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12 permits · verified 2026-10-02

What permits do you need to open a salon or barber in Dekalb County Ga?

In short

A salon or barber in Dekalb County Ga, GA has 5 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 7 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division charges $110 one-time — $100 filing fee plus a $10 service charge for the articles of incorporation. 6 of the 12 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-02 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a salon or barber in Dekalb County Ga

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Body Art (Tattoo/Piercing) Studio Permitonly if it applies to youDeKalb Public Health (DKPH), Environmental Health DivisionPlan review (new facility or modification) $275. Annual studio permit $425. Temporary establishment permit (1-7 days) $150. Guest/temporary artist permit (per week) $100.annual studio permit; temporary permits are per event or per week2026-10-02
Salon or Shop LicenseGeorgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers$75 new license and renewal alike, plus a $5 online or $10 paper processing feebiennial — expires 30 June of odd-numbered years2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

Local permits that apply to every type of business in Dekalb County Ga

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Business and Occupational Tax CertificateDeKalb County Department of Planning & Sustainability, Business & Alcohol License OfficeVaries — formula on the Dekalb County Ga pageannual, calendar year2026-10-02
Building Permitonly if it applies to youDeKalb County Department of Planning & Sustainability, Permits, Plan Review & Inspections DivisionVaries — formula on the Dekalb County Ga pageper project2026-10-02
Septic / Land Use Permitonly if it applies to youDeKalb Public Health (DKPH), Environmental Health DivisionVaries — formula on the Dekalb County Ga pageper project2026-10-02
Certificate of OccupancyDeKalb County Department of Planning & Sustainability, Permits, Plan Review & Inspections DivisionVaries — formula on the Dekalb County Ga pagenot applicable (one-time, before a new commercial business license is processed)2026-10-02
Commercial Sanitation Account and Dumpster Prepayment FeeDeKalb County Department of Public Works, Sanitation DivisionVaries — formula on the Dekalb County Ga pageone-time account setup and dumpster prepayment, then ongoing monthly collection service2026-10-02

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

GA registrations that apply to every type of business

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Sales and Use Tax Certificate of RegistrationGeorgia Department of Revenue, Taxpayer Services DivisionNo feeno renewal — valid until cancelled, suspended or revoked2026-09-03
General Business License — Georgia state position (local occupation tax certificate)only if it applies to youGeorgia Secretary of State, Corporations DivisionNo feeset by the issuing city or county, usually annual2026-09-03
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youGeorgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division$110 one-time — $100 filing fee plus a $10 service chargeno expiry, but an annual registration is due each year2026-09-03
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youGeorgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division$110 one-time — $100 filing fee plus a $10 service chargeno expiry, but an annual registration is due each year2026-09-03
Annual Registrationonly if it applies to youGeorgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division$60 a year — $50 plus a $10 service charge; $40 for a nonprofitannual — filed between 1 January and 1 April2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

How much does it actually cost to permit a salon or barber in Dekalb County Ga?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 12 records listed for a salon or barber in Dekalb County Ga, GA, 5 apply to every business of this type and 7 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

Of the 5 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $75.00. That is a floor, not a total. 6 of the 12 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Body Art (Tattoo/Piercing) Studio Permit: Plan review (new facility or modification) $275. Annual studio permit $425. Temporary establishment permit (1-7 days) $150. Guest/temporary artist permit (per week) $100.

The other 5 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Dekalb County Ga permits page and the GA state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Dekalb County Ga?

Permits for a salon or barber in Dekalb County Ga, GA come from 7 separate offices: DeKalb County Department of Planning & Sustainability, Business & Alcohol License Office, DeKalb Public Health (DKPH), Environmental Health Division, DeKalb County Department of Planning & Sustainability, Permits, Plan Review & Inspections Division, DeKalb County Department of Public Works, Sanitation Division, Georgia Department of Revenue, Taxpayer Services Division, Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division, Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a salon or barber need in Dekalb County Ga that other businesses do not?

2 of the 2 permits particular to a salon or barber here apply to no other business type we cover in Dekalb County Ga: Body Art (Tattoo/Piercing) Studio Permit and Salon or Shop License.

Body Art (Tattoo/Piercing) Studio Permit

A salon in DeKalb County that offers tattoo or piercing services needs this body-art studio permit from DeKalb Public Health, separate from any general salon licensing. Plan review for a new or modified facility is $275, the annual studio permit is $425, a temporary establishment operating 1-7 days is $150, and a guest or temporary artist working at an existing studio is $100 per week. A salon offering only hair, nail or skin services with no tattooing or piercing has no obligation under this program. This fee schedule is dated effective January 1, 2024 and was confirmed still current as of October 2, 2026.

Salon or Shop License

One license class covers everything: the barber and cosmetology boards merged in 2015, so there is no separate beauty salon, nail salon, esthetician or barber shop fee — all are the same $75. Legacy barber shop licenses can be renewed but no longer newly issued. Georgia does not license mobile salons at all, and the board says so plainly; a unit qualifies only if anchored on the ground in a permanent location. Home-based salons are allowed. The owner need not be a licensed practitioner but must complete a board-approved health, safety and sanitation course. A change of name, location or ownership needs a fresh application rather than an amendment, and paper applications are no longer accepted.

The other 5 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Dekalb County Ga, GA; what each one involves is set out on the Dekalb County Ga permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across GA and are covered on the GA state page.

How does a salon or barber compare with other businesses in Dekalb County Ga?

The closest match is a auto repair shop, which shares 0 of these permits. A salon or barber also needs Body Art (Tattoo/Piercing) Studio Permit and Salon or Shop License. A auto repair shop needs Automotive Repair Shop License — Georgia state position, which a salon or barber does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Dekalb County Ga, GA, compared with a salon or barber
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a salon or barberOnly a salon or barber needsOnly it needs
Auto repair shops1021
Childcare centres2022
Coffee shops6026
Contractors and trades3023
Fitness studios1021
Food trucks5025
Restaurants7027
Retail stores2022
Veterinary clinics1021

Sources

Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Dekalb County Ga permits page and the GA state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. DeKalb Public Health, Environmental Health Division, Fee Schedule Effective January 1, 2024DeKalb Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-02
  2. DeKalb Public Health, Environmental Health main page — links the current Environmental Health Fee ScheduleDeKalb Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-02
  3. Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers — fee scheduleGeorgia Secretary of State · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  4. Georgia Comp. R. & Regs. chapter 295-2 — expiration and renewal dates for every license administered by the Professional Licensing Boards DivisionGeorgia Secretary of State · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03

Related

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.