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Planning & Development 1266 East Church Street Hall C Jasper, GA 30143 [PHONE REDACTED] [EMAIL REDACTED] Pickens County Guidelines for Permitting Commercial Structures Permit Applications Permitting Checklist ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised 01/19/2024 NOTICE: These guidelines are intended to provide general guidance to installers and permit holders. It is not a substitute for the State of Georgia building codes and Pickens County ordinances. In the event of a conflict, the State codes and County ordinances will supersede the enclosed information. Please refer to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs website www.dca.ga.gov for the state minimum standard codes. You may access the County Ordinances on the Pickens County website www.pickenscountyga.gov All Construction job sites that are involved with “land disturbing activity” must have a Georgia State certified personnel in NPDES effective 12/31/2006 Anyone applying for a building permit in a subdivision that is approved after January 1, 2007, will need to provide Planning and Development with a copy of NPDES Notice of Intent Secondary Permitee permit from the developer of the subdivision PRIOR to applying for your building permit. Georgia State Law requires that the permit “on-site” card must always be clearly visible on the job site during construction. If there is no site card on the jobsite, the inspector will not perform your scheduled inspection. This card should be kept in good condition and protected from the elements. If the on-site card becomes lost or damaged, it is the permit holder or contractor’s responsibility to contact our office immediately for a replacement card. You can purchase an inspection box at your local hardware/home improvement stores. Please do not place your inspection box higher than 6’ off the ground. The inspector will leave his inspection cards in this box (pass or fail). ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised 01/19/2024 Steps to Obtain a Commercial Building Permit in Pickens County 1. Apply for a Land Disturbing Permit (Soil & Erosion) (If Applicable) • Submit three FULL SIZE sets of plans for review to Planning and Development. One set will be returned upon approval. 2. Visit the Environmental Health Department • Level III soil evaluation must be performed before obtaining a septic permit application. You can contact Environmental Health at [PHONE REDACTED] for a list of soil classifiers. • Septic tank permit/authorization form. A copy of this form is required before a building permit will be issued. 3. Submit Three Complete Sets of Building Plans • See commercial plan requirements and the Fire Marshal’s requirements list for plan requirements. • Plan reviews take one to three weeks to complete. Planning and Development will contact you when the plans are approved and ready for pick-up. • Denied plans will need to be revised and three revised sets of plans are required for re-submittal. • Plan review fees are as follows: - Buildings less than 5,000 sq.ft. $150.00 per each review - Buildings over 5,000 sq.ft. $250.00 per each review 4. Access Encroachment ( If Applicable) • If your driveway will be accessing a county road, an access encroachment permit must be obtained to connect the driveway to the county road and must be approved by Planning and Development. Failure to obtain the permit prior to obtaining a building permit will result in double permit fees and no inspections will take place until the access encroachment is approved. • If your driveway will be accessing a State Highway, you will need to contact the Georgia Department of Transportation (404) 631-1990 to obtain an access encroachment permit from them. 5. Planning and Development: The following MUST be included with your application. • Building permit applications will not be accepted without the following: - A copy of your approved septic permit - Access encroachment approval if applicable - Completed building permit application and all applicable licensing information - If you have recently purchased the property a copy of the warranty deed will be required - If you rent the property a letter from the property owner giving the applicant permission to obtain a building permit is required. A copy of your lease agreement will also be required. - Payment (permits will not be processed after 4:30pm.) • Permits must be obtained PRIOR to any phase of construction. Violations of this policy will result in double permit fees and/or stop work orders placed on the jobsite. • Permits may not be available same day. All permits are processed in the order in which they are received. Please make sure you have filled out the permit application in its entirety and have submitted all required documentation. Permits are not processed until plans have been approved by all applicable departments. Permits may take up to seven ( 7) days, depending on caseload. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised 01/19/2024 INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL BE REJECTED Commercial Plan Requirements Information in commercial site plan. • The submitted drawings shall contain a graphic scale, north arrow, date, acreage, and owner/developers name, address, and telephone number. • Topographical Survey • The names of adjoining property owners shall be shown in relation to the proposed development. • The names of all streets or roadway abutting or crossing the property with width of all rights-of-way shown. • The boundary of any flood hazard areas. • A detailed access plan to enter county or state right-of-way. • A location sketch map shall be provided which shows the location of the site in relation to existing public roads, streams, power transmission lines, etc. • A detailed and scaled drawing of the location of the commercial building on the property, together with all other improvements which will not be attached to the main structure. • A detailed and scaled drawing of all public parking spaces provided as well as access lanes for emergency vehicles. • A detailed and scaled drawing of buffers if buffers are required. • Approval of the county sanitation office showing site meets requirements for sewage treatment. • Utility and drainage plans shall be provided which shall include all information necessary for the appropriate county official to determine that the water, sewer, sanitary disposal and storm drainage improvements will be made and located in accordance with county requirements, and, where applicable shall also contain soil erosion and sedimentation control measures. • Flow test and calculation results Plans not containing any of the above items will be rejected. Submit three copies of the building plans for review to the Planning and Development office. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised 01/19/2024 Fire Marshal Plan Requirements The Pickens County Fire Marshal’s office performs “Building Plans Reviews” on all new commercial projects within Pickens County. Site inspections will be conducted on all buildings during the construction phase and upon completion to ensure compliances to all required building and fire safety codes. 50%, 80%, and 100% Field Inspections may be required. Please check your approved plans for notes from Fire Marshal Fire alarm and or fire suppression system plans may also be required. Please contact the Fire Marshall at 706-253- 8891 for more information. The following is required on all plans: • International Fire Code 2018 • Life Safety Code 2018 • NFPA Compliance Commercial Setbacks and Buffer Requirements Building lines Commercial building setback lines shall be at least 40 feet from the front property line. A corner lot shall be at least 40 feet from each property line. The building shall otherwise be at least 15 feet from the side and rear property lines. Buffer requirements. 1. If the proposed commercial development adjoins residential property, appropriate buffers/structures shall be erected to protect the enjoyment of the residential property. 2. Buffers shall be located within and along the outer perimeter of the parcel which abuts the residential property. Buffers shall not be located on any portion of existing, dedicated, or reserved public or private street right-of-way. 3. No Certificate of Completion/Occupation shall be issued for any development requiring a buffer until such time as that buffer, as specified herein, shall be substantially in place. 4. All buffers required by this section shall conform to the following specifications: a. Prior to development, a buffer plan shall be required to show the types and location of all screening devices within a required buffer. b. Screening is a method of visually shielding or obscuring one use from another by fence, walls, berms or densely planted vegetation. Screening shall provide a year-round visual screen from the ground to a minimum of six feet in height. The fence or wall shall be placed on the other edge of the buffer. c. Landscaping within buffer areas shall be used to screen objectionable views or nuisances, such as parking and service areas, refuse containers, air conditioning units and transformers. d. A buffer shall have not less than a 12-foot base width and shall consist of plantings having a year- round foliage, or a fence, or a wall, or a berm, or any combination thereof, with a total minimum ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised 01/19/2024 height of six feet. The required buffer shall provide not less than 90 percent visual blockage. If a buffer consists of plantings only, then said planting shall be an evergreen species which under normal growing conditions will attain a minimum height of six feet. 5. Responsibility for maintenance of a required buffer shall remain with the owner of the commercial property. Maintenance is required to ensure the proper functioning of a buffer as a landscaped area which reduces or eliminates nuisances and/or conflict. Parking plan required. Before any building or land use permit is issued, the proposed parking lot layout and area must be found by the land use officer to be in compliance with all requirements of this chapter. A parking plan for all but detached single-family uses shall be submitted for approval by the land use officer. Occupancy of the land or use of a building shall not occur until the land use officer determines that parking facilities are available in accordance with the approved plan. Minimum number of parking spaces required. On each lot where a building, structure, or use exists, off-street parking shall be provided according to Table 6- 1-4. No existing facility used for off-street parking shall be reduced in capacity to less than the minimum required number of spaces, or altered in design or function to less than the minimum standards. Land Disturbing Activity The Erosion and Sedimentation Act of 1975 requires that, as a minimum, protections at least as stringent as the state general permit; and best management practices, including sound conservation and engineering practices to prevent and minimize erosion and resultant sedimentation, must be consistent with, and no less stringent than, those practices contained in the Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia published by the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission as of January 1, of the year in which the land-disturbing activity was permitted. According to Rule 391-3-7-.01 Definitions, the following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of these rules and regulations unless otherwise specifically stated. “Best Management Practices” – commonly referred to as BMPs, means a collection of structural measures and vegetative practices which, when properly designed, installed and maintained, will provide effective erosion and sedimentation control and are designed in accordance with the design specifications contained in the “Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia.” Best Management Practices also include, but are not limited to, design specifications from the most recent publications of the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual and Coastal Stormwater Supplement in the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual. “Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan” or “Plan” means a plan for the control of soil erosion and sediment resulting from a land disturbing activity. “Land Disturbing Activity” means any activity which may result in soil erosion and the movement of sediments into State waters or onto lands with the State, including but not limited to clearing, dredging, grading, excavating, transporting, and filling of land, but not including those practices to the extend described in O.C.G.A. 12-7-17. Pickens County Ordinance Article X ; Soil Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control; Section 38-686-696 describes local county ordinances relating to land disturbing activity including definitions, exemptions, minimum requirements, permitting, inspections, penalties, education, and administrative and judicial review. ARTXSOERSEPOCO For more information regarding land disturbances, please visit Georgia Water and Soil Conservation Commission at ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised 01/19/2024 The Definition of State Waters as Defined by the Environmental Protection Division: Any and all rivers, streams, creeks, branches, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, drainage systems, springs, wells, and other bodies of surface or subsurface water, natural or artificial, lying within or forming a part of the boundaries of Georgia which are not entirely confined and retained completely upon the property of a single individual, partnership, or corporation. Flood Control All applicants must follow Federal, State, and local guidelines when building in a known flood plain. Please refer to Pickens County Code Section 38 – Article 5 CALL BEFORE YOU DIG 1-[PHONE REDACTED] ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised 01/19/2024 ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised 01/19/2024 ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised 01/19/2024 Building Inspection Line Up To schedule inspections, please call our office at [PHONE REDACTED] to schedule inspections. Please do not contact the inspector to schedule an inspection. Your onsite card must be posted and visible from the street. ***Inspections required may vary depending on the type of commercial structure being built. List of Inspections: 1. Footing Inspection – Performed before concrete is poured. 2. Masonry & Poured Wall Inspection – Any wall higher than 4’ from bottom of footing to top of wall. 3. Foundation Water Proofing & Drainage – Performed before backfill. • Any wall, including walls less than 5’ high, must have a waterproof inspection before any backfill is placed against wall. 4. Plumbing In-Slab – 4” pipe must exit slab. • Plumbing must have water test or air test. Can seal pipe for test at cleanout between house & septic tank after test is approved. Connection from cleanout to tank can be done. Can check this on slab inspections. 5. Slab – Performed before concrete is poured. 6. Sheathing – Inspect nail pattern and apply air barrier to attic side of kneewalls. 7. Housewrap – Tape all laps, turn into openings. 8. Rough – Done after roofing, framing, windows, and doors installed, fire blocking, bracing in place, and all rough-in electrical, mechanical, and plumbing are complete. • All electrical, mechanical, and plumbing affidavits (and all applicable documentation) BEFORE the rough inspection can be called in. 9. Insulation/Energy Code – Do NOT insulate prior to the rough inspection. This inspection (insulation) is performed after all insulation is in place and prior to wall cover and ceiling cover. 10. Temp to Perm power – Once power is installed on permanent structure (meterbase). • Final approval from Environmental Health and an electrical affidavit must be on file in our office before the power company will turn on permanent power. 11. Final – This inspection is performed only after the structure is complete and ready for occupancy. This inspection may be done in conjunction with the Fire Marshal and will include inspection of all ADA requirements (including parking lots) and buffer/landscaping requirements. • A Certificate of Occupancy may not be issued until all required documents are on file and the inspector and Fire Marshal have passed the final inspection. C.O.’s will only be released to the business owner or the contractor listed on the building permit. ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised 01/19/2024 Pickens County Fire Marshal Fire Marshal Inspections / Construction The Pickens County Fire Marshal’s Office conducts construction inspections to ensure compliance with fire and life safety requirements. The following types of inspections are performed by fire inspectors. New Construction Inspections: • Preconstruction Meeting • Underground Inspections • 50% Construction Inspections • 80% Construction Inspections (required by Georgia State Fire Marshal) • 100% Construction Inspection Fire Protection System Inspections: • Sprinkler System Inspections • Fire Alarm System Inspections • Hood and Suppression System Inspections • Spray Booth Inspections • Plan review and approval are required on all fire protection systems before construction begins ---PAGE BREAK--- Revised 01/19/2024 Important Information Regarding Inspections • It is the permit applicant and/or contractor’s responsibility to adhere to all ADA building and parking requirements while under construction. Any non-compliance to ADA minimum standards can result in a stop- work order and/or non-issuance of Certificate of Occupancy. • Any changes to building structure after submitted plans have been approved, are subject to additional plan review fees. Failure to inform Planning & Development of changes to originally approved plans may result in a stop work order and/or a delay on the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. • All engineering letters submitted are subject to the inspector’s approval. (If your letter is denied, you will be asked to revise and re-submit) • Electrical affidavits need to be turned in along with the electrician’s state and business licenses BEFORE permanent power will be released to the power company. • Plumbing and mechanical affidavits need to be turned in along with the plumber and mechanical’s state and business licenses PRIOR to requesting a rough inspection. • Final approval from Environmental Health needs to be submitted to Planning and Development BEFORE permanent power will be released to the power company. • Certificate of Occupancy will not be issued until all required affidavits, parking, buffer, landscaping, fire suppression plans are turned in, all and fees are paid. • No inspections will be allowed until re-inspection fees are paid. • Subcontractor affidavits will not be accepted without a copy of the subcontractor’s state and business licenses. • If you fail to schedule a required inspection, a $50 fee will apply. Engineering may/will be required. • If you are a new business in Pickens County, a business license application will be accepted prior to final inspections but will not be issued until Certificate of Occupancy has been issued. • Please review the following PRIOR to submitting plans and/or building permit application: 2018 International Building Code (IBC) International Fire Code (current) NFPA Life Safety Code 2018 Pickens County Code of Ordinances: ➢ Chapter 16 – Building and Building Regulations ➢ Chapter 38 – Land Development Standards (Article II and IX) ➢ Chapter 67 – Land Use Intensity Districts and Map (Landscaping and Parking Requirements ➢ Permitting Checklist ➢ Fire Inspection