Accela Software

Hall County now utilizes the Accela software for Planning & Development applications, allowing citizens to submit all applications online from anywhere in the world. Need assistance? Check out these tutorial videos (via Vimeo):

• Create an Account
• Download Approved Plans
• Issues and Conditions
• Finalize and Submit Review Package
• Residential New Construction
• Revisions After Approval
• Submit Revised Plans
• Upload Plans

Ready to go? Visit the Accela Citizen Access Portal to get started.

About the Department

Hall County Planning and Development serves a variety of functions within Hall County Government.

Building Permits:

The following work requires a building permit: 

• Site built residence
• Single or double wide manufactured (mobile) home
• Industrialized (modular) home
• Accessory structure over 144 square feet (typical structure types include carports, storage buildings, pole barns, and detached garages)
• Accessory structure less than 144 square feet with permanent foundations (i.e. concrete slab)
• Accessory structure less than 144 square feet that will require utilities (i.e. electricity or plumbing)
• Addition to a structure
• Moving, removing, or adding exterior walls
• Adding, enlarging, or replacing an arbor, pergola, porch, deck, or deck covering
• Enclosing a porch, deck, or carport
• Cutting a new window or door opening, or widening or reducing the size of an existing opening
• Constructing retaining wall that exceeds four feet in height as measured above ground
• Installing a fence over seven feet in height
• Replacing roof decking, making structural roof changes, or replacing shingles with metal

Process for Applying for a Building Permit

1. Submit the application, along with supporting documents, by visiting the Building Inspection Department or by submitting online to permits@hallcounty.org.
2. Once application is received, a record will be created and internally routed to Planning and Environmental Health (if needed).
3. If able to move forward with submission, or if additional information is needed, applicant will be notified by each respective department.
4. Once submission has been through Planning and Environmental Health, Building Inspection will reach out regarding final steps for issuance of permit.

Building Inspections:

Building Inspections is serving customers through both in-person and prescheduled appointments. While telephone and email operations are still operating as normal, in-person meetings and business may be conducted by appointment only between the hours of 9:00am and 4:00pm. To schedule an appointment at the Government Center, please call 770-535-8288 and press 1 for an appointment and then 3 to be connected with the Planning and Development departments. Please note that only one person may attend an in-person meeting. For general questions or for urgent matters regarding existing permits and building inspections please email, John Estelle or Daisy Leyva.

Development Review:

Please contact Lauren Brandao, Development Review Coordinator, to submit your plans digitally, schedule a virtual meeting, or if you have any questions about the review process.

Plat Review:

The plat review process has been modified to allow the continued submittal and review of plats through digital copies. Please email a digital copy of the plat to plats@hallcounty.org along with the completed forms (2022 Minor Plat Package). The PDF will be reviewed by Planning, Engineering, and Environmental Health. After the initial review, comments will be provided to the surveyor or provided contact person indicating what revisions will be necessary in order to approve the plat. Upon request of hard copies from the Planning Department, the surveyor or applicant may then drop off at least 3 full-size paper copies of the plat for final approval stamps. Please note that plats will not be stamped at the time of drop off. 

The plat review process typically takes between 3-4 weeks.

Special Use, Variance, and Rezoning Requests:

New applications for special use permits, variances, and rezoning requests are being accepted both digitally and in person. Please contact Katie Greenway, to schedule a pre-application meeting. Due to the nature of these requests incomplete applications will not be processed. You will find a link to learn more about this process in the navigation menu on the left of this page, under the Current and Long Range Planning heading.  You may learn more about this process here.

Finally, please feel free to contact planning@hallcounty.org with any additional questions.