Reviewing jurisdiction
Unincorporated Forsyth County or one of its cities — confirmed from the parcel.
Site plans & permit drawings in Forsyth County, GA.
Site plans and permit drawings for homes, additions, pools, decks, garages and commercial projects in Forsyth County, Georgia — from Cumming to every corner of the county. We confirm whether the county or a city reviews your address, check the current Georgia codes and local checklist, then send a written scope before drafting.
- Local authority checked first
- Georgia code set verified
- Written scope before drafting
Site plans from $89Simple residential scopes; larger projects quoted by property.
Scope & timeline firstWritten scope, price and timeline before drafting starts.
Jurisdiction checkedCounty or city reviewer confirmed from your address.
Corrections handledHelp with reviewer comments and resubmittal drawings.
County seatCumming
Population (2020 Census)251,283
RegionMetro Atlanta
Construction codesGeorgia State Minimum Codes
Permit officeForsyth Building & Licensing
Planning a project in Forsyth County, GA.
Forsyth County has its county seat in Cumming and counted 251,283 residents in the 2020 Census. It lies along GA-400 and Lake Lanier north of Atlanta and has been one of Georgia's fastest-growing counties.
The county has 1 incorporated city — Cumming. Cities can run their own zoning and building permits, while unincorporated properties are reviewed by Forsyth County Department of Building & Licensing. We confirm the reviewing office for your exact address before drafting.
Site conditions such as drainage, floodplain, septic, driveway access and land disturbance can change the sheets you need. We check those items against the reviewing office's current checklist rather than assuming one county-wide list.
Send us your property addressForsyth County permit office at a glance.
Verified from the official Forsyth County website on October 13, 2026. Offices, phone numbers and portals change, so confirm on the official page before you submit.
- Docks and work on the Lake Lanier shoreline can also involve the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- Office
- Forsyth County Department of Building & Licensing
- Address
- 2435 Freedom Parkway, Suite 2400, Cumming, GA 30041
- Phone
- (770) 781-2114
- Official page
- www.forsythco.com ↗
- Septic & well
- Forsyth County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH)
What we check for Forsyth County projects.
A permit drawing set only works when it matches the property and the office that will review it.
Current Georgia codes
State minimum building, residential, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and energy codes in force, plus local amendments.
Zoning and setbacks
Zoning district, front, side and rear setbacks, height, lot coverage and accessory-structure rules.
Survey and parcel data
Plat or survey, county GIS parcel lines, easements, rights-of-way and existing improvements.
Drainage and land disturbance
Grading, runoff, erosion and sediment controls, and stream buffers where land is disturbed.
Special site approvals
Floodplain, state waters, septic, GDOT access and fire or life-safety review when they apply.
Georgia requirements that can affect Forsyth County drawings.
Building and residential codes
Georgia DCA publishes the State Minimum Standard Codes for Construction. Local building departments enforce them and can adopt qualifying local amendments that are stricter than the state minimum.
Local zoning and administration
Forsyth County and each of its cities set their own zoning, permit procedures and inspections. Zoning controls use, setbacks, height, parking and lot coverage.
Erosion, sediment and stormwater
Land-disturbing work can require an erosion and sediment control plan and local land-disturbance approval. Larger construction sites can also need coverage under Georgia EPD's construction stormwater permit.
Streams, buffers and flood-prone sites
Georgia EPD protects a 25-foot vegetative buffer along most state waters. FEMA flood maps and local floodplain rules can add elevation and drainage requirements.
Driveway access and septic
A new or changed driveway on a state route needs Georgia DOT access review. Properties without public sewer need environmental-health review and an on-site sewage permit through Forsyth County Environmental Health.
Official sources for Forsyth County permits.
Primary government sources we use to confirm requirements.
Forsyth County Department of Building & LicensingLocal permits, applications and inspections↗
Georgia DCA — Construction CodesState minimum codes and local amendments↗
Georgia EPD — Erosion & SedimentationLand disturbance, buffers and stormwater↗
Georgia DPH — Environmental HealthOn-site sewage (septic) and well rules↗
FEMA Flood Map Service CenterFlood zone lookup by address↗
Georgia DOTDriveway access on state routes↗
Project types we support in Forsyth County.
Pick your project to see what the drawings include. For a Forsyth County price, send the property address through the quote form.
Garages & carportsDetached garage and carport site plans with setbacks, access and placement.View service
Decks & porchesFootprint, framing and attachment details for deck and porch permits.View service
Pools & outdoor projectsPool, deck, equipment and setback layout on the existing site.View service
Home additionsAddition footprint on the site plan, plus floor plans and elevations.View service
New homes & ADUsSite plan and architectural set, with structural and MEP sheets as required.View service
Commercial site plansParking, access, circulation and building layout for commercial review.View service
From your Forsyth County address to a clear drawing scope.
Send what you already have and describe the project. We confirm the reviewer, then quote.
01Share the property address and the reviewing city if you know it.
02Tell us what you plan to build or which comments you received.
03Add sketches, photos, surveys or previous plans where available.
04Receive a written scope, price and timeline before drafting starts.
Forsyth County site plan questions.
Answers to what homeowners, builders and contractors ask before a Forsyth County permit submission.
Who issues building permits in Forsyth County, GA?
For unincorporated Forsyth County, permits are handled by Forsyth County Department of Building & Licensing ((770) 781-2114). Incorporated cities such as Cumming can run their own building and zoning offices, so the property address decides which office reviews your drawings.
Which building codes apply to Forsyth County projects?
Georgia uses the State Minimum Standard Codes for Construction published by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Local governments enforce these codes and can adopt qualifying local amendments, so we confirm the current code set and the local checklist before drafting.
Do I need a site plan for a deck, shed, pool or addition in Forsyth County?
Most permit applications for new structures, additions, pools and many accessory buildings ask for a site plan that shows property lines, the proposed work and setback distances. Smaller items can be exempt, so we check the reviewing office's current list for your address before quoting.
Can you prepare the site plan without a new survey?
Often, yes. Many plans start from an existing survey, recorded plat, GIS parcel data and your measurements. A licensed boundary survey is still needed when the reviewing office requires one, or when lot lines are uncertain or the work is close to a setback.
My Forsyth County property uses a septic system. What changes?
Properties without public sewer usually need review by the Forsyth County Environmental Health office (Georgia Department of Public Health) before a building permit for additions, pools or new buildings. The site plan should show the septic tank, drain field and required separation distances.
How do I know if my Forsyth County lot is in a flood zone or stream buffer?
Check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center for the parcel. Work in a mapped flood zone can need elevation information and local floodplain approval, and work near streams can fall within Georgia EPD buffer rules.
How much does a Forsyth County site plan cost and how long does it take?
Simple residential site plans start from $89. Larger lots, grading, drainage or full permit drawing sets are quoted by scope. You receive a written price and timeline before any drafting starts.
Can you help with Forsyth County plan review comments?
Yes. Send the reviewer's comment letter and your current drawings. We identify which sheets need revision, quote the changes and prepare the resubmittal set.
Neighboring counties we also serve.
All Georgia county pages: Barrow · Bartow · Bibb · Bryan · Carroll · Chatham · Clarke · Clayton · Cobb · Columbia · Coweta · DeKalb · Dougherty · Douglas · Effingham · Fannin · Fayette · Floyd · Glynn · Henry · Houston · Jackson · Lowndes · Lumpkin · Muscogee · Newton · Oconee · Paulding · Richmond · Rockdale · Spalding · Troup · Walton · Whitfield