Building permits and zoning in Peachtree City

Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Peachtree City’s Building Department and Planning and Zoning pages and the pages linked below.

Peachtree City handles its own building permits and zoning for property inside the city limits. Both offices are in the Planning and Development Department at 153 Willowbend Road, next to City Hall, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The city contracts with Charles Abbott Associates for building plan review and inspections.

Who to call

• Building permits and inspections: Building Department, 770-487-8901
• Zoning, variances, tree permits, short-term rentals: Planning Department, 770-487-5731
• Apply online: permit portal. The city says do not email applications.
• Before you dig: Georgia 811

When you need a building permit

The city’s Building Permits page lists new buildings, additions, interior alterations, siding, reroofing, demolitions, tenant build-outs and parking lot lighting. Replacement windows and doors without structural changes do not need one.

Work must not begin until the permit has been approved, paid for and picked up. The city says work started earlier gets a stop-work order and double fees.

Typical review times, according to the city:

• Residential: three to five business days
• Commercial: 10 to 14 business days

A complete application includes the application form (PDF), construction plans, a site plan drawn on your plat or survey showing distances to property lines and easements, and, where they apply, an erosion control plan (within 200 feet of state waters or disturbing more than 1 acre), approval letters from the Fayette County Water System and the Peachtree City Water and Sewerage Authority, and a Fayette County Health Department form for lots on septic.

Applying online

Apply through the city’s permitting portal. Homeowners do not need an account to apply for work on their own property, but need one to track the application or send revised plans. Contractors must create an account and then call the Building Department (770-487-8901) or Planning (770-487-5731) to have it switched to contractor status. Since July 1, 2008, residential and general contractors must hold a Georgia license.

Book inspections with the city’s inspection request form.

Common projects

Fences. A permit is needed for any fence 4 feet tall or taller, according to the Fences page. For homes:

• Up to 6 feet in side and rear setbacks; up to 4 feet along a street, with no more than half the view blocked.
• No fence within 4 feet of a paved cart path, and finished side facing out.
• Metal must be vinyl-coated or painted dark brown, dark green or black. Chain link is not allowed between the house and the street except in ER and AR zoning.
• Pool fences have their own rules on the Pools page.

Sheds, decks and other accessory structures. Decks, sheds, detached garages and carports, gazebos, pergolas and docks need a permit; children’s play equipment does not, per the Accessory Structures page. Plans are required at 200 square feet and up. Structures must stay out of side and rear setbacks, with exceptions for small sheds on wide lots, and must match the house or use earth tones.

Trees. Pruning on residential property needs no permit. Removing a tree does once it reaches 8 inches in diameter at chest height for understory trees such as dogwoods, or 18 inches for canopy trees such as pines and oaks. Larger specimen trees are protected. The Tree Permits page has the full table and the neighborhoods that also need an HOA letter.

Short-term rentals. Since Jan. 1, 2025, every short-term rental needs a city permit, capped at 135 citywide and renewed every two years. The city lists fees of $375 for the first permit and $300 to renew, on its Short Term Rentals page.

What permits cost

From the city’s fee schedule:

Permit fees themselves are charged per square foot by construction type; the city publishes the full table (PDF).

Zoning, variances and the Planning Commission

Check any property’s zoning on the city’s official zoning map, which links to the ordinance. The city’s Current Rezoning and Variance Requests page lists pending cases with their application packets; on Oct. 2 it showed four setback variance requests, two of them handled administratively on Oct. 5.

The Planning Commission, five appointed residents, reviews development plans and makes recommendations to the City Council on every rezoning and annexation. It meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 151 Willowbend Road; the fourth-Monday meeting is held only when needed. Upcoming dates from the commission’s schedule:

Agendas, packets and minutes are on the city’s Government Meetings page. Copies of old permits, certificates of occupancy and approved plans come through the City Clerk’s open records process.

What this means for you

• Use the portal; emailed applications are not accepted.
• A 4-foot fence needs a permit, and it must stay 4 feet off the cart path.
• Do not start work before the permit is issued: fees double.
• Rezoning cases go to the Planning Commission first, then the City Council.

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

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for a fence in Peachtree City?

Yes, for any fence 4 feet tall or taller. Fences in side and rear setbacks can be up to 6 feet, fences along a street no more than 4 feet, and no fence may be within 4 feet of a paved cart path.

Do I need a permit for a shed in Peachtree City?

Yes. The city requires permits for sheds, decks, detached garages and carports, gazebos, pergolas and docks. Construction plans are required for structures of 200 square feet or more.

How long does a building permit take in Peachtree City?

The city says review usually takes three to five business days for residential permits and 10 to 14 business days for commercial permits. Work may not start until the permit is approved, paid for and picked up.

How much is a building permit in Peachtree City?

Most permits combine a plan review fee ($180 for residential) and a permit fee based on square footage, with a $150 residential minimum and a $30 administration fee. Work done without a permit pays double.

When does the Peachtree City Planning Commission meet?

On the second and fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 151 Willowbend Road. The fourth-Monday meeting is held only when needed.