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Columbus launches online permitting portal; state building code update to take effect Jan. 1, 2026
Summary
The city’s Inspections & Codes department unveiled a self-service permitting portal and notified council that the state’s 2024 building codes will be adopted for local permitting beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
Columbus’ Inspections and Codes department demonstrated a new civic-access online portal on Sept. 16 and told the City Council it will move many permit types entirely online by early 2026. The city also briefed council on the state’s six-year construction code update; Columbus will adopt Georgia’s 2024 codes effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Director Ryan Pruitt presented trends showing the city averaged several hundred million dollars in construction valuation per year. He said the portal streamlines plan submission and payment and reduces costs for applicants who previously printed large plan sets. The department is keeping both electronic and paper submissions available in the near term but intends to transition many permit types to online-only by Jan. 1.
Pruitt showed a short walkthrough of applying for an electrical-service change online: users create an account, select a permit type, upload license and ID documentation, answer a brief form and submit. The portal creates permit fees automatically for staff review; once fees are paid the permit becomes active. The department plans outreach and training sessions for trade groups and builders in October.
Pruitt said staff are also working to add short-term rental permits and certificate-of-occupancy renewals to the portal. On code changes, he said Georgia’s update occurs every six years; Columbus currently operates under the 2018 code and will switch to the 2024 code on Jan. 1, 2026. Pruitt told council the 2024 update contains incremental changes and staff are coordinating with the Home Builders Association and other stakeholders.
On code enforcement, Pruitt reported the department is actively following up on 906 businesses that had not renewed business licenses; inspections and code staff had visited 373 of those as of the update, with 178 brought into compliance and 59 confirmed out of business.
Council members encouraged continued outreach to trades and homeowners and asked staff to return with details on any implementation timelines and training.
