The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) Building Permits & Inspections Department (BPI) has launched a new online portal for submitting most permit applications, attaching required documentation, and paying associated fees. The portal is now live and can be accessed through the department’s website at www.accgov.com/build.

Customers can continue to visit the BPI office at 120 West Dougherty Street and submit paper applications, if preferred, until the end of September. Starting October 1, 2026, all permit submittals to BPI must be made through the online system and paper applications will no longer be accepted. Computers will be available at the department office in the coming weeks for use by customers to submit applications and requests through the portal with assistance from staff. 

The transition to the Clariti digital system is intended to reduce processing times, cut down on paperwork, and give applicants greater visibility into where their permit stands at every stage of review. The system is also used by ACCGov’s Planning Department and Transportation and Public Works Department for better collaboration and process flow between departments.

The portal allows residents, contractors, and developers to: 

• Easily submit BPI permit applications online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Track the status of applications, permits, and inspections in real time 
• Upload required plans, documents, and supporting materials electronically 
• Pay fees securely online with no additional processing fees 

This portal is for BPI permit application submittals only. Applications for permits from the Planning Department and Transportation and Public Works Department should still be submitted through their processes at www.accgov.com/planning and www.accgov.com/tpw respectively. 

“We are excited about this move to a public portal for building permits and inspections,” says ACCGov Building Permits and Inspections Director Doug Hansford. “The new system will be much more convenient for customers while also allowing staff to review requests more efficiently and correspond more easily about the status of requests.”

Users must first create an account with an email and password to get started. Once an account is created, applicants can access permit applications, upload required documentation, and submit payment via credit or debit card. Customers can also save contact information and documents for future submittals. 

A link to the portal, which includes instructions for creating an account and submitting applications, is available at www.accgov.com/build.

For questions about the new portal, contact the ACCGov Building Permits and Inspections Department at 706-613-3520, www.accgov.com/build, or [email protected].