Title 2 — Land Use and Zoning, Chapter 230 — Standards Applying to All Districts
Permitted and Special Uses
each zoning district and only in the manner so listed. Any use not listed in said table shall be prohibited, except as contained herein. Additionally, for any use not listed in said table, the Director shall have the authority to determine the most appropriate zoning district(s) and/or Special Use Permit requirements for such use, after receiving documentation from the property owner adequately outlining and describing the specific details of the proposed use.
is a non-conforming use lawfully established prior to the effective date of the ordinance or amendment that rendered it legally non-conforming. See Chapter 260 Non-Conforming Uses.
in the Gwinnett County Telecommunications Tower and Antenna Ordinance.
the Gwinnett County Code of Ordinances.
265 of this UDO.
the definitions section of this ordinance; and 2) to have the commonly accepted definitions contained in the most recent edition of the Complete Illustrated Book of Development Definitions.
Conditional Use Standards
except that, where any requirement of the Conditional Use Standards conflicts with a condition of rezoning, special use permit or other action of the Board of Commissioners, the condition shall prevail.
Accessory Use, Building, and Structure Standards
not limited, to the Conditional Use Standards.
of the principal use and located on the same lot as the principal use to which they are accessory.
the principal building to which it is accessory, unless otherwise authorized by the Director.
occupied, unless otherwise authorized by the Director.
property shall be removed within 180 days unless a new principal building is constructed.
the public right-of-way. Landscaping, unless required by this UDO, shall not be located within the public right-of-way unless approved by Gwinnett County Department of Transportation.
otherwise in this section.
by this UDO.
property lines. Accessory buildings shall meet the following minimum setback requirements adjacent to all property lines:
Table 230-1: Accessory Building Setback Requirements The following setbacks shall apply to accessory buildings, unless otherwise specified in this UDO:
| Accessory building size, in area | Minimum setbacks |
|---|---|
| 0 - 500 sq. ft. | 5 ft. |
| Over 500 sq. ft. | 10 ft. |
rr r 0 Front Yard Accessory Structures Prohibited F=!.ONT _OT LINE SIDEW/1L< ST A:: ::T
yards: fences, walls, gates and gatehouses, signs, mailboxes, covered mail kiosks, sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking pads, parking lots, parking decks, EV charging stations with canopies, lampposts, flagpoles, basketball goals adjacent to driveway, birdbaths, birdhouses, arbors, trellises, landscaping, and similar features. In the RA-200 zoning district, provided the lot is a minimum of three acres in size, the following shall also be allowed in front and side yards: barns and stables, silos, animal quarters, and agricultural buildings that are customarily related to commercial farming.
In all non-residential zoning districts, the following shall also be allowed in front yards, as applicable: fountains, statues, and similar decorative features; gasoline pumps and canopies; cart corrals; vacuum stands and canopies, and similar features.
Dumpsters shall be permitted subject to the following standards:
Dumpsters, including the enclosure structure, shall be located a minimum of five feet from property lines and buffers.
In all districts, flagpoles shall be permitted as accessory structures subject to the following standards:
Drive-through service windows shall meet the standards for Section 240-80, Stacking Lanes for Drive Through Facilities or Service Windows, and the additional following standards:
Collection bins shall be permitted subject to the following standards:
Outdoor seating for restaurant service shall be permitted subject to the following standards:
Application of Dimensional Standards
within this UDO, and which have not been granted approval by the Board of Commissioners through a concurrent variance, shall be subject to a variance by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The height limitations of this Section shall not apply to:
No lot shall be reduced in size so that the minimum lot size established by each zoning district within this UDO is not maintained. This limitation shall not apply when a portion of a lot is acquired for a public purpose or for unbuildable lots such as those used exclusively for subdivision identification signage, entrance or landscape features, common areas, mail kiosks, or stormwater facilities.
Any lot of record existing at the time of the adoption or amendment of the UDO, that has an area or width that is less than is required by the UDO, may be used, subject to the following exceptions and modifications.
230-40.5 Contextual Front Yard Setback, Single-Family Detached L O -I LI N~ J u, "o'.c, C? 'C' "D nL Maximum Setback en c, I --1- __I __ ~ ---< - 1-:u .LI Setback ------- .. --1-- JJ rn r, r, rn "" ""
........ ........ ........ ........ ·q; Range
\ \ Minimum Setback l (
land and structures and for the location and operation of businesses and industries shall be obtained by the applicant and transmitted with a request for a development permit, building permit, or a certificate of occupancy.
A temporary building or buildings for use in connection with a construction project or land subdivision development shall be permitted on the land of the project during the construction period upon issuance of a building permit for the temporary building(s).
Minimum Space between Dwelling Units
The minimum distance between dwelling units shall be 10 feet measured at the closest points between the two structures, excluding building projections such as cornices, eaves, steps, handrails, gutters, and downspouts, except where a greater distance is required by the Gwinnett County Construction Code.
Permitted Encroachments upon Required Setbacks
features may extend into the required front, side, and rear setbacks provided such extensions do not exceed three feet. Unenclosed decks and porches, steps, and landings may extend into the minimum required side or rear setback, but no closer than five feet from any property line. Unenclosed decks and porches, steps, and landings may extend into the minimum required front setback provided that such extensions do not exceed 10 feet and are located at least five feet from the front property line.
the required side or rear setbacks provided such extensions do not exceed three feet. Such features may extend into the front setback provided such extensions are no closer than 15 feet from the front property line.
walkways may extend into any setback provided such extensions are at least five feet from any property line.
230-60

~ Setback ~ ~ CD 15 Feet "0 " CD 0 (min.) 0 u u u m m m
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9.E QU RE D FRO t-. T : =UU ! R = J SI DE/~!:AR S':.:TIJACK SETBACK SET B A2K ( ANY~
Street Access
approved street, publicly maintained street, or private street.
Fences and Retaining Walls
No fence shall exceed four feet in height within a front yard or eight feet in height in any other location, except as provided in Section 230-80.2.
No retaining wall shall exceed four feet in height within 10 feet of the front property line.
Protection of Existing Cemeteries
Standards for Zoning Buffers
Table 230-2: Table of Minimum Buffer Requirements Adjacent Zoning District Zoning District Single- R-TH R-IF Multi- TND Mixed-Use3 Commercial4 O-I Industrial5
| District | Single-Family Detached Residential | R-TH | R-IF | Multi-Family Residential | TND | Mixed-Use | Commercial | O-I | Industrial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Family Detached Residential | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| R-IF | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| R-TH | 35 ft. | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Multi-Family Residential | 50 ft. | 30 ft. | 10 ft. | None | 10 ft. | None | None | None | None |
| TND | 40 ft. | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Mixed-Use | 75 ft. | 30 ft. | None | None | 10 ft. | None | None | None | None |
| C-1 | 50 ft. | 20 ft. | 10 ft. | 10 ft. | 30 ft. | 10 ft. | None | None | None |
| C-2 | 75 ft. | 30 ft. | 20 ft. | 20 ft. | 40 ft. | 20 ft. | None | None | None |
| C-3 | 85 ft. | 40 ft. | 30 ft. | 30 ft. | 50 ft. | 30 ft. | None | None | None |
| O-I | 50 ft. | 20 ft. | 10 ft. | 10 ft. | 30 ft. | 10 ft. | None | None | None |
| M-1 | 75 ft. | 50 ft. | 50 ft. | 50 ft. | 50 ft. | 50 ft. | 30 ft. | 30 ft. | None |
| M-2 | 100 ft. | 100 ft. | 50 ft. | 50 ft. | 50 ft. | 50 ft. | 30 ft. | 30 ft. | None |
Residential1 Single-Family None None None None None None None None None Detached Residential1 R-TH 35 ft6. None None None None None None None None Mixed-Use3 75 ft. 30 ft. None None 10 ft. None None None None
1 RA-200, R-LL, R-100, R-75, R-60, R-SR, and OSC (Inactive Districts: CSO, CLU, MOD, R-140, RL, R-ZT)
2 LRR, MRR, and HRR (Inactive Districts: MH, MHS, RM, RMD, RM-6, RM-8, RM-10, RM-13, RM-24)
3 MU-N, MU-C, and MU-R (Inactive Districts: MUO, MUD)
4 C-1, C-2, and C-3 (Inactive Districts: O-R, HS, NS, OBP)
5 M-1 and M-2 6 Single-family detached residential is exempt.
R[SID ENT IAL zo,lflG DIS-RICT Title 2: Land Use and Zoning 230-100

Architectural Design Standards
The purpose of these Architectural Design Standards is to enhance the viability and livability of Gwinnett County and encourage pleasing aesthetic design quality in architecture. The Architectural Design Standards promote high quality and aesthetically attractive development and construction in Gwinnett County and establish the basic requirements for architectural and associated landscape components.
The Gwinnett County Architectural Design Standards shall apply to all buildings and structures constructed in unincorporated Gwinnett County. Wherever the provisions and/or conditions of a zoning case and the requirements of these standards impose a more restrictive, greater, or higher standards, the requirements of the strictest requirement shall prevail.
Buildings and structures not requiring an Architectural Design Review, as indicated below, shall adhere to the following:
Certain buildings and structures shall adhere to special review and design requirements.
Building designs required by zoning conditions as specified by the Board of Commissioners shall be subject to review and approval of the Department, prior to the issuance of a building permit.
Screening height shall be equal to the height of the equipment.
Screening height shall be equal to the height of the equipment. Screening shall not resemble mechanical louvers.
Screening shall not resemble mechanical louvers.
Site Structures. Miscellaneous site structures include, but are not limited to, trash enclosures, shopping cart corrals, and vending/self-service machines.
Table 230-3: Color and Finish Chart The following chart represents, but is not limited to, typical and common building finishes.
| Brick | Natural clay colors or paint finish earth tone and neutral colors. |
|---|---|
| Stone | Natural finish colors. |
| Stucco/EIFS | Earth tone and neutral colors. |
| Earth tone and neutral colors of textured coating finish. | |
| Tilt-up Concrete | |
| Concrete with earth tone and/or neutral color coating or architectural concrete with exposed aggregate finish. | |
| Pre-cast Concrete | |
| Earth tone and neutral colors. Metal panels with simulated natural finish may be allowed subject to review by the Director. | |
| Metal Panels | |
| Earth tone and neutral colors. Tile with simulated natural finish may be allowed subject to review by the Director. | |
| Ceramic Accent Tile | |
| Standing Seam Metal | Colors shall be earth tone, neutral, dark green, silver, black, dark metallic bronze, or beige, and/or aged copper. |
| Roof | |
| Standing Seam Metal | Colors shall be earth tone, neutral, dark green, silver, black, dark metallic bronze, or beige, and/or aged copper. |
| Awnings | |
| Colors shall be earth tone, neutral, dark green, and/or black. Alternative colors may be utilized provided that the awnings and other alternative color features do not exceed 10 percent of any single façade surface area. Graphic stripes or non-object graphics may be allowed subject to the review of the Director. | |
| Fabric Awnings | |
| Earth tone and neutral colors – colors shall be consistent with features/colors of the principal adjacent building. | |
| Canopy Fascia Panels | |
| Slate or Stone Shingles | Natural stone finish color. |
| Natural terra cotta or slate color. | |
| Architectural Roof Tiles | |
| Dimensional Shingles | Shingles with slate or natural stone color appearance. |
| Natural Finish. | |
| Wood Shakes | |
| Earth tone, neutral, and natural finish colors for the main field and accents. | |
| Wood Siding & Fiber | |
| Cement Siding and Panels | |
| High Pressure Laminate | Earth tone and neutral colors. HPL panels with simulated natural finish may be allowed subject to review by the Director. |
| (HPL) |
Tilt-up Concrete Earth tone and neutral colors of textured coating finish.
Pre-cast Concrete Concrete with earth tone and/or neutral color coating or architectural concrete with
exposed aggregate finish.
Metal Panels Earth tone and neutral colors. Metal panels with simulated natural finish may be
allowed subject to review by the Director.
Ceramic Accent Tile Earth tone and neutral colors. Tile with simulated natural finish may be allowed subject
to review by the Director.
Standing Seam Metal Colors shall be earth tone, neutral, dark green, silver, black, dark metallic bronze, or
Roof beige, and/or aged copper.
Awnings beige, and/or aged copper.
Colors shall be earth tone, neutral, dark green, and/or black. Alternative colors may
Fabric Awnings be utilized provided that the awnings and other alternative color features do not
exceed 10 percent of any single façade surface area. Graphic stripes or non-object
graphics may be allowed subject to the review of the Director.
Canopy Fascia Panels Earth tone and neutral colors – colors shall be consistent with features/colors of the
principal adjacent building.
Slate or Stone Shingles Natural stone finish color.
Architectural Roof Tiles Natural terra cotta or slate color.
Wood Shakes Natural Finish.
Wood Siding & Fiber Earth tone, neutral, and natural finish colors for the main field and accents.