Gwinnett County › Unified Development Ordinance

Title 2 — Land Use and Zoning, Chapter 200 — General Provisions

current as of 2025-10-28currency checked manuallyOfficialofficial source ↗9 sections · full chapter

§ 200-10

Purpose

This Title 2 is intended to implement the purposes set forth in Section 100-20, and further is enacted for the purposes of promoting the public health, safety, and the general welfare of the present and future inhabitants of Gwinnett County; of lessening congestion in the streets; securing safety from fire, panic and other dangers;

providing adequate light and air; preventing the overcrowding of land, avoiding both undue concentration of population and urban sprawl; protecting natural resources, facilitating the adequate provision of multi-modal transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements; protecting property against blight and depreciation; encouraging the most appropriate use of land, buildings and other structures throughout the County; securing economy in government expenditures; and for other purposes, all in accordance with a comprehensive plan for the development of the County.

§ 200-20

Authority

This Title 2 is enacted pursuant to Gwinnett County's authority to adopt plans and exercise the power of zoning granted by the Constitution of the State of Georgia, Article 9, Section 2; pursuant to Chapters 66 and 70 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated; by the Georgia Planning Act of 1989; by Gwinnett County's authority to enact regulations and exercise powers granted by local laws and by the County's general police powers; and by other powers and authority provided by applicable federal, state, and local laws.

§ 200-30

Incorporation of Official Zoning Map

200-30.1 The location and boundaries of Zoning Districts are hereby established as shown on the map

entitled "Official Gwinnett County Zoning Map" which is hereby made a part of this UDO. The Official Gwinnett County Zoning Map may be amended from time to time and maintained in electronic format by the Gwinnett County Geographic Information System.

200-30.2 Certified copies of said map shall be prepared by the Gwinnett County Department of Planning and

Development.

§ 200-40

Division of County into Zoning Districts

200-40.1 For the purposes of this Unified Development Ordinance, the unincorporated area of Gwinnett

County, Georgia, is divided into Zoning Districts designated as follows:

RA-200 Agriculture-Residence District R-LL Single-Family Residence-Large Lot District R-100 Single-Family Residence District R-75 Single-Family Residence District R-60 Single-Family Residence District R-SR Senior-Oriented Residence District R-TH Single-Family Residence Townhouse District R-IF Residential In-Fill District LRR Low-Rise Residential Multifamily District MRR Mid-Rise Residential Multifamily District HRR High-Rise Residential Multifamily District O-I Office-Institutional District C-1 Neighborhood Business District C-2 General Business District C-3 Highway Business District M-1 Light Industry District M-2 Heavy Industry District OSC Open Space Conservation District TND Traditional Neighborhood Development District MU-N Neighborhood Mixed-Use District MU-C Community Mixed-Use District MU-R Regional Mixed-Use District

200-40.2 Inactive Zoning Districts.

No new zoning applications will be accepted for the inactive districts listed below, or any other inactive zoning districts in the County. In these districts, any existing or proposed development shall conform to the development and use standards established by zoning resolution for that particular parcel, or the most similar current zoning district as indicated in 200-40.2 B. below, subject to the provisions of Section 100-60 and any other applicable sections of this UDO.

A.Inactive Zoning Districts include, but are not limited to, the following:

1.MOD Modified Single-Family Development

2.CSO Conservation Subdivision Overlay District

3.CLU Cluster Subdivision Overlay District

4.R-140 Single Family Residence District

5.RL Lakeside Residence District

6.R-ZT Single Family Residence Zero Lot Line/Townhouse District (Prior to January 2005) and R-ZT Single Family Residence District (After January 2005)

7.MH Manufactured Housing

8.RM Multi-Family Residence District

9.RMD Multi-Family Residence District

10.RM-6 Multi-Family Residence District

11.RM-8 Multi-Family Residence District

12.RM-10 Multi-Family Residence District

13.RM-13 Multifamily Residence District

14.RM-24 Multifamily Residence District

15.HS Hospital Service District

16.NS Neighborhood Shopping District

17.O-R Office-Residence District

18.OBP Office-Business Park District

19.MUO Mixed-Use Overlay District

20.MUD Mixed-Use Development District

21.Big Haynes Creek Conservation Subdivision Option

B.Similar Current Active Zoning Districts:

Inactive District Active District

1.RL, R-140, R-100 MOD, and R-100 CLU: R-100

2.O-R, R-75 CLU, and R-75 MOD: R-75

3.CSO and Big Haynes Creek Conservation Subdivision Option: OSC

4.R-ZT, and MH: R-TH

5.Single-family detached or duplexes in RM, RMD, RM-6, RM-8, RM-10, and R-ZT: R-IF

6.Multifamily in RM, RM-6, RM-8, RM-10, and RM-13: LRR

7.RM-24: MRR

8.OBP and HS: O-I

9.NS: C-1

10.MUO and MUD: MU-C

200-40.3 Split-Zoned Parcels.

No application for rezoning shall be permitted that creates a split-zoned parcel, unless otherwise authorized by this UDO or by action of the Board of Commissioners.

§ 200-50

Interpretation of Zoning District Boundaries

200-50.1 Where uncertainty exists with respect to the location of the boundaries of any Zoning District in

Gwinnett County, Georgia, the following rules shall apply.

A.Where a Zoning District boundary line is shown as approximately following a corporate limits line, a militia district line, a land lot line, a lot line or the centerline of a street, a county road, a state highway, an interstate highway or a railroad right-of-way or such lines extended, then such lines shall be construed to be the Zoning District boundary lines.

B.Where a Zoning District boundary line divides a lot, the requirements of the Zoning District in which the greater portion of the lot lies shall apply to the balance of the lot, unless otherwise determined by conditions of zoning.

C.Whenever any street, alley or other public way is vacated or abandoned by official action of the County, the zoning district adjoining each side of the street, alley or public way will be automatically extended to the center of the street, alley or public way.

D.Where a boundary line is shown and its location is not fixed by any of the rules of this sub-section, its precise location shall be determined by the Director.

§ 200-60

Relationship to Comprehensive Plan

200-60.1 Role of the Comprehensive Plan.

The Gwinnett County Unified Plan (Comprehensive Plan), consisting of its Future Development Map and related policies, as may be amended from time to time, is hereby established as the official policy of the County concerning designated future land uses, and as a guide to decisions regarding the appropriate manner in which property shall be zoned in the unincorporated area of Gwinnett County.

200-60.2 Relationship between Comprehensive Plan and Zoning.

The Gwinnett County Unified Plan (Comprehensive Plan) does not change the existing zoning districts in Gwinnett County, does not effectuate an amendment to the Gwinnett County Zoning Map, and does not itself permit or prohibit any existing land uses.

Instead, the Unified Plan establishes broad planning policy for current and future land uses and should be consulted as a guideline for making decisions about applications to amend the Gwinnett County Zoning Map and text of the UDO.

§ 200-70

Reserved

§ 200-80

Zoning Certification

Upon request, the Director shall have authority to issue written zoning certifications stating the existing zoning of a particular parcel of property. Requests to the Director shall be in writing, accurately identify the subject property as required by the Director and be accompanied by a fee established by the Board of Commissioners.

§ 200-90

Zoning Classification of De-Annexed Property

Property which has been deannexed from any municipality may be zoned for the same use for which that property was zoned immediately prior to such deannexation, provided that the County and the municipality in which the deannexed property was located have a common zoning ordinance with respect to zoning classifications. Otherwise, a public hearing, as specified in Section 270, will be conducted to establish the appropriate zoning classification for the property. Any non-conforming use shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 260 of this UDO.