Building permits in Atlanta, GA

Short answer: In Atlanta, permits are issued by City of Atlanta Department of City Planning, Office of Buildings; of the 6 common projects we checked, 5 always need a permit, 0 do not, and 1 depend on the details.

Permitting authority: City of Atlanta Department of City Planning, Office of Buildings. Atlanta exempts repair work valued under $10,000 (for exterior work on Chapter 20 landmark or historic-district properties, only repairs under $2,500). New construction is not a repair.

Permit rules in Atlanta
Project	Answer	Verified
Deck	Permit required Yes. New decks are a commonly permitted project. Non-structural deck repairs are exempt.	2026-10-19
Fence	Permit required Yes. Fences are a commonly permitted project in Atlanta, and the fee schedule lists fences 6 ft or less as well as taller fences.	2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodel	Depends on your project Replacing bath cabinets, countertops and existing fixtures without relocating outlets or plumbing is exempt, and repairs under $10,000 need …	2026-10-19
Roof replacement	Permit required Yes. Re-roofing is a commonly permitted project with its own fee line. Only non-structural re-roof repairs (not shingle replacement) are exe…	2026-10-19
Shed	Permit required Yes. Accessory structures such as sheds are a commonly permitted project.	2026-10-19
Water heater replacement	Permit required Yes. Water heater remove-and-replace at a one- or two-family home has its own plumbing permit fee line; water heaters are not on the plumbin…	2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/departments/city-planning/zoning-development-permitting-services/getting-started-with-our-zd-p-services

All Georgia cities · All cities · Permit guides

Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.