Except as otherwise provided herein, all words shall have their customary dictionary meaning. The present tense includes the future tense. The singular number includes the plural and the plural includes the singular. The word "person" includes a firm, corporation, association, organization, trust or partnership. The word "lot" includes "plot" or "parcel". The word "building" includes any structure having a roof supported by columns, walls, or by other means, and intended for shelter, housing, or enclosure of any individual, animal, process, equipment, goods, or materials of any kind. The word "shall" is always mandatory. The word "used" or "occupied", as applied to any land or building, shall be construed to include the words "intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied". The term "erected" shall be deemed also to include "constructed", "reconstructed", "altered", "placed", or "moved". The word "land use" and "use of land" shall be deemed also to include "building use" and "use of building". The word "map" means the "Official Zoning Map of Greene County, Georgia", dated 1986, and as may be amended.

When used in this Ordinance, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning given in this Section.

Accessory building. A subordinate building, the use of which is incidental to, and reasonably related to, a main building on the same lot or to the primary use of the property. The accessory building shall be of a size and nature customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal. Accessory buildings shall not include open air structures such as gazebos, pole barns, and pavilions, provided that no such structure has constructed finished floor area exceeding two hundred (200) square feet. Signs and fences are not to be considered as accessory buildings. A "detached" accessory building shall be one that does not have a common wall, attached walkway, or roof connection with the main building on the same lot.

Accessory structure. A structure that is accessory to and incidental to that building in which is conducted the main or principal use of the lot on which said building is situated.

Accessory use. A use on the same lot with, and of a nature customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal use.

Addition. An extension or increase in floor area, number of stories or height of a building or structure.

Agriculture or agricultural. A parcel used primarily for soil-dependent cultivation of agricultural crop production, the raising of livestock excluding poultry and other Confined Animal Feeding Operations, growth of a field, or forestry, not intended for residential subdivisions.

Airport. An area of land designed and set aside for landing and take-off of aircraft, including all necessary facilities for the housing and maintenance of aircraft.

Alteration. Any construction, retrofit or renovation to an existing structure other than repair or addition that requires a permit. Also, a change in a building, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system that involves an extension, addition or change to the arrangement, type or purpose of the original installation that requires a permit.

Animal shelter. A public or private facility exclusively for the temporary housing of stray or unwanted domestic animals.

Apartment. A suite of 2 or more rooms and a bath, which is designed according to the State Minimum Standard Codes as amended from time to time, and designed or intended for occupancy by one family or one person doing its cooking therein; or, as in the case of an "efficiency" or "studio apartment," one single room that combines the bedroom, living room and kitchen, with only the bathroom being private. For zoning purposes, an apartment is regarded as a dwelling unit. A structure containing two (2) apartments is a duplex. A structure containing 3 or more apartments is a multi-family dwelling.

Applicant. Any person who applies for a rezoning action, variance, conditional use permit, sign permit, or building permit, and any attorney or other person representing or acting on behalf of a person who applies for the same.

Assisted living home. See Personal care home.

Automobile repair garage. An establishment for performing vehicle repair and maintenance, including but not limited to, brakes, oil changes, lubrication, transmission, engine, belts, hoses, inspections, and tire mounting and installation.

Automotive sales lot. Storage and display for sale of automobiles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, or other motorized vehicles. Motorized vehicles for sale will typically be stored outside. All other activities must be in an enclosed building.

Automobile service station. Any area of land, including structures thereon, used primarily for the retail sale of gasoline or oil, automobile accessories and incidental services including facilities for lubricating, or otherwise servicing automobiles, but excluding painting or major repairs.

Bed and breakfast. A single family dwelling unit, other than a hotel, motel or boarding house, or portion thereof, where short-term lodging rooms and meals are provided to registered guests for compensation and where the operator of the Bed and Breakfast lives in the same dwelling unit.

Block. A contiguous piece or parcel of land entirely surrounded by public highways or streets, but excluding alleys.

Board of Commissioners. Greene County Board of Commissioners.

Boarding house. A building other than a hotel where lodging and meals are provided for compensation or by pre-arrangement for at least three (3) and not more than ten (10) persons at any one time. A building other than a hotel is not considered a boarding house by reason of a contribution to or an expense sharing arrangement with the owner or tenant occupying the dwelling by a person related by blood or marriage.

Body shop. An establishment providing major repair or body work services, including, but not limited to, collision repair, other body work, painting services, tire recapping.

Borrow pit. An extracted area where naturally occurring earthen materials are to be removed for use as ordinary fill at another location.

Buffer area. A landscaped or naturalized area used to separate and partially obstruct the view of a development from adjacent or contiguous development. This area shall be in addition to any required area, yard, and height requirements for the zoning district as specified in Article VIII.

Building. Any structure, either permanent or temporary, above or below ground having roof or other covering, designed, built or used as a shelter or enclosure for persons, animals, or property of any kind.

Building, existing. Existing building is a building erected prior to the adoption of this code, or one for which a legal building permit has been issued.

Building, height of. The vertical distance from grade plane to the average height of the highest roof surface.

Building inspector. Greene County Building Inspector or such other position as may have substantially the same duties, responsibilities, and authority.

Building line. The line established by law, beyond which a building shall not extend, except as specifically provided by law.

Building official. The officer or other designated authority designated by the Board of Commissioners charged with the administration and enforcement of this ordinance, or a duly authorized representative of the Building Official.

Building, principal. A building, in which the primary use of the lot on which the building is located is conducted.

Burial ground. An area dedicated to and used for interment of human remains. The term shall include privately owned burial plots, individually and collectively, once human remains have been buried therein. The fact that the area was used for burial purposes shall be evidence that it was set aside for burial purposes.

Business entity. Any corporation, partnership, limited partnership, firm, enterprise, franchise, association, or trust.

Campaign contribution. A contribution as defined in paragraph (7) of O.C.G.A. § 21-5-3.

Campground. An area or tract of land on which accommodations for temporary occupancy are located or may be placed, including cabins, tents, and major recreational equipment, and which is primarily used for recreational purposes. (Cabins, tents or major recreational equipment are not "open air and do not contain natural character".)

Car wash. A business establishment engaged primarily in the washing and/or waxing of any vehicle (including but not limited to cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, personal watercraft, all-terrain vehicles, etc.), either by the patron, by others, by automated machinery or by some combination thereof.

Caretaker dwelling or employee residence. A single-family dwelling placed on the same lot or tract of land as the principal residence of the owner of an agricultural operation for use by a farm worker.

Carport. See Garage, private.

Cemetery, abandoned. A cemetery which shows signs of neglect including, without limitation, the unchecked growth of vegetation, repeated and unchecked acts of vandalism, or the disintegration of grave markers or boundaries and for which no person can be found who is legally responsible and financially capable of the upkeep of such cemetery.

Cemetery, religious institution. A plot of ground, building, mausoleum, or other enclosure owned by a religious institution and used for the burial of deceased persons who are generally members of that religious institution.

Cemetery, private. Any plot of ground, building, mausoleum, or other enclosure used for the burial of deceased persons of one collateral line of descent.

Cemetery, public. A plot of ground, building, mausoleum, or other enclosure not located on property owned by a religious institution but used for the burial of deceased persons.

Change of occupancy. A change in the use of a building or portion of a building that involves a change in the application of the requirements of the Standard Building Codes or this Ordinance.

Church. See Religious institution.

Clinic. A building where human patients, who are not lodged overnight, are admitted for examination and treatment.

Club. Buildings and facilities owned or operated by a corporation, association, or persons for social, educational or recreational purposes.

Commercial use. An occupation, employment, or enterprise that is carried on for profit by the owner, lessee, or licensee.

Community center. A place, structure, area, or other facility used for and providing fraternal, social, and/or recreational programs generally open to the public and designed to accommodate and serve significant segments of the community.

Comprehensive plan. The "Comprehensive Plan for Greene County and the cities of Greensboro, Siloam, Union Point, White Plains, and Woodville, adopted August, 1994," and as may be amended.

Conditional use. A use which is not permitted inherently but which may be permitted within a zoning district subject to approval by the Board of Commissioners.

Conditional use permit. The permit issued by the County following approval of the conditional use by the Board of Commissioners.

Condominium. An estate in real property consisting of an undivided interest with other purchasers in the common grounds together with a separate interest in a dwelling unit located on the common grounds.

Confined animal feeding operation. Any animal feeding operation where animals are fed at the place of confinement and crop or forage growth in production is not sustained in the area of confinement, and the number of animals, including chickens, exceeds 999 at any given time.

Confinement area. Any building, structure, or other facility in which chickens, hens, chicks, any type of poultry, or hogs are raised, hatched, or maintained in a live condition as part of a commercial operation involving the sale of such birds or animals on a large-scale basis, such as contract growers.

Conservation areas. Environmentally sensitive and valuable lands protected from any activity that would significantly alter their ecological integrity, balance, or character, except in cases of overriding public interest. Conservation areas include groundwater recharge areas, watersheds, wetlands, and river corridors.

Contiguous property. Two or more parcels of land with a common boundary or separated solely by a public or private roadway, or other public or private right-of-way, waterway or water body.

Convenience center. A location provided by the County government for the use of the citizens of Greene County to dispose of household waste in the proper provided receptacles.

Convenience store. A one-story, retail store containing less than 2,000 square feet of gross floor area that is designed and stocked to sell primarily food, beverages, and other household supplies to customers who purchase only a relatively few items (in contrast to a supermarket). It is designed to attract and depends upon a large volume of stop-and-go traffic. Illustrative examples of convenience stores are those operated by "7-11" and "Golden Pantry."

County. Greene County, Georgia.

County official. Any member of the Greene County Board of Commissioners or Greene County Planning Commission.

Court. An open, uncovered space, unobstructed to the sky, bounded on three or more sides by exterior building unit or other enclosing devices

Day care center. A building operated by a person, society, agency, corporation, institution, or group that receives for group care fewer than twenty-four (24) hours per day without transfer of legal custody, children under eighteen (18) years of age.

Day care home. A private dwelling operated by any person who receives pay for supervision and care, fewer than twenty-four (24) hours per day, without transfer of legal custody, of three (3) but not more than six (6) children under eighteen (18) years of age who are not related to such person and whose parents or guardians are not residents in the same private dwelling.

Density. The number of dwelling units per gross acre of land.

District. A section of Greene County, Georgia where the zoning ordinance is uniform.

Dry cleaners. A business that provides laundry cleaning, excluding self-service, and contains on the premises, equipment necessary for laundry processing.

Dwelling, multi-family. A building containing at least 3 dwelling units designed for residential use by 3 or more families living independently of each other. This includes apartments but not group homes, row houses, condominiums, or townhouses.

Dwelling, single-family. A structure including site built, modular, manufactured homes, and mobile homes that contain one (1) dwelling unit designed for residential use that is surrounded by open space on the same lot. "Dwelling, Single-family" does not include "Dwelling, Single-Family, Detached."

Dwelling, single-family, detached. A structure including a site built or modular home that contains one (1) dwelling unit designed for residential use that is surrounded by open space on the same lot, which meets or exceeds the following standards:

1. Minimum width in excess of sixteen (16) feet.
2. Minimum square footage required by the zone in which located.
3. The roof shall have a minimum roof pitch greater than 2:12 and shall have a surface of wood shakes, asphalt composition, wood shingles, concrete, plastic composite, metal sheet panels, terracotta, fiberglass or metal tiles, slate, built up gravel materials. The roof overhang must be at least 1 foot when measured from the vertical side on all sides.
4. The exterior siding materials shall consist of wood, masonry, concrete, stucco, masonite, metal or vinyl lap. Exterior walls are only permitted to have vinyl lap siding if there are more than thirty (30) feet between the foundation walls of the buildings on adjacent lots.
5. Be attached to a permanent foundation.
6. Be constructed according to standards established by the State Minimum Technical Codes as amended from time to time.
7. Be designed and used, or held ready for use, as a permanent residence by one family unit that shall not be used for any commercial purpose except as allowed in § 9.7 of this ordinance.

Dwelling, two-family (duplex). A structure containing 2 dwelling units designed and arranged for residential use by 2 families living independently of each other.

Dwelling unit. A single unit providing complete independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.

Easement. A grant of 1 or more property rights by the owner to, or for the use by, the public, a corporation, or another person or entity.

Family. One (1) or more individuals permanently occupying a dwelling unit and living as a single housekeeping unit, as distinguished from persons occupying a boarding house, group home, or hotel, as defined in this ordinance.

Feed lot. A type of outdoor (only) animal feeding operation (AFO) which is used for the efficient raising and finishing of livestock, notably beef cattle, but also swine, horses, sheep, turkeys, chickens or ducks prior to slaughter.

Financial interest. All direct ownership interests of the total assets or capital stock of a business entity where such ownership interest is 10 percent or more.

Flea market. An occasional or periodic sales activity held within a building, structure, or open area where groups of individual sellers offer goods, new and used, for sale to the public, not to include private garage sales.

Floor area. The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the total number of floors of a building measured from the exterior faces of the exterior walls or from the centerline of the walls separating two buildings, including stairwells and elevator shafts, but not including: attic space providing headroom for less than seven (7) feet, unusable basement or cellar space not used for retailing, uncovered steps or fire escape, open porches, accessory water or cooling towers, accessory off-street parking spaces, or accessory off-street loading berths.

Floor area, gross. The floor area within the inside perimeter of the exterior walls of the building under consideration, exclusive of vent shafts and courts, without deduction for corridors, stairways, ramps, closets, the thickness of interior walls, columns or other features. The floor area of a building, or portion thereof, not provided with surrounding exterior walls shall be the usable area under the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above. The gross floor area shall not include shafts with no openings or interior courts.

Floor area, net. The actual occupied area not including unoccupied accessory areas such as corridors, stairways, ramps, toilet rooms, mechanical rooms and closets.

Frontage. The distance for which the front boundary line of the lot and the street line are coincident. For the purpose of corner lots, all sides of a lot adjacent to streets shall be considered frontage.

Frontage street. The street coincident to the front boundary line of the parcel.

Garage, parking. A building or portion thereof designed or used for storage of motor-driven vehicles.

Garage, private. An accessory building or a portion of a principal use building used for parking or storage of motor vehicles of the principal building's occupants. A carport is considered a private garage.

Garage, repair. A building and premises designed or used for the purpose of service or commercial repair of motor vehicles. All body work and painting shall be conducted within fully enclosed buildings. The storage of junk, wrecked vehicles, dismantled parts or supplies shall be solely for the purpose of repairing motor vehicles and not as a salvage or junkyard business. The storage of junk, wrecked or unclaimed vehicles, dismantled parts or supplies shall not be visible beyond the premises.

Garage apartment. A dwelling unit for 1 family erected above a private garage detached from the principal dwelling.

Grade plane. A reference plane representing the average of the finished ground level adjoining the building at all exterior walls. Where the finished ground level slopes away from the exterior walls, the reference plane shall be established by the lowest points within the area between the building and the lot line or, where the lot line is more than 6 feet (1829 mm) from the building between the structure and a point 6 feet (1829 mm) from the building.

Ground level, average. The height of the center of the nearest public road.

Group home. A residence under the ownership and supervision of a public, educational, or governmental institution occupied or intended for occupancy by several unrelated persons or families but where separate cooking facilities are not provided for such resident persons or families.

Guest house. A dwelling unit for temporary guests in a building accessory to a detached, single-family dwelling, and which is not rented or otherwise used or occupied as a separate dwelling. A guest house is an accessory use to a detached, single-family dwelling.

Health department. Greene County Health Department.

Home occupation, residential. An occupation or profession conducted in accordance with § 9.7.1 of this ordinance and for financial gain, which is clearly subordinate to the use of the dwelling and which does not change the character or occupancy classification thereof.

Home occupation, rural. An occupation or profession conducted in accordance with 9.7.2 of this ordinance and entirely within a dwelling unit or accessory building and for financial gain, which is clearly subordinate to the principal use of the parcel and which does not change the character or occupancy classification thereof.

Home office. An office use conducted entirely within a dwelling unit, which is carried on solely by the unit's occupant and is incidental and secondary to the principal use of the dwelling in which does not change the character or occupancy classification thereof. The office may be for the purpose of service or trade workers who customarily work at various locations, such as electricians, plumbers, appraisers, real estate salespersons, or individuals who work at home, such as writers or computer programmers. "Home Office" shall not include any business that involves the sale, manufacture or repair of merchandise on the premises. Home Offices shall also not include any business requiring access by the public, including, but not limited to, customers, clients or vendors.

Homestead compound. A form of traditional rural development which provides for the placement of additional single-family detached dwelling units on a single parcel of land owned usually by the same family.

Homestead farm. A low-density single-family lot that is at least three acres on which limited farming activities and horses for personal pleasure and/or leisure are permitted. No commercial farming activities are allowed on the lot.

Hotel. Any building, group of buildings, or structure offering for rental rooms for overnight occupancy or accommodations for ten (10) persons or more for compensation which may, or may not, provide additional services such as restaurants, meeting rooms, and recreational facilities.

Industrial park. A tract of land subdivided and developed according to a comprehensive development plan in a manner that provides a park setting for industrial establishments.

Industrialized building. A factory fabricated transportable building consisting of units designed for incorporation into a permanent structure at a building site on a permanent foundation to be used for residential purposes. A modular home shall be certified by the manufacturer to meet the approval of the State Building Administration Board (SAAB) to meet the same requirements as a site built home within Greene County.

Institution. A non-profit corporation or a non-profit establishment.

Junk. Old or scrap copper, brass, rope, rags, batteries, paper, trash, rubber debris or waste, junked, dismantled, or wrecked automobiles, or parts thereof, or iron, steel, and old scrap ferrous or nonferrous metal.

Junk yard. A lot, land or building, or part thereof, used primarily for the collection, storage, and sale of waste paper, rags, scrap metal, or discarded material, or for the collecting, dismantling, storage, and salvaging of machinery or vehicles not in running condition, or for the sale of parts thereof.

Junked vehicle. Any wrecked, dismantled, or non-operating motorized vehicle that does not bear a current license plate. Also includes non-operational farm equipment excluding farm implements.

Kennels. Any location where, for commercial purposes, 4 or more adult dogs, cats, rabbits or other domestic animals are kept for the purpose of boarding, caring for, raising, grooming, breeding, training or sale.

Kindergarten. A school for pre-elementary school children ranging in age from 4 through 6 years, which operates for less than 4 hours per day.

Laundromat. A business that provides home-type washing, drying, ironing machines or coin operated dry cleaning machines for hire and use by customers on the premises contained within an enclosed building.

Laundry pick-up. A business that provides only for the convenience of taking and picking up laundry and which does not have any on-site equipment for processing laundry.

Loading space. A space within the principal use or on the same lot that provides for standing, loading or unloading of trucks and other carriers.

Lodging house. See Boarding house.

Lot. A portion of, or parcel of land separated from other portions or parcels by description, metes and bounds, intended for transfer of ownership or for building development and having a separate tax parcel reference number designated in the office of Greene County Tax Commissioner or Greene County Tax Assessor.

Lot, corner. A lot abutting 2 or more public streets or county maintained roads at their intersection.

Lot, double frontage or through lot. A lot with frontage on 2 public streets and/or county maintained roads that do not intersect at a point abutting the property.

Lot, interior. A lot other than a corner lot.

Lot line, front. The front lot line is generally opposite the rear lot line. The front lot line would be coincident to the frontage street.

Lot line, rear. The rear lot line is generally opposite the front lot line. If the rear lot line is less than 10 feet in length or if the lot comes to a point at the rear, the rear lot line shall be deemed to be a line parallel to the front lot line, not less than 10 feet long, and lying wholly within the lot and farthest from the front lot line.

Lot of record. A lot whose existence, location, and dimensions have been legally recorded or registered in a deed or on a plat in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of Greene County.

Lot width. The horizontal distance between one side lot line and the other side lot line measured at right angles at the minimum front setback line. The Planning Commission or Zoning Administrator may establish the location at which the lot width shall be measured when considering irregularly shaped lots.

Lunch counter. A retail establishment where the preparation and serving of food is not the principal business of the retail establishment, defined as not generating the largest percentage of gross sales or occupying the largest percentage of the retail floor area. Food served in the establishment shall be unpackaged, in individual servings, and in a ready-to-consume state. Customers shall be served while seated at tables or counters located within the building.

Major utility facility. All utility facilities other than minor utilities. Including public utilities serving regional areas and public utility service and storage yards. Examples include, but are not limited to, uses such as electrical substations, water and sewer treatment facilities, and water towers. This definition excludes public utility transmission lines.

Manufactured home. A structure defined by and constructed in accordance with the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 5401, et seq. The definition at the date of adoption of this part is as follows:

1. "Manufactured Home" means a structure, transportable in one or more sections, which in the traveling mode, is eight (8) body feet or more in width or forty (40) body feet or more in length, or, when erected on site, is three hundred twenty (320) or more square feet, and which is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical systems contained therein. Except that such term shall include any structure which meets all the requirements of this paragraph except the size requirements and with respect to which the manufacturer voluntarily files a certification required by the Secretary and complies with the standards established under this title.

Manufactured home space. Land within a manufactured home park that is reserved or leased for the placement of an individual manufactured home, accessory structures and the exclusive use of its occupants.

Manufactured home park. A tract of land that is used, designated, maintained, or held out for rent to accommodate 3 or more manufactured homes. Manufactured homes located in a manufactured home park are used only to provide living and sleeping accommodations. A manufactured home park does not include an automobile or manufactured home sales lot on which unoccupied manufactured homes are parked for inspection or sale.

Manufacturing, processing and assembling. The mechanical or chemical transformation of materials or substances into new products. The land uses engaged in these activities are usually described as plants, factories or mills and characteristically use power driven machines and materials handling equipment. Establishments engaged in assembling component parts of manufactured products are also considered under this definition if the new product is neither a fixed structure nor other fixed improvement. Also included is the blending of materials such as lubricating oils, plastic resins or liquors.

Marina. A facility for storing, servicing, fueling, berthing, and securing and launching of private pleasure craft that may include the sale of fuel and incidental supplies for the boat owners, crews, and guests.

Mechanical shop. See Body Shop.

Member of the family. The spouse, mother, father, brother, sister, son, or daughter of a county official. This definition applies to Article XIV only.

Mine development. The preparation of a surface or subsurface area for commercial mining including non-commercial extraction of ore bearing or non-ore bearing rock, excavation for open pit, declines, adits, drifts, shaft construction, or any surface construction or excavation.

Mining. The removal from the earth of materials, minerals and other solid matter that will be further processed, refined, cleaned or altered in any way and then incorporated into manufactured products either in the County or other commercial markets. Water acquired for personal or commercial uses and earthwork necessary for normal grading operations are exempted from this definition.

Mining operation/mineral extraction/material extraction, existing. A mineral/material extraction or surface mining operation with a valid business license and on which active physical operations on site exist at the time this Ordinance is adopted; or any such proposed operation for which a valid Surface Mining Permit has been issued by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and for which a reclamation bond has been funded, prior to the adoption of this Ordinance.

Mini-warehouse. A building consisting of individual, small, self-contained units that are leased for the storage of business and household goods or contractor's supplies.

Minor utility facility. Any structures or facility (other than buildings, unless such buildings are used as storage incidental to the operation of such structures or facilities) owned by a governmental entity, a nonprofit organization, a corporation, or any entity defined as a public utility for any purpose by the Georgia Public Service Commission and used in connection with the production, generation, transmission, delivery, collection, or storage of water, sewage, electricity, gas, oil, or electronic signals. Examples include, but are not limited to, pump stations, community well houses and above ground utility cabinets. Minor utilities are exempt from minimum lot size and setback requirements. Excepted from this definition are Major Utilities.

Mobile home. A transportable, factory-built structure designed to be used as a year-round residential dwelling and built prior to the enactment of the Federal Manufactured Housing Act of 1974, which became effective June 15, 1976.

Modular home. See Industrialized building.

Motel. A building or a group of buildings designed and used primarily for offering transient lodging accommodations and having a parking place adjacent to each sleeping room and having separate outside entrances for each guest room. A motel is used primarily for automobile transients and includes such terms as "auto court" and "motor lodge" but not "boarding house" as defined in this section.

Non-conforming building or structure. Any lawfully existing building or structure which does not conform to these ordinances governing the type, bulk, location, height or size of buildings or structures permitted in the district prior to the adoption of this ordinance but which is in full compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and ordinances, and for which all required federal, state and local permits have been issued.

Non-conforming lot. A lot, the area, width, or other characteristics of which fails to comply with applicable ordinances and which was of record and in full compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and ordinances prior to the enactment of these or other ordinances, but which does not comply with the requirements of this ordinance.

Non-conforming use. A lawful use of land that does not comply with the use ordinance for its zoning district but which complied with applicable ordinances at the time the use was established.

Nursing home. A facility for 3 or more unrelated ill or aged persons not operating as the functional equivalent of a family, that provides food, shelter, and 24-hour medical care for compensation in addition to meeting the physical, emotional, and social needs of the unrelated aged or ill persons.

Off-street parking. An area exclusive of a public or private thoroughfare where motor vehicles may be stored for the purposes of temporary, daily, or overnight parking. Parking within the road or street right-of-way is not Off-Street Parking.

Open space. Land that is designed, developed, or reserved for recreation, gardens, resource protection, amenity, or buffers that may or may not be accessible to the residents of the development and/or the public. In no event will any area of a privately owned residential lot, any existing or future road rights-of-way, any off street parking or loading space area be counted as open space. To encourage the use of parkways and green pathways, areas within rights-of-way that are in excess of the required Greene County right-of-way widths as stipulated in the Zoning Ordinance and in the Subdivision Regulations may be counted toward open space requirements. To encourage the use of buffers around commercial tracts, within the Commercial Planned Unit Development District, designated buffers and parks may be counted as open space.

Opponent. Any person who opposes a rezoning action or any attorney or other person representing or acting on behalf of a person who opposes a rezoning action.

Oppose. To appear before, discuss with, or contact, either orally or in writing, a Greene County official and argue against a rezoning action.

Overburden means all of the earth and other materials which lie above natural deposits of ores or minerals, and includes all earth and other materials disturbed from their natural state in the process of surface mining.

Permitted use. Any use by right that is specifically authorized in a particular zoning district.

Person. An individual, partnership, committee, association, corporation, labor organization, or any other organization or group of persons.

Personal care home. A building or group of buildings, whether operated for profit or not, which undertakes through its ownership or management to provide or arrange for the provision of housing, food service, and one or more personal services for 2 or more adults who are not related by blood or marriage to the owner or administrator of the home. The facility must meet all requirements of Article 9.21 of this ordinance and must comply with all regulations and requirements of the State of Georgia Department of Human Resources, Federal Government and of the International Building Code. Personal services includes, but is not limited to, individual assistance with or supervision of self-administered medication and essential activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, grooming, dressing, and toileting. This term does not include buildings that are devoted to independent living units that include kitchen facilities where residents have the option of preparing and serving some or all of their own meals or boarding facilities which do not provide personal care.

Personal care homes are categorized as follows:

1. Family personal care home means a home for adults in a family-type residence, non-institutional in character, which offers care to 2 through 6 persons. Excluding temporary doctor ordered in home hospice care for immediate family members.
2. Group personal care home means a home for adults in a residence or other type building(s), non-institutional in character, which offers custodial care but does not provide medical care to 7 through 15 persons.
3. Congregate personal care home means a building or part thereof that contains sleeping units where residents share bathroom or kitchen facilities, or both for adults offering care to 16 or more persons.
4. Memory care unit or home means the specialized unit within any personal care home or home that either holds itself out as providing additional or specialized care to persons with diagnoses of probable Alzheimer's Disease or other dementia who may be at risk of engaging in unsafe wandering activities outside the unit or home (eloping) or charges rates in excess of those charged other residents because of cognitive deficits which may place the residents at risk of eloping. Any personal home containing memory care unit or units must be located in a district that designates memory care units or homes as a permitted or conditional use.

Planning commission. Greene County Planning Commission.

Plat. A sketch, map or survey of a lot, tract or parcel of land including lot lines, street rights-of-way and easements drawn to scale, with the dimensions of these features inscribed thereon.

Play school. A school for pre-kindergarten children ranging in age from 3 to 4 years of age.

Principal use. The primary purpose for which land or a building is used.

Professional. When used in connection with "use" and "occupancy", a use or occupancy by persons generally engaged in rendering personal, executive, sales, or administrative services or activities, including accountants, architects, professional engineers and land surveyors, doctors, lawyers, insurance offices, real estate offices, religious organizations, stock brokers and administrative agencies considered professional in character. The term, however, does not include repairs or sales of tangible personal property stored or located within the building nor any use that would create any loud noise or noxious odors within Greene County.

Property interest. The direct ownership of real property, including any percentage of ownership less than total ownership.

Radio operated controller: A device used to operate a security gate or barrier that is equipped with a radio receiver capable of receiving signals from a sheriff’s department, fire department, and emergency medical services’ radio transceivers that allow emergency responders and other necessary on-duty employees to open the security gate or barrier or blocking device by use of the equipment.

Real property. Any tract or parcel of land and, if developed, any buildings or structures located on the land.

Reclamation means the reconditioning or rehabilitation of affected land under an approved mining land use plan.

Recreational campgrounds. Any public or private property that is used on a continuing basis for camping, or camping in conjunction with fishing or hunting shall be considered a recreational campground.

Recreational development means the modification of the natural or existing environment to accommodate public facilities designed and used for recreation by the public and/or members only.

Recreational vehicle. A vehicular type unit primarily designed for recreation, camping, travel or seasonal use that has its own motor power or is mounted on or towed by another vehicle. The basic entities are: travel trailer, folding camping trailer, park trailer, truck camper, motor home, and custom van conversions.

Recreational vehicle park. Any parcel where 2 or more recreational vehicle sites are located, established, or maintained for occupancy by recreational vehicles or tents, as temporary living quarters by the general public for recreation or vacation purposes.

Recreational vehicle site. A plot of ground within a recreational vehicle park intended for the accommodation of either a recreational vehicle, tent, or other individual camping unit on a temporary basis. Sites shall be rented by the day or week only, and the occupant of the space and his/her vehicle, tent or camper shall not remain in the same recreational vehicle park for more than 30 days in a 60-day period.

Recycling center. A facility designed and operated to receive, store, or process recyclable materials that have been separated from residual solid waste. Materials may include, but are not limited to: newspaper, corrugated cardboard, aluminum, glass, metal, plastic, motor oil and batteries.

Religious institution. A religious institution that has been granted 501-C tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service and whose property is deemed tax exempt by the Greene County Tax Assessor.

Removal. The actual process of digging or otherwise removing the substance being moved.

Restaurant. An establishment where food and beverages are sold for consumption on the premises. A snack bar or refreshment stand at a public or non-profit community swimming pool, playground, or park operated solely for the convenience of patrons of the facility is not a restaurant.

Restaurant, drive-in. An eating or drinking establishment that caters to motor-driven vehicle business where the person being served consumes his food or drink while sitting in a motor driven vehicle, as opposed to a restaurant serving exclusively inside an enclosed building.

Restaurant, family. An establishment, privately owned and operated where food and beverages are sold primarily for consumption on the premises and is not part of a chain restaurant or franchise.

Restaurant, fast-food. An establishment that offers quick food service, which is accomplished through a limited menu of items already prepared and held for service, or prepared, fried, or griddled quickly, or heated in a device such as a microwave oven. Orders are not generally taken at the customer's table and food is generally served in disposable wrapping or containers.

Rezoning action. An action by the Board of Commissioners adopting an amendment to the zoning map that has the effect of rezoning real property from one zoning district to another.

Right-of-way. That area, distinguished from an easement, for the present or future use of roads, streets, highways and utilities, together with its drainage facilities and other supporting uses and structures.

Right-of-way line. Designated limits of a right-of-way, whether such right-of-way is established by usage, recorded easement, deed, dedication or by an official right-of-way map of Greene County, Georgia.

School. A public or private facility that provides a curriculum of elementary and secondary academic instruction including kindergartens and pre-kindergartens.

Screening. A method where a view of one site is shielded, concealed, or hidden from another site. Screening techniques include fences, walls, berms, densely planted vegetation, natural vegetation or other features. Screening must provide a visual and acoustical barrier that is of such nature and density that it provides year-round maximum shielding, concealment or hiding from the ground to a height of at least eight (8) feet or from view from the normal level of a first story window on an abutting lot.

Security gate or barrier: A gate or barrier, electrically operated, that controls the passage of authorized vehicles and persons from a public street to access roads, driveways or parking lots of the gated facility or community.

Self-storage facility. See Mini-warehouse.

Setback. The minimum horizontal distance between the lot or property right-of-way line and the nearest front, side or rear line of the building, including terraces or any covered projections but excluding steps and roof overhangs.

Shopping center. A group of retail business and service uses on a single site planned and developed as a unit, with common off-street parking facilities.

Short-term rental. Short-Term rental means one or more dwelling units, including either a single-family home, duplex or single multi-family residential unit rented for the purpose of overnight lodging for a period of not less than one night and not more than thirty (30) consecutive nights.

Sign. A structure or device designed or intended to convey information to the public in written or pictorial form.

Sign area. The area within a continuous perimeter enclosing the limits of writing, representation, emblem or any figure or similar character, together with any frame of other material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate this sign from the background against which it is placed, excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which this sign is placed, provided, however, that any open space contained within the outer limits of the display face of a sign, or between any component, panel, strip or fixture of any kind composing the display face shall be included in the computation of the area of the sign whether this open space is enclosed or not by a frame or border.

Sign face. The surface of the sign upon, against or through which the message of the sign is exhibited.

Sign height. The vertical measurement from the highest part of a sign, including all support structures, to the average ground level. Any earth berm or elevated foundation that supports a sign, sign post, or sign support is included in the height of the sign.

Sign structure. Any construction used or designed to support a sign.

Siren operated controller: A device used to operate a security gate or barrier that is equipped with a yelp receiver capable of receiving signals from a sheriff’s department, fire department, and emergency medical services’ yelp transceivers that allow emergency responders and other necessary on-duty employees to open the security gate or barrier or blocking device by use of the equipment.

Site built. A building constructed on-site with approved building materials, inspected periodically during construction, and constructed according to locally adopted building codes.

Solar farm. An energy facility or area of land used to convert solar energy to electricity, which includes, but is not limited to, the use of one or more solar panels or similar solar energy systems for the purpose of generating electricity to be used off site.

Solar panel. A solar panel is any part of a solar farm that absorbs solar energy for use in the solar farm's energy transformation process.

Solid fence. An artificially constructed barrier of any material or combination of materials generally manufactured for fencing, erected to enclose or screen areas of land in a manner where the area inside the fencing is not readily visible at any distance.

Solid wall. A wall constructed in such a manner to prohibit viewing of land, materials, buildings, etc., located behind the wall, from an individual standing outside and parallel to the wall.

Solid waste landfill. Any disposal facility where any amount of municipal solid waste, as defined in O.C.G.A. § 12-8-22, as amended, occurs, whether or not mixed with or including other waste allowed under Subtitle D of the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, is deposited by means of placing an approved cover thereon.

Special events. Circuses, fairs, carnivals, festivals, concerts or other outdoor musical performances, or other types of special events that are held by a non-profit organization that qualifies for 501-C tax exempt status under the United States Internal Revenue Code and unlike the customary or usual activities generally associated with the zoning uses of the property where the special event is to be located and:

1. Are intended to or likely to attract substantial crowds of 50 people or more; and 2. Where a fee is charged for attendance; or 3. Where marketing of any kind publicizes the event.

Sporting goods store. A retail store primarily retailing new sporting goods, including bicycles, camping equipment, exercise and fitness equipment, apparel, footwear and other goods and accessories.

Storage trailer. A prefabricated portable storage building commonly attached to a cab or chassis for transportation.

Story. That portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the floor or roof next above.

Street. A public or private thoroughfare which affords the principal means of ingress and egress to abutting property and is classified as follows. See § 6.5 for street classifications.

Street, public. A street that is titled by description or deed and vested in Greene County.

Street line. The legal line between street right-of-way and abutting property.

Structure. That which is built or constructed.

Subdivision. The division of a tract, lot or parcel into five (5) or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the immediate or future purpose of sale, lease, offer or development. Also see Greene County Subdivision Ordinance.

Subdivision ordinance. Greene County Subdivision Ordinances dated April 1989 and as may be amended.

Temporary residence. A manufactured home used as a temporary residence during reconstruction of a permanent home that has been destroyed by fire, natural disaster, or condemnation. A temporary residence must be removed immediately upon completion of construction or no later than 30 days after the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

Temporary structure. Any structure used in conjunction with construction work which may not be used as a residence, and must be removed immediately upon completion of construction.

Theater. An indoor commercial facility used for the sole purpose of showing commercially produced movies to a paying audience. Generally, theaters contain a concession facility.

Tower. Any structure that is designed and constructed primarily for the purpose of supporting one or more antennas, including self-supporting lattice towers, guy towers, or monopole towers. The term includes radio and television transmission towers, microwave towers, common carrier towers, cellular telephone towers, alternative tower structures, and the like.

Townhouse. A single-family dwelling unit constructed in a group of three or more attached units in which each unit extends from foundation to roof and with a yard or public way on not less than two sides.

Transfer station. A facility used to transfer solid waste from one transportation vehicle to another for transport to a disposal facility or processing operation. The purpose of this type facility is to allow consolidation of smaller loads into larger vehicles, thereby reducing overall community truck traffic. A transfer station must comply with the Rules of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, § 391-3-4, Solid Waste Management, effective June 27, 1993, and as amended.

Variance. A minimal relaxation or modification of the strict terms of the height, area, placement, setback, yard, buffer, landscape strip, parking and loading ordinances as applied to specific property when, because of particular physical surroundings, shape, or topographical condition of the property, not due to the fault of the owner of said property, compliance would result in a particular hardship upon the owner, as distinguished from a mere inconvenience or a desire to make a profit.

Yard. An open space other than a court on the same lot with a principal use, unoccupied and unobstructed by buildings or structures from ground to sky except where projections and accessory buildings are expressly permitted in these ordinances.

Yard, front. An open, unoccupied space on the same lot with the principal use, extending the full width of the lot and situated between the right-of-way line and the building line projected to the side lines of the lot. Covered porches, whether enclosed or unenclosed, are considered part of the principal use and shall not project into a required front yard. On corner lots, the front yard is considered parallel to the street upon which the lot has its largest dimension.

Yard, rear. A yard extending across the full width of the lot and lying between the rear lot line and the nearest line of the building. Rear yard depth shall be measured at right angles to the rear line of the lot.

Yard side. A yard lying between the side line of the lot and the nearest line of the building and extending from the front yard to the rear yard, or in the absence of either of such front or rear yards, to the front or rear lot lines. Side yard width shall be measured at right angles to side lines of the lot.

Zoning action. A request for any action under the Zoning Ordinance, including, but not limited to, rezoning, variance, conditional use permits, tower ordinances, and sign ordinance.

Zoning administrator. The individual or his/her designated representative, who is vested with the duty of administrating land use regulations within the unincorporated areas of Greene County.

(Ord. of 12-8-2020, § 1(Exh. A))