Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Woodbury, Georgia

Woodbury’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Woodbury city limits

  • Zoning ordinance is Appendix A of the city code of ordinances.

  “In addition to any Zoning District and Use Regulations, the following requirements shall apply to all Recreational Vehicle Parks:”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RV use inside Woodbury city: in RV parks and on residential lots

  • RVs only in approved RV park spaces; permanent occupancy prohibited in RV parks
  • Continuous occupancy beyond three months in twelve is prima facie permanent occupancy
  • On residential lots RVs may not be used permanently for storage or additional residence space
  • RVs on residential lots may not be parked over 24 hours in front yard; side/rear need 10 ft from lot lines

  max RVs or trailers per residential lot: <= 3 count (max one in side yard, two in rear yard)

  “No recreational vehicle or trailer may be permanently used for storage or additional residence space.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory apartments inside Woodbury city in single-family districts

  • Permitted in single-family districts upon meeting Division IV requirements
  • Accessory unit max 30 percent of primary unit floor area; 350-750 sq ft; lot minimum 7,000 sq ft; separate entrance not on front facade; water and sewer required
  • Vacated within 30 days if provisions not met

  unit size: 350-750 sq ft · minimum lot size for accessory unit: >= 7000 sq ft

  “permitted single-family districts upon meeting the requirements of this division”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Accessory apartments inside Woodbury city only; general new-home rule not found

  • Table 3-E lists water and sewer as required for accessory apartments, upper-floor and ground-floor units

  “water and sewer required required required”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Exemption from the city development permit for agricultural activities inside Woodbury city

  • Buildings or structures exceeding 1,000 sq ft in the aggregate are not exempt
  • Exemption is from the development permit only

  max agricultural building area: <= 1000 sq ft

  “agricultural activities, which may involve the erection of buildings or structures not exceeding a total of 1,000 square feet. buildings or structures exceeding 1,000 square feet in the aggregate are not exempt.”

• Shed and accessory-building permit exemptionConditional

  Development permit exemption for accessory structures with a single-family dwelling inside Woodbury city

  • Only if a building permit has been issued
  • Exempts the development permit only, not the building permit

  “land disturbance and development activities associated with the construction of a single, detached, single-family dwelling unit or manufactured home (where permitted), including accessory structures and uses, if a building permit has been issued.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land development and subdivision inside Woodbury city (Appendix B)

  • A development permit is required unless an exemption in Sec. 4-103 applies

  “unless specifically exempted by this article, a development permit shall be required prior to commencing any land development or improvement on private land.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Residential driveways inside Woodbury city

  • Excludes PDR districts
  • Driveway must be authorized by building permit or separate driveway permit (Sec. 4-103(h))
  • Access through approved curb cut

  max driveway and parking area: <= 25 percent of front yard (PDR Districts)

  “No residence shall have a driveway and parking area with a total area that exceeds 25% of the front yard in all residential zoned districts, with the exception of PDR districts.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Areas of special flood hazard inside Woodbury city

  • Lowest floor elevated no lower than one foot above base flood elevation
  • Floodway encroachments prohibited unless engineering analysis shows no rise in flood levels
  • RVs must be on site fewer than 180 consecutive days or be fully licensed and highway-ready

  freeboard above BFE: >= 1 foot

  “new construction and/or substantial improvement of any structure or manufactured home shall have the lowest floor, including the basement, elevated no lower than one foot above the base flood elevation.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Woodbury city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Woodbury city
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Woodbury city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Woodbury city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Woodbury city

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.