In 2019, the General Assembly passed and Governor Kemp signed into law HB493, the Private Permitting Review and Inspection Act. This legislation is the product of collaborative efforts between the Georgia Municipal Association, Association County Commissioners of Georgia, the state legislature, industry stakeholders, and a focus group of municipal officials and development professionals. State law provides procedures for alternative plan review, permitting, and inspections by private providers to streamline local regulations on development.

To help applicants that choose to use third-party processes for permitting, plan review, and inspections, GMA has prepared a suite of resources including a model ordinance, a prequalification manual, and an application for third party plan reviewers and inspectors.  In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, GMA has also prepared a Q&A document to assist cities with questions about how the Governor’s Executive Orders may impact cities’ plan review and inspections processes. These materials are designed to provide consistency among regulations across jurisdictions, while also providing flexibility to be tailored to the unique needs and services provided by each municipality.

This publication is for general informational purposes only. While some of the information contained in this publication is about legal issues, it is not and should not be treated as legal advice. You should consult with your legal counsel before taking action based on the information contained in these resources.