Bolthole Index

Fulton County, Georgia

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Roswell, Georgia

Roswell, Georgia requires city building permits for construction, alteration, repair, demolition, occupancy changes and regulated trade work.1 Roswell administers zoning and building inspections inside city limits, while the Fulton County Board of Health permits and inspects onsite sewage systems where public sewer is unavailable.234

At a glance

Building permit
Required for covered construction and regulated trade work inside Roswell1
Zoning
Administered by Roswell under its Unified Development Code and zoning map2
Septic
Fulton County Board of Health permits and inspects onsite systems where public sewer is unavailable45
Applications
Submit electronically through the Roswell Permitting & Licensing HUB6
Owner-builder
Conditional; the owner must use the city application and affidavit pathway7
Floodplain work
All development in a floodplain needs a local permit8
Private well
A licensed well contractor must notify the county health department before drilling9

Who to call

Building permits

City of Roswell Community Development

Roswell building permits, inspections, planning, zoning, code enforcement and development questions

(770) 641-3727

[email protected]

38 Hill Street, Suite G-30, Roswell, GA 30075

Online permits →

Zoning

City of Roswell Planning & Zoning Division

Roswell zoning districts, land-use applications, variances and parcel-specific development standards

(770) 817-6720

[email protected]

38 Hill Street Suite G-30 Roswell, GA 30075

Online permits →

Septic permits

Fulton County Board of Health, Environmental Health Services

Permits and inspects onsite sewage management systems and individual water supplies in Fulton County areas without 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 Roswell means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Roswell, Georgia?

Yes. Roswell requires a building permit before construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving or demolition of a building, a change of occupancy, or regulated electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing work.1 Routine painting, floor coverings and wallpaper do not require a building permit.10

Roswell enforces Georgia's minimum building codes through locally adopted administration and enforcement provisions.11 Inspections are required at stages of construction and must be requested through the Permitting & Licensing HUB.3 After final inspection, Roswell issues either a certificate of completion or certificate of occupancy according to the project's scope.12

Who issues building permits in Roswell?

City of Roswell Community Development handles building permits and inspections inside Roswell city limits.1 The department's customer-service office is at 38 Hill Street, Suite G-30, Roswell, GA 30075 and its phone number is (770) 641-3727.13

Building-permit applications must be filed electronically through the Roswell Permitting & Licensing HUB, where applicants can upload documents, pay applicable fees and schedule inspections.14 Roswell does not accept these applications by email, paper or walk-in submission.15 The city publishes a building-permit fee schedule, including a $25 application fee for all permits and a fee equal to 200% of the original permit fee for work done without a permit.16

Does Roswell have zoning?

Roswell has municipal zoning and administers its own Unified Development Code and zoning map inside city limits.2 The map identifies the city's zoning districts, but use, lot-size, setback, lot-coverage and height rules depend on the parcel's district.17

We could not confirm district-specific minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage or building height for this guide, so ask the Roswell Planning & Zoning Division to identify the parcel's district and applicable standards before designing or buying. The same caution applies to RV living, temporary camping, tiny homes, manufactured homes and accessory dwellings: ask Planning & Zoning for a written parcel-specific answer before relying on one of those uses.

How do septic permits work inside Roswell?

The Fulton County Board of Health, not Roswell's building office, permits and inspects onsite sewage management systems where public sanitary sewer is unavailable.4 A county health construction permit is required before physical development of a Roswell lot or structure that will use an onsite sewage system, and repairs, replacements and additions also require permitting and inspection.18

The County Board of Health must inspect the site before issuing the construction permit.18 The system cannot be backfilled or used until the Board of Health completes a final inspection and gives written approval.19 Off-grid sanitation is not an unregulated alternative: non-sewer toilet systems are permitted by the Board of Health, and the available rule does not establish that every off-grid sanitation technology is allowed.20 Roswell's water plant serves only part of the city, while Fulton County handles all other Roswell residents and all sewer lines, so verify utility availability for the exact address before planning septic.21

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Roswell?

We could not confirm a current Roswell rule that allows RV occupancy or temporary camping on private land, so ask the Planning & Zoning Division before using an RV as housing. We also could not confirm a separate tiny-home occupancy rule or a citywide minimum dwelling size.

A proposed tiny home would still be subject to Roswell's zoning, building-permit process and locally enforced construction codes.2111 A Roswell site without public sewer would also need Fulton County health approval for an onsite sewage system.22 Fulton County's rule barring RVs as living quarters in county-governed residential districts does not establish Roswell's rule because the city administers its own zoning.232

Building a home in Roswell: what are the steps?

  1. Ask Roswell Planning & Zoning to confirm the parcel's zoning district, allowed residential use and dimensional standards.24
  2. Confirm which water provider serves the address and whether Fulton County sewer service is available.21
  3. If the home will use septic, obtain the Fulton County Board of Health construction permit before physical development begins.18 If the home will use a private well, hire a licensed well contractor; the contractor must notify the county health department before drilling.9
  4. Create a Permitting & Licensing HUB account and submit the Roswell building-permit application and required documents electronically.6
  5. Request and pass the required construction inspections through the HUB.3
  6. Complete final inspection and obtain the certificate of completion or certificate of occupancy appropriate to the work.12

What should you check before buying land in Roswell?

Confirm the parcel's zoning district and standards with Roswell Planning & Zoning because the city map contains multiple districts and the reviewed material does not establish one citywide lot-size or setback rule.17 Fulton County's published unincorporated-area lot sizes, dwelling sizes and setbacks do not control a Roswell parcel because Roswell administers its own zoning.252 Check flood mapping early because all development in a Roswell floodplain, including work other than buildings, requires a local permit.8

Confirm sewer and water availability for the exact address because Roswell's water plant serves only part of the city and Fulton County handles the remaining residents and all sewer lines.21 If public sewer is unavailable, ask Fulton County Environmental Health for site review before treating the lot as septic-ready.4 Fulton County soil data rates 59.4% of county soils as free of severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, but that county-level figure does not replace a site evaluation.26

Watch-outs

  • Starting covered work without a Roswell building permit can trigger a fee equal to 200% of the original permit fee.16
  • All development in a Roswell floodplain requires a local permit, not only construction of buildings.8
  • Roswell's water plant serves only part of the city, and Fulton County handles all sewer lines, so utility availability must be checked for the exact address.21

Sources

  1. Building (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  2. Unified Development Code & Design Guidelines – Community Development (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  3. Building – Community Development (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  4. Well and Septic Inspection, quoted and re-checked
  5. Well and Septic Inspection, quoted and re-checked
  6. Building (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  7. Permitting & Licensing – City of Roswell (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  8. Floodplain Management (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  9. Well Water (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  10. Building – Community Development (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  11. Building – Community Development (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  12. roswellgov.com (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of Roswell Community Development (roswellgov.com)
  14. Building – Community Development (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  15. Building – Community Development (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  16. City of Roswell Building Permit Fees: Effective January 1, 2025 (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  17. roswellgov.com (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  18. GA DPH On-Site Sewage Manual (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  19. GA DPH On-Site Sewage Manual (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  20. Land-use: Waste Management Septic Inspection, quoted and re-checked
  21. Water Utility – Environmental Public Works (Roswell), quoted and re-checked
  22. Land-use: Waste Management Septic Inspection, quoted and re-checked
  23. Fulton County Zoning Resolution, § 18.5, Parking for specialized vehicles, quoted and re-checked
  24. City of Roswell Planning & Zoning Division (roswellgov.com)
  25. Zoning Resolution of Fulton County, Article IV, quoted and re-checked
  26. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data

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 Roswell

Roswell’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction or development projects inside Roswell city limits.

    • Permit applications must be submitted through the Roswell Permitting & Licensing HUB.
    • The city states that applications must be submitted electronically.
    • The city FAQ states that construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, occupancy changes, and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work require prior application and the required permit.
    • Routine maintenance such as painting, floor coverings, and wallpaper does not require a permit.
    “Any owner, authorized agent, or contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the construction codes, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the Building Division and obtain the required permit for the work.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Construction, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, occupancy changes, and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work inside Roswell city limits.
      “shall first make application to the Building Division and obtain the required permit for the work.”
    • Required — Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, occupancy changes, and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work inside Roswell city limits.
      “Any owner, authorized agent, or contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the construction codes, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the Building Division and obtain the required permit for the work.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    A property owner acting as general contractor for an owner-occupied project inside Roswell city limits.

    • The property must be owned by the applicant and intended for the applicant's occupancy upon completion.
    • The property may not be used by or open to the general public.
    • The applicant must not have sold a building constructed as a property-owner contractor within the prior 24 months in Georgia.
    • The property may not be offered for sale or lease as provided in O.C.G.A. 43-41-17.
    • The owner must serve as contractor of record and may not use unlicensed subcontractors.
    • The affidavit must be submitted before the permit is issued.
    “The undersigned hereby applies for special consideration as owner of the property listed above, desiring to perform construction and serve as general contractor”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Conditional — An owner seeking a building permit for work inside Roswell city limits.
      “Yes, you will need to create an account and apply for a permit. Add yourself as both the property owner and the contractor then upload an Owner/General Contractor Affidavit or Owner/Trade Contractor Affidavit with your required documents.”
    • Conditional — Owner-builder permit applications and owner-performed construction or alteration work requiring a building permit inside Roswell city limits.
      “A permit shall not be issued to an owner who is neither a licensed contractor nor the occupant of a residential structure being altered.”
    • Conditional — A Roswell property owner performing work that requires a building permit.
      “Add yourself as both the property owner and the contractor”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building-code enforcement inside Roswell city limits.

    • Roswell enforces the state-mandated minimum building codes through a locally adopted administration and enforcement chapter.
    • Georgia-specific amendments and currently adopted state codes are linked through the Department of Community Affairs.
    “For administration and enforcement locally of the minimum state mandated building codes, the state has provided for local enforcement through a locally adopted Chapter 1.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Construction inside Roswell city limits.
      “The Building Division of Community Development serves the community to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare through enforcement of the state mandated minimum building codes. Enforcement of the building codes plays a key role in sustainable, safe building and construction through minimum requirements that set a uniform baseline for performance.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Building-code enforcement inside Roswell city limits.
      “For administration and enforcement locally of the minimum state mandated building codes, the state has provided for local enforcement through a locally adopted Chapter 1.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted building work inside Roswell city limits.

    • Inspections are required at various stages of construction.
    • Inspection requests must be made through the Roswell Permitting & Licensing HUB.
    • Permits, job cards, and stamped reviewed/approved plans must be available at the job site.
    • Failure to provide required documents or access can result in failed inspections and re-inspection fees.
    • Plans are not required for over-the-counter jobs such as HVAC, water heater, and electric service restoration work.
    “Building inspections are required at various stages of construction to ensure compliance with approved plans and applicable building codes. Inspections must be requested and scheduled through the Roswell Permitting & Licensing HUB, where applicants can also track inspection status and results.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Construction inside Roswell city limits requiring building-code inspections.
      “Building inspections are required at various stages of construction”
    • Required — Building work requiring inspection inside Roswell city limits.
      “Building inspections are required at various stages of construction to ensure compliance with approved plans and applicable building codes. Inspections must be requested and scheduled through the Roswell Permitting & Licensing HUB, where applicants can also track inspection status and results.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Projects inside Roswell city limits after final inspection.

    • The city issues either a Certificate of Completion or a Certificate of Occupancy depending on the scope of work.
    • The document is issued when the job has passed final inspection.
    “The City of Roswell always issues either a Certificate of Completion or a Certificate of Occupancy, depending on the scope of the work, when the job has passed final inspection.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Projects inside Roswell city limits after final inspection, where the scope calls for a certificate of occupancy rather than a certificate of completion.
      “The City of Roswell always issues either a Certificate of Completion or a Certificate of Occupancy, depending on the scope of the work, when the job has passed final inspection.”
    • Limited — Projects inside Roswell city limits after final inspection.
      “Certificate of Completion or a Certificate of Occupancy”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Roswell city limits; Roswell administers its own Unified Development Code and zoning document.

    • The city page states that the UDC includes a zoning document and map.
    • The UDC effective date stated by the city is June 1, 2014.
    “Roswell’s Unified Development Code (UDC) is a single (“unified”) tool that addresses contemporary development and zoning practices in a format that is consistent and easily understood by administrators, developers, and community members. The UDC includes a new zoning document and map.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — Land inside Roswell city limits; Roswell adopts and administers its own Unified Development Code and zoning map.
      “The UDC includes a new zoning document and map.”
    • Present — Land inside Roswell city limits; Roswell administers its own Unified Development Code and zoning document.
      “Roswell’s Unified Development Code (UDC) is a single (“unified”) tool that addresses contemporary development and zoning practices in a format that is consistent and easily understood by administrators, developers, and community members. The UDC includes a new zoning document and map. The effective date of the UDC was June 1, 2014.”
    • Present — Land inside Roswell city limits; Roswell administers its Unified Development Code and zoning ordinance.
      “addresses contemporary development and zoning practices”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Roswell city limits.

    • The city publishes a UDC zoning map representing the zoning districts that make up the UDC.
    • The UDC is hosted through Municode.
    “The UDC Zoning Map is a graphical representation of the zoning districts that make up the UDC.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Zoning districts and zoning-map administration inside Roswell city limits.
      “The UDC Zoning Map is a graphical representation of the zoning districts that make up the UDC.”
    • Published — Zoning districts inside Roswell city limits.
      “The UDC Zoning Map is a graphical representation of the zoning districts that make up the UDC.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and plat review inside Roswell city limits.

    • The City requires digital submission for development plans and final plats/as-builts where required by ordinance or policy.
    • Permits will not be issued until successful review of required digital data submissions.
    “As of November 1, 2017, each development plan or final plat/as-built delivered to the City of Roswell (as required by ordinance or policy) shall be delivered digitally in addition to standard hard copy documents. Permits will not be issued until the successful review of the digital data submissions.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    All development in the floodplain inside Roswell city limits, including non-building development.

    • All development in the floodplain requires a local permit.
    • The City states that Roswell has restricted development within the 100-year floodplain.
    • Property owners should check with the City Engineering or Building Division before building or altering property.
    “All development in the floodplain, not just construction of buildings, requires a local permit.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Roswell building permits and related inspections.

    • The schedule was adopted December 9, 2024, effective January 1, 2025, and revised April 7, 2025.
    • Initial fees are calculated for application and review; additional fees may apply and may be invoiced separately before permit issuance.
    • The schedule includes a $25 application fee for all permits, valuation-based permit fees, plan-review minimums, certificate fees, inspection fees, and a 200% fee for work done without a permit.

    application fee: 25 USD (all permits) · residential plan review: 25 percent of permit fee (minimum $125) · commercial plan review: 50 percent of permit fee (minimum $125) · first re-inspection fee: 50 USD · second re-inspection fee: 75 USD · third and subsequent re-inspection fee: 100 USD · work without permit fee: 200 percent of original permit fee

    “2025 Building Permit Fees ▪ Adopted 12/09/24 ▪ Effective 01/01/2025 ▪ Revised 04/07/2025”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Roswell building-permit fees inside Roswell city limits.
      “Building Permit: Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2025) pdf 122.9 KB”
    • Published (with conditions) — Roswell building permits and related applications.
      “Building Permit: Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2025)”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building, land-disturbance, planning and zoning, and related permits inside Roswell city limits.

    • Applicants must create an account and use the Roswell Permitting & Licensing HUB.
    • The city no longer accepts applications through email, paper, or walk-in submission.
    • Required documents must be uploaded with the application.
    • Inspection requests are scheduled through the HUB.
    “To begin a construction or development project within the City of Roswell, permit applications must be submitted through the Roswell Permitting & Licensing HUB. The HUB allows applicants to apply for building permits, upload required documents, and pay applicable fees through an online account portal.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Building, land-disturbance, planning, zoning, fire, right-of-way, tree, film, photo, and sign permits inside Roswell city limits.
      “All Building, Land Disturbance, Planning and Zoning, Events, Fire, Right-of-Way, Tree, Film, Photo and Sign permits are included in the Permitting & Licensing HUB.”
    • Published — Building, land-disturbance, planning-and-zoning, fire, right-of-way, tree, film, photo, and sign permit applications inside Roswell city limits.
      “All applicants will need an online portal account to apply for a permit or license.”

Rules another office applies inside Roswell

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

  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Locally related septic services and inspections for properties inside Roswell city limits, handled through Fulton County Environmental Health.

    • Georgia DPH states that locally related services and inspections should be directed to the county environmental health office.
    • Fulton County is listed with phone number 770-520-7500.
    • State DPH rules and manuals still govern onsite sewage management.
    “For complaints, record requests, services, inspections, exams, or other locally-related questions, call your County Environmental Health Office”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • County — On-site sewage systems inside Roswell city limits; local services and inspections are handled through the Fulton County Environmental Health Office under Georgia DPH's county-health framework.
      “For complaints, record requests, services, inspections, exams, or other locally-related questions, call your County Environmental Health Office (XLS, 27.6 KB) .”
  • Septic permitRequired

    A lot or structure inside Roswell city limits that will use an on-site sewage management system.

    • No physical development of the lot or structure may begin, and no system or component may be installed, without a County Health Department construction permit.
    • The application must be written on County Board of Health forms and include the listed site, design, utility, bedroom/person, soil, and signature information.
    • The County Board of Health may waive some information if sufficient information is already available.
    • Repairs, replacements, and additions must be permitted and inspected.
    • A site inspection must occur before issuance.
    • The permit is valid for no more than twelve months from issuance.
    • If public water is used, public water approval is required before the septic permit is issued.

    permit validity: 12 months (from date of issue)

    “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.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    On-site sewage management systems inside Roswell city limits.

    • The County Board of Health must inspect the site before issuing the construction permit.
    • The system may not be backfilled or used until a final inspection has occurred and written approval has been issued.
    • Subsequent grading, filling, landscaping, or construction that adversely affects 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, and written approval has been issued by the County Board of Health.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Off-grid sanitation inside Roswell city limits where public or community sewage disposal is not accessible.

    • The Fulton onsite-sewage manual states that where public or community sewage disposal systems are not accessible, sewage may be discharged to an adequate onsite sewage management system.
    • Construction permits, site suitability review, and final inspection requirements apply.
    “adequate on-site sewage management system”
  • Well permitLimited

    Private water wells inside Roswell city limits.

    • A licensed water-well contractor must install the well.
    • Before construction, the contractor must notify the county health department of the intent to drill and provide information required on Water Well Council forms.
    • The official page gives construction-notification requirements but does not label the notification as a separate permit.
    “Wells must be installed by a licensed water well contractor. By using a licensed water well contractor, you can ensure that they meet basic criteria listed below. In addition, prior to actual construction, the water well contractor must notify the county health department of the intent to drill a water well, providing such information as is required on forms prepared by the Water Well Council.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Water and sewer service inside Roswell city limits.

    • The Roswell water treatment plant serves only part of Roswell.
    • Fulton County handles all other Roswell residents and all sewer lines.
    • Fulton County utility procedures begin after the owner determines that suitable water or sewer service capabilities exist, which may be determined through a Water and Sewer Availability Certification.
    • Connection fees and applications are administered through Fulton County for Fulton County water/sewer systems.
    “The Roswell water treatment plant only services part of Roswell. Fulton County handles all other residents and all sewer lines”

Still unanswered

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

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Roswell city limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Roswell city limits.
  • Setbacks — Setbacks inside Roswell city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Roswell city limits.
  • Building height — Building height inside Roswell city limits.
8 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Roswell publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Fulton County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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