Bolthole Index

Fulton County, Georgia

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in College Park, Georgia

College Park, Georgia has its own Building & Inspections Department and online permit process, but the city does not publish one blanket rule identifying every project that needs a building permit.1 College Park administers city zoning, while the Fulton County Board of Health permits and inspects onsite septic systems where public sewer is unavailable.234

At a glance

Building permits
Issued by College Park; ask the city whether your specific work requires one1
Zoning
Administered by College Park inside city limits2
Septic
County health construction permit and inspections required when an onsite system is used45
RV living
Long-term occupancy is unconfirmed; residential districts allow only limited parking of an unoccupied RV678
Tiny homes
Local siting approval and ordinary dwelling-code compliance apply; district-specific permission is unconfirmed9
Owner-builder
Georgia waives the state contractor license for an owner building their own home, but not local approvals10

Who to call

Building permits

College Park Building & Inspections

Building, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, commercial and residential roofing, and sign permits; electronic plan review and inspections

404-669-3762

3667 Main Street, College Park, GA 30337

Zoning

College Park Planning & Zoning

Zoning applications, including rezoning, conditional use, conditional height, variances and zoning certificates

404-767-1537 Ext. 1814

3667 Main Street, College Park, GA 30337

Septic permits

Fulton County Board of Health, Environmental Health Services

Permits and inspects onsite sewage management systems in Fulton County areas not served by public sanitary sewer

770-520-7500

10 Park Place Health Center, 10 Park Place S.E., Atlanta, GA 30303

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in College Park means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in College Park, Georgia?

College Park's Building & Inspections Department runs electronic plan review, online permitting and mobile inspections through SagesGov.11 The city also publishes applications and fee documents, but the available city material does not establish a universal permit trigger or a complete list of exemptions for residential work.12 Ask College Park Building & Inspections whether the exact project needs a building permit before ordering plans or starting work.13 Construction in College Park must comply with Georgia's mandatory state minimum construction codes, and the updated codes and Georgia amendments became effective in 2026.14

Who issues building permits in College Park, GA?

College Park Building & Inspections is the city office for building, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, commercial and residential roofing, and sign permits.13 The department uses SagesGov for electronic plan review, online permitting, inspections, licensing and code enforcement.13 For a project that also needs zoning relief or a zoning certificate, College Park Planning & Zoning accepts rezoning, conditional-use, conditional-height, variance and zoning-certificate applications through its online system.15 Do not use Fulton County's unincorporated-area building office for a College Park parcel; the city's offices administer the municipal process.1

Does College Park have zoning, and what does it mean for a home?

College Park has its own zoning ordinance and residential zoning districts, so confirm both the city boundary and the parcel's district before judging a proposed use.2 In the R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts, primary and accessory structures plus impervious surface may cover no more than 35% of the lot.161718 Those same districts cap a primary structure at 35 feet and an accessory structure at 25 feet.192021 The available rules do not confirm current minimum lot size, dwelling size or setbacks for every residential district, so request a parcel-specific zoning determination from College Park Planning & Zoning.15

How do septic permits work inside College Park?

A College Park property using an onsite sewage management system needs a construction permit from the County Health Department before physical development or installation begins.22 The Fulton County Board of Health Environmental Health Services program is the local authority that permits and inspects onsite systems where public sanitary sewer is unavailable.34 A final County Board of Health inspection and written approval are required before the system is backfilled or used.23 Georgia also requires connection to public or community sewer when it is available within 200 feet of the property line or in an abutting public right-of-way.24 Contact the Board of Health before designing the house because a new onsite system requires county review and inspection.5

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in College Park?

College Park's R-1, R-2 and R-3 rules allow parking one owner-used travel trailer or motor coach only when it is unoccupied, screened from the street and parked on an approved impervious surface.678 Those parking provisions do not authorize living in the vehicle, and a general rule for long-term RV occupancy or private camping could not be confirmed; ask Planning & Zoning for a written parcel-specific answer.15 A site-built or modular tiny home is treated as a dwelling under Georgia building codes and also needs local siting approval under College Park zoning.9 College Park's district-specific tiny-home permission and minimum dwelling size could not be confirmed.9

Building a home in College Park: what are the steps?

  1. Confirm that the parcel is inside College Park and obtain its zoning district and allowed-use determination from Planning & Zoning.2
  1. Ask Building & Inspections which building and trade permits, plans and fees apply, then use the city's SagesGov workflow.13
  1. If public sewer is unavailable, secure the County Health Department's onsite sewage construction permit before physical development and arrange the required inspections.225
  1. Check flood status before finalizing elevations because residential work in the future-conditions floodplain has added construction limits and elevation standards.25
  1. Keep the work aligned with Georgia's mandatory construction codes and the city's adopted administration.26

What should you check before buying land in College Park?

Verify the city boundary and zoning district first, because College Park—not unincorporated Fulton County—controls municipal zoning.2 Ask Planning & Zoning about the proposed dwelling type, setbacks, minimum lot size and any conditional-use or variance path before closing.15 Confirm sewer availability with the utility provider and onsite-system feasibility with the Fulton County Board of Health; Georgia requires a sewer connection when service is available within 200 feet of the property line or in an abutting right-of-way.24 Fulton County ordinarily does not permit or inspect a sewer project whose connection point is inside College Park unless the city provides an exception letter, so confirm the correct utility reviewer before submitting plans.27 A private well must be installed by a licensed water-well contractor, who must notify the county health department before construction; ask the city whether a well is allowed on the parcel.28 Check the city's future-conditions floodplain standards because qualifying residential construction must meet special elevation requirements.25 If the driveway enters a state highway right-of-way, obtain the applicable state permit before construction there.29

Watch-outs

  • A College Park mailing address does not by itself establish that the parcel is inside the city; confirm jurisdiction with Planning & Zoning before relying on city rules.15
  • Parking permission for an unoccupied RV in a residential district is not permission to live in it.678
  • New principal residential construction in the future-conditions floodplain is restricted and must meet the city's floodplain requirements.30

Sources

  1. Building & Inspections (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  2. College Park Code, Zoning Definitions (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  3. Land-use: Waste Management Septic Inspection, quoted and re-checked
  4. Land-use - Fulton County Board of Health, quoted and re-checked
  5. Land-use: Waste Management Septic Inspection, quoted and re-checked
  6. R-1 District Intent, Permitted Uses and Conditional Uses (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  7. R-2 District Intent, Permitted Uses and Conditional Uses (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  8. R-3 District Intent, Permitted Uses and Conditional Uses (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  9. Georgia Tiny House Fact Sheet (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Residential and Commercial General Contractors Frequently Asked Questions (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Building & Inspections (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  12. Building & Inspections (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  13. College Park Building & Inspections (collegeparkga.gov)
  14. Building & Inspections (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  15. College Park Planning & Zoning (collegeparkga.gov)
  16. R-1 District Standards (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  17. R-2 District Standards (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  18. R-3 District Standards (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  19. R-1 District Standards (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  20. R-2 District Standards (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  21. R-3 District Standards (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  22. On-Site Sewage Management Systems Manual (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  23. On-Site Sewage Management Systems Manual (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  24. On-Site Sewage Management Systems Rules and Manual (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  25. College Park Code, Floodplain Building Standards (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  26. Chapter 5 Buildings, Construction and Related Matters (College Park), quoted and re-checked
  27. Public Works Permitting Process, quoted and re-checked
  28. Well Water, quoted and re-checked
  29. Regulations for Driveway & Encroachment Control Manual (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  30. Building standards for structures and buildings within the future-conditions floodplain (College Park), quoted and re-checked

Written October 10, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for College Park

College Park’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside College Park city limits under the city's adopted building-code provisions and Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes.

    • The code chapter separately lists administrative procedures and the International Residential Code adoption.
    “Sec. 5-10. - Administrative procedures for enforcement of Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes as adopted by O.C.G.A. § 8-2-25. [...] Sec. 5-90. - International Residential Code adopted.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Commercial buildings inside College Park city limits.

    • Chapter 5 lists a certificate-of-occupancy section specifically for commercial buildings; the applicable fee and procedural details were not captured in the opened excerpt.
    “Sec. 5-5. - Certificate of occupancy for commercial buildings; fees.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside College Park city limits; the city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance and zoning districts.

    • The zoning administrator is the City Planner or designee.
    “The "R-2" District is intended to provide for the development of single-family detached homes on moderate-sized lots which are served by public water and sewer systems.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present — Land inside College Park city limits; the city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance.
      “District Intent: The "R-1" District provide for the development of single-family detached homes on individual lots in a suburban character.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 district.

    maximum lot coverage: 35 percent (all primary and accessory structures and impervious surface)

    “Square footage of all primary and accessory structures, and impervious surface cannot exceed 35% of the Lot Area”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — R-2 district.
      “Square footage of all primary and accessory structures, and impervious surface cannot exceed 35% of the Lot Area.”
    • Specified — R-3 district.
      “Square footage of all primary and accessory structures, and impervious surface cannot exceed 35% of the Lot Area.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 district.

    maximum primary structure height: 35 feet · maximum accessory structure height: 25 feet

    “35 feet for the Primary Structure • 25 feet for Accessory Structures”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — R-2 district.
      “Maximum Structure Height: [...] • 35 feet for the Primary Structure [...] • 25 feet for Accessory Structures”
    • Specified — R-3 district.
      “Maximum Structure Height: [...] • 35 feet for the Primary Structure [...] • 25 feet for Accessory Structures”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Accessory parking of recreational vehicles in the R-1 Low Density Residential District.

    • Only one vehicle is allowed.
    • It must be unoccupied.
    • It must be owned or used by the property owner on the property where located.
    • It must be screened from street frontage.
    • It must be parked on approved impervious surface.
    “Parking of one (1) unoccupied travel trailer, motor coach, or pleasure boat owned or used by the property owner on which it is located.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Accessory parking of recreational vehicles in the R-2 Medium Density Residential District.
      “Parking of one (1) unoccupied travel trailer, motor coach, or pleasure boat owned or used by the property owner on which it is located.”
    • Limited — Accessory parking of recreational vehicles in the R-3 High Density Residential District.
      “Parking of one (1) unoccupied travel trailer, motor coach, or pleasure boat owned or used by the property owner on which it is located.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and division of land inside College Park city limits.

    • The ordinance establishes standards for preliminary and final plats and procedures for review by the planning commission and mayor and council.
    “This chapter shall be known as the "Subdivision Ordinance" and serves the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, convenience and general welfare of the City of College Park by setting standards for the form and content of preliminary and final plats or plats; by setting standards to regulate the division of land; and by establishing procedures for the review of subdivision plats by the planning commission and mayor and council.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveways to garages or carports in subdivisions inside College Park city limits.

    • The driveway may exceed the stated grade only if specifically approved by the city engineer.

    maximum driveway grade: <= 10 percent (unless specifically approved by the city engineer)

    “Driveway to garage or carport shall not exceed ten (10) percent grade unless specifically approved by the city engineer.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    New principal residential construction and substantial improvements within College Park's future-conditions floodplain.

    • New construction is not allowed unless the requirements of sections 5-299.8, 5-299.9 and 5-299.10 are met.
    • The lowest floor, including basement, must be elevated at least three feet above base flood elevation or one foot above future-conditions flood elevation, whichever is higher.
    • Accessory structures must use flood-resistant materials, provide flood openings, and be anchored against flotation, collapse, and lateral movement.
    • Recreational vehicles must either remain fewer than 180 consecutive days and be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet residential-building substantial-improvement requirements.

    residential elevation above base flood elevation: >= 3 feet (or one foot above future-conditions flood elevation, whichever is higher) · temporary recreational-vehicle duration: < 180 consecutive days (unless residential-building requirements are met)

    “New construction of principal residential structures shall not be allowed within the limits of the future conditions floodplain unless all requirements of sections 5-299.8 , 5-299.9 and 5-299.10 have been met.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — New construction and substantial improvements in or adjacent to College Park future-conditions floodplain.
      “For new construction and substantial improvement of any principal residential building or manufactured home, the elevation of the lowest floor, including basement and access to the building, shall be at least three (3) feet above the base flood elevation or one (1) foot above the future-conditions flood elevation, whichever is higher.”
    • Required — New principal residential construction within College Park's future-conditions floodplain.
      “all new construction shall have the lowest floor [...] three (3) feet above the base flood elevation or one (1) foot above the future-conditions flood elevation”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    College Park conditional-use permit applications.

    • Existing-building conditional-use permit fee is $300.
    • New-construction fee is $300 up to $25,000 construction cost; $500 over $25,000 through $100,000; and $500 plus $5 per $1,000 over $100,000.
    • Applications are not accepted until complete and paid; payment is by check or money order.

    existing-building conditional-use permit fee: 300 USD · new-construction fee threshold: <= 25000 USD (fee is $300) · new-construction fee: 500 USD (construction cost greater than $25,000 and up to $100,000) · additional fee: per 5 USD per $1,000 (construction cost greater than $100,000, plus $500)

    “The application fee for a conditional use permit for an existing building is $300. The fee for a conditional use permit for new construction is as follows: • $300, when the proposed construction cost is an amount up to $25,000; • $500, when the proposed construction cost is greater than $25,000 and up to $100,000; and • $500, PLUS $5.00 per $1,000 of proposed construction, when the proposed construction cost is greater than $100,000.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — City building and related permit fees for work inside College Park city.
      “Fire Department Fees (PDF) New Permit Fees (PPT)”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Conditional-use permit applications inside College Park city limits.

    • A pre-application meeting is required.
    • The original signed application is submitted to the Inspections Department.
    • Applications must be complete and paid before acceptance.
    • Filing is due at least 30 calendar days before the Planning Commission meeting.
    • Planning Commission recommends approval or denial; Mayor and Council decide after a public hearing.
    • Applicant or agent must attend both meetings.

    filing deadline: >= 30 calendar days before Planning Commission meeting

    “Applications must be received and fees must be paid no later than thirty (30) calendar days prior to the Planning Commission meeting at which the conditional use permit application will be considered.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Building-permit submission and review process for work inside College Park city.
      “The City of College Park’s Building and Inspections Department, along with Sages Networks Inc., has implemented the SagesGov software for Electronic Plan Review, Online Permitting, Mobile Inspections, Licensing, and Code Enforcement.”
    • Published — Building-permit and inspection submission process inside College Park city limits.
      “The City of College Park’s Building and Inspections Department, along with Sages Networks Inc., has implemented the SagesGov software for Electronic Plan Review, Online Permitting, Mobile Inspections, Licensing, and Code Enforcement.”

Rules another office applies inside College Park

College Park does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation or physical development involving an on-site sewage management system inside College Park city limits.

    • The requirement applies where an on-site sewage management system will be utilized.
    • The application must be made on County Board of Health forms.
    • The County Board of Health shall approve or disapprove a completed application within twenty days.

    application decision time: 20 days (after receipt of a completed application)

    “No person may begin the physical development of a lot or structure where an on-site sewage management system will be utilized, nor install an on-site sewage management system or component thereof, without having first obtained from the County Health Department a construction permit for the installation of an onsite sewage management system.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Any lot or structure inside College Park city where an on-site sewage management system will be utilized.
      “No person may begin the physical development of a lot or structure where an on-site sewage management system will be utilized”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    On-site sewage systems inside College Park city limits.

    • A site inspection by the County Board of Health is required before issuance of the construction permit.
    • A final inspection and written approval are required before backfilling or using the system.
    • Subsequent grading, filling, digging, landscaping, construction, removal, or alteration that may adversely affect the system can void approval.
    “No person may backfill or use an on-site sewage management system until a final inspection has been made by the County Board of Health”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    On-site sanitation inside College Park city limits when public or community sewage treatment is unavailable.

    • An approved on-site sewage management system must be provided.
    • Connection to public or community sewage is required when available within 200 feet of the property line or in an abutting public right-of-way.
    • A failing residential system under 2,000 gallons per day may be exempted from connection if the repair or replacement meets the Manual criteria and the County Board of Health determines sufficient area and usable soils.

    sewer availability distance: <= 200 feet (from the property line, or available in an abutting public right-of-way)

    “Connection shall be made to a public or community sewage treatment system if such system is available within two hundred feet (200') of the property line, or available in a public right-of-way abutting the property.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask College Park or Fulton County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits for construction inside College Park city.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions for construction inside College Park city.
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside College Park city.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in College Park city residential districts.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in College Park city residential districts.
10 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that College Park publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Fulton County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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