Getting a PE Stamp in Atlanta, GA: Process, Portal, and Timeline

Our PE stamp process in Atlanta follows the same sequence on every project. First, the licensed Georgia PE reviews the design in their discipline — performing the calculations or auditing the calculations provided, checking code compliance against the adopted codes with Georgia's amendments, and coordinating with the other disciplines. Second, the PE marks required revisions: anything undersized, uncoordinated, or non-compliant goes back for correction. Third, the revisions are verified — not assumed — and only then does the PE sign, seal, and date the documents. The sealed package is then submitted through the ACA portal to the Office of Buildings. This sequence is what the seal certifies, and it is why we never seal drawings we have not genuinely reviewed.

Three phases determine the schedule: our engineering review, the city's first-cycle review, and corrections. The engineering review length depends on project complexity and how complete the design is when it reaches us — a well-developed set moves faster than one needing rework. The Office of Buildings' review commonly takes several weeks, varying with permit volume. And nearly every project gets at least one correction cycle, which we treat as normal rather than a failure. The schedule-killer is an incomplete first submittal: missing calculations or uncoordinated disciplines generate correction notices that restart the city's clock. We submit once, completely, and we answer corrections with precision so the second cycle is the last.

Engage the PE early and the process stays smooth. This is what we ask for before our review begins. • Confirm the AHJ is the City of Atlanta Office of Buildings via parcel jurisdiction • Identify which disciplines require sealing: structural, MEP, civil, or a combination • Assemble the review package: drawings, calculations, geotechnical report, energy compliance • Verify the sealing engineer holds a current Georgia PE license • Allow time for the responsible-charge review and any required revisions before submittal • Plan the schedule for several weeks of city review plus at least one correction cycle