Forsyth County › Unified Development Code

Chapter 16 — Supplementary Regulations for Specific Uses, Article 1 — AIRPORTS, HELIPORTS AND HELIPADS

current as of 2026-04-02currency checked manuallyOfficialofficial source ↗5 sections · full chapter

§ 16-1.1

Generally.

No person shall hereinafter construct, maintain, or operate any airport, heliport, or helipad in Forsyth County without the owner thereof having first obtained a conditional use permit as hereinafter set forth.

§ 16-1.2

Types of Permits.

(A)Limited Airport Use: Use of an airport by the owner thereof solely for private transportation purposes without charge or fee; provided, however, that no aircraft utilizing the airport exceeds the capacity for carrying a maximum of four adult passengers, and, provided further, that no aircraft utilizing the facility is powered or otherwise propelled by turbine or jet engines and further, that no aircraft is stored or hangared at the airport for a charge or fee, no flight or ground instruction is carried on at, or from, the airport, no instrument, air frame, or engine repair is undertaken at the airport for third parties for a charge or fee, and no fuel, supplies, or aircraft sales are undertaken at the airport.

(B)General Airport Use: Use of an airport by a person for other than private transportation purposes, use of an airport by aircraft with a capacity to carry more than four adult passengers, use of an airport by aircraft propelled by jet or turbine engines, use of an airport for any commercial activity prohibited in Section 16-1.2 (A) above.

(C)Heliport Use: Use of a heliport for routine and regular landings and takeoffs of one or more helicopters whether for private, non-commercial purposes or not.

(D)Helipad Use: Use of a helipad for landings and takeoffs of helicopters whether for private, non-commercial purposes or not.

§ 16-1.3

Permit Issuance, General Airport Uses.

The Board of Commissioners may issue a general airport use permit provided:

(A)The proposed airport site shall be of sufficient size to meet the Federal Aviation Administration requirements for the class of airport proposed.

(B)There shall be no existing or proposed flight obstructions such as towers, chimneys or other natural obstructions outside the proposed airport which would fall within the approach zone to any of the proposed airport runways or landing strips.

(C)There shall be sufficient distance between the end of each usable landing strip and the airport boundary to satisfy the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration and in no event shall the landing strip, or strips, be less than 200 feet from any property line. In cases where air rights or easements have been acquired from the owners of abutting properties in which approach zones, satisfactory evidence thereof shall be submitted with the application.

(D)Adequate space for off-street parking shall be provided.

(E)Application shall be accompanied by a plan, drawn to scale, showing the proposed location of the airport;

boundary lines; dimensions; names of the owners of abutting properties; proposed layout of runways;

landing strips or areas, taxi strips, aprons, roads, parking areas, hangars, buildings, and other structures and facilities; the location and height of all buildings, structures, trees and overhead wires falling within the airport approach zone in less than five hundred (500) feet distance from the boundary lines of the airport; other pertinent data such as topography and grading plan, drainage, water, and sewage, etc.; such licenses and permits as may be required by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Georgia Department of Transportation for the class of airport proposed.

(F)All applications for general airport use permits shall be subject to the same notice and review procedures required for the enactment of amendments to this resolution.

(G)The Board of Commissioners shall have determined that all of the foregoing requirements have been satisfied, and further, that the benefits of and need for the proposed airport are greater than any possible depreciating effects and damages to the neighboring properties.

§ 16-1.4

Permit Issuance, Limited Airport Uses.

The Board of Commissioners may issue limited airport use permits provided all requirements of foregoing Section 16-1.3 have been satisfied and upon sworn affidavit by the applicant certifying that the airport shall be used only for the limited airport uses set forth in Section 16-1.2 (A) of this Resolution.

Limited airport use permits shall not be assignable or transferable and shall terminate automatically upon any usage in conflict with those permitted in Section 16-1.2 (A).

§ 16-1.5

Permit Issuance, Heliport and Helipad Use.

Heliports and helipads require conditional use permits in specified commercial, industrial and agricultural zoning districts. Heliports and helipads have unique land use impacts and must be consistent with public interest and safety. Such facilities must meet applicable safety standards of the Federal Aviation Administration, state safety standards, and fire suppression and safety standards of the Fire Marshal. The Board of Commissioners may issue heliport and helipad use permits at a fee to be set by the Board from time to time, provided all requirements of foregoing Section 16-1.3 have been satisfied and upon sworn affidavit by the applicants certifying that the heliport or helipad shall be used only for the uses set forth in Section 16-1.2(C) and (D) of this Code. Heliport and helipad use permits shall not be assignable or transferable and shall terminate automatically upon any usage in conflict with those permitted in Section 16-1.2(C) and (D). Helicopter landing areas shall be at least 200 feet from all property lines adjacent to residential and agricultural zoning districts and at least 50 feet from property lines in all other zoning districts. Air ambulances shall comply only with a 50 foot setback from all property lines. All take-off, landing, and parking areas for heliports must be surfaced with a dust proof material.

The director or Board of Commissioners may require an acoustical report and a noise mitigation plan be approved and implemented prior to the issuance of any permit for a heliport or helipad.

ARTICLE II, COMMUNICATION TOWERS AND COMMUNICATION ANTENNA PERMITS: