# Georgia Permit Site Plans: What Your City Actually Requires
Georgia has a statewide minimum building code, but site plan requirements are still decided city by city — and in the Atlanta metro especially, they vary more than you'd expect. If you're pulling a permit for a fence, shed, deck, pool, or small addition, here's what actually needs to be on the drawing, and how to get one done without waiting weeks on a drafter.
Check My Address Create My Site Plan
Do You Need a Site Plan for a Small Permit in Georgia?
In most Georgia cities, yes. A fence, a shed, a deck, a pool — routine residential work still needs a drawing showing your property lines, existing structures, and where the new work sits on the lot.
Georgia enforces its building codes through the Department of Community Affairs, and the state just moved to the 2024 International Residential Code with Georgia Amendments, effective January 1, 2026. That's the baseline every jurisdiction builds from. But what your specific city wants on the site plan itself — how many sheets, whether it needs a professional stamp, what scale to use — is set locally, and Georgia's cities are not shy about adding their own requirements.
Some cities separate "simple" site plans (decks, accessory structures, alterations) from "full" site plans (additions, pools, new buildings), with different expectations for each. Others want a full survey attached. There's no single Georgia standard — you need to check your specific city.
Who Runs Into This
- Homeowners adding a fence, shed, deck, patio, or pool
- Fence, deck, and pool contractors pulling permits across multiple job sites
- Small GCs and remodelers handling additions or accessory structures
- Owner-builders managing their own permit applications under Georgia's owner-builder affidavit process
- ADU contractors navigating city-specific accessory dwelling caps
- Small builders working single-family lots
If you've ever had a Georgia site plan bounced for a missing tree protection plan or an unstamped survey, this is written for you.
What Typically Needs a Site Plan
Fence — Property lines and fence location, at minimum. Sandy Springs wants it drawn to scale showing exact location and length; Dunwoody will accept an existing survey or SmartMap property record instead of a new drawing.
Shed or accessory structure — Needed in most cities. Johns Creek requires a site plan for any accessory structure; Gainesville wants the whole parcel shown, not just the shed's footprint.
Deck — Needed for permit in most jurisdictions. Decks over 14 feet above grade may need to be designed by a Georgia-licensed engineer, not just drawn on a site plan.
Patio or patio cover — Same logic as a deck: location and dimensions relative to property lines, required by cities like Johns Creek even for smaller structures.
Garage — Almost always needs a site plan with footprint, setbacks, and driveway location. Marietta specifically wants a lot survey with the proposed footprint added, not a freehand sketch.
Driveway — Needs property lines and right-of-way dimensions shown. If the driveway connects to a state road, you'll also need a GDOT Encroachment Permit — a separate process from your local building permit.
Pool or spa — One of the stricter categories. Johns Creek requires a full site survey and a site plan, not one or the other. Pool equipment location typically needs to be shown too.
ADU — Needs footprint, setbacks, and its relationship to the main house. Most Georgia cities cap ADU size around 750–900 square feet, and some require planning commission sign-off on the conceptual site plan before you even get to building permit review.
Home addition — Existing footprint plus the addition, dimensioned to property lines. DeKalb County specifically requires the site plan be prepared by an engineer or surveyor registered in Georgia — this one isn't a DIY drawing there.
Why This Trips People Up
The paperwork isn't conceptually hard. What actually stalls a Georgia permit is usually one of these:
Not knowing your property lines. Without a recent survey, setbacks become guesswork — and several cities (Marietta among them) specifically require a lot survey, not just a sketch.
Missing tree protection requirements. This one catches people off guard. Atlanta requires nine separate site plans for some projects, including a tree inventory, removal plan, and replacement plan. Johns Creek requires tree protection fencing around critical root zones before work starts. Skip this step and your permit stalls regardless of how good the rest of your drawing is.
Easements and stream buffers that aren't obvious. Utility easements, conservation easements, and stream buffers can kill a project if you build into one — Clarke County, for example, requires a 10-foot setback from certain easements just for fences.
An unstamped plan where a stamp was required. Georgia law requires certain plans be sealed by a licensed engineer, architect, or surveyor. Submit an unsealed plan where a stamp was expected, and it gets rejected on sight — no review, no comments, just back to the drawing board.
Why It's Different City to City
Georgia's statewide code sets the construction standard, but the site plan process is entirely local — and the Atlanta metro shows just how much that varies:
- Atlanta requires nine separate site plans for qualifying projects, including tree inventory, removal, and replacement plans, sealed by a Georgia-licensed land surveyor.
- Marietta requires a lot survey with the proposed footprint, all setback lines, easements, and floodplain limits shown.
- Johns Creek splits requirements into "Simple" site plans (accessory structures, decks, alterations) and "Full" site plans (additions, pools, new construction).
- Dunwoody allows an existing survey or SmartMap property record in place of a new site plan for some permits.
- DeKalb County requires the site plan be prepared by an engineer or surveyor registered in Georgia.
- Peachtree City requires the site plan be drawn directly on a plat or survey, with all distances labeled.
- Lawrenceville uses two separate documents — a House Location Plan and a Residential Drainage Plan — for new construction and renovations.
See requirements for your county
How SitePlans.ai Handles This
Instead of starting from a blank page or a drafting queue, you start from your address:
- Enter your property address. We pull available property context so you're not guessing at your lot.
- Review your property lines and site context, where data is available for your area.
- Add your project — fence, shed, deck, patio, pool, garage, driveway, or ADU — and place it on the lot.
- Add setbacks, easements, and labels so the drawing reads the way a Georgia reviewer expects.
- Export a clean, title-block-style PDF ready to attach to your permit application.
This is built around real site-plan logic — property lines, setbacks, scale, title blocks — not a generic drawing tool with boxes and arrows. For simpler Georgia permit categories, that's often exactly what a reviewer is looking for.
Coverage varies by county. Some Georgia counties have cleaner parcel data than others, and coverage is actively expanding across the state. If your property lines look off, cross-check your county tax assessor's records — or use the done-for-you option below.
What This Doesn't Replace
Worth being direct about this, especially in a state where sealed plans and tree protection documents come up often.
SitePlans.ai produces a preliminary, conceptual site plan for permit prep. It is not:
- A legal boundary survey
- A sealed survey drawing
- A PE, PLS, or architect stamp
- A FEMA Elevation Certificate
- A floodplain development permit
- A guarantee that your permit gets approved
Georgia law requires certain plans — additions reviewed by counties like DeKalb, pools, and floodplain work are common examples — to be sealed by a licensed engineer, architect, or surveyor. SitePlans.ai doesn't provide sealed plans. If your project needs one, you'll need to engage a licensed Georgia professional directly.
If your jurisdiction requires a tree inventory plan, a licensed survey, or a floodplain engineering study, that requirement doesn't go away — you'll still need to satisfy it separately. Final acceptance always comes down to your city or county building department, your zoning office, and in some cases your HOA.
A Few Georgia-Specific Things to Know
New codes took effect January 1, 2026. The 2024 IRC with Georgia Amendments is now the statewide baseline — worth confirming your city has fully adopted it if you're working from older code references.
Fire sprinklers are not mandatory in one- and two-family dwellings under Georgia law, unlike some other states.
Land Disturbance Permits are a separate requirement in many cities once you disturb 1,000 square feet or more of ground — grading, clearing, paving, and similar work all count. Easy to miss if you're focused only on the building permit.
Floodplain work needs an engineering study, not just a site plan. Marietta, for example, requires a surveyor's letter confirming the lowest floor level sits three feet above the floodplain before framing begins.
Owner-builders can act as their own contractor in Georgia with the proper affidavit on file — a real option, but one that comes with its own paperwork trail.
Call Georgia 811 before you dig — fence posts, deck piers, pool excavation, shed footings, all of it. Most permit applications ask for the confirmation number.
Comparing Your Options
| Option | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Hand sketch | Personal planning only | Rarely accepted by a building department |
| Generic drawing app | Rough layout ideas | No property lines, setbacks, or title block |
| Full CAD software | Professionals producing many plans | Expensive and overkill for one fence |
| Local drafting service | Projects needing a human touch | Slow, often booked out weeks |
| Licensed survey | Boundary disputes, legal descriptions | $500–$2,000+, more than most permits need |
| SitePlans.ai | Fast, permit-style site plans from your address | Preliminary — not a sealed survey |
| SitePlans.us | Complex, rejected, or urgent projects | Human-reviewed, built for you |
Which Plan Fits
Free works for a homeowner doing one project — a fence or a shed — with limited lookups and exports.
Contractor Pro fits GCs, fence contractors, deck contractors, and pool contractors running multiple jobs who need more address lookups, more exports, and branded title blocks.
Builder is built for higher-volume production — more monthly plans, more sheet options.
Done-for-you, through SitePlans.us, is the right call when a project needs a sealed plan, a tree protection package, or has already hit a rejection and you'd rather hand it to a professional.
How It Works, Step by Step
- Enter your Georgia property address.
- Review the property lines and site context shown, and check against your county tax assessor if anything looks off.
- Add your project — fence, shed, deck, pool, garage, addition — and position it on the lot.
- Add setbacks, easements, and right-of-way lines, and label what needs labeling.
- Check the title block — name, address, project description, date.
- Export the PDF.
- If your project needs a sealed plan, tree protection documentation, or already hit a rejection, hand it to SitePlans.us for a human-reviewed version.
Support While You Work
A guided walkthrough runs inside the tool. If you get stuck, support is available at support@siteplans.ai, and `/support/` has answers to the questions that come up most.
External Resources Worth Bookmarking
- Georgia 811 — call before digging; most permits ask for the confirmation number
- Georgia DCA Building Codes — current state minimum standard codes and amendments
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center — check your flood zone before you plan
- Georgia Department of Transportation — encroachment permits for driveways on state roads
- Your city building department and county tax assessor — search directly; every jurisdiction differs
FAQ
Do I need a site plan for a fence permit in Georgia?
In most cities, yes. Sandy Springs wants it drawn to scale showing exact fence location and length; Dunwoody will accept an existing survey or SmartMap record instead of a new drawing. Check what your specific city accepts.
Do I need a site plan for a shed permit?
Usually. Johns Creek requires one for any accessory structure. Gainesville wants the whole parcel shown, not just the shed footprint. Some cities exempt very small sheds, but zoning setbacks still apply either way.
What about a deck permit?
Most cities require a site plan. Decks over 14 feet above grade may need engineering design by a Georgia-licensed professional, not just a standard site plan.
Do I need a full survey, or is a site plan enough?
Depends on the city. Many accept a site plan for small projects. Marietta specifically requires a lot survey with the proposed footprint added — check before assuming a sketch will do.
What's the actual difference between a site plan and a survey?
A site plan shows property lines, structures, and proposed work with dimensions — built for permit review. A survey is a legal document from a licensed surveyor establishing official boundaries. Some Georgia cities require the site plan itself be prepared and stamped by a licensed engineer or surveyor.
Do pools need a site plan?
Yes, and in some cities it's stricter than other projects. Johns Creek requires both a full site survey and a separate site plan for pools and spas, with equipment location shown.
What about an ADU?
Most Georgia cities require a site plan showing the ADU footprint, setbacks, and relationship to the main house. Size caps typically run 750–900 square feet, and some cities require planning commission approval of the conceptual site plan first.
What actually needs to be on the drawing?
Property boundary with dimensions, street frontage, setbacks, easements, existing structures, and proposed construction dimensioned from the property lines. Johns Creek specifically requires a graphic scale and north arrow, minimum 1"=20'-0". Tree protection fencing is often required too.
Do setbacks really vary that much between cities?
Yes. Fannin County, for example, requires 15 feet from property lines and 50 feet from the road center — figures that won't match a neighboring county. Always confirm locally before placing anything.
Why do easements matter so much?
Building inside a utility, drainage, or conservation easement can lead to a removal order later, even with a permit in hand. Clarke County requires a 10-foot setback from certain easements just for fences — a good example of how specific these rules get.
Is a floodplain permit a separate thing?
Yes. Properties in a FEMA floodplain typically need an engineering study, not just a site plan, defining future-conditions floodplain encroachments. Marietta requires a surveyor's letter confirming the lowest floor level is three feet above the floodplain before framing.
Will SitePlans.ai guarantee my permit gets approved?
No — and be skeptical of anyone who tells you otherwise. SitePlans.ai helps you prepare the drawing; approval depends entirely on your local building department, zoning office, and project scope.
When should I use SitePlans.us instead?
When your project needs a sealed plan, a tree protection package, already got rejected once, or you'd rather have a professional take it from here.
Can contractors use this for client work?
Yes — Contractor Pro and Builder plans are built for exactly that: multiple jobs, multiple addresses, branded output.
What if my property lines look wrong in the tool?
Parcel data quality varies by county. Cross-check against your county tax assessor's records, or use the done-for-you service for a human-reviewed plan.
Do I need an engineer's or architect's stamp?
Not usually for fences, small sheds, or standard decks. You likely will for foundations, structural work, larger sheds, decks over 14 feet above grade, and projects in floodplains. Georgia law requires the stamp when the jurisdiction calls for it — it's not optional if required.
What changed under Georgia's 2026 building codes?
The state adopted the 2024 International Residential Code with Georgia Amendments, effective January 1, 2026. Fire sprinklers remain non-mandatory for one- and two-family dwellings.
How long does plan review actually take?
5–15 business days is typical in major metros, though some cities have up to a 45-day deadline to issue a permit. A complete site plan — with tree protection and setback details included where required — is the biggest thing you control to avoid a rejection cycle.
What's a Land Disturbance Permit?
A separate permit required in many Georgia cities once a project disturbs 1,000 square feet or more of ground — grading, clearing, and paving all count. Easy to overlook if you're only thinking about the building permit itself.
Start With Your Address
Stop guessing at setbacks and tree protection rules, and stop waiting on a drafter's calendar. Build a permit-style site plan for your Georgia project today.
Working on something that needs a sealed plan, a tree protection package, or already got rejected?