Who decides in Tucker
The City of Tucker Building and Permitting office handles permits and stage inspections for work inside the city. DeKalb County handles the Fire Marshal, streets, and water and sewer. If your project touches the public water or sewer connection, the county is also involved.
The City of Tucker permit team is the right first call. Look up the current permit desk number on the city's website before you call.
| Type of work | Why it may need review | Who to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Water heater replacement | Gas, venting and safety | City of Tucker permit team |
| New or moved fixtures | Drain, vent and supply changes | City of Tucker permit team |
| Repiping | Large scope in walls | City of Tucker permit team |
| Sewer repair or new connection | Public system tie-in | City and DeKalb County |
| Simple faucet or toilet swap | Usually minor | Ask if unsure |
How to ask the question
Information to have ready
- The address and whether the property is in the city limits.
- A short description of the work, such as replacing a gas water heater in the garage.
- Whether you are moving fixtures or only replacing them.
- Whether a licensed contractor is doing the work.
Why licensing matters
Georgia licenses plumbers as journeymen and master plumbers, with Class I and Class II master licenses and a statewide master license. Only licensed master plumbers can operate a plumbing business, and the licensing board does not register companies. The regulator is the Secretary of State's Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers. When you hire someone, ask about the license and verify it. Our page on plumbing installation explains how we describe scope for permit questions.
What an inspector looks at
Inspections generally check that work matches the plumbing code in force, that connections are tight and tested, that venting is sound and that safety devices are in place. Georgia's state minimum plumbing code is built on the International Plumbing Code with Georgia amendments. We have not verified which edition applies today, so ask the permit team.
If you skip a permit
Unpermitted work can create trouble at resale, with insurance claims and when an inspector finds it later. Even for work that does not need one, keep records of what was done, who did it and when. A licensed plumber who describes the work in writing makes that easy.
Before you dig
Georgia 811 is free and asks for at least three business days of notice before digging. It applies to sewer and water line work as well as landscaping. See water service line repair for how that fits a service line project.
Scope of work
More fixtures mean more review.
Inspection timing
Stage inspections add scheduling.
Utility involvement
A county tie-in adds coordination.
Documentation
Written scope helps both sides.
For your real number, call (770) 214-4545.
Planning plumbing work?
Call and we describe the scope so your permit question is specific.
A short script for your permit call
Calling a permit desk is easier with a plan. Give the address, describe the work in one sentence and ask three questions: does this need a permit, who pulls it, and what inspections follow. Write down the name of the person and the date. If the answer is unclear, ask them to point you to the page where the rule is written.
Who pulls the permit
In many cases the licensed contractor pulls the permit for plumbing work, and the homeowner is not the applicant. Homeowner permits may be allowed for work on your own primary residence, with limits. The rules are set locally, so the permit team is the source for what applies to your address.
Either way, ask the plumber how the permit is handled before you sign. A contractor who says "we do not do permits" for work that needs them is a red flag worth pausing on.
Inspection day, step by step
Schedule
The permit holder requests the inspection when the work is ready.
Prepare
Access to the work is cleared, and tests such as pressure checks are set up.
Inspect
The inspector looks at the work against the code and the permit.
Correct
If something needs correcting, it is fixed and a re-inspection is requested.
Close out
The permit is closed and you keep the record.
Keep your own file
Keep copies of the permit, the invoice, the inspection result and photos of the work before walls are closed. They are useful at resale, for insurance questions and when the next plumber asks what is behind the wall. A folder on your phone is enough.
Because rules are local and change, treat this page as a guide to the questions, not as a permit decision. The permit team makes the call, and a short phone conversation settles it.
Quick reference for homeowners
If you are replacing like for like, such as a faucet or a toilet, you will probably have a simple question for the permit team. If you are moving fixtures, adding a bathroom, changing gas piping or repiping, expect more review. If you are working with a contractor, ask who is responsible for the permit and get the answer in writing.
Permit rules protect safety and records. They also protect you if a problem shows up later, since a permitted and inspected job is easier to document.
Sources and standards
The International Plumbing Code (IPC) with Georgia amendments is the base of the state minimum code. Licensing information comes from the Secretary of State's Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers, and permit rules come from the City of Tucker.
Local note: the line between city and county
Inside Tucker, the city permits the work and the county owns the water and sewer system. In Gwinnett towns like Norcross and Lilburn, different offices apply, so a permit answer for one town does not transfer.
When we take a call outside Tucker, we tell you which office to ask first.
Questions we hear from homeowners
The City of Tucker Building and Permitting office. Ask the city permit team about your address.
It can. Rules depend on the work and the address, so ask the city permit team.
Journeyman, Class I master, Class II master and statewide master licenses, issued through the Secretary of State.
Yes, at least three business days before digging. It is free.
The state minimum code is built on the International Plumbing Code with Georgia amendments. Ask the permit team which edition applies.