Gwinnett County Building Permit Guide

Gwinnett County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Georgia. The county building department handles permits for unincorporated areas, while cities like Lawrenceville, Snellville, Norcross, and Buford have their own offices.

When Engineering Is Required

Gwinnett County requires PE-stamped engineering for:

All new foundation construction
Structural modifications (wall removal, beam installation)
Commercial building design
Retaining walls over 4 feet
Foundation repair and underpinning

Gwinnett County Plan Review

Gwinnett County conducts a thorough plan review. Common submittal requirements:

Completed permit application
PE-stamped foundation plans
PE-stamped framing plans (for structural elements)
Site plan showing grading, drainage, and setbacks
Georgia State Energy Code compliance forms
Erosion control plan (for sites over 1 acre)

Inspection Process

Gwinnett County inspections typically include:

Foundation pre-pour inspection
Framing inspection
Final inspection

Have approved plans on site for all inspections.

Common Reasons for Plan Rejection

Missing or incomplete load paths
Foundation design not accounting for local soil conditions
Missing drainage or grading plans
Incomplete energy code documentation

Cities Within Gwinnett

If your project is within Lawrenceville, Snellville, Norcross, or Buford city limits, check with the city building department — requirements and review times vary.

Getting Started

Georgia Licensed Engineers provides PE-stamped plans accepted throughout Gwinnett County. Call (833) 205-7710.

Next Steps for Your Gwinnett County Project

If you're planning a project in Gwinnett 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 Gwinnett County engineering service areas.

Gwinnett County Building Permit Guide