Atlanta › Land Development Code — Part III
Part 16, Chapter 36 — Beltline Overlay District Regulations
§ 16-36.001
Scope of regulations.
Sec. 16-36.001. Scope of regulations.
The scope of the regulations set forth in this chapter are the regulations in the BeltLine Overlay District. These regulations are as follows:
1.The existing zoning map and underlying zoning regulations governing all properties within the BeltLine Overlay District shall remain in full force and effect. The regulations contained within this chapter shall be overlaid upon, and shall be imposed in addition to, said existing zoning regulations with the exception of existing lots of record that are zoned R-1 through R-5 or Special Public Interest District and not located immediately adjacent to the BeltLine Corridor. Except where it is otherwise explicitly provided, whenever the following overlay regulations are at variance with said existing underlying zoning regulations, the regulations of this chapter shall apply.
2.Whenever the following regulations are at variance with historic district regulations of Part 16, Chapter 20, the more stringent regulations shall apply with the exception of regulations specific to the Beltline Corridor whereas not to impact designated historic structures or buildings.
(Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.002
Findings, purpose and intent.
Sec. 16-36.002. Findings, purpose and intent.
The BeltLine is a major initiative to link green space, trails, transit and economic development in Atlanta serving as a catalyst for transformative growth and investment encircling the urban core of the city by invigorating an underutilized rail corridor and surrounding underutilized industrial properties to create a better connected, more diversified city where people across the spectrum of age, income, ethnicity, and culture can live, work, shop, meet, and play.
The BeltLine represents a unique opportunity: to enhance the quality of life in the city; preserve and revitalize existing neighborhoods; make greater mixed-use development feasible; strategically introduce or increase density and optimize resources in select locations; increase the affordable housing inventory; promote air quality; reduce auto dependency; and concurrently advance economic development through an increased tax base.
The city finds that taking special consideration to ensure that the redevelopment of properties adjacent to and within walking distance of the BeltLine Corridor entails a compatible mixture of residential, commercial, cultural and recreational uses, and design standards conceptualized in the BeltLine Redevelopment Plan is crucial to promote and ensure the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens. The city recognizes that as the BeltLine attracts new development, the orientation and character of that growth should encourage pedestrian and transit-oriented uses and activities designed to support an urban character to foster the most positive impact on affected communities. By establishing the BeltLine Overlay District, the city intends to institute a regulatory approach that anticipates, manages, and encourages quality BeltLine development opportunities and impacts. Therefore, policies to promote these objectives within the BeltLine Overlay Zoning area will serve to:
1.Implement certain recommendations contained in the comprehensive study known as the BeltLine Redevelopment Plan as adopted by the City of Atlanta;
2.Preserve a continuous corridor along the BeltLine route of sufficient dimension for the implementation of transit, multi-use trails and green space;
3.Promote and maximize opportunities for safe and accessible green spaces, plazas, public art, and cultural and institutional buildings;
4.Preserve opportunities for connecting trails reaching beyond the BeltLine to create a broad network of trails throughout the city;
5.Encourage a grid of smaller blocks and connected streets to improve access to the BeltLine, reduce congestion, and further the urban character of the area;
6.Preserve the historic physical character of the industrial districts along the BeltLine by promoting adaptive re-use of historic structures and encouraging new construction to be consistent with the size, scale and/or character of those buildings;
7.Ensure that new construction is compatible with the character of existing established adjacent single-family neighborhoods;
8.Create new mixed-use and commercial nodes at BeltLine station areas that are pedestrian and transit-oriented;
9.Create a diversified urban environment where people can live, work, shop, meet and play;
10.Promote public health and safety by providing a pedestrian-oriented environment that includes active street-level uses, sufficient sidewalk widths, and primary pedestrian access from sidewalks to adjacent building entrances;
11.Promote development of a wide range of housing types appropriate to meet various housing needs and income levels;
12.Facilitate safe, pleasant and convenient pedestrian and bicycle circulation and minimize conflict between pedestrians and alternative transit modes;
13.Provide accessible and sufficient parking in an unobtrusive manner by encouraging shared parking solutions and minimizing commercial parking in residential neighborhoods;
14.Maximize air and water quality, including that which supports tree planting, greenspace and watershed protection, and bicycle parking;
15.Improve the aesthetics of street and built environments.
(Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.003
Boundaries.
Sec. 16-36.003. Boundaries.
The boundaries of the BeltLine Overlay District shall be as shown on the official zoning map Attachment B adopted herewith entitled wBeltLine Overlay District.w Any future property in which any portion of said property is located within the boundary of the BeltLine Overlay District shall be subject to the full regulations set forth in this chapter. (Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.004
Procedures.
Sec. 16-36.004. Procedures.
1.Rezoning—Pre-application: In addition to the current rezoning procedures, any applications for rezoning within the BeltLine Overlay District subject area will begin with a preapplication consultation between the applicant and the bureau of planning as set by the bureau of planning.
2.Special administrative permit requirement and procedures: A special administrative permit (SAP) application and a specified number of copies of each site plan, landscape plan and elevation drawings of each exterior façade shall be submitted, as applicable, and approved by the director of the bureau of planning, under the requirements specified in section 16-25.004, prior to the issuance of a building permit.
In addition to SAP submittal as specified above, the applicant shall also provide to the director of the bureau of planning a United States Postal Service certificate of mailing (first-class) of one copy of the full SAP application to the appropriate Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) chair or their designee for the purpose of notification and comment, and also a signed affidavit of said NPU notification. Said appropriate NPU shall have a period of 21 days from the date of the said certificate of mailing to provide one set of written comments to the bureau of planning prior to any SAP approval.
All exterior demolition, new construction (including additions to existing buildings), expansions of outdoor dining or any construction which results in increased lot coverage, modification of the building footprint, or modification of building facades that alters the configuration of openings, shall be subject to said site plan and building elevation approval as part of the SAP.
Any subdivisions, consolidations and replats shall conform to any proposed City of Atlanta future street plans in addition to the requirement of Part 15 of the City Code. When a conflict arises between Part 15 and this chapter, the requirements of this chapter shall apply.
Where the proposed development may require one or more special administrative permits, processing by the director of the bureau of planning shall include consideration of such special administrative permits. Where underlying regulations require variance, special exception or special use permit action, the special administrative permit shall not be issued until the necessary approval has been obtained.
3.Exemptions from the special administrative permit requirement: Existing lots of record that have an underlying zoning designation of R-1 through R-5 or Special Public Interest (SPI) and not located immediately adjacent to the BeltLine Corridor shall be used and constructed as is otherwise permitted pursuant to the provisions of Part 16 and shall not require the obtaining of a special administrative permit (SAP) except as required by the underlying zoning district.
Any interior renovations or exterior repairs not explicitly set forth shall not require SAP approval. Said classes of special administrative permit applications may be exempted from detailed review requirements upon written findings that generally within these districts, the actions proposed are of such a character or of such a scale as to make detailed reviews and approval by the planning director unnecessary. Where applications for special administrative permits are determined by reference to such findings to be thus exempted, the permit shall be issued if otherwise lawful. (Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.005
Provisions for administrative variations from regulations.
Sec. 16-36.005. Provisions for administrative variations from regulations.
As part of general action when plans require approval of a special administrative permit, the director of the bureau of planning may authorize variations from regulations generally applying based on written findings that either:
1.A plan proposed by an applicant, while not strictly in accord with regulations applying generally within the district, satisfies the public purposes and intent, and provides public protection to an equivalent or greater degree; or
2.In the particular circumstances of the case, strict application of a particular regulation or regulations is not necessary for the accomplishment of public purposes or the provision of public protection, at the time or in the future.
Notation concerning the existence of such variation shall be made by written findings of SAP approval to be filed in the office of the bureau of buildings as public record. Variances and special exceptions from underlying zoning regulations shall be required from the board of zoning adjustment (BZA) in cases such as minimum yards (not adjacent to the street), minimum transitional yards, minimum open spaces, maximum building height, maximum fence height, minimum parking and loading requirements and signage limitations among others. (Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.006
Demolition of existing structures and redevelopment requirements.
Sec. 16-36.006. Demolition of existing structures and redevelopment requirements.
Any structure 50 years or older shall not be demolished for the purpose of creating open space. All requests for demolition of buildings 50 years or older shall include concept plans for the redevelopment of the property that are sufficient to obtain an SAP for the development of the new structure.
Any property wherein 60 percent or greater of the principal building is removed or destroyed by any means shall be redeveloped in accordance with the requirements of this chapter notwithstanding any other provisions in Part 16, chapter 24 to the contrary, specifically including the installation of sidewalks and street trees. (Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.007
Definitions.
Sec. 16-36.007. Definitions.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
1.BeltLine Corridor: Property located inside the BeltLine Overlay District that is:
a.Owned by or subject to easements owned by, leased, or otherwise in favor of the Georgia Department of Transportation or a railroad subject to the jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act of 1995, 49 U.S.C. § 10101, et seq. and used for transit related purposes; or
b.Shown as railroad right-of-way on the City of Atlanta 200 foot scale cadastral maps as maintained by the bureau of planning as of November 20, 2006; or
c.Shown as part of the transit corridor by the BeltLine Redevelopment Plan adopted by the City of Atlanta in November 2005 (and as amended by map Attachment B).
2.Immediately adjacent: Physically touching or bordering upon without an intervening right-of-way.
3.Useable open space: As defined in subsection 16-28.010(5)(a).
4.Public space: As defined in subsection 16-28.012(2).
5.Sidewalk-level: Any building floor within five vertical feet of the adjacent required sidewalk, provided supplemental zone or BeltLine Corridor.
6.Street furniture and tree planting zone: The portion of a continuous sidewalk located immediately adjacent to the curb reserved for the placement of street trees and street furniture including utility-andlight poles, waste-receptacles, fire hydrants, traffic signs, traffic control boxes, newspaper boxes, transit shelters, bicycle racks, seating and similar elements in a manner that does not obstruct pedestrian access or motorist visibility. Such elements, where installed, shall be a type specified by the director of the bureau of planning in accordance with uniform design standards utilized by the director for placement of such objects in the public right-of-way.
7.Street trees: All newly planted street trees shall be a minimum caliper of three inches measured 36 inches above ground, shall be a minimum of 12 feet in height, shall have a minimum mature height of 40 feet, and shall be limbed up to a minimum height of seven feet. Trees shall have a minimum planting area of 40 square feet planted with evergreen ground cover such as mondo grass or liriope spicata or covered with hardwood mulch. Flowers and seasonal plantings may be planted in tree planting areas but shall be supplemented by hardwood mulch when not planted. Tree grates shall be prohibited.
8.Sidewalk clear zone: The portion of a continuous sidewalk located immediately contiguous to the street furniture and tree planting zone reserved for pedestrian circulation and passage and unobstructed by any permanent objects to a height of eight feet. No fixed elements, including traffic control boxes or other utility structures, shall be placed above ground in the clear zone. The clear zone shall have a consistent cross-slope not exceeding two percent.
9.Supplemental zone: The area between any building, parking lot or parking structure and the back of the required sidewalk or BeltLine Corridor when no intervening building exists.
10.Fenestration: The design and placement of windows and entrances in a building façade.
11.Shared parking: Joint use of a parking area for more than one use. Note that shared parking involves parking spaces that are used at different times by different uses, to eliminate the need to meet the minimum parking requirement for each principal use.
(Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.008
Permitted and prohibited uses and structures.
Sec. 16-36.008. Permitted and prohibited uses and structures.
1.Permitted uses: The underlying zoning requirements shall apply unless specifically prohibited by this chapter.
2.Prohibited uses: The underlying zoning prohibited use requirements shall apply. Provided, however, that the following uses are also specifically prohibited.
a.Drive-through and drive-in facilities (either as a principal or accessory use) are prohibited.
i.For the purposes of this ordinance a drive-through and drive-in facility shall mean:
a.Drive-through facility: a facility where customers remain in their vehicles while driving through a dedicated lane to conduct a transaction at an area designated as drivethrough or at service window. Such facilities shall include drive-through eating and drinking establishments, drivethrough establishments selling malt beverages, wine, or distilled spirits, drive-through banking establishments, drivethrough dry cleaning establishments, drive-through car washing establishments, and other similar drive-through establishments.
b.Drive-in facility: an eating and drinking establishment where customers park their vehicles and then remain in their vehicles while they continuously receive service by an employee working at the establishment. Such definition shall not include a facility that provides dedicated parking spots for customers to receive a single pick-up order which does not involve continual service.
b.Service stations are prohibited.
c.Data centers (either as a principal or accessory use) are prohibited.
3.Permitted accessory uses and structures: Accessory uses and structures permitted within this district shall include those customarily accessory and clearly incidental to permitted principal uses and structures and specifically includes clubhouses, pools, other recreation amenities, parking to serve authorized residential and nonresidential uses within the district, subject to the restrictions contained elsewhere in this chapter, and electric vehicle charging stations equipped with Level 1 and/or Level 2 EVSE. (Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07; Ord. No. 2014-53(14-O-1278), § 2(Attach. B), 12-10-14;
Ord. No. 2023-28(23-O-1004), § 1, 8-30-23; Ord. No. 2023-29(23-O-1005), § 1, 8-30-23; Ord. No. 2024-35(24-O-1218), § 1, 9-4-24)
§ 16-36.009
Transitional uses and yards.
Sec. 16-36.009. Transitional uses and yards.
1.Transitional height planes: The underlying zoning requirements shall apply.
2.Transitional yards: Where this district adjoins an R-1 through R-5, RG-1, RG-2, MR-1, MR-2, RLC or PD-H district without an intervening street: a minimum of 20 feet is required which shall not be used for the purpose of parking, paving, loading, servicing or any other activity with the exception of pedestrian walkways, trails, private alleys or drives up to ten feet in width. Such yards shall otherwise be planted as approved by the city arborist and maintained as a landscaped strip.
3.Screening: The underlying zoning requirements shall apply. (Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.010
Open space requirements and incentives.
Sec. 16-36.010. Open space requirements and incentives.
Except as provided below, open space requirements are regulated per the underlying zoning.
1.Required yards and requirements for sidewalk and supplemental zone widths which are constructed on private property may be counted towards useable open space requirements (UOSR) or public space requirements. Such space may include planted areas, fountains, community gardens, parks plazas, hardscape elements related to sidewalks and plazas, and similar features which are located on private property.
2.Balconies for residential units, which are enclosed on three sides or less, may be counted towards UOSR for a maximum depth of six feet.
3.The buffer area, as required in subsections 16-36.011(2)(a) and 16-36.011(3), may be counted toward UOSR or public space requirements even if such buffer area is dedicated to the city or other governmental entity for recreation use, conveyed to a conservation group or is subject to permanent easements for public use.
4.Supplemental zone area may be counted towards UOSR or public space requirements except as specified in subsections 16-36.013(1) and 16-36.013(2).
5.Open space incentives:
a.New streets incentive: New public streets, or private streets which function as public streets, may be counted towards UOSR and public space requirements provided the following criteria are met:
i.Connects two other public streets or private streets not currently directly connected; and
ii.Meets the sidewalk requirements of section 16-36.012; and
iii.When adjacent to a park area, new streets shall meet all above requirements along each park edge; and
iv.Gates shall not be permitted across said streets.
b.Connectivity incentive: Developments which provide connectivity across public rights-of-way which do not provide pedestrian access, such as railroads and freeways, may be permitted by the director of the bureau of planning to be counted towards UOSR or public space requirements provided the following criteria are met:
i.Said connectivity shall be achieved through the use of public streets, private streets which function as public streets, pedestrian walkways or shared use paths; and
ii.Meets the sidewalk requirements of section 16-36.012 for new streets; or
iii.Shared-use paths shall be a minimum width of 15"—0"; and
iv.Streets and shared-use paths shall connect to other public streets and shared-use paths or parks.
c.On-street parking incentive: New onstreet parking may be counted towards UOSR or public space requirements provided the following criteria are met:
i.No on-street parking currently exists in the public right-ofway adjacent to the project area for which credit is sought; and
ii.The new on-street parking is located where there is no existing street lane; and
iii.All new on-street parking shall be accessible to the general public; and
iv.Sidewalk extensions are provided at street intersections as applicable; and
v.All other sidewalk requirements of this chapter are met.
(Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.011
Site limitations.
Sec. 16-36.011. Site limitations.
Except as provided below, development controls are regulated per the underlying zoning.
1.Site plans shall conform to any proposed City of Atlanta future street plans to limit block sizes and enhance connectivity, unless granted a variation in accordance with this chapter. Said future street plans shall supplant any other block face requirements.
2.Properties adjacent to a public space such as a park space, greenway trail or railroad right-of-way (but not the BeltLine Corridor) shall meet the following requirements:
a.Shall have a minimum 20-foot wide buffer along the property line adjacent to said public space in existence or proposed by the city. Said buffer shall be completely landscaped excluding walkways, benches and other such recreational features as approved by the director of the bureau of planning.
b.Shall not locate off-street surface parking lots or loading docks between any building and said public space except in cases where meeting this would require the development to be in conflict with the requirements of section 16-36.014 or section 16-36.018.
c.Shall include an entrance to all adjacent uses which:
i.Shall face and be visible from said public space.
ii.Shall be directly accessible from said public space.
3.Properties adjacent to the BeltLine Corridor:
a.Shall have a minimum 20-foot wide buffer along any part of the property adjacent to the BeltLine Corridor. Said buffer shall be completely landscaped excluding walkways, benches and other such recreational features as approved by the director of the bureau of planning except as specified below.
b.Shall meet the requirements of subsections 16-36.011(2)(b) and 16-36.011(2)(c) above except as specified below.
c.Any property within or adjacent to the BeltLine Corridor that is being used for transportation purposes or any property that has been acquired primarily for non-transportation use prior to November 20, 2006 shall not be regulated by this section. However, any property within the BeltLine Corridor shall be governed by this section if either:
i.Acquired in fee simple or under a long-term ground lease after November 20, 2006; or
ii.Ceases to be used for presently active operational transit purposes after the date of this ordinance.
4.Public or private access paths to connect to any existing or proposed greenway trails, including the BeltLine, shall be built to a minimum paved width of 15'—0( for two-directional bicycle and pedestrian use.
5.Drive-through service windows, drive-in facilities and associated queuing areas shall not be located between a building and the street, unless otherwise prohibited by the underlying zoning. Such facilities shall also be limited to two drive-through or drive-in facilities and two queuing lanes.
6.Gasoline fuel dispenser structures and associated vehicular services such as air pumps and car washes shall not be located between a building and the street, unless otherwise prohibited by the underlying zoning.
7.Storage, digital industry switchboards, power generators and other relay equipment and rooms housing such equipment shall be permitted, with the exception of a minimum depth of 20 feet of the sidewalk-level street frontage beginning at any building façade along the public sidewalk.
8.Parking within a building or structure, structures shall be permitted subject to meeting the requirements in subsection 16-36.017(3).
9.Sidewalk and supplemental zone minimum width requirements as specified in sections 16-36.012 and 16-36.013 shall supplant any minimum setback requirements for any yards immediately adjacent to any public or private street.
10.Properties adjacent to the BeltLine corridor or any railroad right-of-way with an existing or proposed multi-use trail shall meet the following requirements:
d.Shall have a minimum 20-foot wide buffer along the property line adjacent to said public space in existence or proposed by the city. Said buffer shall be completely landscaped excluding walkways, benches and other such recreational features as approved by the director of the bureau of planning. A development may count this buffer area as part of the required open space or public space for the lot, even if such setback area is dedicated to the city or other governmental entity for recreation use or such buffer area is conveyed to a conservation group.
e.Shall provide a new public access street (or streets) in accordance with the BeltLine Street Framework Plan, unless granted a variation in accordance with this chapter.
f.Shall not locate off-street parking areas or loading docks between any building and said space except in cases where meeting this would require the development to be in conflict with the requirements of section 16-36.016 or section 16-36.020.
g.Shall include an entrance to all adjacent uses which:
i.Shall face and be visible from the BeltLine Corridor, park space, greenway or any railroad right-of-way with an existing or proposed multi-use railtrail.
ii.Shall be directly accessible from said space from the BeltLine Corridor park space, greenway, abandoned rail line or any railroad right-of-way line with an existing or proposed multi-use rail-trail.
11.Properties within 500 feet of the Beltline Corridor with a proposed data center use shall meet the following requirements:
a.Data centers that are not a part of a unified plan shall not exceed 150,000 square feet floor area per floor:
i.Shall-not be located within 2,000 feet of another data center.
ii.Must obtain a special use permit.
b.Data centers that are a part of a unified development plan:
i.Shall not require a special use permit
ii.Shall not exceed 300,000 square feet per floor in floor area.
iii.Shall not be located with 2,000 feet of a data center not a part of a unified plan
c.Art or green walls, or architecturally treated custom precast concrete may be installed along blank walls facing public right-of-way or Beltline Corridor in lieu of meeting fenestration requirements.
d.Parapets, cornices, and other design features can be used to articulate roof lines.
e.For new construction:
i.For every 75 feet of building length on a single face, there shall be a variation in the exterior to include but not limited to projections, recesses, changes in patterns or materials, or green walls.
ii.Buildings with facade(s) facing the public right-of-way or the Beltline Corridor shall have architectural articulation and architectural design elements of the facade(s) up to the first three levels of the building or within a minimum height of 24 feet as measured from the sidewalk level. Architectural articulation and architectural design elements such as a variety in facade treatment, materials, textures, colors and/or window and door patterns to provide visual interest are allowed.
iii.Barb-wire, chain link coated and uncoated or razor wire fencing is prohibited.
iv.Aluminum siding and synthetic stucco is prohibited.
v.Mechanical equipment shall be located in the side or rear yard of the principal structure and where possible in the location least visible from a public street or park. Screening with appropriate plant material or fencing is required if the equipment is visible from a public right-of-way or park.
f.For converted buildings:
i.Only buildings older than 50 years may be converted.
ii.Barb-wire, coated or uncoated chain link fence, or razor wire fencing is prohibited.
iii.Architectural articulation and architectural design elements such as a variety in facade treatment, materials, textures, colors and/or window and door patterns to provide visual interest are allowed.
(Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07; Ord. No. 2019-25(19-O-1049), § 1, 5-15-19)
§ 16-36.012
Sidewalks.
Sec. 16-36.012. Sidewalks.
Public sidewalks shall be located along all public streets and shall have the minimum widths specified in the BeltLine Sidewalk and Supplemental Zone Table. Sidewalks shall consist of two zones: A street furniture and tree planting zone; and a clear zone. The following regulations shall apply to all public sidewalks:
1.Paving materials: All sidewalk paving shall be a type specified by the director of the bureau of planning in accordance with uniform design standards utilized by the director for placement of such objects in the public right-of-way.
2.Street trees: are required as indicated in the BeltLine Sidewalk and Supplemental Zone Table. Street trees shall be planted a maximum of 30 feet on center within the street furniture and tree planting zone and spaced equal distance between street lights. All plantings, planting replacement and planting removal shall be approved by the city arborist. The area between required plantings shall either be planted with evergreen ground cover such as mondo grass or liriope spicata or shall be paved as approved by the director of the bureau of planning.
3.Decorative pedestrian lights: Where appropriate, shall be placed at a maximum of 60 feet on center and spaced equidistant between required street trees within the street furniture and tree planting zone. All said lights shall be Atlanta Type )C) or other as approved by the director of the bureau of planning.
4.Objects in the street furniture and tree planting zone: Trash receptacles, benches, bike racks or other similar elements shall be placed within the street furniture and tree planting zone and be a type specified by the director of the bureau of planning in accordance with uniform design standards utilized by the director for placement of such objects in the public right-of-way. Awning, canopies or similar elements shall be prohibited within the street furniture and tree planting zone.
5.Visibility at intersections: Nothing shall be erected, placed, planted or allowed to grow in such a manner as to impede visibility within visibility triangles at street intersections, as measured from the curb, between the heights of two and one-half feet and eight feet above grade. See subsection 16-28.008(9): Visibility at intersections.
6.Overhead utilities: Upon redevelopment of a parcel reasonable efforts shall be made to place utilities underground or to the rear of structures.
(Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.013
Supplemental zone.
Sec. 16-36.013. Supplemental zone.
The supplemental zone shall have the minimum widths specified in the BeltLine Sidewalk and Supplemental Zone Table.
1.The supplemental zone shall be no more than 30 inches above the adjacent public sidewalk for a minimum linear distance of 15 feet from the nearest edge of the adjacent sidewalk or BeltLine Corridor unless existing topographical considerations render this requirement unreasonable.
2.Plazas, terraces, porches and stoops within the supplemental zone shall have a maximum finished floor height of 30 inches above finished-grade unless existing topographical considerations render this requirement unreasonable.
3.Requirements for supplemental zones:
a.Adjacent to all uses: Shall provide a pedestrian walkway with a minimum width of four feet through said supplemental zone to connect to the adjacent required sidewalk. Said walkway shall be perpendicular to the street unless topography prohibits.
b.Adjacent to sidewalk-level residential uses:
i.Said zone shall be landscaped except for terraces, porches, stoops and walkways.
ii.For all such buildings with more than four residential units: Shall be permitted to share said required pedestrian walkway with one adjacent unit.
4.Fences and walls: shall only be allowed in the supplemental zone when meeting the following regulations:
a.For all sidewalk-level residential and outdoor dining uses (including adjacent to the BeltLine Corridor):
i.Fences shall not exceed 42 inches in height.
ii.Walls shall not exceed 24 inches in height unless existing topography requires a retaining wall of greater height.
iii.Outdoor dining may be separated from the sidewalk only with movable planters, fencing, or similar barriers provided they do not exceed a height of 36 inches including any plant material.
b.For all other non-residential sidewalklevel uses: fencing is prohibited.
5.Supplemental zones providing a depth of 15 feet or less shall not be counted towards UOSR or public space requirements unless all sidewalk-level non-residential uses are visible and accessible from the adjacent sidewalk by the general public.
6.Supplemental zones providing a depth greater than 15 feet shall be counted towards UOSR or public space requirements only when the following additional requirements are met:
a.Shall permit and allow pedestrians to walk on a minimum of 80 percent of the surface of the supplemental zone excluding fountains, pedestrian furniture, public art and similar elements.
b.When adjacent non-residential sidewalk-level uses are provided, all sides of buildings fronting said zone meet the requirements of subsection 16-36.014(7).
BeltLine: Sidewalk and Supplemental Zone Table Sidewalks* Street Furniture and Tree Planting Zone Minimum Width 5 feet Supplemental Zone Sidewalk Clear Zone Minimum Width Minimum Width 10 feet 0 or 5 feet** Street Trees in Street Furniture and Tree Planting Zone Required 30' apart oncenter
*Within 20 feet of an abutting an R, R-G, MR, PD-H, or LW District without an intervening street or railroad right-of-way, the sidewalk area shall taper as necessary to provide a smooth transition to the existing R, R-G, MR, PD-H, LW District sidewalk. In the event that the abutting district has no existing sidewalk, the sidewalk shall taper to a width of six feet.
** Five feet minimum required when located adjacent to sidewalk-level residential uses or located along streets which function as an arterial or collector; otherwise no supplemental zone requirement. (Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.014
Relationship of building to street.
Sec. 16-36.014. Relationship of building to street.
The regulations contained in this section apply to all buildings and structures, including parking structures.
1.Building floors shall be delineated to, and including, the third story above the sidewalk-level executed through windows, belt courses, cornice lines or similar architectural detailing.
2.The primary pedestrian entrance to all sidewalk-level uses with public street, private street or BeltLine Corridor frontage shall be architecturally articulated, face, be visible from, and be directly accessible from said required sidewalk along such street or BeltLine Corridor. The use of fire-escape, entrance-only and exit-only doors as primary entrances is explicitly prohibited.
a.For residential uses:
i.All such buildings, except assisted living, with more than four residential units shall have individual entrances to such units directly accessible from the sidewalk and shall open directly onto the adjacent sidewalk, supplemental zone, terrace, porch, plaza, or park adjacent to the sidewalk.
ii.Said buildings shall have porches, stoops or wheelchair access at each sidewalk-level entrance.
b.For non-residential uses:
i.Shall remain unlocked during business hours.
ii.Shall be at-grade with the closest portion of the adjacent required sidewalk.
3.All residential uses not located at sidewalklevel shall have pedestrian access to the required public sidewalk via a lobby fronting and accessible from said sidewalk.
4.A street address number shall be located directly above or beside the primary building and business establishment entrances, shall be clearly visible from the sidewalk, and shall have a minimum height of six inches.
5.No walls, except retaining walls, shall be located between a public street, private street or BeltLine Corridor and any building, with the exception of screening for authorized off-street loading areas. Retaining walls shall be finished poured concrete or shall be faced with stone, brick or smooth stucco. See subsection 16-29.001(25).
6.Fences and walls shall meet the following regulations.
a.For all uses not adjacent to a street or BeltLine Corridor: Fences and walls not exceeding six feet in height may be erected.
b.No barbed wire, razor wire, uncoated chain link fence or similar elements shall be visible from any public plaza, sidewalk-level outdoor dining area, the BeltLine Corridor or any other public right-of-way.
7.Fenestration: Shall be provided at the minimum percent as specified herein and in the beltline: fenestration table. fenestration shall not utilize painted glass, reflective glass or other similarly treated or opaque windows. tinted glass shall have a transmittance factor of 50 percent or greater and shall have a visible light reflectance factor of ten or less. (for additional parking deck requirements see subsection 16-36.017(3)):
a.Street-fronting non-residential uses along the BeltLine Corridor and along streets that function as arterial streets and collector streets shall meet the following sidewalk-level requirements, with the exception of churches and fire stations:
i.The length of façade without intervening fenestration or entryway shall not exceed 20 feet.
ii.Fenestration and entrances shall be provided for a minimum of 65 percent of the length of all street frontages:
a)Beginning at a point not more than three feet above the sidewalk, to a height no less than ten feet above the sidewalk; or
b)Beginning at the finished floor elevation to a height no less than ten feet above the finished floor elevation when the finished floor elevation is three or more feet above the sidewalk; or
c)Beginning at a point not more than sidewalk level, to a height no less than ten feet above the finished floor elevation when the finished floor elevation is below the sidewalk.
b.Street and BeltLine Corridor fronting residential uses and nonresidential uses along local streets, with the exception of churches and fire stations: Fenestration and entrances shall be provided for a minimum of 30 percent of the length of all street frontages.
c.Such buildings shall have windows at sidewalk level on each street frontage façade which are substantially similar in size to the sidewalk level front façade windows.
BeltLine: Fenestration Table USE Residential Non-Residential* Street or Corridor Classification Arterial or Collector Local 30% minimum length 30% minimum length 65% minimum length 30% minimum length BeltLine Corridor 30% minimum length 65% minimum length
*No minimum fenestration requirement for churches and fire-stations.
8.The primary pedestrian entrance for pedestrians to access all sidewalk level uses and business establishments with public street, private street, or BeltLine Corridor frontage shall have a visible and accessible push button activator seen from the clear zone sidewalk connected with a minimum five foot wide pedestrian walkway, except for those entrances that are used solely for access to an individual dwelling unit. This provision shall not apply to single-family and two-family residential structures. (Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07; Ord. No. 2026-05(26-O-1001), § 19, 2-25-26)
§ 16-36.015
Signage.
Sec. 16-36.015. Signage.
Refer to section 16-28A. Sign Ordinance for regulations pertaining to the underlying zoning category. (Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.016
Loading areas, loading dock entrances and building mechanical and accessory features.
Sec. 16-36.016. Loading areas, loading dock entrances and building mechanical and accessory features.
1.Dumpsters and loading areas: Shall be paved with impervious materials and shall be screened so as not to be visible from any public plaza, sidewalk-level outdoor dining area, public sidewalk, public right-of-way or BeltLine Corridor. In addition, dumpsters and loading areas serving residential uses shall be enclosed with opaque walls not less than six feet in height.
2.Loading dock entrances for nonresidential uses. Loading dock entrances for nonresidential uses shall be screened so that loading docks and related activity are not visible from the public right-of-way or BeltLine Corridor.
3.Building mechanical and accessory features.
a.Shall be located to the side, rear, or roof of the principal structure and shall be in the location of least visibility from the public right-of-way. Screening with plant or fence materials shall be required if the equipment is otherwise visible from the public right-of-way.
b.When located on rooftops shall be incorporated in the design of the building and screened with building materials similar to the building.
c.Shall not be permitted between the building and any public street.
(Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.017
Driveway curb cuts, driveways and parking structures.
Sec. 16-36.017. Driveway curb cuts, driveways and parking structures.
1.Driveway curb cuts:
a.Shall be a maximum of 24 feet for twoway entrances and 12 feet for one-way entrances, unless otherwise permitted by the commissioner of transportation.
b.Shall not be permitted on any street that functions at the location on the right-ofway in question as an arterial street or collector street when access may be provided from a local street with the exception of hotels and hospitals.
c.All sidewalk paving materials shall be continued across any intervening driveway curb cut at the same prevailing grade and cross slope as the adjacent sidewalk clear zone.
d.Shall have a band of textured concrete adjacent to the street which is in-line and equal in width to the street furniture zone and shall have a textured band of concrete adjacent to the sidewalk which is in-line with the supplemental zone with a minimum width of five feet from the sidewalk or such standard as developed by the department of transportation.
e.Maximum permitted number of driveway curb cuts for each development, subject to the provisions of subsection 16-25.002(3):
i.Developments with only one street frontage, which is less than 300 feet in length: One;
ii.Developments with only one street frontage, which is greater than or equal to 300 feet in length: Two;
iii.Developments with more than one street frontage: One located on each street frontage;
iv.For the purposes of this section, two curb cuts serving two one-way driveways shall only be counted as one curb cut.
2.Driveways: a. Driveways or circular drives, except to reach the side yard or rear yard or an on-site parking facility, are not permitted between the sidewalk and a building, and shall be perpendicular to any adjacent street with the exception of hotels, hospitals, childcare centers, kindergartens and special schools, subject to provisions in subsection 16-25.002(3).
b.All contiguous sidewalk-level residential units shall share one common drive, located in rear yards or side yards without street frontage, to serve garages and parking areas.
c.Independent driveways are not required for single- and two-family dwellings or when access is provided by a private alley.
d.Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 16-28.006(10), the director of the bureau of planning may authorize a common or joint driveway when adjacent lots have direct vehicular access to a street or a driveway from a private street which functions as a public street based on traffic considerations when a perpetual easement agreement is agreed upon by all affected property owners and a copy of such agreement is provided to the bureau of planning.
3.Parking structures either principal or accessory use: In addition to Section 16-28.028 the following regulations shall apply:
a.When located immediately adjacent to the BeltLine Corridor, any public rightof-way, public park, private street or adjacent R-1 through R-5, RLC, R-G, MR, PD-H District:
i.Shall be delineated to, and including, the third story above the sidewalk-level executed through windows, belt courses, cornice lines or similar architectural detailing and shall conceal automobiles from view. Said structure shall have an appearance similar to that of the adjoining or attached residential, commercial or mixed-use structure.
ii.Parking structure façades shall have openings screened with mesh or decorative panels, tinted or sandblasted glass, or similar screening elements so as to prevent views into the parking structure.
iii.Parking decks shall be illuminated with uplighting or shall contain shielded internal light bulbs to eliminate light spillage outside the structure. See section 16-36.018 for additional lighting requirements.
b.Along all façades not along the BeltLine Corridor, any public right-of-way, public park, or private street: Shall provide a continuous landscaped strip between the structure and property line to be planted as indicated in subsection 16-36.017(3)(c)(i) below.
c.Façades along the BeltLine Corridor, any public right-of-way, public park, or private street:
i.Shall meet the façade treatment requirements as applicable in subsection 16-36.012(5) unless topographic considerations render this requirement unreasonable. In such case, a continuous minimum five feet wide landscaped strip shall be provided between the structure and the public sidewalk, except at ingress and egress points into the structure. Said landscaped strip shall be planted with street trees spaced a maximum distance of 20 feet on center, as defined in section 16-36.007. The landscape strip shall also be planted with evergreen ground cover such as mondo grass, liriope spicata, ivy or evergreen shrubs with a maximum mature height of 24 inches. All plantings, planting replacement and planting removal shall be approved by the city arborist.
ii.Shall meet an active-use depth requirement from said parking structure façade at sidewalk-level, except at ingress and egress points into said parking structures. When two or more floors meeting the definition of sidewalk-level exist within the same building, this requirement shall only apply to the frontage of each floor located within five vertical feet above or below the grade of the adjacent sidewalk. For the purposes of this chapter active uses shall be serviced by plumbing, heating, and electricity and are limited to residential, retail, eating and drinking establishments, museum, gallery, office, institutional, auditorium, library, hotel lobby, or cultural facility uses, and shall not include parking, non-residential storage areas, driveway or queuing lanes parallel to the adjacent street. Minimum active-use depths shall be provided as follows:
1)Residential uses:
Minimum depth of ten feet.
2)All other uses (as specified above): Minimum depth of 20 feet.
4.All developments, including parking decks, shall have walkways a minimum width of four feet connecting ground level parking to the public sidewalks and to all building entrances.
5.Entrances to garages and carports that serve a single residential unit, and which are located less than 20 feet behind the façade of the principal structure, shall face the rear yard or a side yard which has no street frontage.
6.Drop-off lanes: Where on-street parking is provided, certain parking spaces may be utilized as drop-off spaces, when permitted by the commissioner of public works. Drop-off spaces or lanes are otherwise prohibited.
(Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07; Ord. No. 2008-67(08-O-0196), § 23, 7-21-08; Ord. No. 202033(20-O-1381), § 57, 6-23-20)
§ 16-36.018
Lighting, security, and maintenance requirements.
Sec. 16-36.018. Lighting, security, and maintenance requirements.
1.All lighting, including all parking decks and lots, loading areas, and lit canopies, shall reduce light spillage onto adjacent residentially used properties by providing cutoff luminaries that have a maximum 90 degree illumination.
2.All lighting that up-lights trees, buildings or other elements, shall be located a minimum height of eight feet above the sidewalk, driveway or pedestrian area when not located within completely landscaped areas. (Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.019
Minimum landscaping requirements for surface parking lots.
Sec. 16-36.019. Minimum landscaping requirements for surface parking lots.
The requirements of City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances, chapter 158 vegetation, article II, tree protection, section 30, parking lot requirements shall apply to this district in addition to the street tree planting requirements, with additional requirements as follows:
1.Said surface parking lot requirements shall apply to all lots regardless of size;
2.Existing parking lots shall not be required to reduce the number of parking spaces by more than three percent as a result of implementing the following surface parking lot landscaping regulations:
a.All parking bays shall be terminated with a landscape strip a minimum width of five feet and equal to the length of the parking bay.
b.All required landscaped areas shall be planted with evergreen groundcover or shrubs with a maximum mature height of 30 inches; and
c.All required landscaped buffer strips, regardless of length, shall have a minimum of one tree planted per 30 feet of length with a minimum caliper of two and one-half inches.
(Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
§ 16-36.020
Off-street parking and loading requirements.
Sec. 16-36.020. Off-street parking and loading requirements.
In addition to the provisions of subsection 16-28.008(7), which shall apply and are incorporated herein the following parking requirements shall apply to all permitted uses. (See also sections 16-28.013 and 16-28.014.)
1.Minimum parking: With the exception of the minimum parking requirements applicable to Commercial Food Preparation, Delivery-based commercial kitchens, and Eating and Drinking Establishments which shall be determined by the underlying zoning, there will be no minimum parking requirement within the BeltLine Overlay District.
2.Maximum parking: No development, unless granted a special exception by the board of zoning adjustment or subject to "2.c" below, shall have parking in excess of:
a.For residential uses:
i.One space per each onebedroom unit.
ii.Two spaces per each two or greater bedroom unit.
b.For non-residential uses: The greater of the following either:
i.Ten spaces greater than the minimum parking as determined by the underlying zoning and any applicable provisions of section 16-28.014; or
ii.Twenty-five percent greater than the minimum parking as determined by the underlying zoning and any applicable provisions of section 16-28.014.
iii.When the underlying zoning has no minimum requirement, one space per 300 square feet of floor area shall be used to determine conformance with "2.b.i" and "2.b.ii" immediately above.
c.High-capacity transit maximums. Paragraphs "2.a" and "2.b" immediately above shall not apply to developments subject to the highcapacity transit parking requirement of section 16-28.014(14).
d.The parking maximums of paragraph "2" immediately above shall not include newly created on-street parking along a public street or private street built to public standards.
3.Minimum loading: The number and size of off-street loading spaces required shall be determined by the underlying zoning.
4.Shared parking and loading:
a.Reduction of on-site parking required may be granted by administrative variation subject to evidence of a shared parking arrangement within 600 feet of the property and not located either:
i.Within districts R-1 through R-5, RLC or PDH; and
ii.Immediately adjacent to singlefamily dwellings in districts RG-1, RG-2, MR-1 and MR-2.
iii.Said evidence of a shared parking arrangement shall include the following:
a)A to-scale map indicating location of proposed parking spaces; and
b)Written consent of property owners agreeing to the shared parking arrangement; and
c)Copies of parking leases. Renewed leases shall be filed with the bureau of planning. Failure to file or lapse of such required lease agreement with the bureau of planning shall terminate said shared parking arrangement.
b.Reduction of on-site loading required is authorized as provided for in section 16-28.15.
5.Off-street surface parking lots:
a.Shall be accessory to a permitted principal use only, provided that parking spaces serving another principal permitted use may use such facility for shared parking during non-normal business hours by compliance with the parking requirements of the underlying zoning.
b.Shall not be located between a building and the street without an intervening building.
c.No portion of any parcel on which a building has been demolished, destroyed, or otherwise removed shall be utilized for an independent primary park-for-hire surface parking lot.
6.For office uses:
a.All developments shall reserve and designate at least five percent of the employee parking spaces "Carpool Only." Such spaces shall be located near the building's employee entrance or other preferable locations within the employee parking areas as approved by the director of the bureau of traffic and transportation.
b.All new parking structures shall be built to accommodate vanpool access at entry level. The minimum ceiling height for vanpools is eight feet two inches.
(Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07; Ord. No. 2019-09(18-O-1581), § 7.M, 1-31-19; Ord. No. 2024-06 (23-O-1003), § 1, 2-14-24)
§ 16-36.021
Off-street bicycle parking.
Sec. 16-36.021. Off-street bicycle parking.
See section 16-28.014(6), Bicycle parking requirements. (Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07; Ord. No. 2019-09(18-O-1581), § 12, 1-31-19)
§ 16-36.022
Pedestrian bridges and tunnels.
Sec. 16-36.022. Pedestrian bridges and tunnels.
1.Bridges, tunnels, buildings, and parking structures are prohibited when located above or below the BeltLine Corridor, public streets, private streets which function as public streets, or other public rights-of-way unless granted an administrative variation subject to the following:
a.There are extraordinary and exceptional conditions pertaining to the particular property in question because of its size, shape, topography, subsurface conditions, or overhead structures; and
b.Such conditions are peculiar to the property in question; and
c.Relief, if granted, would not cause substantial detriment to the public good or impair the purposes and intent of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Atlanta.
(Ord. No. 2007-09, § 1(Att. A), 2-28-07)
CHAPTER 36A. AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING (BELTLINE
OVERLAY DISTRICT)