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READYDOCSCOMPLIANCESTATESGEORGIADEKALB COUNTY
FILE 13089 · COUNTY OF DEKALBSEAT · DECATURPOPULATION · 765KVERIFIED · 05 / 2026
Public Compliance Directory · County Hub

DeKalb.

DeKalb County in Georgia. This is where the state file translates into the local offices that actually issue the permit, schedule the inspection, and sign the filing. Start with the state baseline, then drill into the right city.

Cities on file
1
Trades indexed
12
County seat
Decatur
Last verified
05 / 2026
FAST FACTS

DeKalb County at a glance

Quick-reference card
County seatDecatur
Population (est.)765K
FIPS13089
Building departmentDeKalb County Planning and Sustainability Department
Permit portalDeKalb County Citizen Self Service (CSS) Portal
Fire marshalDeKalb County Fire Marshal's Office
Browse cities→Back to state←
County of
DeKalb
· ACTIVE FILE ·
ARTICLE I · COUNTY BASELINE
CODES & LOCAL AUTHORITY
FIPS 13089
Article I · County Baseline

The county inherits from the state. And adds local rules.

2018 International Building Code and related family of codes with Georgia State Amendments.

DeKalb County handles permitting for all unincorporated areas, while incorporated cities like Decatur, Brookhaven, and Dunwoody manage their own independent building and zoning departments. Development in unincorporated areas is subject to specific overlay districts, including the DeKalb County Watershed Management requirements and various neighborhood conservation districts.

DeKalb County enforces a strict Tree Protection Ordinance that requires a tree survey and potential mitigation fees for any land disturbance or construction activity.

How this fits with the state

The state authority here is GA State Licensing Board. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.

Source · DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability DepartmentLast verified · 05 / 2026
ARTICLE II · PERMIT OFFICES
WHERE THE PERMIT IS FILED
OPERATING PATH
Article II · Local Offices

Who issues, who inspects, who signs off.

Contractors must register their state license with the DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability Department before pulling permits in unincorporated areas.

Building

DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability Department

Permits, plans, inspections

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Permit portal

DeKalb County Citizen Self Service (CSS) Portal

Apply, track, pay

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Planning / zoning

DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability Department

Land use, plan review

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Fire marshal

DeKalb County Fire Marshal's Office

Prevention, alarms, sprinklers

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
ARTICLE III · INSURANCE & BONDS
COUNTY OVERLAY ON STATE BASELINE
VERIFY BEFORE BIDDING
Article III · County Overlay

What DeKalb County usually adds.

The state sets the floor. The county and city can require additional certificates, local bonds, or pre-permit registration.

CoverageRequired?MinimumIssued by
Workers' CompensationState rule with county add-ons
Verify
3+ employees required
State authority
General LiabilityOften required by permit type
Conditional
Permit-based
DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability Department
Surety BondTied to state license or county permit
Conditional
Varies by trade & jurisdiction
State or county
County overlayContractors must provide proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance as required by Georgia state law, with DeKalb County listed as a certificate holder for unincorporated projects.
Verify
Varies
DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability Department
Source · DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability DepartmentVerify before filing
ARTICLE IV · INDEXED CITIES
CITIES IN DEKALB COUNTY
1 CITY
Article IV · Browse by City

Indexed cities in DeKalb County.

Pick a city to open its trade list. The trade page covers licensing, permits, insurance, and typical costs for that work in that city.

DecaturDeKalb County
01
ARTICLE V · TRADES
TRADES IN DEKALB COUNTY
12 TRADES
Article V · Trades

Trades branching in DeKalb County.

Each trade opens against the first indexed city in the county. Use the city browser above to open the same trade in another city.

Concrete
CODE · CN
GL
Open file →
Electrical
CODE · EL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Flooring
CODE · FL
GL
Open file →
Framing
CODE · FR
GL
Open file →
General Contracting
CODE · GC
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
HVAC
CODE · HV
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Landscaping
CODE · LS
GL
Open file →
Painting
CODE · PT
GL
Open file →
Pest Control
CODE · PC
State Lic.GL
Open file →
Plumbing
CODE · PL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Pool Service
CODE · PS
GLBond
Open file →
Roofing
CODE · RF
LicenseBondGL
Open file →
ARTICLE VI · SOURCES
LOCAL SOURCE REGISTER
VERIFY LOCALLY
Article VI · Sources & Citations

Every filing needs a source trail.

This template keeps the county page honest: local context here, filing decisions made with the issuing office.

State

GA State Licensing Board

Statewide licensing, reciprocity, and renewal rules.

/contractors/georgia
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
County

DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability Department

Department that issues permits and schedules inspections for unincorporated areas.

DeKalb County Citizen Self Service (CSS) Portal
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Planning

DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability Department

Land use, zoning review, and plan approvals.

Local planning office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Fire

DeKalb County Fire Marshal's Office

Prevention, protection systems, and code approvals.

Fire marshal's office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Frequently Asked

Questions contractors ask before filing.

Q01Do I need a state license to work in DeKalb County?+
Usually yes — the baseline is the state license through GA State Licensing Board. DeKalb County and its cities may add local registration before you pull a permit.Source · GA State Licensing Board
Q02Does the county or the city issue the permit?+
It depends on where the work is. Unincorporated areas usually route through the county (DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability Department). Work inside an incorporated city normally files with that city's department.Source · DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability Department
Q03What changes between county and state?+
The county adds the actual permit office, local zoning overlays, plan-review timelines, inspections, and local fees. The state license defines who can contract; the county defines how the job gets filed.Source · County and municipal departments

Open the county file. Then pick the city.

DeKalb County now inherits from the state template and adds its own local detail. The next layer is the city and trade pages.

Browse cities→Back to state←