Georgia Airport Zoning Act — Local Adoption of Airport Hazard Zoning (GA)
Tracked preemption from the Georgia overlay bundle.
Overview
← All state preemptionsGeorgia overlay roll-upGeorgia zoning wikiGeorgia building codesFederal overlaysGlossaryFederal-conflict: Yes
Effective
1957-01-01
Sunset
—
Authority
state
Scope
state:GA
Other Georgia preemptions
Georgia Short-Term Rentals — No State PreemptionGeorgia Density / ADU / Design Review — No State PreemptionGeorgia Tree Canopy / Tree Ordinance — No Statewide PreemptionGeorgia Military Installation & Airport Compatible-Use Zoning ReviewGeorgia Local Hazard Mitigation Plan — FEMA Stafford Act §322 ComplianceGeorgia Service Delivery Strategy Act (HB 489) — Intergovernmental Coordination MandateGeorgia Groundwater Recharge Area Protection — DCA Part V Environmental Planning CriteriaGeorgia Wetlands Protection — DCA Part V Environmental Planning Criteria
Trigger predicate
When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.
OR
city.has_airport_hazard_area_jurisdiction==Truecity.airport_influence_zonesattribute is present
Preempted fields
4 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.
| Field | Op | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
airport_zoning.adoption_required | override | True | Every political subdivision with an airport hazard area within its territorial limits is authorized and directed to adopt, administer, and enforce airport zoning regulations covering height, use, and removal of obstructions — joint airport zoning boards required where the hazard area extends across multiple jurisdictions |
base_districts[*].max_height_ft | cap_at | faa_part_77_imaginary_surface_or_local_airport_hazard_district | Airport-zoning height limits restrict structures and trees within hazard areas to a height that does not penetrate FAA Part 77 imaginary surfaces or otherwise constitute an airport hazard |
base_districts[*].requires_airport_hazard_variance | override | True | Variances from airport-hazard height/use restrictions require notice to FAA, must be denied where the proposed structure would constitute a hazard to air navigation, and may be conditioned on installation of marking/lighting |
airport_zoning.requires_joint_airport_zoning_board_when_multi_jurisdictional | override | True | Where an airport hazard area lies within two or more political subdivisions, a joint airport zoning board with equal representation from each subdivision is the statutorily preferred adopting body |
Citation
Authority source
O.C.G.A. §§6-2-1 through 6-2-15 (Georgia Airport Zoning Act, modeled on the federal Model Airport Zoning Act of 1944)
§ §§6-2-1 et seq.; §6-2-3 (authority to adopt); §6-2-7 (joint airport zoning boards); §6-2-12 (variances); §6-2-13 (board of appeals)
Research notes
State enabling-act overlay distinct from the existing federal-overlay conflict flag (FAA Part 77 + DoD AICUZ): Title 6 Chapter 2 gives every GA political subdivision direct statutory authority and a directive to adopt airport-hazard zoning. Where the hazard area straddles boundaries, a joint zoning board is statutorily preferred. Stricter-than-federal local hazard zoning is permitted and protected by §6-2-3. Triggered by the presence of public-use airports (Hartsfield-Jackson ATL, Savannah-Hilton Head, Augusta Regional, Columbus, Macon, Valdosta, Athens-Ben Epps, ~100+ general aviation fields). Federal conflict check enabled because the airport zoning regulations must align with, but may exceed, FAA Part 77 and AICUZ surfaces; conflicts surface when local hazard zoning would permit structures that FAA flags as hazards under 14 CFR §77.17.