DeKalb County Building Permit Guide

DeKalb County includes Decatur, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Stone Mountain, and Lithonia. The permit process varies depending on whether your project is in an incorporated city or unincorporated DeKalb County.

Jurisdiction Breakdown

Unincorporated DeKalb County — DeKalb County Permitting
Dunwoody — City of Dunwoody
Brookhaven — City of Brookhaven
Decatur — City of Decatur
Chamblee — City of Chamblee
Stone Mountain — City of Stone Mountain

Engineering Requirements

DeKalb County and its cities require PE-stamped plans for:

New residential and commercial foundations
Load-bearing wall removal and structural openings
Foundation repairs (underpinning, helical piers)
Commercial structural design
Additions involving structural changes

DeKalb County Specifics

Expansive soils — Many areas of DeKalb have clay soils requiring engineered foundations
Tree protection — DeKalb has strict tree ordinances; engineering may be needed for root zone protection
Stream buffer requirements — Properties near streams require engineering for buffer variances
Renovations in historic districts — Decatur and Druid Hills have additional review requirements

Permit Submission

DeKalb County accepts electronic submissions. Required documents:

Completed application
PE-stamped structural and foundation plans
Site plan with drainage
Erosion and sedimentation control plan
Energy code compliance

Common Delays

Incomplete structural drawings
Missing tree protection plans
Inadequate drainage design
Missing elevation certificates in flood zones

Call (833) 205-7710 for DeKalb County engineering services.

Next Steps for Your DeKalb County Project

If you're planning a project in DeKalb County, our Georgia-licensed engineers can take you from permit research to approved plans. We prepare PE-stamped permit plan sets for residential and commercial projects, and we serve homeowners and builders throughout the county — see our DeKalb County engineering service areas.

DeKalb County Building Permit Guide