Atlanta City Zoning Code
SECTION 20
ZONING DISTRICT PURPOSES AND PROHIBITED USES
§ 20.01 A-E Agricultural and Estate District.
A.
The Agricultural and Estate District is designed to accommodate agricultural and rural activities that are frequently found in less-developed areas of the city and on the fringe of the developing areas in the city. It is also an area in which future development might occur. It is intended that this district be used to hold agricultural and rural land in those uses as long as is practical, reasonable, and economical; have as permitted uses certain activities which are normally expected to take place in a rural or urban-fringe area; and be identified as an area in which the zoning may be changed in the future to accommodate urban development.
B.
Prohibited Uses:
1.
Any building erected or land used for other than one or more of the uses specified as permitted in this District in Section 21.
2.
On- and off-premise signs, portable signs, animated or illuminated signs, except as permitted in Section 22.
3.
Any use of property that does not meet the yard, lot, and area requirements as specified in Section 23.
(Ordinance 2017-001 adopted 2/20/17)
§ 20.02 R-1 Single-Family Detached Residential District.
A.
The R-1 Single-Family Detached Residential District is established to provide sufficient space in appropriate locations for residential development to meet the present and future housing needs of the City, with allowance for a diversity of sites. The District is also established for the following additional purposes:
1.
To protect residential areas against pollution, environmental hazards, and other objectionable influences.
2.
To protect residential areas, as far as possible, against heavy and through traffic.
3.
To protect residential areas against congestion, as far as possible, by managing the density of population in and around them; by providing for off-street parking spaces; and by providing open areas for rest and recreation and to break the monotony of continuous building bulk, thus providing a more desirable environment for urban living.
4.
To provide for privacy and access of light and air to windows as far as possible, through controls over the spacing and height of buildings and other structures.
5.
To promote the most desirable use of land and direction of building development in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan and not in conflict with the adopted policies of the city; to promote stability of residential development, to protect the character of the district; to conserve the value of land and buildings; and to protect the City’s tax base.
6.
To promote the most efficient use of City facilities and services.
B.
Prohibited Uses:
1.
Any building erected on land used for other than one or more of the uses specified as permitted in this District in Section 21.
2.
On- and off-premise signs, portable signs, animated or illuminated signs, except as permitted in Section 22.
3.
Any use of property that does not meet the required minimum yard, lot, and area requirements specified in Section 23.
(Ordinance 2017-001 adopted 2/20/17)
§ 20.03 R-2 Attached, Duplex, Triplex, Quadraplex Residential District.
A.
The Attached, Duplex, Triplex, Quadraplex Residential District is established to manage the density of population and to provide adequate space and site diversification for medium density residential development where adequate streets and other community facilities are available for present and future needs. This District is also established for the following additional purposes:
1.
To protect residential areas against pollution, environmental hazards, and other objectionable influences.
2.
To protect residential areas, as far as possible, against heavy traffic.
3.
To manage the density of population and protect against congestion by providing for off-street parking spaces and by requiring the provision of open space in residential areas in order to open areas for rest and recreation and to break the monotony of continuous building bulk, thus providing a more desirable environment for urban living.
4.
To provide for privacy and access of light and air to windows, as far as possible, through controls over the spacing and height of buildings and other structures.
5.
To promote the most desirable use of land and direction of building development in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan and not in conflict with the adopted policies of the City; to promote stability of development; to protect the character in the district; to conserve the value of land and buildings; and to protect the City’s tax base.
6.
To promote the most efficient use of City’s facilities and services.
B.
Prohibited Uses:
1.
Any building erected or land used for other than one (1) or more of the uses specified as permitted in this District in Section 21.
2.
On- and off-premise signs, portable signs, animated or illuminated signs, except as permitted in Section 22.
3.
Any use of property that does not meet the minimum yard[,] lot, and area requirements as specified in Section 23.
(Ordinance 2017-001 adopted 2/20/17)
§ 20.08 MF Multifamily Residential District.
A.
The Multifamily Residential District is established to manage the density of population and to provide adequate space and site diversification for higher density residential development in which adequate streets and other community facilities are available for present and future needs. This District is also established for the following additional purposes:
1.
To protect residential areas against pollution, environmental hazards, and other objectionable influences.
2.
To protect residential areas, as far as possible, against heavy traffic.
3.
To manage the density of population and protect against congestion by providing for off-street parking spaces; by requiring the provision of open space in residential areas in order to open areas for rest and recreation; to break the monotony of continuous building bulk, thus providing a more desirable environment for urban living.
4.
To provide for privacy and access of light and air to windows, as far as possible, through controls over the spacing and height of buildings and other structures.
5.
To promote the most desirable use of land and direction of building development in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan and not in conflict with the adopted policies of the city; to promote stability of development; to protect the character of the district; to conserve the value of land and buildings; and to protect the City’s tax base.
6.
To promote the most efficient use of City facilities and services.
B.
Prohibited Uses:
1.
Any building erected or land used for other than one (1) or more of the uses specified as permitted in this District in Section 21.
2.
On and off-premise signs, portable signs, animated or illuminated signs except as erected in compliance with the Sign Ordinance to identify the multifamily development on the same property as the sign, and except as permitted in Section 22.
3.
Any use of property that does not meet the minimum yard, lot, and area requirements as specified in Section 23.
(Ordinance 2017-001 adopted 2/20/17)
§ 20.09 MH Mobile Home District.
A.
The Mobile Home District is established to provide adequate space and site diversification for residential purposes designed to accommodate the design criteria unique to mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and manufactured houses. This District is also established for the following additional purposes:
1.
To protect against pollution, environmental hazards, and other objectionable influences.
2.
To provide adequately for vehicular and pedestrian circulation.
3.
To promote housing densities appropriate to and compatible with existing and proposed public support facilities.
4.
To promote the most desirable use of land and direction of building development in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan, to promote stability of development; to protect the character of the district; to conserve the value of land and buildings; and to protect the City’s tax base.
B.
Prohibited Uses:
1.
Any building or land used for other than one (1) or more of the uses specified as permitted in this District in Section 21.
2.
No more than one mobile home or recreational vehicle may occupy any approved space.
3.
Any use of property that does not meet the yard, lot, and area, requirements as specified in Section 23.
(Ordinance 2017-001 adopted 2/20/17)
§ 20.11 C-1 Office and Restricted Business District.
A.
The Office and Restricted Business District is established to provide for certain specific business activities that generally would not be viewed as offensive in areas in transition from residential use to business use along more heavily traveled streets. These business activities do not necessarily include neighborhood-oriented businesses. The permitted activities in this district are restricted to businesses which normally do not generate heavy or excessive traffic, which normally do not have late hours of operation, and which normally do not cause or create excessive noise, trash, or glare from lights. Because this district is specifically designed to be used in areas which are a transition between businesses and residences or between major thoroughfares or heavily traveled streets and residences, the businesses in this district should lend themselves well to being located in structures which were originally built as residences on property which was originally divided for residential use. A primary purpose of this district is to allow property to be converted to business use in recognition of the demands of the marketplace in as unobtrusive, inoffensive, and safe a manner as possible so that the occupants of properties which remain in residential use may continue to enjoy a high quality undisturbed residential atmosphere until the transition is complete. In order to allow for and encourage the continuation of a high quality undisturbed residential atmosphere in and adjacent to this District, more restrictive requirements for light, air, open space, landscaping, and off-street parking are made than are provided in other business and commercial districts. It is intended that adequate off-street parking for customers and employees be provided and that appropriate landscaping and screening be provided to ensure compatibility with the surrounding residential environment. This district is also established for the following additional purposes.
(1)
To provide appropriate space for off-street parking to control traffic congestion, and to encourage business development to concentrate to the mutual advantage of consumers, merchants, and nearby residents.
(2)
To protect against fire, explosions, pollution, and environmental hazards.
(3)
To promote the most desirable uses of land and the direction of building development in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan; to promote stability of business and residential development; to strengthen the economic base of the City; to protect the character of the district; to conserve the value of land and buildings; and to protect the City’s tax base.
(4)
To promote the most efficient use of City facilities and services.
B.
Prohibited Uses.
(1)
Any building erected or land used for other than one (1) or more of the uses specified as permitted in this District in Section 21.
(2)
Off-premise signs.
(3)
Any use of property that does not meet the minimum yard, lot, and area requirement as specified in Section 23.
(4)
Any outdoor storage or display.
(5)
Temporary or portable signs, signs with flashing or intermittent lighting and signs in excess of thirty-two (32) square feet.
(Ordinance 2017-001 adopted 2/20/17)
§ 20.12 C-2 Retail Business District.
A.
The Retail Business District is established to provide sufficient space in appropriate locations with a variety of site choices for retail development and for other development requiring a higher density of commercial establishments, generally characterized by an integrated or planned cluster of establishments served by a common parking area and/or generating large volumes of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. This district is intended to be the primary district in which consumer and service oriented activities are established. This District is also established for the following additional purposes:
(1)
To protect against fire and explosions, pollution, and other environmental hazards.
(2)
To protect, as far as possible, commercial centers against traffic congestion.
(3)
To promote the most desirable uses of land and direction of building development in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan.
(4)
To promote stability of commercial development; to strengthen the economic base of the City; to protect the character of the district and its uses; to conserve the value of land and buildings; and to protect the City’s tax base.
(5)
To promote the most efficient use of City facilities and services.
B.
Prohibited Uses:
(1)
Any building erected or land used for other than one (1) or more of the uses specified as permitted in this District in Section 21.
(2)
Any use of property that does not meet the minimum yard, lot, and area requirements as specified in Section 23.
(3)
Any outdoor storage which is not screened.
(Ordinance 2017-001 adopted 2/20/17)
§ 20.13 C-3 General Business District.
A.
The General [Business] District is established to provide for the development of business and commercial establishments which could generally be considered non-offensive and to provide for appropriate locations for development of more intense and higher density business districts as might be found along major thoroughfares or in the vicinity of a major intersection with high traffic volumes. This District is also established for the following additional purposes:
(1)
To protect against fire and explosions, pollution, and other environment hazards.
(2)
To protect, as far as possible, against traffic congestion.
(3)
To promote the most desirable uses of land and the direction of building development in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan.
(4)
To promote stability of commercial development; to strengthen the economic base of the city; to protect the City’s tax base.
(5)
To promote the most efficient use of City facilities and services.
B.
Prohibited Use:
(1)
Any building erected or land used for other than one (1) or more of the uses specified as permitted in this District in Section 21.
(2)
Any use of property that does not meet the minimum yard, lot, and area requirements as specified in Section 23.
(3)
Any outdoor storage which is not screened.
(Ordinance 2017-001 adopted 2/20/17)
§ 20.14 I-1 Light Industry District.
A.
The Light Industry District is established to accommodate commercial operations, manufacturing operations, and industrial operations the external physical effects of which are generally restricted to the site occupied by a particular activity and which in no manner affect in a detrimental way any of the surrounding districts or activities. This District is generally intended for smaller scale industrial activities, clean industrial activities, and commercial activities which might be considered offensive or detrimental due to outside storage of material or generation of noise, dust, odor, or vibrations. This District is also established for the following additional purposes:
(1)
To permit, along with any specified uses, the manufacturing, compounding, processing, packaging, assembly and/or treatment of finished or semi-finished products from previously prepared material as long as such use has no adverse external effects such as noise or odor which extend beyond the property lines of the site.
(2)
To protect against fire and explosions, pollution, and other environmental hazards.
(3)
To protect, as far as possible, against congestion.
(4)
To promote the most desirable uses of land and the direction of building development in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan.
(5)
To promote stability of industrial development; to strengthen the economic base of the City; to protect the character of the district; to conserve the value of land and buildings; and to protect the City’s tax base.
(6)
To promote the most efficient use of City Facilities and services.
B.
Prohibited Uses:
(1)
Any building erected or land used for other than one (1) or more of the uses specified as permitted in this District in Section 21.
(2)
Any use of property that does not meet the minimum yard, lot, and area requirements as specified in Section 23.
(Ordinance 2017-001 adopted 2/20/17)
§ 20.15 I-2 Heavy Industry District.
A.
The Heavy Industry District is established to accommodate industrial operations the external physical effects of which are restricted to the area of the District and which in no manner affect in a detrimental way any of the surrounding districts. This District is also established for the following additional purposes.
(1)
To permit, along with any specified uses, the manufacturing, compounding, processing, packaging, assembly and/or treatment of raw materials or finished or semi-finished products.
(2)
To protect against fire and explosions, pollution, and other environmental hazards.
(3)
To protect, as far as possible, against congestion.
(4)
To promote the most desirable uses of land and direction of building development in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan.
(5)
To promote stability of industrial development; to protect the character of the district; to conserve the value of land and buildings; and to protect the City’s tax base.
(6)
To promote the most efficient use of City facilities and services.
B.
Prohibited Uses:
(1)
Those uses, which in the opinion of the Planning and Zoning Commission and/or City Council would be detrimental to the health, safety, or general welfare of the citizens of Atlanta or to adjacent development.
(2)
Any use of property that does not meet the minimum yard, lot, and area requirements as specified in Section 23.
(Ordinance 2017-001 adopted 2/20/17)
§ 20.16 PD Planned Development District.
A.
The Planned Development District is established to provide for a way of developing property which involves activities, combinations of activities, or lot requirements which are not available in the other zoning districts contained in this ordinance and to allow unique developments which will contribute to an improved quality of life in Atlanta and which cannot be accommodated in another Zoning District contained in this Ordinance. This district is also established for the following additional purposes:
(1)
To provide sufficient space in appropriate locations for types of development to meet the present and future needs of the City, with allowance for a diversity of sites. The City Council, after public hearing and proper notice to all parties affected and after recommendation from the City Planning and Zoning Commission, may authorize the creation of the following types of planned development districts anywhere within the City:
(a)
General retail shopping center on tracts of one (1) acre or more.
(b)
Housing development on tracts of one (1) acre or more, or a community unit development.
(c)
Industrial parks or districts on tracts of ten (10) acres or more.
(d)
Medical center and hospital.
(e)
Office center.
(f)
Commercial use development on tracts of one (1) acre or more.
(g)
Recreation center.
(h)
A combination of any of the developments listed in (a) through (g).
(i)
Transition districts as an extension of an existing district whereby the provision of transitional land uses, off-street parking, screening walls, open space and planting would create a protective transition between a lesser and a more restrictive district.
(2)
In establishing a planned development district in accordance with this section, the City Council shall require a comprehensive site plan of the development. Such site plan shall be approved and filed as part of the ordinance prior to the issuance of any building permit in a planned development district. Such required plan and ordinance shall establish the requirements for ingress and egress to the property, public or private streets or drives, with adequate right-of-way to conform to the thoroughfare plan of the City, sidewalks, utilities, drainage, parking space, height of building, maximum lot coverage, yards and open spaces, screening walls, or fences and other development and protective requirements considered necessary to create a reasonable transition to and protection of the adjacent property.
(3)
Every planned development district approved under the provisions of this section shall be considered as an amendment to this section as applicable to the property involved. In approving the planned development district, the City Council may impose conditions relative to the standard of development; and such conditions shall be complied with before a certificate of occupancy is issued for the use of the land or any structure which is part of the planned development district; and such conditions shall not be construed as conditions precedent to the approval of the zoning amendment, but shall be construed as conditions precedent to the granting of a certificate of occupancy.
(4)
To protect areas against pollution, environmental hazards, and other objectionable influences.
(5)
To protect areas, as far as possible, against heavy and through traffic.
(6)
To protect areas against congestion, as far as possible, by managing the density of population in and around them; by providing for off-street parking spaces; and by providing open areas for rest and recreation and to break the monotony of continuous building bulk, thus providing a more desirable environment for urban living.
(7)
To provide for privacy and access of light and air to windows, as far as possible, through controls over the spacing and height of buildings and other structures.
(8)
To promote the most desirable use of land and direction of building development in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan and not in conflict with the adopted policies of the City; to promote stability of development; to protect the character of an area; to conserve the value of land and buildings; and to protect the City’s tax base.
(9)
To promote the most efficient use of City facilities and services.
(10)
To provide sufficient space, in appropriate locations with a variety of site choices, for development requiring higher intensity, generally characterized by an integrated or planned cluster of establishments served by a common access or parking area and/or generating large volumes of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
(11)
To protect against fire and explosions, pollution, and other environmental hazards.
B.
Prohibited Uses:
(1)
In general, while it is not specifically prohibited to include any activity as a Planned Development other than those activities which are listed elsewhere in this Ordinance as prohibited in the City of Atlanta, it is intended that this district not be used as a mechanism to allow individual activities to take place which could normally be provided for in another Zoning District contained in this Ordinance.
(2)
Any use of property which is not specifically listed as permitted in the Ordinance for an individual planned development.
(Ordinance 2017-001 adopted 2/20/17)