What do these permits involve in Columbia County?

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Fire Marshal Building Life Safety Plan Review (architect/engineer designed plans)

Commercial construction plans in unincorporated Columbia County are reviewed by the Fire Marshal, whose page states that it enforces the Columbia County Fire Prevention Code, the Georgia Safety Fire Commissioner's Rules and Regulations and the Georgia Accessibility Code. The architect/engineer amounts above appear identically on the Fire Marshal's web page and in the Fire Marshal section of the Development Services fee schedule effective 07/08/2026. The page states that site plans are reviewed during submittal to Planning Services and building life safety during submittal to Building Standards, and that new construction requires Fire Marshal 80% and 100% inspections. Contact the Fire Marshal at 706-868-3420.

Fire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm Plan Review and Permit

A business installing a fire sprinkler or fire alarm system in unincorporated Columbia County needs the Fire Marshal's plan review and permit for each system. The Fire Marshal's page states that fire alarm and fire suppression plans are reviewed separately from the building plan and links separate Fire Alarm and Fire Sprinkler-Suppression permit applications. The amounts are as published in the Fire Marshal section of the Development Services fee schedule effective 07/08/2026, which labels the second $100 a permit; the Fire Marshal's web page lists it as an inspection at the same amount. A building without a sprinkler or alarm system installation is outside this permit. Contact the Fire Marshal at 706-868-3420.

Business License and Occupational Tax (unincorporated Columbia County)

The county's Occupational Tax page states that "All businesses with a physical location in the unincorporated area of Columbia County are required to obtain a business license and pay occupational tax before opening", that the tax "is based on the number of employees and ranges from $100 to $2,250", and that the typical review takes one week, so the county recommends applying two weeks before opening. The tiers above are from the county's application form effective 12/05/2022, which counts a 40-hour employee as one FTE, adds part-time hours and divides by 40, and counts only employees working in Columbia County for out-of-state businesses. The form lists exemptions for nonprofits (IRS determination letter), disabled veterans (Probate Court certificate of eligibility) and secondary businesses sharing location, ownership and employees with a taxed business. Commercial locations are reviewed by the Tax Commissioner, Planning, the Department of Health, the Fire Marshal and Water Utility Environmental Compliance; home and mobile businesses by the Tax Commissioner, Planning and Water Utility. The form makes the applicant responsible for renewing each year by January 31. A business inside the City of Grovetown also holds Grovetown's own occupational (business) license.

Commercial Building Permit (new construction, alteration and upfit)

A business constructing, adding to, altering or upfitting commercial space in unincorporated Columbia County needs a building permit from Building Standards. The figures are as published in the Development Services Building Standards Fee Schedule marked "EFFECTIVE AS OF 07/08/2026", which states that commercial building permit fees are capped at $200,000 and that the ICC table incorporates the square footage of construction while the percentage multiplier accounts for the department's hourly rate for the permit type. The schedule notes that shell-only buildings deduct 20 percent from the table cost. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and low-voltage work need separate sub-trade permits, and plan review is charged separately. Contact Building Standards at 630 Ronald Reagan Drive, Building A, Evans, 706-868-3420, permits@columbiacountyga.gov. A business inside Grovetown applies to the city's own Building Inspections Department.

Commercial Sub-Trade Permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, low voltage)

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and low-voltage work on a commercial building in unincorporated Columbia County needs its own stand-alone or sub-trade permit from Building Standards, in addition to the building permit. The commercial amounts above are as published in the Development Services Building Standards Fee Schedule marked "EFFECTIVE AS OF 07/08/2026". The county's contractor requirements document states that electrical, low voltage, plumbing and mechanical contractors keep a state license, $100,000 general liability insurance and a $1,000 surety bond on file with Building Standards. Contact Building Standards at 706-868-3420 or permits@columbiacountyga.gov.

Commercial Building Plan Review

Commercial building plans submitted to Building Standards in unincorporated Columbia County carry a plan review fee in addition to the building permit fee. The amounts above are as published in the Development Services Building Standards Fee Schedule marked "EFFECTIVE AS OF 07/08/2026". The Fire Marshal's page states that building life safety is reviewed during submittal to the Development Services Division, Building Standards, Plan Review Department, and the Fire Marshal's own plan review fee is a separate record. Contact Building Standards at 706-868-3420 or permits@columbiacountyga.gov.

Certificate of Occupancy / Completion (Building Standards)

A commercial building permitted through Building Standards in unincorporated Columbia County receives a Certificate of Occupancy or Completion when the work is finished. The $100 amounts are as published in the Development Services Building Standards Fee Schedule marked "EFFECTIVE AS OF 07/08/2026". The Fire Marshal's page states that for new construction a Certificate of Occupancy is issued when all phases of work are complete and have passed inspections from all applicable departments. The Fire Marshal Certificate of Occupancy is a separate record. Contact Building Standards at 706-868-3420.

Fire Marshal Certificate of Occupancy (new or change of occupancy)

A business occupying new construction or changing the occupancy of a building in unincorporated Columbia County needs the Fire Marshal Certificate of Occupancy. The $100 amount for new or change of occupancy appears on the Fire Marshal's web page and in the Fire Marshal section of the Development Services fee schedule effective 07/08/2026. The page states that for new construction the certificate is issued when all phases of work are complete and have passed inspections from all applicable departments, and that an existing certificate "Remains valid unless changing occupancy, major fire or alteration to the building." The county's Inspections & Reviews page states that all commercial occupational tax applications are reviewed by the Fire Marshal. Contact the Fire Marshal at 706-868-3420.

Sign Permit (temporary and permanent signs)

A business installing a temporary banner or a permanent sign in unincorporated Columbia County pays the Planning Services sign fee by sign type and size. The amounts above are as published in the Planning Services Fee Schedule linked as the county's current schedule from its Fees & Deadlines page, which states that all fees are nonrefundable. Planning Services administers zoning in unincorporated Columbia County; the county's Zoning page directs readers to Chapter 90 of the Columbia County Code. Contact Planning Services at 706-868-3400 before ordering a sign. A business inside Grovetown follows the city's own sign and zoning process.

Non-Residential Site Plan Review

A business developing a new non-residential site in unincorporated Columbia County submits a site plan to Planning Services. The amounts above are as published in the Planning Services Fee Schedule linked as the county's current schedule from its Fees & Deadlines page, which states that all fees are nonrefundable; the same schedule lists a $1,000 development plan resubmittal fee after the third review and a $250 development plan revision fee. The Fire Marshal's page states that site plans are reviewed during submittal to Planning Services. A business moving into an existing building with no site work is outside site plan review. Contact Planning Services at 706-868-3400.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Fire Marshal Building Life Safety Plan Review (architect/engineer designed plans)only if it applies to you	Columbia County Fire Marshal	Plans designed by an architect or engineer: 0–5,000 square feet $150; 5,001 square feet and larger $0.03 per square foot. The Building Standards fee schedule effective 07/08/2026 caps the change-of-use fee at $24,000. For any other plan, contact the Fire Marshal at 706-868-3420.	per project	2026-10-31
Fire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm Plan Review and Permitonly if it applies to you	Columbia County Fire Marshal	Fire suppression (sprinkler) system: plan review $100 plus permit $100. Fire alarm system: plan review $100 plus permit $100. The Fire Marshal's web page lists the same two $100 amounts as plan review and inspection.	per system installation	2026-10-31
Business License and Occupational Tax (unincorporated Columbia County)	Columbia County Licensing Department (Development Services Division)	Occupational tax by full-time-equivalent (FTE) employees at the location, owners included: 0–5 FTE $100; 6–10 FTE $190; 11–20 FTE $375; 21–50 FTE $940; 51 FTE or more $2,250, as printed on the county's Business License & Occupational Tax Application effective 12/05/2022. The tax is prorated by 50% for businesses that begin after June 30 in a calendar year. Online payment through Citizen Self Service carries a $3 processing fee per transaction.	calendar year; renewed by paying the amount owed by January 31 each year	2026-10-31
Commercial Building Permit (new construction, alteration and upfit)only if it applies to you	Columbia County Development Services, Building Standards	New building: gross area × the 2018 IBC square-foot construction cost for the occupancy group and construction type × 0.0064, capped at $200,000. Foundation only: 5% of the building permit fee. Minor alteration, addition or damage repair with construction valuation not exceeding $75,000: $350. Major alteration or addition over $75,000: minimum $350 or 40% of the ICC table, whichever is greater. Upfit from shell to occupiable space: minimum $350 or 60% of the ICC table, whichever is greater. Sub-trade permits are charged separately.	per project	2026-10-31
Commercial Sub-Trade Permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, low voltage)only if it applies to you	Columbia County Development Services, Building Standards	Electrical: $150 up to 400 amps plus $50 for each additional 200 amps (service change charged the same way); electrical temporary pole $150; plumbing $150; mechanical $150 plus $25 for each additional unit or system; low voltage $150.	per project	2026-10-31
Commercial Building Plan Reviewonly if it applies to you	Columbia County Development Services, Building Standards	New construction or addition: $100 per 1,000 square feet or fraction thereof, capped at $500. Minor alteration: $150. Major alteration or upfit: $350.	per project	2026-10-31
Certificate of Occupancy / Completion (Building Standards)only if it applies to you	Columbia County Development Services, Building Standards	Certificate of Occupancy / Completion $100; Temporary Certificate of Occupancy / Completion $100; Temporary Certificate of Occupancy renewal $100.	one-time per project; a temporary certificate is renewed at $100	2026-10-31
Fire Marshal Certificate of Occupancy (new or change of occupancy)only if it applies to you	Columbia County Fire Marshal	Fire Marshal Certificate of Occupancy, new or change of occupancy: $100. The Development Services fee schedule effective 07/08/2026 also lists a Temporary Fire Marshal Certificate of Occupancy at $100.	remains valid unless the occupancy changes, there is a major fire or the building is altered	2026-10-31
Sign Permit (temporary and permanent signs)only if it applies to you	Columbia County Planning Services	Temporary sign or banner $25. Permanent sign: 8 to 50 square feet $50; 51 to 300 square feet $100; 300 square feet and above $400.	per sign	2026-10-31
Non-Residential Site Plan Reviewonly if it applies to you	Columbia County Planning Services	Clearing and grading $200; minor scope of work $250; up to 5 acres $500; over 5 acres $500 plus $100 per acre or fraction thereof in excess of 5 acres.	per project	2026-10-31

Business licenses and permits in Columbia County, Georgia

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Permits that apply to every type of business in Columbia County