Administrative overview · FIPS 13117
Forsyth 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
Forsyth County Department of Building & Licensing
For a project in or near Forsyth 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
770-781-2114 option 1 (inspections); 770-886-2772 (Building & Licensing)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
110 East Main Street, Suite 100, Cumming, GA 30040
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Review expectation
N/A; the county’s current materials do not promise a fixed permit-review timeline.
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 Forsyth County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Forsyth County Department of Building & Licensing 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 770-781-2114 option 1 (inspections); 770-886-2772 (Building & Licensing).
How long might review take?
N/A; the county’s current materials do not promise a fixed permit-review timeline.
How are inspections scheduled?
Request inspections through the CSS portal, by email at inspectionschedules@forsythco.com, or by phone at 770-781-2114. Include the permit number and inspection type; field inspectors return messages during 7:00-8:00 AM and 2:30-3:30 PM.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Forsyth County enforces Georgia Department of Community Affairs-adopted codes, including the 2024 ICC family and 2026 Georgia amendments, and retains a local amendment to 2018 International Plumbing Code sections 202, 604.3, 1304, and Appendix E. N/A; Forsyth publishes separate permit packets for decks, fences or retaining walls, accessory structures, additions, renovations, pools, and new dwellings, but the reviewed current pages do not provide a consolidated minor-work exemption list.