R-1 zoning districts are intended to establish and preserve quiet, relatively low-density neighborhoods of single-family residences as desired by large number of people. These districts are free from uses which are incompatible with single-family homes.

A.

The following principal uses are permitted in R-1 districts:

1.

Site-built, single-family detached dwelling with a heated floor area of at least 975 square feet. Must be compatible with other conventional construction which may be permitted in the same general area, or existing development, or proposed development in the same zoning classification or area, or set forth in the Comprehensive Plan of Screven County. Must meet development standards outlined for conventional construction in the housing definitions section. In making determination of compatibility, the zoning administrator or building official shall further consider:

a.

The negative effect of the structure on the property values of other properties in the immediate area; and

b.

The effect the structure would have on the surrounding area in the event of inclement weather or high winds.

2.

Residential industrialized building with a heated floor area of at least 975 square feet.

3.

Manufactured homes with a heated floor space of at least 975 square feet. Must be attached to a permanent foundation. Skirting alone is not sufficient to meet the foundation requirement. Must be compatible with conventional construction which may be permitted in the same general area, or enlisting development, or proposed development in the same zoning classification or area, or as set forth in the Comprehensive Plan of Screven County. Must meet development standards outlined for manufactured homes in the housing definitions section. In making determination of compatibility, the zoning administrator or building official shall further consider:

a.

The negative effect of the structure on the property values of other properties in the immediate area; and

b.

The effect the structure could have on the surrounding area in the event of inclement weather or high winds.

4.

Local, state or federal government building.

5.

Subdivision recreation area owned, operated, and maintained by a homeowner's association exclusively for the use of residents and their guests.

6.

Personal care homes, nursing homes.

B.

The following principal uses are permitted as conditional uses in this district, upon approval by the board of commissioners pursuant to section 413:

1.

Schools, churches, synagogue, chapel, or other place of religious worship or educational instruction meeting the following development standards:

a.

It must be located on either [an] arterial or collector road;

b.

The lot must have a minimum road frontage of 200 feet;

c.

The lot must have an area of at least 2½ acres, unless a cemetery is adjacent 7½ acre lot size is required.

d.

Off-street parking shall be provided as set forth in the parking section of this ordinance.

e.

All buildings must be located at least 50 feet from any property line;

f.

A buffer of 25-foot minimum must be provided along all side and rear property line.

g.

No property line in which any proposed church is to be established shall be located within 300 feet of the main entrance of an establishment which has been licensed for the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages.

The following setbacks shall be observed for schools located in residential, PDR and MHP districts:

2.

Cemeteries and mausoleums. Premises shall be used or occupied for the purpose of a cemetery, mausoleum, or crematory in any district except a multifamily residential and single-family residential. No land for which a plat has not been recorded shall be used for any burials. The dead shall not be buried or placed closer than 50 feet to any highway right-of-way, nor closer than ten feet to any other property line. The minimum lot size shall be ten acres. The cemetery shall have a six-foot wide planted buffer strip around its entire perimeter which is free of any use except access. The maximum sign size shall be 30 feet and not more than ten feet in height. The sign shall be nonilluminated.

3.

Public or private recreation areas or parks.

4.

Day care facility.

5.

Golf, tennis and country clubs.

6.

Utility substation meeting the following developments standards:

a.

Structures must be placed at least 30 feet from all property lines.

b.

Structures must be enclosed by a woven wire fence at least eight feet high with bottom of fence either flush with the ground or with masonry footing.

c.

No vehicles or equipment may be stored on the lot.

d.

A buffer of 25 feet minimum must be maintained along the side and rear property lines.

e.

Lot size may be reduced to not less than 0.5 acres for utility substations, provided [that] other development standards are met and, if a private well is to be placed on the lot, the lot size is sufficient to support a well consistent with the other provisions of this ordinance, other ordinances, and the laws and regulations of the State of Georgia.

7.

Communications towers as permitted and governed by the provisions of article 17 of this ordinance.

8.

Bed and breakfast meeting the following conditions.

a.

Must have at least one off street parking space for each bedroom plus one additional space.

b.

Owner/operator must reside on site either in the same house or an accessory structure on the same lot/location.

c.

Only one sign not exceeding six sq.ft. is permitted.

C.

The following accessory uses are permitted in R-1 districts:

1.

Private garage or carport.

2.

Structure for the storage of equipment and supplies used in maintaining the principal building and its ground.

3.

Structure for a children's playhouse and the storage of children's play equipment.

4.

Private swimming pool and bathhouse or cabana meeting the following development standards:

a.

All such swimming pools must meet the specifications of the Standard Swimming Pool Code (SBCCI).

5.

Private tennis court and/or basketball facilities; if lighted, lights must be designed so that they do not intrude upon adjacent lots. Such a court may be surrounded by a fence up to ten feet high.

6.

Noncommercial greenhouse and other customary garden structures not over 12 feet high.

7.

Deck, patio, barbecue grill, or other such facility.

8.

Noncommercial antenna—satellite, television, radio, etc.

9.

Temporary building for storage of materials meeting the following development standards:

a.

Permitted only in conjunction with construction of a building:

b.

Allowed either on the same lot where construction is taking place or on adjacent lots:

c.

Such a use must be terminated upon completion of construction.

10.

Sign as permitted by the Screven County Sign Ordinance.

11.

Noncommercial hobby or arts and crafts workshop, maximum size 400 square feet.

D.

The following accessory uses are considered conditional uses in this district, upon approval by the board of commissioners pursuant to section 413:

1.

Home occupation, excluding [a] public garage and repair garage.

2.

Manufactured home for temporary use at a nonresidential construction site may be allowed as a conditional use, provided [that] it meets the following development standards:

a.

The procedure for applying for a conditional use permit for a temporary manufactured home at a construction site is as follows:

i.

Plans for a water well, sewage and septic systems suitable for the principal building proposed to be constructed on the site must be submitted to the Screven County Health Department for its review and approval.

ii.

Upon securing approval of the Screven County Health Department on the proposed water and sewage systems to serve the proposed principal building, the owner shall present evidence of such approval to the zoning administrator and apply for a building permit for the proposed principal building, including the water and sewage systems.

iii.

Upon approval of the zoning administrator and receipt of the building permit, the owner shall proceed with construction of the proposed water and sewage systems. The Screven County Health Department will provide required inspections of these systems during and upon completion of construction.

iv.

Upon certification of the Screven County Health Department that the water and sewage systems have been properly installed according to approved plans, the owner will be eligible to apply for the conditional use permit for temporary use of a manufactured home at the construction site until the principal building is completed.

v.

Application should be made to the zoning administrator for the conditional use permit for temporary use of a manufactured home at a construction site.

vi.

The zoning administrator will explain to the applicant all conditions and limitations attached to such permit and will secure the written certification of the applicant affirming that the conditions will be complied with if issued the permit.

b.

The following conditions shall apply to conditional use permits issued for temporary use of a manufactured home at a nonresidential construction site:

i.

A conditional use permit is only granted in conjunction with a valid building permit which has been issued for the principal building on the lot.

ii.

The permit is valid only for a specified period of time.

iii.

A development plan must be submitted showing the proposed location of the principal building, the water and sewage systems, and the temporary manufactured home.

iv.

If the principal building is not yet completed and approved for occupancy when the conditional use permit expires, the permittee may apply to the zoning administrator for an extension of the permit. The zoning administrator may extend the permit for a period of up to 12 months in addition to the original period for which the permit was valid. In no case will a temporary manufactured home will be allowed pursuant to a conditional use permit for more than 24 months.

c.

The temporary manufactured home must be connected to the approved water and sewage system designed for the principal building. No other water or sewer systems are permitted on the site.

d.

Upon approval of the principal building for occupancy, the temporary manufactured home must be disconnected from the water and sewage systems and occupancy of the temporary manufactured home must cease.

e.

The temporary manufactured home must be removed within 30 days of the issuance of the certificate of occupancy for the principal building or the expiration of the conditional use permit for the temporary manufactured home, whichever is earlier.

f.

No more than one such unit is permitted per lot. The temporary manufactured home must be located entirely within the rear yard of the principal structure.

3.

Recreational vehicle for temporary use at a residential construction site. Such use shall be required to comply with regulations specified in section 502.D.2 of this section for the temporary placement of a manufactured home at a nonresidential construction site, except as may be modified or exempted through conditional use approval.

E.

All accessory uses must meet the following standards:

1.

They must be located in the rear yard.

2.

They must comply with the setback requirements of this district.

3.

They may not be located in any front or side yard.

4.

Accessory buildings and structures not attached to the principal building must be located at least 12 feet from the principal building on the lot.

(Ord. No 2003-06, § 2, 4-8-2003; Ord. of 11-9-2004(2), § 7; Ord. of 4-13-2021(2), §§ 20—22)

In addition to the development standards contained in article 4 of this ordinance, the following standards are required within R-1 districts:

G.

Maximum building height: The maximum building height shall be 35 feet; however, this height limit does not apply to projections not intended for human habitation. For buildings and structures with such projections, the minimum required yards must be increased one foot for every two feet (or part of two feet) of height greater than 35 feet. The maximum percentage of lot coverage for lots of less than one acre shall not exceed 30 percent.

H.

Conversion of dwellings: The conversion of any building into a dwelling shall be permitted only within a district in which a new building for similar occupancy would be permitted under this ordinance, and only when the resulting occupancy will comply with the requirements governing new construction in such district with respect to minimum lot size, lot area per dwelling unit, percentage of lot coverage, dimensions of yards and other open spaces.

I.

Sight distance: Within 30 feet of an intersection's pavement edge, plants cannot be of a type which will exceed a height of 30 inches at maturity and/or a trunk diameter of four inches. There may be some flexibility in regard to the maximum trunk diameter when protected by a guardrail or some other suitable type barrier beyond 30 feet from pavement edge. Almost any type of planted vegetation is permissible.

J.

Applicability to land and building: No building, structure or land may be used or occupied—and no building or structure or part of a building or structure may be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, or structurally altered—unless in conformity with all of the regulations specified for the district in which it is located.

K.

Every use must be on a lot: No building or structure may be erected or use established unless upon a lot as defined by this ordinance.

L.

Only one site-built, single-family, detached dwelling or manufactured home, and accessory buildings related to said dwelling or home, may be erected on any residential lot in the R-1 district. Where a non-residential use is permitted, more than one principal building and its accessory buildings may be erected on a lot in an R-1 zoning district.

M.

Open space not to be encroached upon: No open space may be encroached upon or reduced in any manner except in conformity with the yard, setback, off-street parking spaces, and other such required development standards contained in the ordinance. Shrubbery, driveways, retaining walls, fences, curbs, and buffers (see definition in article 2) are not considered to be encroachments of yards. Open space areas as required by this ordinance must be permanently maintained as open space in accordance with the requirements of this ordinance.

N.

Reduction of yards or lot area: Except as otherwise provided in this ordinance, a lot existing at the time of passage of this ordinance may not be reduced, divided, or changed so as to produce a tract of land which does not comply with the minimum dimension or area requirements of this ordinance for the district in which it is located unless that reduction or division is necessary to provide land which is needed and accepted for public use.

O.

Lots with multiple frontage: In the case of a corner lot or double frontage lot, front yard setback requirements apply to all lot lines abutting a street.

P.

Landlocked lots: In the case of a landlocked lot (a lot without direct access to a public street or road) lawfully existing as of the effective date of this ordinance, the property owner is entitled to one building permit, as long as all of the following requirements are met:

1.

No other principal building exists or is being constructed on the property.

2.

No other valid building permit has been issued prior to the effective date of this ordinance and is currently valid.

3.

The property was and continues to be under single ownership since the effective date of this ordinance.

4.

The property owner has acquired a 30-foot easement to a city, county, or state maintained street or road, and the easement has been duly recorded or was made a part of the property deed.

5.

In the event the property is divided, no additional permits will be issued.

Q.

Street frontage: No principal building may be erected on any lot which has less than 30 feet of immediate frontage on at least one public street.

R.

Yards and other spaces: No part of a yard, other open space, off-street parking, or loading space required for another building may be included as a part of the yard, off-street parking, or loading space required for another building, except as specifically provided for in this ordinance.

S.

Substandard lots: Any lot existing at the time of the adoption of this ordinance, which has an area or a width which is less than required by this ordinance, is subject to the following exceptions and modifications:

1.

Adjoining lots in same ownership: When two or more adjoining and vacant lots within a nonapproved development with continuous frontage are in a single ownership at the time of application and such lots have a frontage or lot area less than is required by the district in which they are located, such lots must be replatted or reparceled so as to create one or more lots which conform to the minimum frontage and area requirements of the district.

2.

Single lot: When a lot has an area or frontage which does not conform with the requirements of the district in which it is located, but was a lot at the effective date of this ordinance, such a lot may be used for any use allowed in the zoning district in which it is located as long as all other requirements of this ordinance are met.

T.

Encroachment on public rights-of-way: No building, structure, service area, required off-street parking, or loading/unloading facility is permitted to encroach on public rights-of-way.

U.

Physical design standards: Minimum design standards for driveways, loading areas, and other such physical site improvements are contained in [the] Screven County Subdivision Regulations.

V.

Off-street parking and service requirements: Minimum standards for off-street parking and service requirements are contained in the Screven County Standard for Off-Street Parking and Service Facilities (appendix B [to this appendix]).

W.

Other applicable development regulations: Information concerning any other applicable development regulations may be obtained by consulting the zoning administrator.

X.

Signs: Minimum design and location standards are contained in article 18 herein, The Screven County Sign Ordinance.

(Ord. of 11-9-2004(2), § 8; Ord. of 9-25-2007, §§ 2—7)