20 Mar Private Plan Review and Third Party Inspections

Pursuant to HB 493 (2019), O.C.G.A. 8-2-26(g) allows for private plan review and inspections for residential building permits.

Pursuant to HB 493 (2019), O.C.G.A. 8-2-26(g) allows for private plan review and inspections for residential building permits.

Local permitting authorities have 30 calendar days to complete plan reviews and 2 business days for inspections.

If the local permitting authority can complete the plan review or inspection within the state-mandated deadline and the applicant still wants to use a qualified third party, he or she may do so, provided they pay a convenience fee to the local government equal to what would have been normally required.

If the local permitting authority cannot complete the plan review or inspection within the state-mandated deadline, the applicant shall have the option of retaining, at its own expense, a private professional provider. In this scenario, the applicant would pay the local permitting authority no more than fifty percent of the required regulatory fee.

Furthermore, the private professional provider shall be empowered to perform any plan review or inspection required by the governing authority of any county or municipality, including, but not limited to, inspections for footings, foundations, concrete slabs, framing, electrical, plumbing, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), or any and all other inspections necessary or required to determine compliance with all regulatory requirements and for the issuance of a building permit or certificate of occupancy by the governing authority of any county or municipality, provided that the plan review or inspection is within the scope of such private professional provider’s area of competency. Only a local governing authority shall be authorized to issue a certificate of occupancy.