Building Inspections

Inspection Requests

A 24-hour notice must be given for all inspection requests. However, inspections may now be requested online or by telephone at 229-259-3506. Please have your address and permit number ready when requesting an inspection.

Inspection Requirements

Builders are urged to review the following inspection requirements:

Covered Work

No work shall be covered until all required building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical inspections have been made. This includes the covering of slabs and the framing or occupation of the building prior to obtaining a passed inspection.

Erosion Control

An Erosion Control Stamp must be placed on the permit card prior to requesting the plumbing slab or building slab (if no plumbing work is done).

Property Lines

Property lines shall be staked and strung. Before the foundation or slab inspection is made, the building contractor shall certify that the lot lines are accurate and meet proper setbacks.

Occupancy of Buildings

No commercial building will be occupied without a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). Typically, a three to five business day inspection period is required prior to issuance of a CO. In addition, no residential building will be occupied without a residential Certificate of Completion (CC), which can be issued on the same day after all final building inspections pass.

Commercial Certificate of Occupancy

• To ensure the safety of a building before it is occupied, the City will issue two separate CO's. One CO is issued by the Inspections Department, and another one is issued by the Fire Department.

• The Inspections CO is issued for new construction and/or for an existing building that is changing its use. CO requests can be made by contacting the Plans Coordinator Stephanie Blanton at 229-671-3651.

• Before an Inspections CO can be issued, backflow testing and certification paperwork (if applicable) must be submitted to Utilities and as-builts must be submitted to Utilities and Engineering and approved by both departments. It is important to have the as-builts turned in for review in a reasonable amount of time before the request is made for a CO. The CO must be requested by the permit holder, who in most cases is the general contractor. The required inspections for commercial CO's are as follows:

  • Zoning

  • Engineering

  • Fire

  • Water/Sewer

  • Landscape

• The Fire Department CO is to post occupancy load and ensure current life safety code requirements. For more details on the Fire Department CO, call 229-333-1836.

• Once both CO's are obtained (if required), a business license can be applied for at the Business License Office.

Residential Certificate of Completion

• A residential Certificate of Completion (CC) can be issued to the permit holder on record once all final construction inspections are completed. Contact the permit office at 229-259-3506 to receive a residential CC.