Building permits and zoning in Lawrenceville

Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Lawrenceville Planning & Development Department. Phone: 678-407-6583.

Building permits, inspections, rezonings, special use permits and variances inside Lawrenceville city limits all go through the city’s Planning & Development Department at City Hall, 70 S. Clayton St. Applications are filed online in the city’s Licensing, Permits and Plans (LPP) portal, which needs a free account. The same portal shows permit fees and takes inspection requests.

First, check that you are in the city. Not every Lawrenceville address is inside the city limits. Search the city’s City Limits map; if your parcel is outside the red line, Gwinnett County handles your permits.

Who to call

• Permits, plan review, zoning questions, inspections: Planning & Development, 678-407-6583
• City Hall main line: 770-963-2414, 70 S. Clayton St.
• Apply, pay, request inspections: LPP portal
• Zoning map: Official Zoning Map and zoning ordinance
• Fire code questions: Gwinnett County Fire Marshal, through the county fire department

When you need a permit

The city requires a building permit for new homes, additions, interior remodels and any change to the electrical, mechanical, plumbing or structural work of a house, according to its residential permit types. That includes:

• Roof replacement and roof changes
• Foundation work and structural repairs
• Removing a load-bearing wall or changing the floor plan
• New circuits, generators and solar systems
• Demolition of a structure
• Pools, and accessory structures such as large sheds and detached garages

Work that does not need a permit, from the city’s exempt work list:

• A one-story shed, playhouse or similar building of 120 square feet or less
• Fences 7 feet high or lower
• Retaining walls 4 feet high or lower, measured from the bottom of the footing, that hold back no extra load
• Painting, wallpaper, tile, carpet, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work
• Sidewalks and driveways
• A detached deck of 200 square feet or less, no more than 30 inches above the ground, that does not serve a required exit door
• Swings and playground equipment at a house
• Above-ground prefabricated pools less than 24 inches deep

An exemption from a permit is not an exemption from the code or the zoning ordinance. If you are unsure, call before you start.

How the permit process works

The city’s application process, in order:

1. Check what you need. Ask Planning & Development which permit type fits your project.
2. Prepare plans. New homes and remodels need a site plan (house location plan and a residential drainage plan or study), building plans, elevations, a Georgia Energy Code compliance report, and Gwinnett County water and sewer connection permit receipts.
3. Apply online in the LPP portal and upload every document.
4. Review. Staff check zoning, building and fire codes and may ask for revisions.
5. Pay fees after approval and before the permit is issued. Fees depend on the size and scope of the project.
6. Build and book inspections at each stage.
7. Final inspection and certificate of occupancy. The permit closes when the final inspection passes.

Homeowners may act as their own general contractor on a residential permit by filing a homeowner affidavit with the city.

Inspections

The city inspects structural, plumbing, electrical and mechanical work on every permitted project, and on new construction checks grading, erosion control, buffers, landscaping, paving, stormwater facilities and tree save areas, according to its Inspections page. Request an inspection in the LPP portal (you must be listed as a contact on the permit) or by phone at 678-407-6583. Have the permit number and job site address ready. General contractors must order inspections on commercial jobs.

Rezoning, special use permits and variances

The city takes rezoning, special use permit and variance applications on the first Friday of each month, according to its applications page. Each application, letter of intent and site plan is posted in the LPP portal.

A rezoning goes through three meetings, under the city’s public hearing process:

1. Planning Commission. Staff post a report and recommendation about a week before. The applicant presents, opponents get equal time, and the commission makes a recommendation.
2. City Council work session. The council may question the applicant.
3. City Council public hearing and vote. The council makes the final decision.

If the council denies a rezoning, the same zoning cannot be requested for that property for 12 months; a different zoning can be requested after six months.

Variances from the zoning ordinance and appeals of staff decisions go to the Board of Appeals. Board of Appeals submissions are due the first Friday of each month.

Meeting dates

All three meet in the Council Chambers on the fourth floor of City Hall, 70 S. Clayton St.

Agendas are posted on the city’s Municode Meetings page.

What this means for you

• Confirm your address is inside city limits before you apply.
• Small sheds, fences up to 7 feet and finish work need no permit; roofs and new circuits do.
• Rezoning applications are due the first Friday of the month.

More: who to call at City Hall and property taxes.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to build a fence in Lawrenceville?

Not for a fence 7 feet high or lower, according to the city’s list of work exempt from permits. Zoning rules on placement still apply, so check with Planning & Development at 678-407-6583.

Do I need a permit for a shed in Lawrenceville?

A one-story detached shed or playhouse of 120 square feet or less does not need a building permit. Larger accessory structures need an accessory structure permit.

How do I apply for a building permit in Lawrenceville?

Register for free on the city’s Licensing, Permits and Plans (LPP) portal, fill out the application and upload your plans. Fees are paid after approval and before the permit is issued.

When does the Lawrenceville Planning Commission meet?

The first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the fourth floor of City Hall, 70 S. Clayton St., unless the city sets another date.

How do I find out if my address is in Lawrenceville city limits?

Search the city’s City Limits map. Many Lawrenceville mailing addresses are in unincorporated Gwinnett County, where the county issues permits instead.