Karyn Smith

Kirby Bowron ~ Supervisor 706-439-6039

Union County Criteria for Building Permits

Purposes of Permits
Purposes for obtaining permits are: to insure fair and equal taxation, to see that any environmental laws or local ordinances are not violated by construction and to insure that state and local construction guidelines are followed.

Union County will require a building permit for all construction projects that either (1) alter the existing footprint of a structure, (2), require water/sewer or electricity connections.

Examples of projects which require a permit include but are not limited to:
a. Commercial buildings
b. Residential buildings
c. Location of a mobile home
d. Location of a travel trailer used as a full time, seasonal or part time residence
e. Garage
f. Carport
g. Completion of any unfinished areas within a residence or building
h. Boat docks
Examples of projects which do NOT require a permit include but are not limited to:
a. Roofing material change
b. Exterior siding change
c. Replacement of floor covering
d. Painting
e. Wallpapering
f. Sidewalks or driveways

Mobile Homes
Union County requires anyone who is moving a mobile home within or into the County, for any reason, to obtain a Building Permit. Mobile homes over seven years old will not be allowed into the County.

Electrical hookups to structures
When applying for new power service, Union County requires Blue Ridge Mountain EMC insure that the building owner has both a building permit and septic permit.

Septic Permit requirement
Union County requires that all Building Permit applicants, who have sanitary facilities in their building, to obtain a septic permit from the Union County Health Department.

Culvert inspection
Union County requires property owners, who are constructing a road or driveway, to obtain a Culvert Permit from the Union County Road Department if the road or driveway in question connects directly with a county maintained road. A 911 address will not be issued until the driveway is established.

Permit duration
Building Permits are only valid for the period of one year, after which a new permit is required.

Penalties for violating the Union County Building Permit Ordinance #0-98-002
Any person violating any provisions of this Ordinance shall be guilty of violating a duly adopted ordinance of Union County and upon conviction such a violation shall be punishable as a misdemeanor, pursuant to O.C.G.A.s 15-10-60, subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000 and subject to imprisonment for no more than 60 days or both, except as otherwise provided by general law, or by subsequent amendment of O.C.G.A.s 15-10-60. O.C.G.A.s 15-10-60, et seq, shall govern the trial of any violation of this ordinance and any violation of this ordinance may be tried upon citation as contemplated by O.C.G.A.s 15-10-63. Each day during which the violation or failure or refusal to comply continues shall constitute a separate violation.

Location, Location! Blairsville, GA is located in Union County in north central Georgia, approximately two hours driving time from Atlanta GA, Chattanooga TN and Asheville, NC. Union County is about 322 square miles, its 204,736 acres is 48% within the Chattahoochee National Forest, making it a pristine and fantastic place to live or visit.

Elevations range from 1600 to 4784 feet above sea level. Blairsville is home of Georgia's highest point, Brasstown Bald. The climate is great. Winters here are generally moderate allowing for outdoor activities with an average 2-3 light snowfalls a year. The mountains come to life in the spring with an array of greens and beautiful flowers. Summer brings cool mornings and warm days. The lush landscape and moderate climate lends itself to swimming, golf, tennis, whitewater rafting, hiking, horseback riding and more. Fall brings out the beauty of the mountains painting the area with a shimmer of red and gold when the leaves change. The mornings are crisp and clear with warm days and cool evenings. Fall is a season you don't want to miss in the North Georgia Mountains!

If you are in the Blue Ridge, GA area, make sure to visit the Blue Ridge Community Theatre located at 11 Mountain Street Blue Ridge, GA 30513. For more information, please call 706-632-9223 or visit www.BlueRidgeCommunityTheatre.com They put on great shows in one of the most beautiful areas of the North Georgia Mountains.

Lake Nottely is an absoultely gorgeous lake located in the North Georgia Mountains (Blairsville, GA). Construction of Lake Nottely began on July 17, 1971 and was completed on January 14, 1942. The lake consists of 4,180 acres with a majority of the shoreline being US Forest Service land. It is 20 miles long with 106 miles of shoreline. The average summer water elevation is 1776 (full pool). Nottely is well known as a great fishing destination, especially for those looking to catch striped bass. It's also an excellent place for water skiing, wake boarding, tubing and all types of water activities.

When you have guests, you want them to feel welcome and comfortable (well....most of the time! and you probably don't want to give up your bed either).

So whether you have just enough bedrooms and beds for your immediate family or are prepared to host a whole crowd at any moment, here are some tips for increasing sleep space.

ONE ROOM: Attics or rooms with eaves work great as areas to fill with beds: bunk beds, twin beds, double beds or poster beds. Buildings that are separate from your home can work too, becoming a bunk room that's perfect for kids and their friends. Bunk beds with a full size mattress at the bottom and a single up top can give you flexibility so you could even sleep a family of 3. Colorful blankets and quilts can be used to provide the finishing touch to any bed, but they can look great as decor when not in use. You can hang them on the wall or railing or roll them up and display them in some decorative baskets.

TEMPORARY: Use your den or office as a location for inflatable mattresses and cots. They are much more comfortable than they used to be and can be stored easily when not in use.

HIDE-AWAY BEDS: Got limited space? Try a Murphy or trundle bed. Sleeper sofas and futons work well too, just remember to add some extra support or cushioning.

Sharing Bathrooms too?

Try buying several single sets of towels in different colors so that each guest can have their own color-coded set. Make an "in-use" sign to hang on the door so that there are no accidental walk-ins! You can also try scheduling shower time with a sign-up board and provide a small container for each guest to keep his or her toiletries in.