Building permits, zoning and land rules in Cobb County, Georgia

Cobb County requires building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas permits before construction in unincorporated Cobb County¹. Georgia’s mandatory construction codes apply statewide, and Cobb County enforces applicable codes for new construction, additions and remodeling in its unincorporated jurisdiction^10,11. Residential applicants collect documents, calculate fees, submit an application packet, complete review and obtain approval before required inspections¹¹. Cobb County’s published residential schedule uses ICC valuation data and $6 per $1,000 of estimated construction cost for a new complete building, with additional $50 CO/LOC, $15 technology and $100 site-plan review fees¹². An owner-builder must own and occupy the home rather than offer it for sale or rent; subcontracted trade work needs separate permits and properly licensed contractors⁶.

Cobb County Building Development handles residential building permits in unincorporated Cobb County; residential questions can go to residentialpermitreview@cobbcounty.gov at 1150 Powder Springs St, Ste 400, Marietta, GA 30064^1,11. Owner-builders must complete a preconstruction consultation with the Chief Building Inspector at 770-528-2053 before approval to act as general contractor¹¹. Commercial building applications and plans start with Cobb County Community Development’s Building Permit office³. In the commercial review process, applicable Cobb County Water System fees must be paid before building-permit issuance¹³. Roswell, mainly in Fulton County but reaching into Cobb County, issues its own building permits¹⁴. Septic permitting for property in Cobb County remains with Cobb & Douglas Public Health Environmental Health⁴.

Cobb County’s Zoning Division administers zoning for unincorporated Cobb County and publishes a zoning map, district information, forms and Unified Development Code². Roswell, a city mainly in Fulton County that reaches into Cobb County, administers its own zoning¹⁵. Septic approvals for Cobb County property remain with Cobb & Douglas Public Health Environmental Health⁴. Minimum residential lot size depends on the parcel’s zoning district⁸. Reach the Cobb County Zoning Division at (770) 528-2035¹⁶. We could not confirm complete accessory-dwelling, minimum dwelling-size, setback, lot-coverage or height rules; ask the Zoning Division for the requirements of the parcel’s district.

Cobb & Douglas Public Health Environmental Health handles Cobb County septic applications; the County Board of Health performs the permitting and final-approval functions^4,5. Obtain a health construction permit before physically developing a lot or structure that will use septic or installing a system component; repairs, replacements and additions also require permits and inspections¹⁷. Applications include system plans, water-supply information, bedroom or flow data and soil conditions, and approval requires a favorable site inspection¹⁸. Do not backfill or use the system before final inspection and written approval⁵. Current residential inspection/permit fees are $250, and repair or modification review/permit/inspection fees are $170; a new Environmental Health fee schedule takes effect January 1, 2027¹⁸. About 65.1% of county soils lack severe limitations for conventional drain fields, but the actual site still needs evaluation¹⁹.

We could not confirm a complete rule allowing long-term RV residence or temporary camping on private land in unincorporated Cobb County; ask the Zoning Division about the parcel’s district and proposed duration. At a Cobb County amusement activity, camping or overnight residence requires a land-use permit, except for a reasonable number of overnight security personnel; that rule addresses amusement activities specifically²⁰. Short-term rentals in unincorporated Cobb County require a proper certificate of occupancy for the main house and cannot use accessory structures or campers²¹. A site-built or modular tiny home must meet applicable Georgia building codes and receive local siting approval²². Where public or community sewage treatment is unavailable, occupied property must have an approved onsite sewage system sized for expected use⁵.

1. Confirm whether the parcel is unincorporated or inside a city, then identify the zoning district, minimum lot size and proposed use with the applicable zoning office^3,8.
2. Before physical development of a septic-served lot, obtain the health construction permit and favorable site inspection^17,18.
3. Begin unincorporated subdivision plat review with Community Development Site Plan Review; land-disturbing work needs an LDP unless exempt^3,11.
4. Owner-builders must complete the Chief Building Inspector consultation and satisfy owner-occupancy conditions^6,11.
5. Submit residential building-permit documents, calculate fees and complete application review and approval^11,12.
6. Obtain Cobb DOT approval for county-road access and the required floodplain-development permit before regulated work^7,23.
7. Complete building inspections and obtain septic final written approval before backfilling or use^5,11.

Cobb County has roughly 2,286 residents per square mile, so buyers should expect suburban development pressure¹⁹. Before closing, confirm jurisdiction, zoning and whether a proposed land division needs county site-plan review^2,3. A licensed well contractor must notify the county health department before drilling an individual private well; the available rule does not establish a separate general well permit²⁴. Cobb DOT approval applies to county-road driveways, excluding city roads and state routes⁷. Ask Stormwater Management about floodplain status: regulated floodplain development requires a permit, and floodway encroachments are generally prohibited, with limited infrastructure exceptions requiring engineering analysis and a no-rise certification²³.