Building permits in DeKalb County, Georgia
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in DeKalb County, 8 need a permit outright and 2 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 10
- in DeKalb County
DeKalb County Department of Planning and Sustainability, Permits, Plan Review and Inspections Division
- Government Services Center, 178 Sams Street, Decatur, GA 30030
- Phone: 404-371-2155 (option 3)
- Email: permitinfo@dekalbcountyga.gov
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
Look up a permit in DeKalb County
DeKalb County permit records are public, and you can check a property's permit history online.
What needs a permit in DeKalb County
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in DeKalb County, 8 need a permit outright and 2 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Any size | Building Permit Application (revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245 ($195 Minimum... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Permit Application (revised 07/09/2025): "Fee Schedule: MINIMUM FEE $120 Additional... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | height of the fence | Building Permit Application (revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245 ($195 Minimum... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Any size | Mechanical Permit Application (revised 07/09/2025): "Fee Schedule: MINIMUM FEE $120 |
| Patio Permit | Permit required | Any size | Building Permit Application (revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245 ($195 Minimum... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Any size | Plumbing Permit Application: "Fee Schedule: MINIMUM FEE $120 Additional $200 for Fire... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | prefabricated pools installed entirely above ground | Building Permit Application (revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245 ($195 Minimum... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Any size | Building Permit Application (revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245 ($195 Minimum... |
| Shed Permit | Permit required | Any size | Building Permit Application (revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245 ($195 Minimum... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | Building Permit Application (revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245 ($195 Minimum... |
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DeKalb County permit fees compared with nearby Georgia localities
| Georgia locality | Deck Permit | HVAC Permit | Electrical Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County | ...(revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245 ($195... | ...(revised 07/09/2025): "Fee Schedule: MINIMUM FEE... | ...(revised 07/09/2025): "Fee Schedule: MINIMUM FEE $120... |
| Atlanta | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Cobb County | Decks are subject to a $100 site plan review fee in... | HVAC and mechanical work is billed as an $80 trade permit... | Electrical work is billed as an $80 trade permit under the... |
| Gwinnett County | ...Minor Renovation Projects (valued less than $75,000)... | ...Plumbing" application type priced at "$0.006 x Value... | ...Electrical, Plumbing" application type at "$0.006 x... |
Each cell is the opening clause of that Georgia jurisdiction's own fee schedule; the full wording and source sit on each permit page.
DeKalb County permit questions, answered from the data
- Do you need a permit in DeKalb County?
- For most projects, yes. Of the 10 permit types we have verified for DeKalb County, 8 always require a permit (for example a deck permit), 2 depend on size or scope (a fence permit, for instance). Each DeKalb County permit type's page states the exact rule and its source.
- How much does a permit cost in DeKalb County?
- DeKalb County publishes a fee for 10 of the 10 permit types we cover, each quoted on its page from the jurisdiction's own schedule. Fees are set by DeKalb County Department of Planning and Sustainability, Permits, Plan Review and Inspections Division; we do not estimate or mark them up.
- Where do you apply for a permit in DeKalb County?
- DeKalb County Department of Planning and Sustainability, Permits, Plan Review and Inspections Division issues permits in DeKalb County, with an online portal for applications, plan uploads and status checks, and takes questions at 404-371-2155 (option 3). The DeKalb County official page and portal are linked in the office section above.
How the DeKalb County pages were verified. 10 permit types, 4 distinct official sources, most recently checked . Every rule is read from DeKalb County Department of Planning and Sustainability, Permits, Plan Review and Inspections Division or the applicable code and cited on its page; anything we could not confirm for DeKalb County is marked rather than estimated. How we verify.