Georgia, Cherokee County and four towns
What the offices say before water damage work starts near Ball Ground
State law, one county's permit pages and four town halls, gathered in one place. Where a page says nothing about water damage repairs, this one says so and names the number to phone.
Who Georgia lets do the work
Georgia's contractor law, section 43-41-17 of the Official Code, bars anyone from residential or commercial general contracting without a license. It also makes the contracts of an unlicensed person unenforceable, with listed exceptions. The Secretary of State's contractor FAQ lists four kinds of state license: General Contractor, Residential-Basic, Residential-Light Commercial and Limited Tier. It also says some specialty trades are outside the licensing requirement, as is a job costing under $2,500. Whether a given water damage job crosses any of those lines is a question for the state office; neither page settles it.
Checking a name with the state
The state's contractor FAQ sends people to verify.sos.ga.gov, where a license can be looked up. The search form says to enter data in any field and it will search with whatever you give it. A name that does not come up is worth a question to the contractor about which license type applies and under what number. License details come from the contractor on the call, and the state search is how to check them.
Ball Ground City Hall: what its page covers
Ball Ground's building page says the city issues building permits inside the city limits and takes applications by email to a named contact. Inspection requests go through City Hall at 770-735-2123; a request that comes in before 2:00 p.m. gets a next-day attempt, the page says. It does not say whether repairs, water heaters or plumbing need a permit, and it names no contractor license requirement. City Hall is at 215 Valley Street, Ball Ground, GA 30107, open weekdays from nine to five, holidays excepted.
Cherokee County, outside the city limits
Cherokee County's service-permit page is written for plumbers, electricians and HVAC contractors who hold Georgia licenses and work in the unincorporated county. A permit comes before the work. One exception: an urgent job such as a broken water heater at night may start first, followed by a permit as soon as possible and a final inspection. The fee listed is $50.00, and the county has taken no cash since 1 January 2026. The Development Service Center number on the page is (770) 721-7810.
Renovations, basements and the inspection clock
The county's residential permit page names renovation work, additions, basement finishes and detached structures of 200 square feet or more among the jobs that need a permit. Wallpapering, painting, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and counter tops are listed as exempt. Repairs after water damage are not mentioned, and the page invites questions by email or at (770) 721-7810. Per the county's inspections sheet (headed 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton, GA 30114), a request that arrives before 5:00 in the afternoon is scheduled for the following business day.
Nelson: one city, two counties
The Georgia Municipal Association lists Nelson in Cherokee and Pickens counties, with City Hall at 1985 Kennesaw Avenue, Nelson, GA 30151 and the phone (770) 735-2211. The city's website, nelsongeorgia.com, lists business licenses, code enforcement, municipal court, sanitation account setup, payments and zoning, with a mailing box at PO Box 100. It describes no building or water procedures. Pickens County Government lists 706-253-8809 and names Nelson among its municipalities.
Waleska and Holly Springs: thin pages, real phone numbers
Waleska City Hall sits at 8891 Fincher Rd., Waleska, GA 30183, and answers at 770-479-2912, weekdays 8:30 to 4:30 by the clock on its page. After hours, the contact page tells callers to dial 911 for any emergency. Its site map shows no sewer, permit or building pages, and its leak-adjustment page was empty when read.
Holly Springs lists City Hall at 770-345-5536 and a mailing address of P.O. Box 990, Holly Springs, GA 30142. Its home page links to permits and applications, but the pages behind the link did not load, so no rule or fee from Holly Springs is quoted anywhere here.
Septic, sewer and flood-map phone lines
Cherokee County sends septic questions to the North Georgia Health District, 770-479-0444, whose Environmental Health office handles septic permits and evaluations. Its utilities FAQ names the Cherokee County Water and Sewer Authority, 770-479-1813, for unincorporated water and sewer and says cities run their own departments.
For flood maps, the county's floodplain page says FEMA revised its maps on 7 June 2019. It links an online map and the Georgia EPD flood map at georgiadfirm.com. It lists 678-493-6074 for floodplain inquiries and 678-493-6077 for the County Engineer.
If an insurer is involved
The NAIC's guide to homeowners claims asks you to check your deductible, photograph or film the damage, list what was damaged, keep receipts and tell the insurer promptly. Georgia's Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner listed consumer services at 1-800-656-2298 and (404) 656-2070, Monday through Friday, 8 to 5 Eastern, in an October 2020 notice. What a policy covers is not stated on either page; the policy wording and the insurer settle that.
Who to phone in each place
| Place | Office | Phone | What its pages say |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball Ground | City Hall, 215 Valley Street, 30107 | 770-735-2123 | Issues building permits inside the city limits and takes inspection requests by phone; silent on repairs and water heaters |
| Unincorporated Cherokee County | Development Service Center | (770) 721-7810 | Service permits for plumbers, electricians and HVAC contractors; residential permits for renovations and basement finishes; silent on water damage repairs |
| Nelson | City Hall, 1985 Kennesaw Avenue, 30151 | (770) 735-2211 | Lists business licenses, code enforcement, court, sanitation accounts and zoning; no building or water procedures |
| Waleska | City Hall, 8891 Fincher Rd., 30183 | 770-479-2912 | After hours, call 911 for any emergency; site map shows no sewer, permit or building pages |
| Holly Springs | City Hall, P.O. Box 990, 30142 | 770-345-5536 | Home page links to permits and applications; the pages behind the link did not load |
| Septic tanks | North Georgia Health District, Environmental Health | 770-479-0444 | Septic permits and evaluations |
| Water and sewer outside any city | Cherokee County Water and Sewer Authority | 770-479-1813 | Named in the county's utilities FAQ; cities run their own departments |
Not sure which office applies?
Call (678) 899-6694, name the town and the wet room, and the contractor can talk through which paperwork, if any, the repair brings in.