Bolthole Index

Clayton County, Georgia

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Riverdale, Georgia

Riverdale, Georgia handles residential building permits through the city’s Building and Permitting Division, while city zoning controls land use inside city limits.12 Riverdale is in Clayton County, whose Office of Environmental Services handles septic permits and inspections.3 Living or sleeping in an RV parked or stored on a Riverdale lot is prohibited.4

At a glance

Building permits
City Building and Permitting Division; online applications15
Zoning
City zoning; confirm the parcel’s district and permitted use26
Septic
County Board of Health construction permit and final approval78
RV living
Prohibited in RVs parked or stored on a lot4
Minimum home size
R-1: 1,600 sq ft heated; R-2: 1,400 sq ft heated910
Minimum lot area
R-1: 20,000 sq ft; R-2: 10,000 sq ft1112

Who to call

Building permits

Riverdale Building and Permitting Division

City building permit issuance, plan review and inspections

770.909.5486

971 Wilson Road Riverdale, GA 30296

Zoning

Riverdale Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development

City zoning administration and land development review

770-909-5472

planning@riverdalega.gov

971 Wilson Rd Riverdale, GA 30296

Septic permits

Clayton County Health District Office of Environmental Services

Septic and well-water questions; septic permitting and inspections

678.610.7469

1117 Battle Creek Rd

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Riverdale means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Who issues building permits in Riverdale, and how do you apply?

Contact Riverdale’s Building and Permitting Division at 770.909.5486 or visit 971 Wilson Road Riverdale, GA 30296 for city building permit questions.1 Riverdale directs applicants to submit completed applications online and upload a current property survey, required dimensioned site-plan drawings, contractor credentials and the property owner’s affidavit; additional documents may be required.5 For zoning questions, Riverdale Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development lists 770-909-5472 and the general email planning@riverdalega.gov.13 Septic questions go separately to Clayton County Environmental Services at 678.610.7469.3

Does Riverdale have zoning, minimum lot sizes and home-size rules?

Riverdale has city zoning, and use approval can depend on development standards or a Special Land Use Permit.2 Riverdale’s R-1 district requires a minimum lot area of 20,000 square feet and minimum heated floor area of 1,600 square feet.119 Riverdale’s R-2 district requires a minimum lot area of 10,000 square feet and minimum heated floor area of 1,400 square feet.1210 Impervious surfaces may occupy no more than 30% of an R-1 lot or 35% of an R-2 lot.1415 Ask city zoning to confirm the parcel’s district, setbacks and proposed layout before choosing a house plan.13

How do septic permits work inside Riverdale?

Clayton County Health District’s Office of Environmental Services administers septic permits and performs inspections for new and existing septic systems; contact Environmental Services separately from Riverdale’s building office.163 Georgia requires the County Board of Health to find the site suitable before issuing a septic construction permit, and repairs, replacements and additions also require permits and inspections.7 Final inspection and written approval are required before backfilling or using the system.8 Sewer availability can change the plan: Georgia requires connection when public or community sewer is available within 200 feet of the property line or in an abutting public right-of-way.17

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Riverdale?

Riverdale prohibits using recreational vehicles for living, sleeping or housekeeping when parked or stored on a lot, or in a location not approved for that use.4 A parked RV therefore is not a lawful substitute for housing while building on a Riverdale lot.4 Site-built and modular tiny homes must comply with Georgia building codes and obtain local siting approval.18 Riverdale’s R-1 and R-2 heated-floor-area minimums constrain small-house plans in those districts.910 We could not confirm Riverdale’s accessory-dwelling or temporary-camping provisions; ask city zoning about the specific proposal.13

Building a home in Riverdale: what are the steps, in order?

  1. Ask Riverdale zoning to confirm the parcel’s district and whether the proposed use needs development-standard review or Special Land Use Permit approval.2
  2. Resolve sewer availability; if septic is proposed, obtain County Board of Health site approval and a construction permit.177
  3. Submit Riverdale’s online building permit application with the current survey, dimensioned site-plan drawings, contractor credentials and owner’s affidavit.5
  4. Pay Riverdale’s building permit fees before issuance and coordinate construction inspections with the city division.191
  5. Obtain septic final inspection and written approval before backfilling or use; ask the city which occupancy approval the home needs.820

What should you check before buying land in Riverdale?

For land outside Riverdale city limits, consult the Clayton County guide: county zoning applies to unincorporated Clayton County, while Riverdale administers city zoning.212 For a proposed well inside Riverdale, Georgia requires the well contractor to contact the local county health department in advance for site review; we could not confirm a Riverdale-specific well-construction permit requirement.22 Georgia’s owner-builder contractor-license exemption does not waive local building permits, zoning, codes or inspections; ask Riverdale’s building office about the city’s owner-builder documentation.231 For access onto a state highway, residential driveway permit applications go to the appropriate GDOT District Area Office.24

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Riverdale’s owner-builder procedure or the precise trigger for a residential certificate of occupancy; ask the city Building and Permitting Division before starting work or moving in.1
  • A composting toilet does not automatically remove onsite sewage approval requirements: Georgia’s alternative sanitation rules retain applicable County Board of Health permits and inspections.25
  • Riverdale’s R-1 and R-2 minimum home sizes are district-specific; ask city zoning which district governs the parcel.91013

Sources

  1. Riverdale Building and Permitting Division (riverdalega.gov)
  2. Planning and Zoning Administration (Riverdale), quoted and re-checked
  3. Clayton County Health District Office of Environmental Services (claytoncountypublichealth.org)
  4. riverdalega.gov (Riverdale), quoted and re-checked
  5. Building and Permitting Services (Riverdale), quoted and re-checked
  6. Planning and Zoning Administration (Riverdale), quoted and re-checked
  7. Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Riverdale Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Sec. 3.1.3.5 (Riverdale), quoted and re-checked
  10. Riverdale Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Sec. 3.1.4.5 (Riverdale), quoted and re-checked
  11. Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Sec. 3.1.3.5 Development standards (Riverdale), quoted and re-checked
  12. Riverdale Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Sec. 3.1.4.5 (Riverdale), quoted and re-checked
  13. Riverdale Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development (riverdalega.gov)
  14. riverdalega.gov (Riverdale), quoted and re-checked
  15. Riverdale Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Sec. 3.1.4.5 (Riverdale), quoted and re-checked
  16. Wastewater Management, quoted and re-checked
  17. GA DPH Onsite Sewage Manual (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Georgia Tiny House Fact Sheet (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Community Development Fee Schedule (Riverdale), quoted and re-checked
  20. dca.georgia.gov (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Public Meeting Notice: Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, quoted and re-checked
  22. Water Well Standards (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Residential and Commercial General Contractors Frequently Asked Questions (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Regulations for Driveway & Encroachment Control Manual (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Riverdale

Riverdale’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Building or alteration work inside Riverdale city limits.

    • The Community Development Department must examine and approve the application for compliance with the ordinance and approved plans.
    “Any owner, authorized agent or contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change a building [...] shall first make application to the community development department and obtain the required permit for the work.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Projects for which Riverdale requires clearance or inspection reports before a building permit or certificate of occupancy.

    • The applicant certification requires any clearance(s) and/or inspection report(s) required before issuance.
    • parameters_required_by_project are not enumerated in the application excerpt.
    “I hereby agree to provide any clearance(s) and/or inspection report(s) required prior to the issuance of a Building Permit of Certificate of Occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Riverdale city limits.

    • Uses may require compliance with development standards or Special Land Use Permit approval.
    “Before setting up your business in the city, we encourage applicants to review the Use Table and Zoning Map to check the property zoning and make sure their proposed use is permitted.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts for parcels inside Riverdale city limits.

    • Applicants are directed to the city's interactive Zoning Map and Use Table.
    • Permitted uses remain subject to required development standards and, for some uses, Special Land Use Permit approval.
    “To check property zoning district, use the interactive map below: [...] To see the list of permitted uses per zoning district, use the link below:”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Recreational vehicles, campers, buses, trailers, mobile-home coaches, boats, and boat trailers parked or stored on lots inside Riverdale city limits.

    • The rule applies when the equipment is parked or stored; use may occur only in a location approved for such use.
    “No such equipment shall be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes when parked or stored on any lot, or in any location not approved for such use.”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Tiny homes classified as multifamily/condo residential uses inside Riverdale city limits.

    • The Uses Table governs by zoning district; an A means allowed and an S means allowed only if approved as a special use.
    “Multi-Family/Condos: Townhouses, Apt., Condominiums Patio, Townhome, Stacked, Tiny Homes A A* A* *As part of a mixed-use project”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision plat review inside Riverdale city limits.

    • The published fee schedule identifies preliminary and final plat review and a resubmittal fee.

    plat review fee: 350 USD (plus $5.00 per lot) · plat review resubmittal fee: 350 USD

    “Plat Review (Preliminary, Final) $350.00 + $5.00 per lot Plat Review Resubmittal $350.00”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveway work submitted through Riverdale's building permit application.

    • The building permit application identifies driveway work under commercial type of work; the accessible material did not establish a citywide driveway-access trigger for every parcel.
    “Driveway access to residential lots. 1. Driveway width. Driveways accessing a one-car garage or a single parking pad on a lot containing a single family detached dwelling shall have a maximum width of 10 feet.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals inside Riverdale city limits.

    • The city Uses Table marks short-term rentals S in listed districts; S means allowed if approved as a special use.
    • The specific district and Sec. 4.3.2.25 conditions must be verified for a parcel.
    “A = Allowed (as part of Mixed-Use development in TCMU & MU) S = Allowed if Approved as a Special Use [...] Short-term Rentals S S S Sec. 4.3.2.25”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Riverdale building permits and related Community Development applications.

    • The schedule is marked Updated 11/2023.
    • Building permit fees include a $25 application fee and three inspections.
    • Fees vary by valuation and permit type.

    building permit application fee: 25 USD (includes 3 inspections) · minimum residential permit fee: 150 USD · minimum commercial permit fee: 200 USD

    “BUILDING PERMIT FEES – ($25 Application Fee and includes 3 inspections) [...] Minimum Permit Fee: Residential $150.00 Commercial $200.00”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Commercial and residential permit applications inside Riverdale city limits.

    • Completed applications are submitted online.
    • Applicants are directed to upload current property survey, required site plan drawings with dimensions, contractor credentials, and property owners affidavit; additional documents may be required.
    “Please make sure to submit completed applications online, to make sure your permit(s) are processed quickly. Make sure to upload your current property survey, required site plan drawings with dimensions, contractor credentials, property owners affidavit (additional documents maybe required).”

Rules another office applies inside Riverdale

Riverdale does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    R-1 single-family detached residential district inside Riverdale city limits.

    • The cited table also states a 1,100-square-foot minimum ground-floor area.

    minimum heated floor area: 1600 square feet

    “Minimum Heated Floor Area 1,600 square feet Minimum Ground Floor Area 1,100 square feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots in Riverdale's R-1 single-family detached residential district.

    minimum lot area: 20000 square feet

    “Minimum Lot Area 20,000 square feet Minimum Lot Frontage 80 feet Min. Lot Width @ Building Line 100 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Lots in Riverdale's R-1 single-family detached residential district.

    • Street-side setback applies on corner lots.

    minimum front yard setback: 30 feet · minimum side yard setback: 15 feet · minimum street side setback: 20 feet (corner lots) · minimum rear yard setback: 25 feet

    “Minimum Front Yard Setback 30 feet Minimum Side Yard Setback 15 feet Minimum Street Side Setback 20 feet Minimum Rear Yard Setback 25 feet”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Lots in Riverdale's R-1 single-family detached residential district.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent (Impervious surfaces)

    “Lot coverage: Impervious surfaces shall not occupy more than 30 percent of the lot.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Lots in Riverdale's R-1 single-family detached residential district.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet

    “Building height: Maximum building height shall be 35 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Riverdale or Clayton County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built construction inside Riverdale city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Construction inside Riverdale city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of construction inside Riverdale city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Riverdale city limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Riverdale city limits.
7 more unanswered
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Riverdale publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Clayton County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Clayton County: county rules, score and offices