Community Development
Overview
The City of Dahlonega Community Development Department strives to provide professional assistance in planning, development, and construction by adopting, promoting, and enforcing codes and standards in a uniform and unbiased manner, to establish and maintain a sustainable, healthy, and resilient community for all residents and business owners.
The City of Dahlonega is approximately 8.60 square miles with a population of 7,007. The Historic Business center located in beautiful downtown has at its core the Historic Courthouse and Gold Museum. The surrounding downtown boasts a variety of local businesses and The University of North Georgia.
The Community Development Department provides a full range of planning, zoning and building development services through the following key functions:
- Administration and Development/Redevelopment
- Planning and Zoning
- Building & Code Enforcement
- Administration of Annexations, Variances, and Appeals
Documents
FAQs
Please contact the building inspector 706-482-2711 as soon as possible to discuss your project and any plans that might be required. City Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Permits are required before any grading, construction, installation of mobile homes, alterations or additions to buildings or demolition is started. Development plans are required for all construction/development, except single-family residences.
State Licensed General Contractor is required for all commercial permits.
Below is some of the information needed to permit your project:
- Property with a driveway accessed from a state road must be permitted from the GA Department of Transportation. This permit must be issued before a building permit can be obtained from the City. Residential and commercial/other permit requests should be referred to the District Access Management supervisor at 770-532-5563.
- Check with the Public Works Department for the availability of water and sewer services. If sewer service is not available we require a copy of the septic permit before a building permit can be issued (septic permits are issued by the Lumpkin County Health Department).
- Water and sewer tap fees must be paid before or at the time the building permit is issued. Two separate checks, one for the building permit and one for the water/sewer taps will be required.
- Building plans are required for commercial or multi-family buildings. Plan review can take up to three weeks.
- For a single-family residence, bring a survey of the property with the footprint of the house and the setbacks shown.
- For commercial projects, a permit will not be issued until development plans have been reviewed and approved. Building plans must also be submitted and reviewed. Approval by state fire marshal may also be required, depending on the use and size of the structure.
- All electrical, plumbing, low voltage, and mechanical work must be performed by licensed personnel. The general contractor must be licensed and registered. Plumbing, electrical, low voltage and mechanical contractors must submit a copy of state license, business license, a list of employees and an affidavit for each job. Affidavits must be in the office before a rough in the inspection is given – Sub-Contractor Affidavit Form.
- Erosion and Sedimentation Controls – The City of Dahlonega considers erosion and sedimentation controls a very important part of any construction project. Silt fence must be installed in all areas deemed necessary by the inspector. A proper construction pad must be in place at all entrances to the site. Failure to maintain all E&S controls will delay inspections and could also result in fines.
- Porta-john’s must be on site before inspections start. Subcontractor affidavits must be in the office before the rough in the inspection is scheduled. To schedule an inspection, call City Hall 706-864-6133, one day before the inspection is needed.
- Street addresses are assigned by the Lumpkin County Planning Office. Once your driveway is installed give them a copy of your building permit and they will assign an address.
First, print the attached application or contact the City of Dahlonega to obtain a Public Parking Permit Application. Please complete the whole application, return with the fee and any required attachments to City Hall. The procedure to obtain a public parking permit can take up to three days upon receipt of the application.
There is a new procedure for requesting an Open/Close of a Cemetery Lot. You will first need to follow the link below. Once you are there you will either need to sign in under your already created login or create a new login (top right corner). You may either search for your form or click on “Community Development” Then you may proceed to the online form called “Request for Open/Close of Cemetery Lot.” dahlonegaga.viewpointcloud.com
Print the attached application or contact the City of Dahlonega to obtain the license application for your particular business situation.
Follow this link Business Occupational Tax Application for business license procedures and forms.
Please complete all pages of the application, return with the fee and any required attachments.
Sign Info
The review process could take several days, so get your application in as soon as possible. Payment will not be required at the time of submission of the application. Someone will contact you with the amount due.
Water Service
To avoid interruption/termination of service be sure to apply for water service at the Customer Service desk at City Hall.
Click the proper link for the type of service you need:
Residential Service Application Writeable
Commercial Water Service Application Writeable
Alcoholic Beverage Sales
If your business will be selling alcohol, you will need to complete the application for an Alcohol Beverage License and an Affidavit:
Alcoholic Beverage License Application
The affidavit for sales by the drink or consumption on premises:
The Current State Minimum Standard Codes: The following are the current state minimum standard codes for construction as adopted by the Board of Community Affairs.
Current Mandatory Codes as Adopted by DCA:
- International Building Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2020), (2022)
- International Residential Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2020)
- International Fire Code, 2018 Edition (Contact State Fire Marshal Below)
- International Plumbing Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2020), (2022)
- International Mechanical Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2020)
- International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2020), (2022)
- National Electrical Code, 2020 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2021)
- International Energy Conservation Code, 2015 Edition, with Georgia Supplements and Amendments (2020), (2022)
- International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2020)
- For more information and questions regarding the Life Safety Code (NFPA 101), IFC Georgia Amendments or the Georgia Accessibility Code, please contact the State Fire Marshal’s office.
Current Permissive Codes as Adopted by DCA:
- Disaster Resilient Building Code IBC Appendix (2013)
- Disaster Resilient Building Code IRC Appendix (2013)
- International Property Maintenance Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2021)
- International Existing Building Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2021)
- National Green Building Standard, 2008 Edition, with Georgia Amendments (2011)
The upcoming meetings and meeting documents are located here.
Sewer Contacts:
Kelli-Ann Sottile
Municipal Permitting Unit, EPD
Wastewater Regulatory Program
Email: Kelli-ann.sottile@dnr.ga.gov
Phone: 404-463-4945
Josh Hayes
Environmental Engineer
Municipal Permitting Unit, EPD
Wastewater Regulatory Program
Email: Josh.Hayes @dnr.ga.gov
Phone: 404-463-1834
Address:
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Suite 1152 – East Tower
Atlanta, GA 30334
Required Number of Site Plan Sets for Submittal:
1 set – for all other funding types
Cover page with narrative
Water Contacts:
Will Guinn
Environmental Engineer
EPD Mountain District Office
Email: William.guinn@dnr.ga.gov
Phone: 770-387-4900
Address:
P.O. Box 3250
16 Center Road
Cartersville, Georgia 30120
Required Number of Site Plan Sets for submittal:
3 sets – If funding comes from GEFA or SRF
2 sets – for all other funding types
Learn about the standards for public water systems here.
