General Contractor in Decatur, GA
Craftsman bungalows and historic districts in the City of Decatur, with the permit portal and preservation review explained.
Working in Decatur
Decatur is the county seat of DeKalb County and is a small city with an old center. The neoclassical Historic DeKalb Courthouse on Decatur Square, built in 1918, houses the DeKalb History Center, and Agnes Scott College, founded in 1889, occupies more than 90 acres within walking distance of downtown. Main Hall, built in 1891, is the oldest building on its campus, and the campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
The housing stock is old. The city's comprehensive plan housing chapter reports, in 2000 Census figures, that 28.2 percent of Decatur's housing was built in 1939 or earlier, and another 32.6 percent dates from 1940 to 1959 (2000 Census figures). By comparison, only 4.2 percent of metro Atlanta housing was built in 1939 or earlier. Oakhurst developed mainly in the 1910s and 1920s as a streetcar suburb and is mostly modest pre-World War II brick craftsman bungalows with front porches.
Older houses can have plaster walls, and paint on pre-1978 houses can contain lead, so EPA's lead-safe renovation rules apply when paint is disturbed. In Decatur there is a further layer: the Historic Preservation Commission oversees five local historic districts and two historic properties, and work in a local district needs a Certificate of Appropriateness before a building permit is issued.
What this means for your project: in Decatur an older house or a building in a local historic district adds a step before a permit. If the work is within one of the five districts, a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission comes first. Repairs of $1,000 or more, roofing and structural work need a building permit, and electrical, plumbing and HVAC need their own trade permits. A Certificate of Appropriateness costs $35, or $10 for an exemption, so file it before the building permit.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes in Decatur
Named areas include Oakhurst and Oakhurst Village, Winnona Park, which was listed on the National Register in 2002 and is known for craftsman bungalows and Georgian Revival and English Country homes, and the McDonough, Adams and Kings Highway area, called the MAK Historic District, Decatur's first locally designated historic district. The South Candler Street and Agnes Scott College Historic District was listed on the National Register in 1994. The five local historic districts are Clairemont Avenue Corridor, McDonough-Adams-Kings Highway, Old Decatur, Parkwood and Ponce de Leon Court.
Decatur uses ZIP code 30030, and some 30033 addresses are in unincorporated DeKalb County.
Permits in Decatur: where to start
Decatur requires a building permit to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of any structure. Repairs and maintenance valued at $1,000 or more need a building permit, as does any roofing or structural work. Separate trade permits are required for electrical, plumbing, gas, mechanical and drainage work regardless of value. Applications go through the Community Core online system. Cities within DeKalb County, including Decatur, handle their own permitting, while DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability permits the unincorporated areas, so confirm which applies to your address.
City of Decatur permitting (Planning, Zoning and Inspections, now listed under Design, Environment and Construction)
Decatur City Hall, 509 N McDonough Street, Decatur, GA 30030(404) 377-6198 (general permit questions)
Online: Community Core online permitting system
- Work in a local historic district needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before a building permit is issued. The fee is $35, or $10 for a Certificate of Exemption.
- Commercial permits require the building permit application plus two sets of construction drawings, and projects with site disturbance also need a site plan and a tree plan or No Tree Impact Statement.
- Properties being demolished or developed are subject to the Tree Canopy Conservation Ordinance.
- Anything placed in the city's right of way, such as a dumpster or storage pod, needs a Right of Way permit.
Verify before you hire anyone. Georgia licenses residential and commercial general contractors through the Secretary of State's contractor board, and each city publishes its own permit requirements.
Work we quote in Decatur
Repairs valued at $1,000 or more, roofing and structural work need a building permit, and electrical, plumbing and HVAC need their own trade permits.
Framing and Drywall
Walls framed, hung, taped and finished, with rated assemblies specified as listed.
Painting
Interior and exterior painting with surface preparation and moisture control; pre-1978 buildings fall under a federal lead rule.
CMU and Masonry Block
Concrete block walls with mortar, grout, steel and drainage details specified in the scope.
Demolition
Interior and selective demolition, with asbestos inspection and Georgia EPD notice where they apply.
Office Interior
Partitions, ceilings and finishes for offices and small commercial suites.
Questions about building in Decatur
Do I need a permit for interior repairs or remodeling in Decatur?
Yes in many cases. The City of Decatur requires a building permit when you alter, repair or change the occupancy of a structure, for repairs valued at $1,000 or more, and for any structural or roofing work.
How do I apply for a building permit in the City of Decatur?
Applications go through the Community Core online permitting portal. The city no longer accepts paper or emailed applications, and first-time users email permittech@decaturga.com with contact details and state and business license information.
Is a demolition permit required in Decatur?
Yes. Demolishing any structure requires a building permit, and properties being demolished are also subject to the tree conservation ordinance, which includes a tree plan and a pre-application meeting with the city arborist if trees or protected root zones are affected.
What extra approval is needed for work in a Decatur historic district?
Work in one of the five local historic districts needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before a building permit can be issued. The fee is $35, or $10 for a Certificate of Exemption, and the commission meets the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
Do electrical, plumbing and HVAC work need separate permits in Decatur?
Yes. Separate trade permits are required when installing, altering, repairing or replacing electrical, plumbing, gas, mechanical (HVAC) or drainage systems, regardless of project value.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my Decatur property?
A tree removal permit is required in the city limits, for example for an untreatably diseased tree or one with a moderate or higher risk rating confirmed by a certified arborist. The Tree Canopy Conservation Ordinance took effect March 21, 2022, and permits can take up to 10 business days to process.
Do I need a permit to place a dumpster or storage pod on a Decatur street?
Yes. Anything placed in the city's right of way needs a Right of Way permit, with a $50 permit fee and a performance bond of $500 for smaller items such as dumpsters or storage pods.
Does Decatur or DeKalb County issue my permit?
It depends on the property location. Cities within DeKalb County, including Decatur, handle primary permitting themselves, while DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability permits unincorporated areas. Some ZIP codes with a Decatur mailing address are in unincorporated DeKalb.
Also quoted nearby
The same services are quoted across the Atlanta area, and each town sets its own rules:
- Atlanta: express review for small commercial interiors
- Sandy Springs: separate Commercial Interior Remodel and New Tenant Occupancy permits
- College Park: a $1,000 demolition bond and a public hearing for substantial exterior work
- East Point: a BS&A portal and an asbestos survey required for demolition
- Smyrna: online-only permits with published review times
- Marietta: a named general contractor required before a permit application
Sources: [1] decaturga.com [2] en.wikipedia.org [3] decaturga.com [4] en.wikipedia.org [5] dekalbhistory.org [6] en.wikipedia.org [7] decaturga.com [8] decaturga.com [9] decaturga.com [10] dekalbcountyga.gov [11] acehardware.com [12] sherwin-williams.com [13] littleshopofstories.com [14] brickstorepub.com [15] dekalblibrary.org [16] dekalbhistory.org [17] visitdecaturga.com [18] epa.gov
Get a quote for your Decatur project
Tell us the work and the address in Decatur. We follow up with the phone number you provide.
Jermaine Enterprises, Inc.3480 Greenbriar Pkwy SW
Atlanta, GA 30331