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Survey, Permit & Construction Coordination

We bridge the gap between architectural designs and legal, physical construction — managing land boundaries, securing municipal approvals, and syncing contractor schedules so your fieldwork complies with Atlanta code every step of the way.

The Challenge

Projects stall in the middle.

Most projects don’t fail at design or at construction — they stall in the complicated middle: surveys, site plans, permits, city review comments, and inspections.

Owners rarely know what the city is actually asking for, which professional needs to respond, or how to keep the paperwork moving. One missed step can mean weeks of delay — or a posted Stop Work Order.

Our Approach

We keep the paperwork moving.

Beale & Co. coordinates the documents, professionals, and communication required to advance a project through planning, permitting, and construction — so nothing sits waiting on the wrong person’s desk.

We organize the surveys, submit the plans, manage correction cycles with the city, and sequence inspections and fieldwork so your build stays legal and on schedule from boundary stake to final occupancy.

Three stages, fully managed.

From establishing the property lines to the final occupancy inspection, every regulated step is organized, tracked, and kept in the right sequence.

01 Survey Coordination

Boundary Surveys

Establishing legal property lines, easements, and rights-of-way so you never encroach on neighboring land.

Topographic Surveys

Mapping elevation changes, slopes, existing structures, trees, and utility locations across the site.

As-Built Surveys

Documenting the exact layout of existing buildings during a renovation to confirm they match old blueprints.

Utility Locating

Coordinating with local networks to mark underground gas, water, electric, and sewer lines before digging.

02 Permit Coordination

Plan Submission

Organizing and submitting architectural, structural, electrical, and plumbing blueprints to the city building department.

Zoning & Variance Management

Presenting to local zoning boards when a design needs exceptions for height, setbacks, or historic-preservation rules.

Correction Cycles

Reviewing plan-checker feedback, coordinating fixes with the architect or drafter, and resubmitting revisions.

Fee Administration

Calculating and processing municipal impact fees, utility connection costs, and building permit fees.

03 Construction Coordination

Schedule Integration

Building master timelines that sync material deliveries with subcontractor arrivals to eliminate downtime.

Inspection Scheduling

Booking mandatory inspectors at critical milestones — foundation, framing, rough-in, and final occupancy.

Site Logistics

Planning machinery access, safe material storage, and roll-off dumpster and waste-management cycles.

Quality Assurance

Reviewing ongoing fieldwork against the approved permitted plans to confirm crews build exactly what the city authorized.

Got a red tag? Let’s get you back to work.

A Stop Work Order (SWO) is an official notice from the City of Atlanta requiring construction to halt immediately. Fines can reach up to $1,000, and unpermitted work may have to be removed. We move fast to identify the violation, fix it, and clear you to restart — many cases resolve within about 30 days.

No permit. Starting construction, framing, or major repairs before the official permit card is issued.
Scope creep. Performing work that goes beyond what the active permit allows.
Zoning / land use. Using a property for unapproved commercial or residential activity.
Safety / environmental. Failing erosion controls such as silt fencing.

1

Identify the violation. We read the posted notice and contact the assigned inspector or department right away.

2

Apply for proper review. We submit the correct building or light-commercial permit applications. (Atlanta does not allow the Express Permit process to clear an active SWO.)

3

Correct & re-inspect. We coordinate the physical or administrative fix, pass required re-inspections, and process any pending fines before work restarts.

Third-Party Inspector Access

The City accepts registered, licensed third-party inspectors for structural framing, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC sign-offs and remediation certification. If the city can’t schedule its own inspector within two business days of your formal request, you may typically proceed with an approved private professional — a powerful way to keep momentum.

Blueprint & CAD Drafting Coordination

When the city’s plan checkers need revisions, we coordinate CAD drafters to convert designs and engineering notes into precise, code-compliant technical drawings — architectural, structural, electrical, plumbing, and civil — so correction cycles close fast instead of dragging on.

Order in the messy middle.

Survey coordination — boundary, topographic, as-built, and utility locating.

Plan submission to the city building department across all trades.

Zoning & variance management before boards for setbacks, height, or historic rules.

Correction-cycle handling with architects, drafters, and plan checkers.

Permit & impact-fee administration so nothing gets held up over paperwork.

Master schedule integration syncing deliveries, subs, and inspections.

Inspection scheduling at every mandatory milestone.

Site logistics — machinery access, storage, and waste cycling.

Quality assurance against the approved permitted plans.

Stop Work Order resolution and third-party inspector coordination.

For anyone tangled in city requirements.

Homeowners

Facing confusing city requirements, permit delays, or a posted violation on a project.

Investors & Developers

Renovating or building and needing local coordination to keep entitlements moving.

Contractors

Needing reliable owner-side coordination on surveys, permits, and inspection timing.

Stop Work Order Cases

Property owners who’ve been red-tagged and need to correct violations and restart fast.

Out-of-Town Owners

Managing an Atlanta property remotely who need boots-on-the-ground coordination.

Community Operators

Managing multiple stakeholders and needing compliance handled across several properties.

We speak the city’s language.

Permitting and coordination feel intimidating because the rules aren’t written for property owners. We translate them — and keep every professional pointed in the same direction.

Local fluency in Atlanta zoning, the Office of Buildings, and inspection sequencing.

Fast, organized Stop Work Order response when every day of downtime costs money.

Access to registered third-party inspectors to keep momentum when the city is backed up.

Digital document tracking so you always know where the project stands.

Permits & SWOs, answered.

Dealing with something time-sensitive? 404-594-4798.

What is a Stop Work Order in Atlanta?

A Stop Work Order (SWO) is an official notice from the city requiring construction to halt immediately. Common triggers include building without a permit, working beyond the approved permit scope, zoning violations, or safety and erosion-control failures. Fines can reach up to $1,000, and unpermitted work may have to be removed.

How do you help lift a Stop Work Order?

We identify the exact violation on the posted notice, contact the assigned inspector, submit the correct permit applications, coordinate the fixes, schedule re-inspections, and process any fines. Note the City of Atlanta does not allow the Express Permit process to clear an active Stop Work Order.

What surveys does a project need before construction?

Most projects need a boundary survey to confirm legal property lines and easements, a topographic survey to map elevation and utilities, and — for renovations — an as-built survey to document existing conditions. Utility locating marks underground gas, water, electric, and sewer lines.

Can I use a third-party inspector in Atlanta?

Yes. The Atlanta Department of City Planning accepts registered, licensed third-party inspectors for structural framing, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC sign-offs. If the city can’t schedule its own inspector within two business days of your formal request, you may typically proceed with an approved private professional.

Does Beale & Co. pull permits or do the inspections itself?

We coordinate the process — organizing surveys, submitting plans, managing correction cycles, and scheduling municipal or registered third-party inspectors. Licensed surveyors, engineers, and inspectors perform the regulated work.

How do I report illegal construction near me?

Illegal or unpermitted construction can be reported to the Atlanta Department of City Planning code enforcement team. We can help you understand the process and what to document.

Get your project unstuck.

Whether you’re starting a survey or staring at a red tag, tell us where things stand. We’ll map the next step — and for urgent Stop Work Orders, call us directly.