Zoning Ordinance §27-206(b)(5): fences in street yards are limited to 4 feet. Interior side and rear yard fences may be up to 8 feet. Fences adjacent to collector or arterial streets may be 8 feet in height in the street side yard. Permits required in front yards and corner lots.

Georgia common law applies in Dunwoody: fences must be installed on the owner's property. No city ordinance requires neighbor consent before fence installation. Boundary disputes are civil matters. Dunwoody does not require a survey for rear-yard fences (no permit needed) but accuracy is the owner's responsibility.

A fence permit is NOT required in Dunwoody for fences completely to the rear of a residential home. A permit IS required for new fences, vehicular gates, and replacement fences in front yards, on corner lots, or within stream buffers. Contact Community Development: 678-382-6800.

Dunwoody residential pools must comply with Georgia's pool barrier requirements under the adopted International Residential Code (IRC). Pools deeper than 24 inches must have a 48-inch minimum barrier fully enclosing the pool. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching. Building permits required.

Pool safety standards in Dunwoody follow the IRC and National Electrical Code. All pool electrical work must be permitted and inspected. Anti-entrapment drain covers (VGB-compliant) are required. Pools must be maintained to prevent mosquito breeding as required by DeKalb County health codes.

Above-ground pools deeper than 24 inches in Dunwoody require the same 48-inch barrier as in-ground pools. The pool walls may serve as the barrier if they are at least 48 inches tall with secured/removed access ladders when the pool is unattended. A building permit is required.

ADUs in Dunwoody are regulated by the Zoning Ordinance (Ch. 27). Georgia has no statewide ADU mandate; Dunwoody determines eligibility by parcel zoning. Contact Planning and Zoning (678-382-6800) to confirm whether an ADU is permitted on a specific property and what standards apply.

Garage conversions to habitable space in Dunwoody require a building permit and must comply with the IRC and Zoning Ordinance (Ch. 27). Converted space must meet insulation, egress, HVAC, and electrical standards. ADU rules apply if creating a separate dwelling unit. Parking requirements must be addressed.

Dunwoody regulates carports as accessory structures under Chapter 27 of the Zoning Ordinance. Detached carports must be located in the rear yard of R-100 lots, may not exceed 20 feet in height or the height of the principal dwelling, and require a building permit reviewed under the Georgia State Minimum Standard Residential Code.

Storage sheds in Dunwoody are regulated under the Zoning Ordinance (Ch. 27) as accessory structures. Sheds must meet setback requirements, be placed in rear or side yards, and comply with lot coverage limits. Sheds over 144 sq ft generally require a building permit from Community Development.

Outdoor burning in Dunwoody is governed by GAEPD Rule 391-3-1-.02(5) and the Georgia Forestry Commission permit system. A free burn permit is required from the GFC before most outdoor fires. DeKalb County Fire Department also has authority over open burning within city limits.

Recreational fire pits are generally permitted in Dunwoody for residential use in a contained, non-combustible structure. Fires must be attended at all times and extinguished before leaving. Nuisance smoke affecting neighbors may be reported under the noise/nuisance ordinance.

Tree removal permits in Dunwoody are required for: hardwoods 10+ inch DBH on non-residential/multi-family lots; softwoods 20+ inch DBH; understory trees 6+ inch DBH on those lots; and any tree in the 75-foot stream buffer. Single-family homeowners are exempt from permits but must meet site tree density requirements.

Dunwoody's tree ordinance (Ch. 16, Div. 6) protects hardwood trees with 10+ inch DBH, softwoods with 20+ inch DBH, and understory trees with 6+ inch DBH. Routine pruning of branches generally does not require a permit. Trimming within the 75-foot stream buffer requires permits and care.

Outdoor water use in Dunwoody is supplied by DeKalb County Watershed Management. Georgia Water Stewardship Act (2010) baseline outdoor watering schedule applies. During drought, EPD Level 1–4 restrictions may limit or prohibit outdoor watering. Check DeKalb County Water for current status.