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Homeowner Faces $10,000 in Fulton County Fines Over Unfiled Permits

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  Published in House and Home on Monday, November 17th 2025 at 5:30 GMT by WSB-TV

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Homeowner’s Battle With Fulton County Fines Highlights Gaps in Building‑Permit Enforcement

A quiet family home in Fulton County has become the center of a costly and confusing battle between a homeowner and the county’s code‑enforcement office. The story, first reported by WSB‑TV, follows a homeowner who purchased a property that had recently undergone a series of upgrades. The upgrades, which included a new roof, a deck addition, and the installation of a solar‑panel array, were never fully documented in the county’s permitting system. As a result, the homeowner has found herself confronted with a mounting list of fines that she had never anticipated.

The Background of the Property

The house in question sits in the eastern part of Fulton County, a region that has seen a steady wave of residential development over the past decade. The property was originally listed in the county’s real‑estate database under an older address, but the address was later updated after a 2019 renovation. The renovation was undertaken by a local contractor, the same firm that performed work on the new roof, a three‑story extension, and the conversion of the attic into a small living space. While the contractor submitted invoices and receipts, the homeowner did not receive the official permits that the county requires for such extensive work.

The county’s building department is known for its strict enforcement of local codes. When the homeowner applied for a loan at the end of 2021, the lender requested the homeowner’s building‑permit history. The homeowner was shocked to discover that the county’s database listed several code violations that had never been resolved. After a brief phone call with the county’s Office of Building Inspection, the homeowner was told that she would be assessed an annual fine of $350 for each unresolved violation, with a cap of $3,500 per year. The homeowner, assuming that the contractor had handled the paperwork, did not anticipate that she would be held personally responsible.

The Accumulation of Fines

By early 2024, the homeowner had accrued more than $10,000 in fines. The county’s website, which lists each violation’s details, indicates that the fines are due monthly. In addition to the monetary penalties, the homeowner’s property now carries a “code‑violation notice” that appears on any property‑search platform. The notice warns potential buyers that the home may have unresolved building‑code violations, which could make it difficult to obtain a clear title in the future.

The homeowner’s financial strain is not unique. The WSB‑TV article cites a city council report from 2023 that highlighted a growing number of homeowners across Fulton County who were unaware of the need to file permits for minor upgrades. The report estimates that between 2018 and 2022, over 1,200 homeowners were assessed fines for non‑compliance, with a median fine of $600.

Efforts to Resolve the Issue

The homeowner, who wishes to remain anonymous, has pursued several avenues to mitigate the financial burden. First, she approached the county’s Office of Building Inspection to request a waiver or a payment plan. According to a link to a Fulton County government page included in the article, a homeowner may apply for a “payment‑arrangement plan” if the total fine amount exceeds $1,000. The application requires proof of income, a detailed explanation of the circumstances, and an acceptance of responsibility for the violation. The homeowner was denied, citing incomplete documentation regarding the original contractor’s licensing.

Next, she consulted a local attorney who specializes in construction law. The attorney advised that she could file a “claim of misrepresentation” against the contractor, arguing that the contractor misled her into believing that permits had been obtained. The attorney notes, however, that proving misrepresentation in the county’s records would require a detailed audit of the contractor’s submission files, a process that could take several months.

The homeowner also contacted a neighborhood association, hoping to secure a joint letter to the county urging leniency. The association’s president told WSB‑TV that while the group appreciated the homeowner’s situation, they had not yet seen a precedent for a county to absolve homeowners of fines that were tied to the original owner’s contractual obligations.

The Broader Implications

The story sheds light on a broader issue that has emerged across many counties in Georgia: the gap between the real‑world execution of home upgrades and the bureaucratic systems that track them. The WSB‑TV article links to a Georgia Department of Human Services page that outlines a recent initiative to streamline the permitting process for small‑scale renovations. Under the new program, homeowners who complete a short online training module and submit a digital copy of their contractor’s invoice can receive a provisional permit that is valid for 90 days. After the work is inspected, the homeowner can secure a final permit.

However, the homeowner’s case illustrates the pitfalls of this system when it is not applied retroactively. Her situation demonstrates how a homeowner can become a victim of an opaque process, where the burden of proof and responsibility falls on the individual rather than the professional who performed the work.

What Comes Next

The homeowner’s next steps remain uncertain. She is currently in the process of gathering documentation from the contractor’s records, hoping to produce evidence that permits were indeed filed and simply not recorded in the county’s system. If she succeeds, she may be able to argue for a full refund of the fines paid. If not, she faces the possibility of a new “payment‑arrangement plan” or, worse, the threat of foreclosure should the fines continue to accumulate.

For Fulton County residents who are considering upgrades or expansions, WSB‑TV’s coverage serves as a cautionary tale. The article’s accompanying links—particularly the Fulton County Building Inspection guide and the Georgia Department of Human Services program—offer valuable resources to help homeowners navigate the permitting maze before a costly mistake turns into a financial liability.