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Bill > SB447
GA SB447
GA SB447Control of Soil Erosion and Sedimentation; denial or nonacceptance of permits; revise provisions
summary
Introduced
02/02/2026
02/02/2026
In Committee
03/19/2026
03/19/2026
Crossed Over
03/03/2026
03/03/2026
Passed
04/10/2026
04/10/2026
Dead
04/02/2026
04/02/2026
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
AN ACT To amend Chapter 2 of Title 8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state building, plumbing, and electrical codes, so as to revise provisions related to inspections submitted by private professional providers; to amend Chapter 7 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to control of soil erosion and sedimentation, so as to revise provisions regarding denial or nonacceptance of permits; to require local issuing authorities to provide rejected permit applicants with a written list of reasons for denial within specified time frames; to provide for refunding of fees; to provide for mandamus; to toll such timing requirements in certain circumstances; to provide exceptions; to provide for definitions; to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, so as to provide general provisions for counties and municipalities regarding the acceptance, denial, or nonacceptance of certain permits; to require unambiguous criteria for approval of permits; to require completed applications; to require local issuing authorities to provide rejected permit applicants with a written list of reasons for denial within specified time frames; to provide for refunding of fees; to provide for exceptions; to provide for access to real-time status information relative to building permit application status; to provide definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
AI Summary
This bill revises provisions related to the denial or nonacceptance of permits for soil erosion and sedimentation control, as well as general provisions for counties and municipalities regarding permit acceptance and denial. It mandates that local authorities must provide rejected permit applicants with a written list of specific reasons for denial within a set timeframe, and outlines procedures for refunding fees if permits are not issued or denied within the legally prescribed periods. The bill also introduces requirements for unambiguous criteria for permit approval, necessitates that applications be complete, and establishes that local issuing authorities (local governments responsible for issuing permits) must provide applicants with access to real-time status information about their building permit applications through a publicly accessible website or application. Furthermore, it clarifies what constitutes a "completed application" and addresses situations where applications are resubmitted after denial, ensuring that new issues not related to the original denial are not introduced. The bill also includes provisions for mandamus relief for applicants aggrieved by a local authority's failure to comply with these requirements, with specific exceptions for certain counties with large airports.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (15)
Jason Anavitarte (R)*,
Bill Cowsert (R)*,
Jason T. Dickerson (R)*,
Clint Dixon (R)*,
Drew Echols (R)*,
Frank Ginn (R)*,
Russ Goodman (R)*,
Chuck Payne (R)*,
Shawn Still (R)*,
Carden Summers (R)*,
Larry Walker (R)*,
Ben Watson (R)*,
Sam Watson (R)*,
Rick Williams (R)*,
Victor Anderson (R),
Last Action
Senate Sent to Governor (on 04/10/2026)
Official Document
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