Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Henry County, Georgia

Yes. Unincorporated Henry County requires a building permit for a new single-family detached home and for applicable residential additions or accessory structures¹. A residential land-disturbance permit is also required before the building permit when the project will disturb 200 square feet or more¹. Georgia's mandatory construction codes apply statewide whether or not they are locally enforced⁶. For each permitted single-family dwelling or townhouse, the county's $7,085.90 development impact fee is due before permit issuance as of July 1, 2026; this amount is not the complete building-permit fee schedule^4,7. Henry County allows an owner-builder to pull a permit for a personal residence by submitting the Homeowner/Builder Affidavit and identification, but the owner must intend to occupy the home and may not build it to sell, rent or house another person or family¹. The owner-builder remains responsible for code compliance and cannot build another residence under that option for 2 years after receiving the certificate of occupancy¹.

Henry County's Building & Plan Review Department is at 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, Georgia 30253, phone (770) 288-6051¹. Residential applications and supporting paperwork go through SAGESGov, where the applicant must choose the correct project type and complete the applicable checklist sections⁷. Building permits, land-disturbance permits and lot-modification applications may remain separate application records, and each process must be filed under the proper record unless staff directs otherwise⁴. Incomplete or inaccurate submissions can lead to intake denial, correction requests and delays⁷.

Yes. Henry County uses a Unified Land Development Code and Highway Corridor Overlay District for zoning in unincorporated Henry County². Georgia does not impose one statewide district map, so the parcel's district, permitted uses and development standards must come from the applicable county or municipal ordinance⁸. A city may administer different rules inside its limits, so ask the city with jurisdiction there². For unincorporated land, Henry County separately reviews lot divisions and modifications when applicable, including minimum lot size, lot width, zoning conditions, variances and legal access¹. One district-specific exception: inside the Towaliga Watershed Protection District, a single-family lot needs at least 1 1/4 acres unless public sewerage serves it⁹. Parcels in that district that are adjacent to or within 1,000 feet of a reservoir owned or operated by Henry County or the Henry County Water and Sewerage Authority need at least 3 acres, with buildings and septic field lines set back 250 feet⁹. Outside that watershed district, we could not confirm numeric minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage, building height or minimum dwelling size; ask the Building & Plan Review Department for the standards tied to the parcel's district¹.

District 4 Environmental Health administers Henry County septic permits, inspections and complaints under Georgia Department of Public Health rules³. District 4 publishes separate applications for new residential systems, residential repairs, new commercial systems and commercial repairs³. Apply before developing a lot or structure that will use septic; the site must receive a favorable inspection before the construction permit is issued¹⁰. The permit remains valid for no more than 12 months¹⁰. Final inspection is required after construction and before final cover, and the County Board of Health must give written approval before the system is backfilled or used^10,11. Residential additions such as pools, detached garages and outbuildings on septic property also require contact with the local Environmental Health Office, an application and associated fees³. About 72% of Henry County soils have no severe limitation for a conventional drain field, but the specific site still must pass review¹².

A site-built or modular tiny home in Georgia is a dwelling subject to the applicable building codes and local siting and zoning requirements⁵. Georgia's IRC Appendix Q tiny-house provisions apply only when the local government has specifically adopted them, and we could not confirm Henry County's adoption or its local tiny-home occupancy rule⁵. Ask the Building & Plan Review Department whether the parcel's zoning district allows the proposed home and which code provisions apply¹. We also could not confirm Henry County's rule for long-term RV occupancy or temporary camping on private land. Ask the department about both the intended duration and whether utility connections or an active building permit change the answer¹.

1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district and whether county or city rules apply before design^2,8.
2. Decide how water and wastewater will be served. Provide a public-water meter receipt or obtain District 4's location permit for a non-public well, and obtain a septic permit when the property will use septic rather than sewer^1,13.
3. Apply to District 4 Environmental Health for septic site review and a construction permit before site development; the permit lasts no more than 12 months^3,10.
4. Submit the Homeowner/Builder Affidavit and identification if you will act as your own builder, and make sure the occupancy restrictions fit your plan¹.
5. Submit each applicable record through SAGESGov; building, land-disturbance and lot-modification applications may be separate⁴.
6. Obtain the land-disturbance permit first when disturbing 200 square feet or more, then obtain the building permit¹.
7. Before final cover or use of the septic system, obtain the required final inspection and written approval^10,11.

Confirm whether the parcel is in unincorporated Henry County or a city, then identify the zoning district and permitted use^2,8. Check septic feasibility before committing: about 72% of county soils have no severe limitation for a conventional drain field, but the individual site still needs approval^10,12. Verify whether the property has public water and sewer. A county residential submission needs a water-meter receipt for public water or a well permit for a well, while septic documentation is required for septic service but not sewer service¹. District 4 issues location permits for non-public wells, and private-well applicants must use a licensed water-well contractor¹³. If access touches a state highway right-of-way, obtain the required state permit before construction there¹⁴. Also ask the county about parcel-specific floodplain approval and county driveway rules, which we could not confirm.