Bolthole Index

Gwinnett County, Georgia

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lilburn, Georgia

Lilburn, Georgia (in Gwinnett County) runs its own zoning ordinance1, and the city's Business Services Department is the contact for building permits2. Living in an RV in a residential district is prohibited3. Septic permits for Lilburn lots not on sewer follow Gwinnett County Health Department standards4.

At a glance

Zoning
Lilburn adopts its own zoning ordinance, with districts such as R-1, R-2 and MU1
Building permit
Handled by the City of Lilburn; call Business Services to confirm a permit is needed2
RV as a dwelling
Prohibited in residential areas3
Minimum lot size
9,000 sq ft in R-1, 5,000 sq ft in R-2 (detached homes)4
Minimum home size
1,400 sq ft heated floor area in R-15
Septic
Gwinnett County Health Department standards apply to lots not on sewer4
Owner-builder
Georgia does not require a license to build your own home; local codes still apply6

Who to call

Building permits

City of Lilburn Business Services Department (building permits)

Building permits, trade permits and inspections inside Lilburn city limits

770-921-2210

340 Main Street, Lilburn, GA 30047

Septic permits

Gwinnett Environmental Health Department (GNR Health)

Septic (onsite sewage) permits and inspections, and well-driller site review

770.963.5132

455 Grayson Hwy, Suite 600, Lawrenceville, GA 30046

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 17, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Lilburn, Georgia have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Lilburn applies its own zoning ordinance to land inside city limits, with districts that include R-1, R-2 and MU1. Gwinnett County's zoning applies only to unincorporated land, not to Lilburn7.

In R-1, a detached single-family lot must be at least 9,000 square feet, and in R-2 at least 5,000 square feet4. Minimum heated floor area is 1,400 square feet in R-15. Front setbacks from a local street are 30 feet in R-1 and 15 feet in R-2, and the side setback is 5 feet in both8. Building height tops out at 40 feet in both districts9.

Recreation vehicles may not be used as dwellings in residential areas of Lilburn3. New manufactured homes are allowed in R-1 only with conditions, including a permanent foundation and a finding that the home is substantially similar to existing development10.

Do you need a building permit in Lilburn, and who issues it?

The City of Lilburn handles building permits inside city limits, not Gwinnett County: the county's building permits cover unincorporated areas11. Before starting any project, the city asks you to call its Business Services Department at 770-921-2210 to find out whether a permit is required2.

Subcontractors such as plumbers and electricians need their own permits2. Georgia does not require a license to build your own home, but state guidance says you must still comply with local codes and regulations6. We could not confirm Lilburn's own owner-builder rules, permit fees or inspection schedule; ask Business Services.

How do septic permits work in Lilburn?

Lilburn lots that are not on sewer must meet Gwinnett County Health Department septic standards4. Georgia requires a construction permit from the County Board of Health before an onsite sewage system is built, and the permit is valid for no more than 12 months12. In Gwinnett, GNR Environmental Health requires a Level 3 soil report before permitting new systems, repairs and qualifying additions13.

Georgia also requires connection to public sewer when it is available within 200 feet of the property line14. Call the Gwinnett Environmental Health office before you buy a lot without sewer15.

Building a home in Lilburn: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district and its lot size, setback and floor-area rules with the city1.
  2. Call Business Services at 770-921-2210 to confirm the permit you need2.
  3. If the lot is not on sewer, get a Level 3 soil report and a septic permit from Gwinnett Environmental Health13.
  4. Check floodplain status: near a floodplain, the lowest floor of a new home must be at least 3 feet above base flood elevation16.
  5. Hire licensed trade subcontractors, who need their own city permits2.
  6. Pass inspections; only the local government can issue a certificate of occupancy17.

What stays with Gwinnett County, and what to check before you buy

Septic permits and well-driller site review stay with Gwinnett Environmental Health, not the city15. Land outside Lilburn city limits falls under the county's rules; see the Gwinnett County page for unincorporated land.

Gwinnett County's typical home value is about $411,190 and its effective property tax rate is about 1%1819. Lilburn sits in a densely populated county of about 2,283 people per square mile, so expect suburban lots rather than acreage20.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Lilburn's building permit fees, owner-builder rules, tiny home or accessory dwelling rules; ask the Business Services Department at 770-921-22102.
  • Rules for unincorporated Gwinnett County do not apply inside Lilburn city limits11.
  • Lots near a floodplain face elevation rules for new homes and for RVs staying on site16.

Sources

  1. Lilburn Zoning Ordinance Sec. 402 R-2 and Table 4.1 (Lilburn), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Lilburn Business Services Department (building permits) (cityoflilburn.com)
  3. Lilburn Zoning Ordinance Sec. 733 Vehicle storage (Lilburn), quoted and re-checked
  4. Lilburn Zoning Ordinance Sec. 402 R-2 and Table 4.1 (Lilburn), quoted and re-checked
  5. Lilburn Zoning Ordinance Sec. 402 R-2 and Table 4.1 (Lilburn), quoted and re-checked
  6. Residential and Commercial General Contractors Frequently Asked Questions (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Unified Development Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  8. Lilburn Zoning Ordinance Sec. 402 R-2 and Table 4.1 (Lilburn), quoted and re-checked
  9. Lilburn Zoning Ordinance Sec. 402 R-2 and Table 4.1 (Lilburn), quoted and re-checked
  10. Lilburn Zoning Ordinance Sec. 719 Manufactured/modular home (Lilburn), quoted and re-checked
  11. Building Permits Issued, quoted and re-checked
  12. Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  14. GA DPH Onsite Sewage Manual (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Gwinnett Environmental Health Department (GNR Health) (gnrhealth.com)
  16. Lilburn Code Sec. 109-77 Floodplain structures (Lilburn), quoted and re-checked
  17. dca.georgia.gov (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Population density: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 17, 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 Lilburn

Lilburn’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Lilburn city limits; Appendix A Zoning Ordinance of the city code

    • Districts named in the ordinance include R-1, R-2 and MU
    “402-3 dimensional requirements. dimensional requirements shall be as provided in table 4.1”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-1 and R-2 residential districts inside Lilburn city

    • R-1: 1,400 sq ft heated floor area
    • R-2: 800 multi-family, 1,000 cottage home, 1,400 all other dwelling types

    R-1 minimum heated floor area: >= 1400 sq ft · R-2 minimum heated floor area (detached/other): >= 1400 sq ft (800 multi-family, 1,000 cottage home)

    “minimum heated floor area per dwelling unit (square feet) 1,400 800 (multi-family) 1,000 (cottage home) 1,400 (all other dwelling types)”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Detached single-family lots in R-1 (9,000 sq ft) and R-2 (5,000 sq ft) inside Lilburn city

    • Minimum lot width 80 ft (R-1), 50 ft (R-2)
    • Minimum lot depth 120 ft (R-1), 100 ft (R-2)
    • Lots not on sewer must meet Gwinnett County Health Department septic standards

    R-1 minimum lot size: >= 9000 sq ft · R-2 minimum lot size: >= 5000 sq ft

    “minimum lot size, detached single-family dwelling (square feet) 9,000 5,000”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Principal dwellings in R-1 and R-2 inside Lilburn city

    • Side on collector/state road: 30 ft R-1, 20 ft R-2
    • Rear: 30 ft R-1, 20 ft R-2
    • Accessory buildings: side 5 ft, rear 5 ft

    R-1 front setback, local street: >= 30 ft · R-2 front setback, local street: >= 15 ft · Front setback, collector/state road (both): >= 50 ft · Side setback (both): >= 5 ft

    “front, local street (feet from r/w) 30 15 front, collector/state road (feet from r/w) 50 50 side (feet) 5 5 side, collector/state road (feet from r/w) 30 20 rear (feet) 30 20”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 and R-2 residential districts inside Lilburn city

    • Same 40 ft limit in both districts

    maximum height R-1 and R-2: <= 40 ft

    “building height requirements maximum height (feet) 40 40”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    RVs used as dwellings in residential zoning districts inside Lilburn city

    • RVs must be parked on approved surfaces in side or rear yard
    • No RV parking or storage on vacant residential lot
    “recreation vehicles shall not be used or operated in residential areas as dwellings.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured/modular homes in R-1 district inside Lilburn city

    • Must be a new manufactured home
    • Permanent foundation with enclosed underpinning
    • Must comply with local design standards for the R-1 district
    • Thermally equivalent to state energy code
    • Transported on truck bed; towing devices and hitches removed
    • Landing at least 36 by 48 inches at each exterior door
    • Approval requires finding of substantial similarity to existing development
    “manufactured and/or pre-fabricated modular homes, as defined in article 14, definitions, are permitted in the r-1 zoning district subject to the following conditions:”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Conservation subdivisions in R-1/R-2 inside Lilburn city

    • Requires special use permit from mayor and council after planning commission recommendation and public hearing
    • Requires access to public sanitary sewer
    • General subdivision regulations are in Development Regulations (not opened)
    “a conservation subdivision single-family development may be overlaid upon r-1 and r-2 districts, with access to public sanitary sewer, provided that applicant for such a development is granted a special use permit by the mayor and council of the city after receiving recommendations from the city planner and planning commission and after a public hearing.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    New or substantially improved principal residential buildings adjacent to floodplain inside Lilburn city

    • Lowest floor at least 3 ft above base flood elevation or 1 ft above future conditions flood elevation, whichever is highest
    • RVs on site must be under 180 consecutive days and highway-ready, or meet residential anchoring/elevation requirements (Sec. 109-83)

    lowest floor above base flood elevation: >= 3 ft (or 1 ft above future conditions flood elevation, whichever is highest)

    “for new construction or substantial improvement of any principal residential building or manufactured home, the elevation of the lowest floor, including basement and access to the building, shall be at least three feet above the level of the highest base flood (100-year) elevation adjacent to the building or at least one foot above the future conditions flood elevation whichever is highest.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits inside Lilburn city
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Lilburn city
  • Building code adopted — Building codes inside Lilburn city
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Lilburn city
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Lilburn city
13 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 Lilburn publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Gwinnett County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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