Georgia Zoning Procedures Law (ZPL) (GA)

Tracked preemption from the Georgia overlay bundle.

Overview

Effective
1985-01-01
Sunset
Authority
state
Scope
state:GA

Trigger predicate

When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.

always true

Preempted fields

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

FieldOpValueNote
zoning_decision_procedure.public_notice_min_daysfloor_at15Published notice required at least 15 days (and not more than 45 days) before hearing in newspaper of general circulation
zoning_decision_procedure.public_notice_max_dayscap_at45
zoning_decision_procedure.requires_published_noticeoverrideTrue
zoning_decision_procedure.requires_sign_postingoverrideTrue
zoning_decision_procedure.requires_public_hearingoverrideTrue
zoning_decision_procedure.requires_written_policies_and_proceduresoverrideTrue
zoning_decision_procedure.requires_written_standardsoverrideTrue§36-66-5(b): standards for exercising zoning power must be adopted in writing including existing use, suitability, density, infrastructure impact

Citation

Authority source
O.C.G.A. §§36-66-1 through 36-66-6 (Zoning Procedures Law)
§ §§36-66-1 through 36-66-6
https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-36/chapter-66/

Research notes

Procedural preemption — does not dictate substantive zoning content. Non-compliance renders the zoning decision void ab initio (Tilley Properties v. Bartow County; City of Cumming v. Flowers). 'Zoning decision' includes adoption/amendment of zoning ordinance or map, rezoning, variance/special-use permits if so classified locally, and comprehensive code rewrites. Excludes subdivision regulation, building permits, and standalone historic preservation actions. Universal — every GA city must comply.