§ 330-30. Building Permits.

330-30.1   Applicable Codes. Building permits for buildings and structures are issued after meeting the applicable requirements of the fire prevention and life safety codes, the Gwinnett County Construction Code and the various health, water, sewer codes and regulations as well as the provisions of any Certificate approved under the Metropolitan River Protection Act , if applicable.

330-30.2   Environmental Health Section: On-Site Sewage Disposal. For any structure for which on-site sewage disposal will be provided, a permit issued by the Environmental Health Section shall be required prior to issuance of a building permit.

330-30.3   Single-Family and Duplex Residences.

A.

A building permit for a single or two-family residence may be issued after the recording of a Final Plat or after the lot upon which the building is to be located has otherwise become a buildable lot of record.

B.

The approval by the Department of a House Location Plan (HLP), Residential Drainage Plan (RDP), or Residential Drainage Study (RDS), may be required prior to issuance of the building permit, as noted and conditioned on the Final Plat or as may be required for compliance with the Georgia Metropolitan River Protection Act . For such lots, a Certificate of Occupancy shall not be issued until conformance to the HLP, RDP, or RDS has been field verified by the Department as shown on a certified foundation survey prepared by a Registered Land Surveyor. (See Chapter 320 for plan and study specifications)

330-30.4   Multi-Family and Non-residential Structures.

A.

Issuance of a building permit for any building other than a single-family detached or duplex residence (and associated accessory structures) shall first require issuance of a development permit for the building site, and the building permit shall be consistent with said development permit.

B.

Construction documents for buildings and structures must be reviewed and approved by the Fire Plan Review Section, Development Division, and other Departments prior to permitting for all structures for compliance with this Ordinance and all other codes, ordinances, and laws.

C.

Issuance on Buildable Lots of Record; Exceptions. Building permits shall only be issued on buildable lots of record, as defined in this UDO, except under special circumstances limited to and as specifically described in this Section, below.

1.

In a single-family detached and duplex residential subdivision, building permits for no more than two model home buildings, except by approval of a modification application, on specific lots may be issued by the Department on the basis of an approved Subdivision Development Plan after the approval of the Environmental Health Section, as appropriate, and subject to all limitations or requirements as may be established by the Director. A Certificate of Occupancy shall not be issued for the completed model home until the Final Plat encompassing the model home building lots has been approved and recorded.

2.

In non-residential subdivisions, building permits may be issued by the Department on the basis of an approved Subdivision Development Plan and after a development permit has been approved reflecting the site plan and construction drawings for specific buildings and associated site improvements.

3.

Issuance of the building permits shall be conditioned on the following:

a.

Fire Plan review and approval shall be required prior to issuance of any building permit.

b.

Approval of the Environmental Health Section for on-site sewage disposal or by the Department of Water Resources for a building to be served by public sewer shall be required prior to issuance of any Building Permit.

c.

Construction of the required public improvements shall proceed concurrently with construction of the buildings.

d.

No Certificate of Occupancy shall be approved for any structure within the subdivision prior to recording of the Final Plat, and submittal and approval of the Certificate of Development Conformance (CDC) and related Development Performance and Maintenance Agreement and bonds, if applicable. In the case where multiple buildings are proposed and under construction, the Director, at his discretion, may approve the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy of a building and postpone the CDC requirement to a later date.

4.

In fee-simple townhouse subdivisions, a building permit may be issued on a buildable lot of record established for each building (containing any number of townhouse dwelling units) through recording of a Final Plat following completion of all required public improvements. Upon completion of the buildings, the Final Plat shall be rerecorded to establish individual lots for the townhouse units, based on their actual locations, prior to issuance of Certificates of Occupancy.