Administrative overview · FIPS 13089
DeKalb County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
DeKalb County Department of Planning and Sustainability - Permits, Plan Review and Inspections
For a project in or near DeKalb County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
404-371-2155 option 3
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
178 Sams Street, Decatur, GA
Operating hours
One-Stop permit service hours: 8:30 AM-4:00 PM
Review expectation
Plan-review time varies with project type and completeness; the county does not publish a fixed 2026 turnaround.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for DeKalb County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
DeKalb County Department of Planning and Sustainability - Permits, Plan Review and Inspections is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 404-371-2155 option 3.
How long might review take?
Plan-review time varies with project type and completeness; the county does not publish a fixed 2026 turnaround.
How are inspections scheduled?
Request inspections online through e-Permitting. After inspections, email the front and back of the permit to Developinspections@dekalbcountyga.gov to obtain the certificate-of-occupancy copy when applicable.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Effective January 1, 2026, DeKalb County uses Georgia’s 2024 ICC code editions: International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Fire, and Swimming Pool and Spa Codes, plus the 2015 IECC and 2023 NEC, each with Georgia amendments. N/A; the county describes permit categories and project-specific requirements rather than publishing a single minor-work exemption list. Retaining walls four feet or higher require a specialty permit; lower walls are not identified as requiring that specialty permit.