County-By-County Building Permit Guide
Find out in 30 seconds — by your county. Exact thresholds, fees, and application links for sheds, decks, fences, pools, and home additions across the US.
Interactive Tool
Select your state, county, and project type. Get an instant answer with the specific threshold and fee for your area.
Covers 25+ counties across 9 states. More added regularly.
⚠ Always confirm with your county building department. Rules change. This tool provides general guidance only and is not a substitute for official verification.
Why This Matters
Building permit rules are set at the local level — and they vary wildly from county to county, even within the same state.
There's no national building permit threshold. A 12×16 shed requires a permit in Gwinnett County, Georgia, but not in Wake County, North Carolina. Every county sets its own rules.
County building department websites are often outdated PDFs, buried navigation, and jargon. Finding a straight answer to "do I need a permit?" can take an hour of clicking — or a phone call you'll wait on hold for.
Unpermitted structures show up in home sale title searches. Lenders can block closings. Retroactive permits cost 2–3× the normal fee. Insurance may not cover unpermitted structures. Getting it right up front is always cheaper.
Permit Guides by Project
Each guide explains what triggers a permit requirement, what the application process looks like, and what inspectors check — nationally and by state.
Size thresholds by state and county. When a pre-built shed needs a permit. What setback rules apply even when no permit is required.
Read the guide →Why nearly all decks require a permit. What inspectors check. How to draw plans your county will actually approve.
Read the guide →Which counties require fence permits and which don't. Height limits by zone. Corner lot visibility rules. HOA vs. county requirements.
Read the guide →Above-ground and in-ground pool permits. Barrier and fencing requirements. Electrical sub-permits. What the safety inspection covers.
Read the guide →Adding a room, finishing a basement, converting a garage. What triggers permits, what inspections are required, and how long it takes.
Read the guide →Already built without a permit? Here's how retroactive permits work, what they cost, and what options you have if the structure can't be permitted as-is.
Read the guide →Browse by State
Select your state for a full list of county permit guides, sorted by population and search demand.
Free Resources
Free resources to help you navigate the permit process — before you apply and during construction.
Select your state, county, and project type to instantly see whether a permit is required, what the threshold is, and the typical fee range.
Open the tool →A downloadable checklist of everything you need before submitting a permit application — site plan requirements, contractor verification, document checklist by project type.
Download free →Estimate your permit fee before you apply. Based on typical county fee schedules by project type and estimated project value.
Estimate my cost →County Guides
One of Georgia's strictest: 144 sq ft threshold, permits required for all decks, and fences over 6 ft need zoning review.
Read guide →256 sq ft shed exemption, floating decks under 30 in. may not need permits, and fences don't require one in unincorporated areas.
Read guide →144 sq ft shed threshold — stricter than most of Tennessee. No fence permit required in unincorporated areas. One of the fastest-growing counties in the US.
Read guide →120 sq ft shed threshold, all decks require permits, environmental overlays add extra review requirements for properties near streams.
Read guide →Every Georgia county has a different shed permit threshold. This state-level guide shows all 12 major counties side by side.
Read guide →What a retroactive permit costs, when you can get one, and what happens if the structure can't pass inspection as-is.
Read guide →Common Questions