Commercial Plumbing in Decatur, GA

Is our business inside the City of Decatur?

Check before you file anything. The Decatur mailing ZIPs reach well beyond city limits into unincorporated DeKalb County. A storefront on the Square or in Oakhurst is in the city; many Decatur-addressed businesses along the outer corridors are not. Inside the city, permits come from the City of Decatur's Design, Environment and Construction Division. Outside it, DeKalb County handles them. Water is DeKalb Watershed Management either way.

What does Decatur require for plumbing permits?

More than many cities. Decatur requires separate trade permits for drainage, sewer, gas, mechanical, electrical or plumbing work regardless of the job's value. All applications go through the Community Core online portal, with access arranged through [email protected], and the division works out of the Leveritt Public Works Building on Talley Street. A small restaurant water heater swap or a restroom fixture move in a Square storefront still needs one.

Does a Decatur business need backflow protection?

Yes. DeKalb's Backflow Prevention Section requires commercial and multi-family customers to install an assembly on the customer side of the meter, a reduced pressure type for high-hazard uses and a double check for low-hazard ones, and to have it tested every year. Testers may be certified through GAWP/GBPAT, ASSE, ABPA or UF TREEO. Contact the section at 404-687-4075. DeKalb owns the service line through the meter; from there to the building, it's the owner's.

A note on Decatur's older buildings

Decatur is the DeKalb County seat and one of the oldest places in the metro. Its median home dates to 1975, and about 22.7% of units were built in 1939 or earlier. Commercial buildings around the Square and in older neighborhoods can still have cast iron drains, galvanized supply lines and decades of add-ons. DeKalb's 'Check your line' service line inventory lets owners see whether their service line is listed as lead or galvanized, which is a good starting point before renovating. When a plumber is already opening a ceiling or wall in one of these buildings, ask what else looks close to failing; replacing a corroded shutoff or a section of drain while access is open usually costs less than a second visit. Restaurants on the Square should also ask about the grease line, since older drain pipe narrows faster.