Building permits and zoning in Duluth

Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Duluth’s Community Development and Engineering pages.

Building permits, zoning, inspections and code enforcement in Duluth are handled by the city’s Community Development and Engineering Department, on the second floor of City Hall, 3167 Main St., open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Every new building and planning application now goes through the city’s online permitting system, GovWell.

Who to call

• Permits, zoning, planning cases: Community Development and Engineering, 770-476-1790, planning@duluthga.net
• Code violations: Code Compliance, 770-476-1790, compliance@duluthga.net, or the online request portal
• Water, sewer and fire code inspections: Gwinnett County, 770-822-8000

When you need a permit

The city’s planning FAQ gives the rule of thumb: a building permit is required if you are modifying or adding to an existing structure. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work is permitted as trades work through the same portal. If you are not sure, call 770-476-1790 before you start; building or demolishing without a permit is one of the violations the city’s code officers most often cite.

Other common questions the city answers:

• Trees: removing a tree from a single-family lot generally needs no permit, unless it was kept or planted to meet buffer standards. Offices, stores and apartments must keep the trees in their approved landscape plan.
• Signs: any new outdoor business sign needs a permit. A new business may get one 30-day temporary sign permit within six months of opening. Yard sale and for-sale signs need no permit if there is one per parcel, no larger than 6 square feet and 3 feet high.
• Water, sewer and septic: Gwinnett County handles these, not the city. Water and sewer: 678-376-7000. Septic: Gwinnett County Environmental Health, 770-963-5132.

Applying through GovWell

According to the city’s Permits and Applications page, construction, land development, trades and special use applications all go through GovWell. Contractors with a state license or business license must register in GovWell as a contractor before applying. Permits already issued through the old iWorq portal stay there for inspections and uploads. GovWell’s support team answers questions by chat on any portal page or at support@govwell.com.

Land disturbance plans need a submittal meeting first; call the development coordinator at 770-476-1790.

Inspections

From the city’s Inspections page:

• Request an inspection before 2 p.m. for the next business day. Only the general contractor may request one, with the permit number, street address, lot and block and project name.
• The approved plans and a placard must be posted on site at all times.
• A reinspection costs $100.
• The final inspection for a certificate of occupancy comes after meters, landscaping and sidewalks are in and the fire marshal, water and sewer releases are done.

Zoning: how to look it up

The city’s Maps and GIS page links the interactive CityView map, where you can search by address or parcel number to see whether a property is inside city limits, its zoning district, its school district, stream buffers and FEMA flood zones. The same page has PDF zoning, future land use and flood maps. The city says the official zoning map changes from time to time; for an official determination, call 770-476-1790. The zoning rules themselves are in the Unified Development Code in the city’s Code of Ordinances.

Rezonings, special uses and variances

Two appointed boards hear land use cases. Applications are filed in person at the department on the set application day, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., according to the city’s Land Use Applications page.

The Planning Commission hears rezonings, land use changes, special uses, annexations and zoning ordinance amendments, then sends a recommendation to the City Council. It meets on the first and third Monday of the month as needed at City Hall: a public work session at 5:30 p.m., the meeting at 6 p.m. Upcoming dates from the Planning Commission page:

The Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances, such as a smaller setback or work in a buffer, conditional use permits and appeals. It meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at City Hall, 5:30 p.m. work session and 6 p.m. meeting; the November and December meetings move to the third Wednesday. Upcoming dates from the ZBA page: Wednesday, Oct. 28, Wednesday, Nov. 18 and Wednesday, Dec. 16. To bring a case, contact planner Kelly Nguyen at 770-476-1790.

Meeting notices are posted on the city’s public notices page, and agendas and minutes are on the agendas and minutes page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a building permit in Duluth, Georgia? The city’s rule of thumb is that you need a building permit if you are modifying or adding to an existing structure. Apply through GovWell or call 770-476-1790.

How do I find the zoning of a property in Duluth? Look up the address in the city’s CityView map. For an official zoning determination, call the Planning Department at 770-476-1790.

When does the Duluth Planning Commission meet? On the first and third Monday of the month as needed at City Hall, 6 p.m., with a 5:30 p.m. work session. The next scheduled dates are Nov. 2 and Dec. 7, 2026.

What this means for you

• Adding on or changing a structure? Get a permit first, through GovWell.
• Check zoning and flood zones on CityView before you buy or build.
• Rezoning applications go in person, months ahead of the council vote.
• Neighbors can speak at Planning Commission and ZBA hearings; watch the public notices.

More: property taxes and who to call at City Hall.