Permit & Code Reference
Georgia Pallet Rack Requirements
What it takes to permit, engineer, and install steel storage racks in Georgia. Every claim cited to a primary source.
At a glance
Required for fixed/anchored racks or anything > 5'-9". Movable racks ≤ 5'-9" exempt under IBC §105.2.
Most of GA = SDC A/B — minimal detailing per ANSI MH16.1. Northwest GA can hit SDC C.
Triggered when storage tops > 12 ft (IFC Ch. 32). Local FD reviews unless §25-2-13 occupancy → State Fire Marshal.
GA-licensed PE seal required on permit drawings per O.C.G.A. §43-15-22.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-17
📋 Building Permit
- Adopted code
- Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes on the 2024 IBC with 2026 Georgia Amendments (mandatory statewide). The 2024 IFC is also mandatory. IEBC remains on the 2018 edition (permissive). Adopted via DCA — the statewide minimum floor that locals may equal or exceed.
- Permit threshold
- IBC §105.2 exempts movable racks not over 5'-9" tall. Anchored or taller racking falls outside the exemption and requires a permit.
- Issuing authority
- Local city or county building department issues permits. DCA sets the statewide minimum floor that locals may equal or exceed by amendment. State Fire Marshal (under the Insurance & Safety Fire Commissioner) handles the building types listed in O.C.G.A. §25-2-13 (hospitals, schools, hotels > 15 rooms, college academic buildings, state-owned property).
- Typical fee range
- Atlanta charges a $150 minimum permit plus $25 technology fee, scaled by valuation. Savannah publishes a valuation-based Building Permit & Plan Review Fee Schedule (extensions $500 min). Gwinnett County charges $5 per $1,000 of evaluated construction cost plus a $50 CO fee ($30 minimum) for commercial racking/shelving.
- Typical review time
- Savannah publishes ~90 days for initial commercial plan review. Atlanta DPCD does not publish a hard SLA — routing through Accela is project-dependent. Budget 4–12 weeks plus revision cycles statewide.
🌐 Seismic Requirements
- Seismic Design Category
- A or B across most of Georgia. Northwest GA (near TN/NC border) can push into SDC C at softer site classes (D/E)
- Sds range
- Site-specific. Published ASCE 7 contour data places Atlanta and Augusta well below 0.30g Ss (typical Sds < 0.15g on Site Class B/C). Savannah sits near the 0.30g Ss contour (Sds typically 0.15–0.20g on Site Class D). Pull exact values from the ASCE Hazard Tool at submittal.
- Anchoring & bracing
- ANSI MH16.1-2021 governs storage rack design referenced by IBC Ch. 22/Ch. 16. For SDC A/B (Georgia's norm), detailing is minimal — base plates and standard anchorage typically suffice without special seismic detailing. SDC C+ triggers added bracing, anchor qualification per ACI 318 Ch. 17, and occupancy importance factor (Ip) considerations.
🔥 Fire Marshal
- When fire review is triggered
- Georgia adopts the 2024 IFC statewide. IFC Chapter 32 governs high-piled combustible storage — triggered when storage tops exceed 12 ft (or 6 ft for high-hazard commodities and lithium batteries). Plans go to the fire AHJ — the local fire department in most jurisdictions; State Fire Marshal for §25-2-13 occupancies (hospitals, schools, hotels > 15 rooms, college academic buildings, state-owned property).
🏛️ Engineer Stamp
- When PE-stamped drawings are required
- Yes for commercial racking. O.C.G.A. Title 43, Ch. 15 governs engineering practice. Plans submitted to a Georgia AHJ for permit must be sealed by a Georgia-licensed PE per O.C.G.A. §43-15-22. The GA Board expressly prohibits 'plan stamping' of work not under the engineer's direct supervision.
⚠️ Local Quirks
Things that surprise out-of-state buyers in Georgia.
- Atlanta UDC and tree-protection ordinances can drive site work conditions even for interior racking on new sites.
- Savannah Historic District, Victorian District, and Mid-City/Cuyler-Brownville require an additional Certificate of Appropriateness from MPC before a building permit issues.
- Coastal counties (Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, McIntosh, Glynn, Camden) sit in Wind Zone 2. Envelope/wind anchorage detailing matters for any rack tied to the structure.
- Port of Savannah adjacency triggers coordination with GA Ports Authority and federal partners (CBP/USACE) on perimeter warehouses.
- Rural counties have variable enforcement, but DCA codes are still the statewide floor.
Sources
Every claim on this page links to a primary source.
- DCA — Current State Minimum Codes for Construction
- O.C.G.A. §25-2-13 — State Fire Marshal Jurisdiction
- Atlanta Office of Buildings — Commercial Permits
- Savannah Building Permit & Plan Review Fees
- Gwinnett County Commercial Building Permit Fees
- Savannah Commercial Permit Process
- IBC §105.2 — Work Exempt From Permit
- IFC 2021 Chapter 32 — High-Piled Combustible Storage
- Georgia Insurance & Safety Fire Commissioner — Inspections, Permits & Plans
- O.C.G.A. Title 43 Ch. 15 — Engineers & Land Surveyors
- GA PELS — Seals and Stamps Guidance
- FEMA P-2192 — Seismic Design Category Maps
- ASCE Hazard Tool
Informational only — verify with your local AHJ.
Code requirements vary by jurisdiction and change on three-year cycles. Local amendments, fire-marshal interpretation, and your specific project conditions can shift what's actually required. This page is a starting point, not engineering or legal advice. Always confirm with your Authority Having Jurisdiction before designing or installing.