Create Site Plan in Major Cities of Fulton Counties without waiting on Anyone else

# Fulton County Permit Site Plans: What Homeowners and Contractors Should Know

Fulton County doesn't run one permitting system — it runs several. Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, and South Fulton each operate their own building department, and unincorporated areas answer to Fulton County Public Works directly. If you're pulling a permit for a fence, shed, deck, pool, or addition anywhere in the county, the first question isn't "what does Fulton County require" — it's "which building department am I actually dealing with."

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Do You Need a Site Plan for a Small Permit Here?

In most cities inside Fulton County, yes. A fence, a shed, a deck, a pool — routine residential work typically needs a drawing showing your property lines, existing structures, and where the new work sits on the lot.

What that drawing needs to include, and whether it needs a professional's stamp, depends entirely on which city you're in:

• Atlanta often wants a signed and sealed boundary and topographic survey, not just a site plan, and requires an arborist meeting before permit submission on projects that could affect trees.
• Sandy Springs wants setbacks, buffers, easements, and lot coverage calculations shown — though detached structures under 120 square feet don't need a permit at all.
• Johns Creek wants plans at a minimum size of 11"x17", drawn to scale, submitted as vectorized PDFs.
• Milton requires the site plan to carry the seal and signature of a Georgia-registered engineer, surveyor, architect, or landscape architect.
• Unincorporated Fulton County (Fulton County Public Works) caps site plans at 11"x17" and wants three copies.

There's no single Fulton County standard. Confirm with your specific city before you assume anything about format, scale, or whether a stamp is required.

Who Runs Into This

• Homeowners in Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Roswell, or unincorporated Fulton County adding a fence, shed, deck, or pool
• Fence, deck, and pool contractors working across multiple cities within the county, where the rules reset at every city line
• Small GCs and remodelers handling additions or accessory structures
• Owner-builders managing their own permit applications
• ADU contractors navigating city-specific size caps and setback rules
• Small builders working single-family lots in Milton, Roswell, or South Fulton

If you've ever pulled a permit in one Fulton County city and assumed the neighboring city would accept the same drawing, this page is for you — it usually doesn't work that way.

What Typically Needs a Site Plan

Fence — Property lines, proposed location, height, materials, and easements, at minimum. Sandy Springs and Alpharetta may accept an unsealed, homeowner-prepared plan for a straightforward fence; check before assuming.

Shed — Needed once you cross a size threshold in most cities. Sandy Springs exempts detached structures under 120 square feet from a permit entirely. Johns Creek requires a site plan for accessory structures regardless of size.

Deck — Roswell wants existing and proposed structures shown on the site plan. Sandy Springs may require an existing conditions survey first.

Patio — Mainly a lot coverage question — the site plan needs to show impervious surface calculations where the city tracks that.

Pool — One of the stricter categories countywide. Expect setbacks, equipment location, and barrier details on the drawing, plus flood zone information if your lot touches a mapped floodplain.

Garage — Needs footprint, setbacks, and driveway location shown, consistent across most cities.

ADU — Needs footprint, setbacks, parking, and utility connections, with size limits set city by city rather than countywide.

Driveway — Right-of-way dimensions and curb cut location, particularly relevant if the driveway touches a county or state road.

Home addition — Existing footprint plus the addition, dimensioned to property lines and lot coverage limits. Atlanta in particular tends to want a sealed survey behind this one, not a standalone sketch.

Why This Trips People Up

Assuming county rules apply everywhere. They don't. City rules govern inside city limits; Fulton County Public Works only handles unincorporated areas. Get this wrong and you've built a plan for the wrong reviewer.

Missing the sealed-plan requirement. Atlanta, Milton, and several other Fulton County cities expect certain site plans to carry the seal of a Georgia-registered architect, engineer, or surveyor. Submit an unsealed plan where one was required, and it gets rejected without review — not revised, rejected.

Skipping tree protection. Atlanta requires an arborist meeting before permit submission if your project could affect trees on the lot. Sandy Springs has its own tree conservation requirements. This step is easy to miss if you're focused only on the structure itself.

Treating GIS parcel lines as a survey. Fulton County's GIS portal shows property lines, but those are approximate records, not a legal boundary determination. If your property lines are unclear or disputed, that's a job for a licensed surveyor, not a parcel viewer.

City-by-City Notes

Atlanta — Office of Buildings handles permits. Expect sealed survey requirements on many projects and a mandatory arborist meeting where trees are involved. Atlanta permit portal

Sandy Springs — Community Development requires setbacks, buffers, easements, and lot coverage on the site plan. Detached structures under 120 square feet skip the permit entirely. Build Sandy Springs

Johns Creek — Site plans must be at least 11"x17", drawn to scale, and submitted as vectorized PDFs, with separate submittal requirements depending on whether you're building new, adding on, or installing a pool or accessory structure.

Alpharetta — Residential Individual Lot Site Plan requirements apply, with initial plan review typically running about 10 days.

Roswell — Building Division wants existing and proposed structures shown clearly on deck permit site plans.

Milton — Requires three copies of the site plan (24"x36" maximum), bearing a Georgia-registered professional's seal. Floodplain-adjacent lots need finished elevations at least 3 feet above the 100-year flood elevation.

South Fulton — Requires stamped plans along with subcontractor affidavits and jurisdiction-specific checklists.

Unincorporated Fulton County — Fulton County Public Works caps site plans at 11"x17" with three copies required. Special Flood Hazard Areas need a separate floodplain development permit, and a 75-foot undisturbed stream buffer applies in unincorporated South Fulton.

See Georgia's statewide site plan overview

How SitePlans.ai Handles This

Instead of starting from a blank page or a drafting queue, you start from your address:

1. Enter your property address. We pull available parcel context so you're not guessing at your lot.
2. Review your property lines and site context. Fulton County publishes parcel data through its GIS portal, and SitePlans.ai draws on that where it's available for your area.
3. Add your project — fence, shed, deck, patio, pool, garage, driveway, or ADU — and place it on the lot.
4. Add setbacks, easements, and labels so the drawing reads the way your specific city's reviewer expects.
5. Export a clean, title-block-style PDF ready to attach to your permit application.

Check your address first. Property line data quality varies within Fulton County — some areas show clean, well-defined parcels; others rely on broader public records that may need a closer look. If your lines look off once you start, cross-check against the Fulton County GIS Portal or your city's records before you rely on the drawing.

Where SitePlans.ai Fits — and Where It Doesn't

Good fit for:

• Fence and small shed permits in cities that accept homeowner-prepared, unsealed plans
• Early-stage layout for an ADU, deck, or addition before you talk to a professional
• Driveway and patio permits with straightforward lot coverage questions
• Getting a clear draft together to hand to an architect, engineer, or surveyor

Use caution — or go straight to a licensed professional or SitePlans.us — if:

• Your city requires a sealed plan (Atlanta, Milton, and South Fulton lean this way often)
• Your property touches a FEMA floodplain
• You're doing structural or engineered work
• Your property lines are unclear, disputed, or the parcel data in the tool doesn't match what you see on the ground

What This Doesn't Replace

SitePlans.ai produces a preliminary, conceptual site plan for permit prep. It is not:

• A legal boundary survey
• A sealed survey drawing
• A PE, PLS, architect, or landscape architect stamp
• A FEMA Elevation Certificate
• A floodplain development permit
• A guarantee that your permit gets approved

Georgia law requires certain plans to be sealed by a licensed engineer, architect, or surveyor — and several Fulton County cities, Atlanta and Milton among them, apply that requirement broadly. SitePlans.ai doesn't provide sealed plans. If your project needs one, you'll need to engage a Georgia-licensed professional directly.

If your city requires an arborist meeting, a stream buffer review, or a floodplain engineering study, that requirement doesn't go away — you'll still need to satisfy it separately. Final acceptance always comes down to your specific city's building department, and in some cases your HOA.

Comparing Your Options

How It Works, Step by Step

1. Enter your Fulton County property address.
2. Review the property lines and site context shown, and check against the Fulton County GIS Portal if anything looks off.
3. Add your project — fence, shed, deck, pool, garage, addition — and position it on the lot.
4. Add setbacks, easements, and right-of-way lines, and label what needs labeling.
5. Check the title block — name, address, project description, date.
6. Export the PDF.
7. Confirm with your specific city's building department that the format is acceptable and that a professional seal isn't required for your project.
8. If your project needs a sealed plan, a tree protection package, or already hit a rejection, hand it to SitePlans.us for a human-reviewed version.

Support While You Work

A guided walkthrough runs inside the tool. If you get stuck, support is available at support@siteplans.ai, and Support Desk has answers to the questions that come up most.

Local Resources Worth Bookmarking

• Fulton County GIS Portal — parcel viewer, flood zone maps, zoning maps
• Fulton County Public Works — permits and inspections for unincorporated areas
• City of Atlanta Office of Buildings — Atlanta residential permits
• Georgia 811 — call before digging; most permits ask for the confirmation number
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center — check your flood zone before you plan
• Your specific city's building department — search directly; Fulton County has seven separate permit authorities

FAQ

Do I need a site plan for a shed permit in Fulton County?

Depends on the city. Sandy Springs exempts detached structures under 120 square feet from needing a permit at all. Johns Creek requires a site plan for accessory structures regardless of size. Confirm with your specific city before assuming either way.

Can I use SitePlans.ai for a fence permit here?

Yes, if your city accepts homeowner-prepared, unsealed site plans — several do for straightforward fence work. If your city requires a sealed plan, you'll need a licensed professional instead.

Do I need a survey for a deck permit?

Sometimes. Atlanta often wants a signed and sealed boundary and topographic survey. Sandy Springs may want an existing conditions survey. Roswell asks for a site plan showing existing and proposed structures — check with your specific city.

Are the property lines in Fulton County's GIS portal the same as a legal survey?

No. GIS parcel lines are approximate records based on county data, not a legal boundary determination. If your property lines are unclear or in dispute, you need a licensed surveyor, not a parcel viewer.

My property is in one city, but I've heard Fulton County has different rules — which one applies?

City rules govern inside city limits. Fulton County Public Works only handles unincorporated areas. Always check with your specific city's building department, not the county, unless you're outside all city boundaries.

Can I submit a homeowner-prepared site plan in Fulton County?

Depends on the city and the project. Some cities accept homeowner-prepared plans for smaller work. Others, like Milton, require every site plan to carry a licensed professional's seal. Confirm before you submit.

What if my property is in a floodplain?

You'll need a floodplain development permit in addition to your building permit. Milton requires finished elevations at least 3 feet above the 100-year flood elevation. SitePlans.ai doesn't provide floodplain certifications or elevation certificates.

What if my plan gets rejected?

Revise it in SitePlans.ai and export an updated PDF for straightforward fixes. If the reviewer specifically requires a sealed plan or the revision is complex, the done-for-you option through SitePlans.us is the more reliable path.

Do I need a tree protection plan?

In Atlanta, yes, if your project could affect trees — an arborist meeting is required before permit submission. Sandy Springs has its own tree conservation requirements. Check with your city before you finalize a layout.

Will SitePlans.ai guarantee my permit gets approved?

No. SitePlans.ai helps you prepare the drawing. Approval depends entirely on your city's building department, zoning office, and project scope.

When should I use SitePlans.us instead?

When your city requires a sealed plan, your project touches a floodplain or tree protection review, you've already been rejected once, or you'd rather have a professional take it from here.

Can contractors use this for client work across multiple Fulton County cities?

Yes — Contractor Pro and Builder plans are built for exactly that: multiple jobs, multiple addresses, branded output, even as the requirements shift city to city.

What actually needs to be on a Fulton County site plan?

Property lines with dimensions, existing and proposed structures, setbacks, easements, driveway or access location, and lot coverage calculations where the city tracks that. Floodplain data and tree protection details are added where applicable. Several cities also require a north arrow and scale — often a 1"=20'-0" minimum.

How long does permit review take in Fulton County?

Fulton County's own digital review process moves quickly for unincorporated-area permits — often 10 to 15 business days. City timelines vary; Alpharetta's initial review runs about 10 days. A clear, complete site plan is the biggest thing you control to avoid a rejection cycle.

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