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Georgia Historic Preservation Act — Local Authority Enabling (GA)

Tracked preemption from the Georgia overlay bundle.

Overview

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Effective
1980-07-01
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.

city.has_designated_historic_district == True

Preempted fields

3 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.

FieldOpValueNote
base_districts[*].historic_preservation_authority_enabledoverrideTrueCities/counties may designate historic districts and properties, establish Historic Preservation Commissions, and require Certificates of Appropriateness (COAs) for material changes in appearance within designated districts
base_districts[*].requires_certificate_of_appropriatenessoverrideTrueCOA review precedes building permit issuance for exterior alterations, additions, new construction, demolition, and relocations within locally designated historic districts
review_timeline.coa_decision_max_dayscap_at45§44-10-26(d): Historic Preservation Commission must approve, deny, or approve with conditions a COA application within 45 days of receipt or the COA is deemed granted

Citation

Authority source
O.C.G.A. §§44-10-20 through 44-10-31 (Georgia Historic Preservation Act of 1980)
§ §§44-10-20 et seq.; §44-10-26 (Commission powers and COA procedure)
https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-44/chapter-10/article-2/

Research notes

Enabling-act preemption — the GHPA does not itself designate any districts; it grants every GA city and county the authority to adopt a local historic preservation ordinance, establish a Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), and regulate exterior changes through Certificates of Appropriateness. Federal listing on the National Register does not by itself trigger local regulation. Notable certified local government (CLG) historic districts: Savannah Historic District (one of the largest urban NHLDs in the US), Madison, Newnan, Athens, Decatur, Roswell, Marietta, Macon, Columbus, Augusta. SB 9 (CA-style) lot-split preemptions are not present in GA — local historic districts retain full design control.