We hope that your visit with the Building Department is informative. Our staff is here to assist you, and strives to provide citizens with a clean and safely built environment.

Regulations & Codes

Building Department inspectors utilize a network of modern regulations to embrace all aspects of building construction which include structural assurance, fire protection, as well as plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems. These codes help provide safeguards to the public in:

• Factories
• Homes
• Offices
• Places of Entertainment
• Schools
• Stores

Services

Other departmental services are:

1. Issuance of all construction, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and gas permits.
2. Enforcement of Zoning Regulations according to comprehensive City Zoning Ordinance to ensure property value protection and control setbacks from property lines for new construction.
3. Enforcement and protection of exterior concepts and structures located in the three districts of the City currently listed in the Federal Register of Historic Sites.
4. Abatement of Condemned and Unsafe Buildings in an attempt to ensure that buildings are maintained or upgraded to meet minimum standards or are demolished to protect public health and safety.

Note: The City of Athens will be under new building bodes with new inspection fees as of 1 July 2021. Check the Adopted Codes and Inspections Fees pages for details.