Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lakeland, Georgia

Lakeland’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, placement or construction of buildings inside the City of Lakeland, Georgia

  • Permit issued by the city (zoning administrator / building official) under the Land Development Code.
  • Work may proceed only after the permit is issued.

  “no development shall be undertaken without prior authorization pursuant to the provisions in the lakeland land development code.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy or use of a building erected in the City of Lakeland, Georgia

  • Certificate issued by the zoning administrator after payment of fees and a finding of code conformity.
  • Required before occupancy or use of a building hereafter erected, a building altered affecting height or yards, or a change in the type of use.

  “a certificate of occupancy issued by the zoning administrator is required in advance of occupancy or use of:”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Development inside the incorporated limits of the City of Lakeland, Georgia (Lanier County). The city's own Land Development Code, which includes zoning districts (chapter 3), applies to all development in the city.

  • The code is titled 'land development code, city of lakeland, lanier county, ga'.
  • Code text states it applies to lands within the incorporated limits of the City of Lakeland.
  • Source is a 2015 revision of the code hosted by the Southern Georgia Regional Commission, not confirmed against the city's current official version.

  “1-3.1. general applicability except as provided below, the provisions of this code shall apply to all development in the city.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of the City of Lakeland, Georgia

  • District boundaries are shown on the official 'Zoning Map, City of Lakeland, Georgia', which is incorporated by reference; the map itself was not opened.

  “the purpose of the r-3 district is to provide for a balanced mix of single family detached, single family attached, manufactured homes, duplex and multi-family housing on moderately sized lots.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes located inside the City of Lakeland, Georgia

  • Home must bear a HUD label and be installed under O.C.G.A. 8-2-160 et seq.
  • Permit, affidavit, photographs, bond and concept plan required before relocation.
  • Certificate of occupancy only after the building inspector certifies compliance with section 5-33.4.
  • Permanent utility connection not approved until certificate of occupancy issued.
  • Failure to receive a certificate of occupancy requires removal from the jurisdiction (fine $500).

  manufactured home permit and inspection fee: 50 USD (covers initial inspection and one follow-up; $25 per additional follow-up)

  “a permit shall be required to locate a manufactured home in the jurisdiction.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Lots created in a subdivision inside the City of Lakeland, Georgia. The sewer/water mandate is written for subdivisions; connection rules for an individual home on an existing lot were not found.

  • Applies where public sanitary sewer and/or public water is within 1,000 feet of any portion of the subdivider's property.
  • Subdivider must provide public sewer and/or water to every lot before plat recording.
  • Lots that cannot be economically connected to sewer may use approved septic systems per section 4-10.3(b).

  distance to public water/sewer main triggering connection: <= 1000 feet

  “where public sanitary sewer and/or public water is available within one thousand (1,000) feet of any portion of the subdivider’s property, the subdivider shall provide every lot of the subdivision with public sewer and/or water in accordance with city specifications.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land into three or more parcels inside the City of Lakeland, Georgia

  • Lot splits of two parcels are defined separately as 'lot split'.
  • Subdivisions must be served by public water and sewer where available within 1,000 feet.

  minimum parcels for subdivision: >= 3 parcels (lot split is no more than two parcels)

  “subdivision the cumulative platting of real property into three or more parcels, lots, tracts, tiers, blocks, sites, units, or any other division of land, including all division of land involving a new street or a change in existing streets.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Dwelling units inside the City of Lakeland, Georgia

  • Concrete driveway or other alternative material consistent with the code.
  • Building permit application includes location and size of driveways, with a GDOT permit copy if applicable.

  “each dwelling unit shall have access to the street with a concrete driveway or any other alternative material consistent with this code.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Lots in subdivisions inside the City of Lakeland, Georgia; general floodplain development permit rules not located

  • Lot area around structures must be at least 2 feet above maximum flood stage of streams or canals.
  • No fill in designated flood hazard zone to meet this requirement.

  minimum lot elevation above maximum flood stage: >= 2 feet

  “the lot area contained within and contiguous to the building walls, for a minimum distance of ten (10) feet measured from all sides of any structure, shall have a minimum elevation of two (2) feet above maximum flood stage of streams or canals in the particular area.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Permit and inspection fee for locating a manufactured home inside the City of Lakeland, Georgia

  • Fee covers initial inspection and one follow-up; $25 for each additional follow-up.
  • General building permit fee schedule not located in the opened text.

  manufactured home permit and inspection fee: 50 USD (plus $25 per additional follow-up inspection)

  “a permit and inspection fee of $50 shall be charged to the applicant to cover the cost to the city to process the permit application and inspect the manufactured home.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit and certificate of occupancy process inside the City of Lakeland, Georgia

  • Building permits expire if work is not commenced with a satisfactory inspection within six months, or not completed within eighteen months (extension possible).
  • Certificate of occupancy issued by the zoning administrator after fees paid and conformity found.

  building permit commencement deadline: 6 months (extension possible by zoning administrator) · building permit completion deadline: 18 months (extension possible)

  “building permits shall expire and become null and void if work authorized by such building permit is not commenced, having called for and received a satisfactory inspection within six months from the date of issuance of the permit”

Rules another office applies inside Lakeland

Lakeland does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite septic systems for lots inside the City of Lakeland, Georgia that are not connected to public sewer; the Lanier County Health Department approves them

  • Applies where lots cannot be economically connected to public sewer.
  • Lot size for private on-site septic is set by footnote (a) of Table 4-1.

  “each industrialized home site shall include an approved potable water source and an approved sewage disposal system meeting the requirements of the lanier county health department.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Lakeland or Lanier County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside the City of Lakeland, Georgia
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a dwelling inside the City of Lakeland, Georgia
• Living in an RV — Occupancy of a recreational vehicle as a residence on private land inside the City of Lakeland, Georgia
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside the City of Lakeland, Georgia
• Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy inside the City of Lakeland, Georgia

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.