Shed Permit in Cobb County, Georgia
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before constructing any accessory structure such as a shed
Issued byCobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Cobb County's Community Development Agency lists Accessory Structures, which include sheds, as one of its residential permit checklist categories, and the county's Building Permit Fee Schedule names Accessory Structures among the project types subject to its $100 site plan review fee. No square footage or height exemption for small sheds is published by the county. Georgia's state minimum code deleted the IRC administrative chapter that would otherwise set such a threshold, so no statewide exemption applies either. Homeowners should contact Development and Inspections to confirm whether a specific shed qualifies for any exemption.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before constructing any accessory structure such as a shed
What a shed permit costs in Cobb County
How Cobb County compares in Georgia
No Georgia jurisdiction we have verified sets a size threshold for this permit, so what actually differs between them is the fee.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Permit required | Not published |
| Cobb Countythis page | Permit required | Accessory structures are subject to a $100 site plan review fee in addition to... |
| DeKalb County | Permit required | ...Permit Application (revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245 ($195... |
| Gwinnett County | It depends | ...Requirements for Residential Permits" still prices this work at "$0.006 x... |
How to apply in Cobb County
In Cobb County, a residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing.
What most shed permit applications include:
- For Cobb County, a written permit application identifying the proposed work and describing the property by its address or legal description, filed with the building department before construction begins (IRC R105.3).
- For Cobb County, a scaled site plan showing the shed's size and location and its dimensioned distances to all property lines so required setbacks can be verified before the permit is issued (IRC R106.2).
- Construction documents showing the shed's foundation: freestanding accessory structures at or under the code's small-structure size and eave-height limits (600 square feet and a 10 foot eave height in the model code) are exempt from continuous footings but must still be shown supported on undisturbed soil or engineered fill and anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1).
- Where the shed does sit on a continuous foundation with a wood sill plate, anchor bolt or approved strap details tying the sill plate to the foundation (IRC R403.1.6).
- Roof framing details showing the rafter-to-wall or truss-to-wall connections, since even a shed exempt from continuous footings must be anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1; R802.11).
General submittal guidance from IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC. Source. Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division sets the exact checklist for Cobb County.
Where to apply in Cobb County:
Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division
- 1150 Powder Springs St, Ste 400, Marietta, GA 30064
- Phone: (770) 528-2060
- Email: building@cobbcounty.gov
Shed Permit in Cobb County compared with nearby Georgia localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Georgia schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb County | Permit required | Any size | Accessory structures are subject to a $100 site plan review fee in addition to the... | |
| Atlanta | Permit required | Any size | Not published | |
| DeKalb County | Permit required | Any size | Building Permit Application (revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245 ($195 Minimum... | |
| Gwinnett County | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure that contains no electrical or plumbing system | ..."Regulatory Requirements for Residential Permits" still prices this work at "$0.006... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Cobb County, a permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
- Foundation or anchor inspection in Cobb County: called after any required footings, piers, or ground anchors are set and any forms or reinforcing steel are in place, but before concrete is placed, so the foundation or anchoring system can be verified before it is covered (IRC R109.1.1).
- Frame inspection in Cobb County: after the shed is framed, sheathed, and braced, the inspector checks the framing, bracing, fasteners, and the roof connections that resist wind uplift, before those elements are covered (IRC R109.1.4 frame inspection; R403.1 anchorage).
- Final inspection in Cobb County: made after the permitted work is complete and before the shed is used; work may not proceed past any inspection stage without the building official's approval (IRC R109.1.6 final inspection; R109.4 approval required).
- In Cobb County: for a pre-fabricated or kit shed, the manufacturer's installation instructions must be on site at the time of inspection so the inspector can confirm the anchoring and assembly match the design (IRC R106.1.2).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Cobb County permit portal or by phone at (770) 528-2060.
Inspection sequence from IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Shed Permit checklist for Cobb County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before constructing any accessory structure such as a shed.
- Budget the fee. Accessory structures are subject to a $100 site plan review fee in addition to the tiered residential building permit fee based on construction cost, per the Cobb County Building Permit Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2024. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Cobb County, a residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing. Start at the Cobb County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division. Phone: (770) 528-2060. Address: 1150 Powder Springs St, Ste 400, Marietta, GA 30064.
- Plan for inspections. In Cobb County, a permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a shed permit in Cobb County?
- Cobb County's Community Development Agency lists Accessory Structures, which include sheds, as one of its residential permit checklist categories, and the county's Building Permit Fee Schedule names Accessory Structures among the project types subject to its $100 site plan review fee. No square footage or height exemption for small sheds is published by the county. Georgia's state minimum code deleted the IRC administrative chapter that would otherwise set such a threshold, so no statewide exemption applies either. Homeowners should contact Development and Inspections to confirm whether a specific shed qualifies for any exemption. Always confirm with the Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division before starting.
- How much does a shed permit cost in Cobb County?
- Accessory structures are subject to a $100 site plan review fee in addition to the tiered residential building permit fee based on construction cost, per the Cobb County Building Permit Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2024. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a shed permit in Cobb County?
- You can apply through the Cobb County permit portal or contact the Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a shed permit themselves in Cobb County?
- Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(h); O.C.G.A. 43-14-13(d); O.C.G.A. 43-14-14): Georgia's contractor licensing law has a true owner builder exemption at O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(h), not 43-41-17(b). A property owner may construct a building on land the owner owns and act as his or her own contractor, personally providing direct supervision and management, but only if the finished building is intended solely for occupancy by the owner and the owner's family, firm, or corporation, is not for use by the general public, and is not offered for sale or lease. If the owner sold or transferred a self-built structure within the prior 24 months, measured from that structure's certificate of occupancy, the law presumes the new project was not really for personal occupancy and the exemption is unavailable without a license. The owner may not delegate supervision to any unlicensed person, and all work must still comply with county or municipal permitting and inspection requirements. For trade work, O.C.G.A. 43-14-13(d) separately allows an individual to install, alter, or repair plumbing, heating and air conditioning fixtures, and electrical or low-voltage wiring in a residential dwelling the individual owns or occupies, again in conformity with the codes and any local permit and inspection rules. Unlicensed trade work outside these exemptions is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine or six months imprisonment or both (O.C.G.A. 43-14-14). Confirm how Cobb County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Cobb County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
None of the 6 project types verified for Cobb County carry a size or scope threshold. See the Permit needed column for each project's own answer, since there is no threshold to compare here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Decks are subject to a $100 site plan review fee in addition to the tiered residential... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Electrical work is billed as an $80 trade permit under the Cobb County Building Permit... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | HVAC and mechanical work is billed as an $80 trade permit under the Cobb County Building... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Plumbing work is billed as an $80 trade permit under the Cobb County Building Permit Fee... |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Pool permits carry a $250 minimum fee under the Cobb County Building Permit Fee Schedule... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Fee follows the small residential construction cost table, $80 base for cost up to... |
Shed Permit in other Georgia localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Cobb County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
- IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC
- IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC
How this shed permit page for Cobb County was verified. 2 official sources: cobbcounty.gov, assets.cobbcounty.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
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