Words and terms not explicitly defined in this ordinance shall have the meaning given by common and ordinary use as defined in Websters New Collegiate Dictionary. The following specific definitions shall apply:

Accessory: A use or structure customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal use or structure, and located on the same zoning lot as such a principal use or structure.

Alley: A secondary way which affords access to the side or rear of abutting property.

Alteration: Any change in the supporting members of a building; any addition to or reduction of a building; any change in use; or any relocation of a building.

Arterial roads: These roads are intended to provide high-speed travel between or within communities, or to and from collectors and expressways. Access is controlled so that only regionally significant land use may take direct access to these roads. (Ord. No. 268, § 1(A), 6-3-1982)

Automobile service station: A land use where gasoline, oils, greases, batteries, tires, and general automobile accessories may be provided, but where no part of the premises is used for the storage or dismantling of wrecked or junk vehicles.

Awning: Any structure made of cloth, metal or other material, attached to a building, wholly supported by its frame and the building, without ground supports. (Ord. No. 607, 9-16-1993)

Awning, retractable: An awning designed to be stored against a building when not in use, but which can be temporarily extended either manually or mechanically. For purposes of administering this ordinance, a retractable awning will be allowed to extend into a rear setback area in a general residential zoning district; provided that, when fully extended, it encroaches no more than ten feet into the rear setback area. (Ord. No. 607, 9-16-1993)

Basement: The area below the first floor level in a building and having not more than one-half of its height above grade.

Buffer: That portion of a lot established for open space purposes and intended to separate properties with different and possibly incompatible types of use. A buffer shall not be occupied with structures and facilities except as permitted by this ordinance. Where required by this ordinance, a buffer may include the installation of a suitable visual screen.

Building: Any structure having a roof and intended for shelter, housing or enclosure of persons, animals or property of any kind.

Building height: The vertical distance of a building measured from the average elevation of the finished grade at the front of the building to the highest point of the building.

Building line: Synonymous with setback. (Ord. No. 366, § 1, 5-22-1985)

Building, principal: A building in which is conducted the principal use of the zoning lot on which said building is situated.

Care home: A rest home, nursing home, convalescent home, home for the aged, or similar use established and operated on a profit or nonprofit basis to provide lodging and/or meals and/or domiciliary care for aged, infirm, chronically ill or convalescent persons.

Clinic: An establishment where medical or dental patients are admitted for examination and treatment, but where there is no overnight lodging.

Collector roads: Collector roads connect residential streets to the highway system's major and high-speed arterials or provide access to nonresidential uses and arterials. Collectors form barriers between neighborhoods and are designed for higher speeds and traffic volumes than are residential streets. Because uncongested traffic flow is necessary for their effective functioning, residential uses are prohibited access to collectors. Collectors will be classified as major collectors and minor collectors.

(a)

Major collector: This road cannot permit on-street parking. It may carry some nonlocal traffic and extend beyond Peachtree City's corporate boundaries.

(b)

Minor collector: The average daily traffic is less on minor collector roads than major collector roads and serves primarily local traffic. (Ord. No. 268, § 1(A), 6-3-1982)

Because uncongested traffic flow is necessary for their effective functioning, residential uses are prohibited access to collectors unless a variance is granted by the city council pursuant to a procedure contained in the Peachtree City Street Design and Construction Specifications. (Ord. No. 268, § 1(A), 6-3-1982; Ord. No. 295, 3-3-1983)

Curb cut: The point at which vehicular access is provided to a lot from an adjoining street.

Density: The number of dwelling units per acre of land used for residential purposes. Unless otherwise stated, density figures are to be in terms of net acres, or the land devoted to residential use exclusive of streets or other public lands.

Density, high: For purposes of this ordinance, high density is defined as more than ten dwelling units per net acre.

Density, low: Low density is four dwelling units or fewer per net acre.

Density, medium: Medium density is five to ten dwelling units per net acre.

Drive-in: A retail or service enterprise wherein service is provided to the consumer on the outside of the principal building.

Dwelling: A building or portion of a building, other than a mobile home, designed for, or occupied for, residential occupancy, as further defined in applicable state codes.

Dwelling, cluster: One of a series of attached and/or detached dwelling units situated on at least five contiguous acres of land developed under a single ownership.

Dwelling, multifamily: A dwelling designed for, or occupied by, three or more families living independently of each other. Various multifamily dwellings are further defined below:

Apartment: One of a series of three or more attached dwelling units under a single roof, developed and/or operated under single ownership and rental agreements, and occupied by families living independent of each other. (Ord. No. 676, 6-5-1997)

Condominium: One of a series of three or more attached dwelling units under a single roof, each separately owned and listed as real property, and occupied by families living independently of each other. (Ord. No. 676, 6-5-1997)

Health care: One of a series of three or more attached dwelling units under a single roof, developed and/or operated under single ownership and rental agreements/medical fees, and occupied by health care recipients as further defined in applicable Georgia state codes. Health care facilities include nursing homes and assisted living/limited care dwellings, and shall be limited to two stories with ground level entry/exit facilities provided for both stories. (Ord. No. 676, 6-5-1997)

Townhouse: One of a series of three or more attached dwelling units on separate zoning lots which units are separated from each other by party wall partitions extending at least from the lowest floor level to the roof, and are occupied by families living independently of each other. (Ord. No. 676, 6-5-1997)

Dwelling, one-family: A detached dwelling designed for, or occupied exclusively by, a single family.

Dwelling, patio: A single-family dwelling in which all or a portion of the area required for side and rear setback depths may be consolidated into one or more garden court spaces within the walls of the dwelling unit.

Dwelling, townhouse: One of a series of three or more attached dwelling units on separate zoning lots which are separated from each other by party wall partitions extending at least from the lowest floor level to the roof.

Dwelling, two-family: A detached dwelling designed for, or occupied exclusively by, two families living independently of each other.

Dwelling unit: One or more rooms within a dwelling forming a separate, independent housekeeping establishment for use on a basis involving owner occupancy or rental of a weekly, monthly or longer basis, with provision for cooking, eating and sleeping, and which is physically set apart from any other rooms or dwelling units in the same building.

Elevation, front: The view of a building or group of buildings as seen from directly in front of the structures.

Employee: A full-time employee of a business or industry. For purposes of determining parking requirements where employees work in shifts the required parking space shall be adequate for the number of employees on the maximum shift plus the number of employees on the next to maximum shift in order to accommodate the shift change peak parking requirement.

Family: A person, or group of persons, immediately related by blood, marriage, or adoption, living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit, exclusive of household servants; also, a group of not more than three persons, or a group of not more than eight disabled persons not necessarily related by blood, marriage, or adoption, living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit.

Flood boundary: The area possibly threatened by a flood, as displayed on the Peachtree City flood boundary and floodway map.

Floor area: The area of a dwelling exclusive of attic, basement, garage, carport, patios, and open porches measured from the exterior face of the exterior walls of a dwelling. Also, the gross leasable floor area for any business or industry based on interior dimensions.

Garage, private: An accessory building or portion of a principal building used only for private storage of permitted motor vehicles.

Garage, public: Any garage other than a private garage which is used for storage, minor repair, rental, servicing, washing, adjusting, or equipping of automobiles or other motor vehicles.

Garage, repair: A public garage intended to be used to make major commercial automobile or other motor vehicle repairs; provided that all body work and painting shall be conducted within fully enclosed buildings, and further provided that there is no open storage of junk, wrecked vehicles, dismantled parts, or supplies visible beyond the premises.

Guest house: Living quarters situated within an attached or detached accessory building located on the same premises as the principal building; such quarters shall be used only by bona fide nonpaying guests or relatives of the owners or occupants of the principal building and shall not be rented or otherwise occupied as a separate dwelling. In certain zoning districts, a guest house may be permitted as the principal building on a zoning lot, but on the same conditions as stated above.

Home occupation: A business carried on by an occupant of a dwelling as a secondary use which is clearly incidental to the use of the dwelling for residential purposes. For purposes of this ordinance, occasional activities at a dwelling like garage sales, Tupperware parties and bazaars are not considered to be home occupations. (Ord. No. 448, 12-3-1987)

Home, patio: See "Dwelling, patio."

Hotel: A building in which overnight accommodations without separate cooking facilities are provided to the public. The term "hotel" includes the terms "motel" and "tourist court."

Industrial/commercial roads: These roads are used specifically for industrial and/or commercial use. (Ord. No. 268, § 1(A), 6-3-1982)

Junk or salvage yard: Any part of a zoning lot used for the storage, abandonment, or sale of junk, salvage, or scrap materials; including the dismantling or demolition of automobiles, other vehicles, machinery, equipment, or parts thereof.

Kennel: Any location where more than three dogs, cats or other animals are kept for commercial or noncommercial purposes. This definition does not include litters of animals of not more than four months of age.

Land area per dwelling unit: The amount of land in square feet required for each dwelling unit permitted on a zoning lot.

Loading space: Space logically and conveniently located for pick-up and delivery service, scaled to the vehicles expected to be used, and accessible to such vehicles at all times.

Lot: A parcel of land of varying size which is designated as a single unit of property. Unless otherwise stated in this ordinance, the word "lot" shall mean the same as "zoning lot" as herein defined.

Lot, corner: A lot located at the intersection of two or more streets.

Lot, double-frontage: A lot, other than a corner lot, which has frontage on more than one street.

Lot, interior: A lot which has frontage on only one street or public way.

Lot, multiple-frontage: Property having boundary lines adjacent to more than one public street, right-of-way or private street shall be deemed multiple frontage property. (Ord. No. 366, § 2, 5-22-1985)

Lot, zoning: A parcel of land in single ownership occupied or intended to be occupied by principal uses and accessory uses in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance. A zoning lot must have frontage on a street or public way, and have at least the minimum land area required by this ordinance for the zoning district within which it is located. A lot of record may or may not be a zoning lot.

Lot depth: The mean horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines, measured in the general direction of the side lot lines.

Lot of record: An area designated as a separate and distinct parcel of land on a legally recorded subdivision plat or in a legally recorded deed.

Lot width: The distance measured along the front setback line, from end to end. (Ord. No. 366, § 3, 5-22-1985)

Mobile home: Any vehicle or similar portable structure having no foundation other than wheels, jacks or skirtings and so designed or constructed as to permit single-family occupancy for dwelling purposes. The term "mobile home" includes the terms "trailer" and "house trailer" and shall also include any structure which has been converted from a portable unit to semi-stationary or stationary structure.

Mobile home park: Any zoning lot where two or more mobile homes are installed for living purposes, including any land or structure used by occupants of mobile homes on such premises.

Mobile home space: A plot of ground within a mobile home park designed to accommodate a single mobile home.

Nonconforming use: A building, structure or land lawfully occupied by a use that does not conform with the regulations of the zoning district in which it is located.

Parking space: An area for off-street automobile parking.

Processing: In manufacturing activities, the changing of materials to a different condition for either use or sale by the industry.

Property line, front: The boundary line adjacent to any public street right-of-way or private street access which the primary access to the property passes, and which shall be used to identify the street address of the property in question. (Ord. No. 366, § 4, 5-22-1985)

Property line, rear: The boundary line most opposite the front boundary line, which intersects two of the side boundary lines (unless the property has fewer than four sides, then one of the side boundary lines intersecting the front boundary line shall be deemed the rear boundary line). (Ord. No. 366, § 5, 5-22-1985)

Property line, side: Any property line not designated as a front or rear property line. (Ord. No. 366, § 5, 5-22-1985)

Quasi-judicial decision: Decisions or hearing of the city council pertaining to appeals of administrative decisions for permits, variances, special administrative permits, special exceptions, or conditional use permits. This term shall not include decisions or hearings pertaining to "zoning decisions" as such term is defined in O.C.G.A. § 36-66-3(4), as such statute may be amended.

Residential streets: Residential streets primarily function to provide access to residential uses. All residential streets are intended to accommodate relatively low traffic volumes at slow speeds in order to minimize the basic incompatibility of vehicles and the pedestrians and children who characterize residential neighborhoods. (Ord. No. 268, § 1(A), 6-3-1982)

Second home: A single-family dwelling unit on an individual lot, where the dwelling is used as a secondary home for a family residing elsewhere in the primary home.

Setback: A required open space on a lot or parcel of land upon which no building or structure may be erected except as permitted by these ordinances. This area is bounded by property lines and setback lines as appropriate. (Ord. No. 366, § 7, 5-22-1985)

Setback area, front: The area bounded by the front property line, the side property lines that intersect the front property line (or one side property line and the rear property line if the property has fewer than four sides) and the front setback line. (Ord. No. 366, § 8, 5-22-1985)

Setback area, rear: The area bounded by the rear property line, the required rear setback line and the two side property lines that intersect the rear property line (or if the property has fewer than four sides, one side yard line and the front yard setback line). (Ord. No. 366, § 9, 5-22-1985)

Setback area, side: The area bounded by the front setback lines, the appropriate side property line(s), the rear setback line and the required side setback line(s). (Ord. No. 366, § 10, 5-22-1985)

Setback depth: The shortest distance between the property line and associated setback lines. (Ord. No. 366, § 11, 5-22-1985)

Setback line, front: The interior boundary of the front setback area, being a straight line extending from side property line to side property line (or side property line to rear property line if the property has fewer than four sides) and located no closer (at no point along such line) to the front property line than the greater of:

(1)

The minimum front setback as specified by the appropriate zoning district requirements; or

(2)

That depth which will create the minimum lot width along the front setback line. (Ord. No. 366, § 12, 5-22-1985)

Setback line, rear: The interior boundary of the rear setback area being a line equidistant from the rear property line and extending from the side property lines (or a side property line and the front setback line if the property has fewer than four sides) at the minimum depth specified by the appropriate zoning district requirements. (Ord. No. 366, § 13, 5-22-1985)

Setback line, side: The interior boundary of a side setback area, being a line equidistant from the appropriate side property line(s) and extending from the front setback line to the rear setback line at a minimum depth as specified by the appropriate zoning district requirements. (Ord. No. 366, § 14, 5-22-1985)

Sign: The term "sign" shall include every sign, billboard, poster panel, freestanding ground sign, roof sign, projecting sign, pylon sign, illuminated sign, sign painted on a wall, window, marquee, awning or canopy, and shall include any announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, ribbon, banner, illustration or insignia used to advertise or promote the interests of any person when the same is placed in view of the general public traveling along a public street right-of-way. This definition includes those displays on doors and windows as well as those which are visible through doors and windows. However, this definition does not include displays on private property not readily visible from public street rights-of-way. (See Peachtree City sign ordinance)

Cross reference— The "sign ordinance" is found in section 66-1 et seq. of the Code.

Special exception: A use which within certain districts specified by this ordinance is not permitted as a matter of right but which may be permitted by the city council in accordance with criteria as set forth in this ordinance.

Story: That portion of a building, not including a basement, between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it, or if there is no floor above, then the space between the floor and the ceiling next above it.

Street: A public way for traffic which may or may not be publicly owned.

Street access: A street intended to carry traffic between commercial uses and a major thoroughfare.

Street, private: A street that is privately owned and used in accordance with the wishes of the owner.

Street, public: A street that is used for travel by the general public, whether or not it is owned by a public agency.

Structure: Anything constructed or erected which requires a fixed location on the ground or which is attached to something having a fixed location on the ground.

Uses, conditional: Those uses that are permitted in a particular zoning district but only under certain specified conditions.

Uses, principal: The main purpose for which a zoning lot is intended and for which it may be used.

Variance: A modification of the terms of this ordinance granted by the city council in accordance with criteria as set forth in this ordinance.

Vehicle, abandoned: A vehicle which does not bear a current license plate unless said vehicle is stored within a completely enclosed building or unless it is stored on a bona fide sales lot and is in a satisfactory operating condition. This definition does not include vehicles which are not intended to be operated on public streets or roads.

Villa, guest: A dwelling owned and operated within the city limits for the purpose of providing a temporary lodging for visiting employees or associated guests of the owner of the property. (Ord. No. 174(c), 1-25-1979)

Zoning administrator: The person who has been designated by the city council to administer the enforcement of this ordinance.

Zoning decision: Such term shall be defined as set forth in O.C.G.A. § 36-66-3(4), as such statute may be amended.

(Ord. No. 1093, § 1, 4-2-2015; Ord. No. 1210, § 1, 6-15-2023)