Atlanta Residential Zoning | Dorsey Alston Realtors

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The City of Atlanta has 10 residential zoning districts ranging from R-1 to R-5. The chart below displays all of the districts alongside the setbacks and lot requirements. This information can be helpful when purchasing a home, considering a renovation to your home, the addition of a pool or secondary building to your property, or the construction of a new home. Please consult your Dorsey Alston agent with questions about the zoning of your property.

City of Atlanta Residential Zoning Guidelines

		R-1	R-2	R-2A	R-2B	R-3	R-3A	R-4	R-4A	R-4B	R-5
MINIMUM SETBACKS	FRONT	60 ft.	60 ft.	60 ft.	50 ft.	50 ft.	50 ft.	35 ft.	30 ft.	20 ft.	30 ft.
	SIDE^a	25 ft.	15 ft.	15 ft.	10 ft.	10 ft.	10 ft.	7 ft.	7 ft.	5 ft.	7 ft.
	REAR	35 ft.	30 ft.	30 ft.	20 ft.	20 ft.	15 ft.	15 ft.	15 ft.	5 ft.	7 ft.
LOT REQUIREMENTS	MINIMUM LOT AREA	2 acres	1 acre	30,000 sq.ft.	28,000 sq.ft.	18,000 sq.ft.	13,500 sq.ft.	9,000 sq.ft.	7,500 sq.ft.	2,800 sq.ft.	7,500 sq.ft.
	MINIMUM STREET FRONTAGE^b	200 ft.	150 ft.	100 ft.	100 ft.	100 ft.	85 ft.	70 ft.	50 ft.	40 ft.	50 ft.
	MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE	25%	35%	35%	40%	40%	45%	50%	55%	85%	55%
	MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA RATIO	0.25	0.30	0.35	0.40	0.40	0.45	0.50	0.50^d	0.75^e	see section 16-07.010
	MINIMUM REQUIRED CAR PARKING SPACES	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	see section 16-07.010

DEFINITIONS

Setback: Distance from the property line to the nearest part of the applicable building, structure, or sign, measured perpendicularly to the property line.

Frontage: Length of the shortest property line that adjoins a public street. Also known as the width of the lot.

Floor area ratio (FAR): A number which, when multiplied by the gross square footage of a lot, results in the total amount of heated or air conditioned square footage or “livable area” which may be built on a lot, excluding finished or unfinished basement space, attic space, and accessory structures, including garages.

Lot coverage: Total area of the lot that is covered by the footprints of main and accessory structures including houses, guest houses, garages, and swimming pools, as well as all pervious or impervious driveways, turnarounds, walkways, patios, decks, tennis courts, and parking spaces.

FOOTNOTES

For corner lots, the required yard along the secondary (side) street must be half the depth indicated above for the front yard.
Plus 10% if corner lot.
Except for zero-lot-line development.
Unless the lot is less than the minimum lot area of 7,500 sq. ft. See ordinance Section 16-06A.008.
Unless the lot is less than the minimum lot area of 2,800 sq. ft. See ordinance Section 16-06B.008.