East Cobb permits and zoning go through Cobb County Community Development: permits 770-528-2060, zoning 770-528-2035. Hearing dates for the rest of 2026.
Last checked Oct. 5, 2026. Facts come from Cobb County’s Community Development Agency and its published 2026 hearing schedules, each linked below. This page is updated when the county posts new schedules.
East Cobb has no city government, so every building permit, inspection, rezoning and variance in unincorporated East Cobb goes through Cobb County’s Community Development Agency, 1150 Powder Springs St., Suite 400, Marietta. The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. If your address is inside a city such as Marietta or Roswell, that city handles it; the county’s jurisdiction lookup tells you which.
Who to call
- Building permits and inspections: Development and Inspections Division, 770-528-2060, building@cobbcounty.gov
- Zoning, rezoning and variances: Zoning Division, 770-528-2035
- General Community Development questions: comdev@cobbcounty.gov
- Apply and track online: Cobb County Citizen Access portal
Building permits
The county’s residential permitting page lays out the process in six steps: confirm your jurisdiction, collect documents, calculate the fees, submit the application packet, wait for review, then get the permit and book the required inspections. It keeps separate checklists for:
- Pools and spas, accessory structures, home additions and basement finishes
- Home renovations, retaining walls, solar panels and demolition
- New single-family homes, mobile homes and power use permits
Plans are submitted and reviewed through the county’s Digital Plan Room, which runs on the same Citizen Access account. Design professionals need a digital signature from a recognized certificate authority, and every file must be a PDF.
Fees. Since July 1, 2024, Cobb has calculated permit fees from square footage and flat fees, not job cost, under House Bill 461. The county’s fee schedule (PDF) has the figures.
Pools. A county rule that took effect Jan. 1, 2026, requires a permit before building any pool or spa, and the builder must hold a Georgia general contractor’s license or a recognized pool-builder certification.
Private inspectors. Under the state’s 2019 House Bill 493, you can choose an approved third-party reviewer and inspector, but you must say so when you apply; the county keeps the list on its residential permitting page.
Inspections
Book inspections by text or online, according to the county’s inspection page:
- Text SCHEDULE to 877-376-1455. Text CANCEL to cancel or RESULTS for the outcome.
- Online through Citizen Access: open the permit’s “Record Info,” then “Inspections.”
- HVAC and plumbing inspections must be booked for the same day where both apply.
Reinspection fees are paid by phone while the online portal is down: 770-528-2060 for residential, 770-528-2071 for commercial.
Zoning and rezoning
Check your property’s zoning on the county’s zoning map for unincorporated Cobb. Pending cases near you are on the active zoning case map, and staff reports, agendas and minutes are on the county’s CivicClerk portal. Anyone can comment on a zoning case online.
A rezoning is heard twice: first by the Planning Commission, an advisory board, and then by the Board of Commissioners, which decides. Under the 2026 rezoning application (PDF), applications are filed in person by 4 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month, and signs go up on the property 30 days before the hearing. Fees start at $500 for a residential case of up to 5 acres, with a $300 refundable sign deposit and $15 a sign. There is no zoning hearing in January.
Zoning hearings start at 9 a.m. in the commissioners’ meeting room, second floor of Building A, 100 Cherokee St., Marietta.
| Planning Commission | Board of Commissioners |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, Oct. 6 | Tuesday, Oct. 20 |
| Tuesday, Nov. 3 | Tuesday, Nov. 17 |
| Tuesday, Dec. 1 | Tuesday, Dec. 15 |
The county says the zoning division manager may change dates.
Variances
A variance, such as relief from a setback, goes to the Board of Zoning Appeals. The 2026 variance application (PDF) sets a $150 fee for a residential case, plus a $100 refundable sign deposit and $15 a sign. Hearings start at 1:30 p.m. in the same room. The remaining 2026 dates are Wednesday, Oct. 14; Thursday, Nov. 12; and Wednesday, Dec. 9. Comment on a case with the variance comment form.
Who sits on the boards
Planning Commission members, each appointed by a commissioner, are listed on the county’s Planning Commission page. District 2 Commissioner Erick Allen appointed Sara Micheletto, and District 3 Commissioner JoAnn Birrell appointed Deborah Dance. The Board of Zoning Appeals page lists Kim Swanson (Allen) and Alice Summerour (Birrell).
What this means for you
- Planning a deck, pool, addition or finished basement? Start on the county’s checklists before you hire, and confirm whether your contractor or you will pull the permit.
- A zoning sign on a nearby lot means a hearing in about a month. Look up the case on the map and comment before the Planning Commission meets.
- If your neighborhood has a homeowners association, a county permit does not replace its approval.
Subscribe to the county’s zoning analysis email to hear about new cases. Related: Cobb County property taxes and who to call in Cobb County government.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in East Cobb?
Cobb County’s Development and Inspections Division, part of the Community Development Agency at 1150 Powder Springs St., Suite 400, Marietta. Call 770-528-2060 or email building@cobbcounty.gov.
How do I find the zoning of my East Cobb property?
Use Cobb County’s online zoning map for unincorporated Cobb, or call the Zoning Division at 770-528-2035. The county’s “Am I located in a city?” lookup confirms whether the county or a city has jurisdiction.
When does the Cobb County Board of Commissioners hear zoning cases?
Usually on the third Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. at 100 Cherokee St., Marietta, after the Planning Commission hears the case earlier that month. The remaining 2026 board hearings are Oct. 20, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15.
How much does a variance cost in Cobb County?
The residential variance application fee is $150, plus a $100 refundable sign deposit and $15 for each sign, according to the county’s 2026 variance application.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Cobb County?
Text SCHEDULE to 877-376-1455 or book through the county’s Citizen Access portal. The county asks that HVAC and plumbing inspections be booked for the same day.
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