Tallulah Falls City Zoning Code

It is the intent of this district to establish and preserve quiet, single-family home neighborhoods as desired by large numbers of people, free from other uses except those which are both compatible and convenient to the residents of such a district.

1.

Accessory buildings, but not including structures used for the keeping of livestock or poultry, provided such shall be permitted only in a rear yard and shall be not less than five (5) feet from any property line. Where the rear yard abuts a street, no accessory building shall be closer to the rear lot line than the required front setback for the district.

2.

Accessory uses, including home gardens and non-commercial greenhouses, but not including the keeping of livestock or poultry.

3.

Churches and their related religious activities, provided that any principal building shall be located at least fifty (50) feet from any property line and that required off-street parking be separated from any property line by an opaque fence at least six (6) feet high or a densely-planted buffer strip at least ten (10) feet wide.

4.

Parks, playgrounds, community centers and golf courses, except commercial amusement parks, miniature golf courses, driving ranges or others operated for commercial purposes.

5.

Public and semi-public buildings and uses.

6.

Single-family, detached dwellings but not including mobile homes, recreational vehicles and travel trailers used as residences.

7.

Camping, provided that such activity is limited to personal use of camping equipment, camping accessories, or both, on private property containing at least one principal structure by the property owner or by others with the property owner's permission and without the exchange of any form of compensation or remuneration. Camping as a permitted use hereunder shall not exceed seven consecutive days in duration or occur more than four times per calendar year. A minimum of 14 days is required between each camping period. Property on which camping is permitted shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner. All other uses or activities related to camping shall comply with all other provisions of the Town of Tallulah Falls Code of Ordinances or state law.

8.

Home occupation pursuant to the following requirements:

A.

The applicant must be the owner of the property on which the home occupation is to be located or must have written approval of the owner of the property if the applicant is a tenant.

B.

The home occupation shall be operated only by the members of the family residing on the premises.

C.

The dwelling must be the bona fide residence of the applicant at the time of the application, and if approved, shall be valid only as long as the applicant resides in the dwelling, is conducting business and has a current occupational tax certificate.

D.

An occupational tax certificate and home occupation location permit shall be obtained from the city prior to the operation of any home occupation.

E.

The home occupation shall be clearly incidental and secondary to the residential use of the dwelling and shall not change the residential character of the building or reveal from the exterior that the dwelling is being used in part for other than residential purposes.

F.

Only vehicles used primarily as passenger vehicles shall be permitted in connection with the conduction of a home occupation.

G.

The home occupation shall not occupy more than 30 percent of one floor of the principal building, garage or enclosed accessory building.

H.

Adequate off-street parking in a manner consistent with the residential nature of the property shall be provided for the allowed use.

I.

The conduct of the home occupation shall neither increase the normal volume or flow of traffic nor shall it increase either on-street or off-street parking.

J.

Frequency of customer visits and package deliveries to the business shall not exceed that of a typical domestic residence.

K.

There shall be no externally visible evidence of the home occupation, including external display of products or equipment storage.

L.

There shall be no signs on the property advertising the home occupation.

M.

Home occupations shall not create noise, noxious odors or any hazard that may endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the neighborhood.

N.

The home occupation shall not involve group instruction or group assembly of people on the premises.

O.

Home office uses shall be limited to professional and routine office, clerical, telephone, computer, phone, bookkeeping, or similar procedures which can be conducted by the occupant that is incidental and secondary to the use of the structure as a dwelling unit and do not require regular access by the public, customers, clients, vendors, patients or employees. A home office may also be maintained for a business conducted away from home, as long as the home office complies with all other requirements.

P.

The following uses are allowable as home occupations (not all inclusive): broker, architect, engineer, insurance agent, lawyer, real estate agent, accountant, editor, publisher, journalist, graphic design, construction contractor, landscape designer, surveyor, cleaning service, consultant, computer support specialist, salesperson, travel agent, and food caterer.

Q.

The following uses are specifically prohibited as permitted home occupations (not all inclusive): kennels, day care centers, home-based day care centers, barber shops, beauty shops, spas, cabinet shops and/or metal cutting; doctors, dentists or other medical professions; automobile repair or related work, small engine repair shops, and landscaping, nursery or greenhouse operations.

R.

The failure of a home occupation licensee to comply with any of the above conditions shall be reasonable grounds for revocation of a home occupation location permit.

(Ord. of 12-5-2019, § 2; Ord. No. 24-07, § 3, 12-12-2024)

1.

Home occupations conducted within a principal building by persons residing on the premises, provided that no more than thirty (30) percent of the floor area of the principal building shall be used for such purpose, that automobile repair facilities shall be excluded and that sufficient off-street parking shall be provided so that traffic can be handled without hazard or undue congestion in the neighborhood. Where noise is generated, an appropriate noise-resistant fence or combination fence-green buffer area shall be established.

2.

Kindergartens, nursery schools, or day care centers serving not more than ten (10) persons, provided that outdoor play area is provided for each child and the outdoor play area shall be enclosed by an impervious fence as required by the Georgia Department of Human Resources.

3.

Manufactured homes and modular homes on individual lots, but not including mobile homes, mobile home parks and manufactured home parks, subject to the following requirements:

a)

The minimum width of said structure shall be at least sixteen (16) feet;

b)

The minimum square footage of said home shall be at least nine hundred (900) square feet of area;

c)

The home shall be attached to a permanent foundation;

d)

All towing devices, wheels, axles and hitches must be removed;

e)

At each exit door there must be a landing that is a minimum of thirty-six inches (36") by thirty-six inches (36");

f)

The roof shall have a minimum 2:12 roof pitch (two feet of vertical height for each twelve feet of horizontal width) and shall have a surface of wood shakes, asphalt composition, wood shingles, concrete, fiberglass or metal tiles, slate, built up gravel materials, or other materials approved by the administrative officer;

g)

The exterior siding materials shall consist of wood, masonry, concrete, stucco, masonite, or vinyl lap or other materials of like appearance;

h)

Each home shall be provided with anchors and tiedowns such as cast-in-place concrete deadmen or other devices which secure the stability of the home, as approved by the administrative officer;

i)

Each home shall be completely skirted with an appropriate barrier, properly ventilated, to enclose the area between the bottom of the structure and the ground. Such skirting shall not be required for those homes with a complete masonry or concrete perimeter foundation;

j)

Each home shall be established in accordance with installation instructions from the manufacturer, as appropriate;

k)

All utility connections, including but not limited to water, sanitary sewer/septic tank, electricity and gas shall be made as required by the administrative officer;

l)

Said home shall compare favorably to site built and other housing in the immediate general area within the same zoning or residential district or area;

provided, however that the administrative officer may recommend, and the town council may approve, deviations from one or more of the developmental and architectural standards provided herein on the basis of a finding that the materials to be utilized will be compatible and harmonious with existing structures in the vicinity.

4.

Public and semi-public uses, after consideration of the following:

a.

Whether or not traffic can be handled without hazard or undue congestion in the neighborhood; and

b.

When noise will be generated that appropriate provisions for impervious fences, combination fence-green buffer area, or other effective and acceptable noise-dampening measures have been taken.

In accordance with article XV of this ordinance.