Alpharetta, GA

Atlanta caps STR occupancy at 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional persons. South Fulton uses similar bedroom-based caps under its STR permit. Sandy Springs follows Georgia state building-code occupancy.

Unincorporated Fulton County does not run a county-wide short-term rental permit program; STR regulation is set by each Fulton city. Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, and South Fulton each license STRs separately.

STRs in Fulton County collect the 8% Atlanta hotel-motel tax (or municipal equivalent), the Georgia 4% state sales tax, and the $5/night Georgia state hotel-motel fee.

STR parking rules in Fulton County are set by each municipality. Atlanta requires guest parking to be off-street under Code Part 20; on-street parking complaints are a common revocation trigger.

STRs across Fulton County must comply with the noise ordinance of the host municipality. Atlanta requires posted notice of Code §74-133 quiet hours; the unincorporated county uses §46-137's reasonable-person standard.

Construction-related noise in unincorporated Fulton County is regulated under Chapter 46 (Offenses) general noise rules and through zoning Article 4.15 (Noise). The County does not publish a fixed construction-hour window; each city sets its own.

Unincorporated Fulton County regulates noise under Code §46-137, which prohibits loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise that disturbs the comfort, repose, or peace of others. The standard is judged by a reasonable-person test rather than fixed quiet hours.

Modified exhausts, loud car stereos, and rattling vehicles are regulated under Fulton County Code §46-137 and Georgia O.C.G.A. §40-8-71 (mufflers required on all motor vehicles).

Persistent dog barking in unincorporated Fulton County is treated as both a Chapter 34 animal-control nuisance (§34-281) and a Chapter 46 noise disturbance under §46-137.

Fulton County does not have a leaf-blower-specific ordinance. Operation is regulated under the general §46-137 noise disturbance standard. Atlanta also has no blanket gas-blower ban; Sandy Springs restricts operation to daylight hours.

Amplified music, party PA systems, and outdoor speakers in unincorporated Fulton County fall under §46-137's general noise disturbance prohibition. There is no county-wide special-event amplification permit.

Industrial and commercial noise in Fulton County is regulated under Zoning Article 4 §4.15 (Noise) and §46-137. Limits apply at the property line of receiving residential property.

Aircraft noise in Fulton County is preempted by federal law (Federal Aviation Act). KATL operates the Hartsfield-Jackson Noise Office to mitigate community impacts but cannot enforce local sound limits on flights.

RVs, boats, and trailers in unincorporated Fulton County must be parked behind the principal building line or in a side/rear yard, screened from the public street, under Fulton County Zoning Resolution Article 4 §4.18.

Commercial vehicles over 3/4 ton or with commercial signage cannot be parked in residential districts overnight under Fulton County Zoning Article 4. Atlanta Code §138-181 sets similar restrictions.

On-street parking rules in unincorporated Fulton County and its cities are governed by Chapter 78 (Traffic and Vehicles). Atlanta enforces a 72-hour rule on unmoved vehicles under Code §150-181.

Inoperable, untagged, or wrecked vehicles in Fulton County must be stored in an enclosed structure or removed. Code enforcement can tow under O.C.G.A. §40-11-1 et seq. (Georgia Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act).

Vehicles in Fulton County residential districts must be parked on paved or improved surfaces, not lawns. Atlanta Code §138-178 and Fulton zoning Article 18 prohibit lawn parking.

Residential EV chargers in Fulton County require an electrical permit. Multi-family and commercial installations must comply with Georgia Building Code and ADA. Public charging fees regulated by Georgia PSC.

Unincorporated Fulton County allows overnight on-street parking unless signage prohibits. Atlanta limits to 72-hour rule; some Buckhead and Virginia-Highland zones require residential permits.

Fulton County is in Georgia's 54-county summer burn ban, which prohibits open burning of yard debris and land-clearing waste from May 1 through September 30 annually under EPD rule 391-3-1-.02(5).

Recreational fire pits in Fulton County must comply with Georgia EPD Open Burning Rules and IFC §307. Pits over 3 ft diameter or burning anything other than seasoned firewood require a permit.

Fulton County does not have a wildland-urban-interface defensible-space rule like California counties. Brush around structures is regulated under the property maintenance and weed sections of municipal code.

Consumer fireworks in Fulton County are governed by O.C.G.A. §25-10-1 et seq. Use is allowed 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily, extended to 11:59 p.m. on July 3, 4, December 31, and 12:01-1:00 a.m. on January 1.

Propane storage in Fulton County follows IFC Chapter 61 (adopted) and NFPA 58. Residential cylinders up to 25 gallons typically need no permit; larger tanks need permits and setback compliance.

The Georgia Forestry Commission has statewide wildfire suppression authority and may declare burn bans, restrict outdoor activities, and recover suppression costs from negligent parties.

Fulton County allows wood, vinyl, masonry, chain-link, and ornamental metal fences in residential districts. Barbed wire is prohibited in residential zones; electric fences require special permission.

Georgia has no statewide 'good-side-out' rule. Fulton County requires fences to be on or inside the property line. Spite fences (built solely to harass) can be enjoined under Georgia common law.

Fences in unincorporated Fulton County residential districts may not exceed 8 feet from grade under Zoning Resolution Article 4 §4.11. Column ornaments may rise an additional 3 feet.

Fulton County requires a permit for fences taller than 6 feet under the building code. Fences 6 feet or shorter generally do not require a permit but must still comply with Zoning §4.11.

Pool barriers in Fulton County must comply with IRC Appendix G (Swimming Pool Code). Minimum 5-ft height (Fulton standard), self-closing self-latching gates, no climb-helper openings.

Backyard chickens in unincorporated Fulton County are allowed in AG-1 zones. Atlanta allows up to 25 hens (no roosters) per property under Code §18-153 with a 25-ft setback from neighboring dwellings.

Fulton County does not enforce breed-specific legislation. Georgia state law O.C.G.A. §4-8-30(c) preempts cities and counties from adopting breed-specific ordinances.

Beekeeping is allowed in unincorporated Fulton County in AG-1 zones and in most residential zones with setback requirements. Atlanta Code §18-71 permits hives with neighbor-setback rules.

Fulton County Code §34-205 requires dogs off the owner's premises to be on a leash no longer than 6 feet, under control of a competent handler. Running at large is prohibited.

Feeding deer, coyotes, raccoons, and other wildlife is restricted in Fulton County. Georgia DNR regulates deer feeding under Rule 391-4-2-.26, and most Fulton cities discourage wildlife feeding as a public nuisance.

Atlanta Code §18-153 limits residential properties to 4 dogs and 4 cats over 4 months old without a kennel license. Fulton County unincorporated areas use AG-zone exemptions for large numbers.

Microchipping is not mandatory in Fulton County. Fulton County Animal Services microchips all impounded pets at cost; Atlanta Code §18-126 requires rabies vaccination but not chips.

Georgia criminalizes animal cruelty and neglect statewide under O.C.G.A. 16-12-4, applying uniformly regardless of local ordinances and covering hoarding situations.

Georgia statewide law prohibits possession of most exotic and inherently dangerous wild animals without a special permit, preempting local rules that would allow them.

Fulton County and all Georgia communities are bound by O.C.G.A. §12-5-7 (Water Stewardship Act), which permanently allows outdoor landscape watering only between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. — no calendar-day restrictions.

Georgia common law (Whitesell v. Houlton, 1981) allows owners to trim encroaching branches and roots from a neighbor's tree up to the property line, at the trimmer's expense. Specimen trees still require permits under Fulton §26-405.

Unincorporated Fulton County and most cities require grass and weeds to be cut to under 12 inches. Atlanta Code §66-26 and Sandy Springs Code §38-83 set 12-inch limits on improved lots.

Uncultivated vegetation, kudzu, and weeds on Fulton County improved property are regulated under property-maintenance codes. Atlanta Code §66-26 requires removal of weeds, dead vegetation, and debris.

Removing any tree 6+ inches DBH in Atlanta requires a permit. Unincorporated Fulton requires arborist sign-off for specimen trees under §26-405. Recompense fees apply.

Georgia state plumbing code expressly authorizes rainwater harvesting for outdoor non-potable uses, preempting any local prohibition on residential rain barrels and cisterns.

Accessory Dwelling Units in unincorporated Fulton County are permitted in residential zones with a maximum of 750 sq ft under Zoning Article 4. Atlanta amended its ADU rules in 2018 to allow ADUs in most R-zones.

Converting a garage to habitable space in Fulton County requires a building permit, plan review, electrical/plumbing/mechanical permits, and compliance with IRC habitable-space requirements. Off-street parking must be replaced.

Sheds in unincorporated Fulton County under 200 sq ft are exempt from building permits under the 2018 IRC. Sheds 200+ sq ft require a permit and must meet setbacks (10 ft side/rear).

Georgia incorporates IRC Appendix Q tiny house provisions through its statewide minimum standard codes, providing uniform construction rules for dwellings under 400 square feet.

Home-based businesses in unincorporated Fulton County are allowed in residential zones as 'home occupations' under Zoning Article 4 §4.13, subject to limits on employees, customer visits, and outdoor activity.

Home occupations in Fulton County are prohibited from displaying any exterior business signage, including window signs, lawn signs, and vehicle wraps. Only the address number may be displayed.

Home occupations in unincorporated Fulton may not generate traffic beyond residential norms. No walk-in retail customers are allowed; appointment-only clients limited to one at a time.

Georgia requires home-based cottage food producers to obtain a state license from the Department of Agriculture, follow allowable-foods lists, and label products under uniform statewide standards that cities cannot relax or override.

Georgia law requires registration or licensure of family day care homes through the Department of Early Care and Learning and limits how strictly local zoning can ban these uses in residential areas.

All in-ground and most above-ground residential pools in Fulton County require a building permit from the Public Works Department, plus plumbing and electrical permits.

Fulton County pool builders must install anti-entrapment drain covers (VGB-compliant), GFCI electrical, and house-side door alarms per IRC Appendix G. Lifeguards not required for private pools.

Fulton County requires a minimum 5-foot fence around the perimeter of all residential swimming pools, with self-closing self-latching gates per IRC Appendix G.

Alpharetta's Unified Development Code (Article II — Use of Land and Structures) sets maximum lot coverage and impervious surface limits by zoning district. In the R-15 single-family residential district, the maximum impervious surface is 35% of the lot. The city also requires soil-infiltration testing for any new project in the Residential Overlay District that adds 1,000 to 5,000 square feet of impervious area.

Building setbacks in unincorporated Fulton County are set by zoning district. Typical R-1 setbacks: 60 ft front, 15 ft side, 40 ft rear. R-3 setbacks: 35 ft front, 10 ft side, 35 ft rear.

Residential structure heights in unincorporated Fulton County are capped at 35 ft in R-1 through R-3 zones under Zoning Article 5. Cities set their own limits (Atlanta R-5 is 35 ft).

Specimen trees in unincorporated Fulton County (defined by DBH thresholds in §26-403) receive extra protection. Removal requires written approval from the County Arborist.

Removed protected trees in Fulton County must be replaced according to the Fulton County Tree Recompense Schedule or replanted at minimum 2:1 ratio.

Tree-removal permits in Fulton County are administered under Chapter 26 Article VI. Atlanta runs the metro area's most aggressive tree-permit system (Code §158-26).

Specimen tree removal in unincorporated Fulton County requires the County Arborist's written permission under §26-405. Atlanta requires a permit to remove any tree 6+ inches DBH on private property.

Fulton County participates in the FEMA NFIP and enforces flood-damage prevention through Chapter 26 Article IV (Stormwater) and Article XXVI (Flood Damage Prevention). Construction in mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas requires elevation and permits.

Stormwater development in Fulton County is regulated under Chapter 26 Article IV (Stormwater Management) and the Fulton County Comprehensive Stormwater Management Design and Criteria Manual.

Erosion control in Fulton County follows the Georgia Erosion & Sedimentation Act (O.C.G.A. §12-7-1 et seq.) and the Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia ('Green Book').

Atlanta has lost significant tree canopy since 2000, exacerbating urban heat islands. The Atlanta Tree Conservation Commission, Fulton County Tree Preservation Ordinance, and Trees Atlanta plant ~5,000 trees annually to mitigate heat.

Diesel trucks in Fulton County may not idle more than 15 minutes under Georgia EPD Rule 391-3-20-.05 (Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle Idling Restrictions).

Georgia's Coastal Marshlands Protection Act and Shore Protection Act require state permits for development affecting marshes, beaches, and dunes, with authority concentrated in the Coastal Resources Division.

Illegal dumping in Fulton County is a misdemeanor under O.C.G.A. §16-7-43 and §16-7-51. Fulton County maintains a dumping hotline (404-612-2691) and offers rewards for tipsters.

Atlanta provides curbside single-stream recycling free with trash service. Sandy Springs and Roswell offer recycling through their franchised haulers. Unincorporated Fulton residents must arrange private recycling.

Atlanta collects yard waste curbside through its franchised hauler; Sandy Springs/Roswell programs include yard waste. Open burning of yard waste is banned May-September.

Unincorporated Fulton County uses private contracted haulers selected by the resident. Atlanta provides municipal collection through the Department of Public Works (Code §130-1 et seq.).

Trash and recycling bins in Fulton County must be stored out of sight of the street except on collection day. Atlanta Code §130-34 requires curbside placement no more than 24 hours before pickup.

Fulton County maintains property-blight standards through code enforcement (404-612-2691). Atlanta Code §66-26 covers vacant/blighted lots with abatement authority and liens.

Unincorporated Fulton County does not require a permit for residential garage sales. Most Fulton cities limit residents to 2-4 sales per year and 2-3 consecutive days each.

Holiday displays (Christmas lights, Halloween decorations, inflatables) on Fulton County residential property are largely unregulated. They must not constitute a §46-137 light/sound nuisance or zoning violation.

Political signs in Fulton County are protected under Georgia O.C.G.A. §16-7-58 and the First Amendment. Local size/time restrictions exist but cannot ban political signage outright.

Garage sale and temporary 'open house' signs in Fulton County may be placed only on the owner's private property. Public right-of-way placement is prohibited and signs are removed without notice.

Recreational drone use in Fulton County is governed by FAA Part 107 and recreational rules under 49 U.S.C. §44809. Local airspace restrictions apply near Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and over critical infrastructure.

Atlanta parks prohibit drone takeoff/landing without a Department of Parks & Recreation permit. Chattahoochee River NRA prohibits all drone use under 36 CFR §1.5.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (KATL) generates Class B airspace covering most of southern Fulton County. Drone flights without LAANC authorization are prohibited up to 10,000 ft MSL in the Class B core.

Georgia defers to FAA Part 107 rules for commercial drone operations and preempts local licensing or operation requirements, while still allowing privacy and trespass laws to apply to commercial flights.

Fulton County does not have a comprehensive dark-sky ordinance. Outdoor lighting is regulated under zoning overlay districts (Milton, parts of Roswell) requiring full-cutoff fixtures.

Light trespass complaints in Fulton County are handled under the general nuisance authority of Code §46-137. Atlanta Code §74-133 includes lighting as a regulated nuisance.

No recreational cannabis dispensaries are allowed in Fulton County. Georgia's Low-THC Oil dispensary network operates under the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission with strict siting rules.

Personal recreational cannabis cultivation is illegal in Fulton County under Georgia state law. Georgia has no recreational cannabis program; possession of any amount is criminal under O.C.G.A. §16-13-30.

Georgia law prohibits home cultivation of marijuana for any purpose, including by registered low-THC oil patients, and this prohibition preempts any conflicting local ordinance attempting to authorize personal grows.

Unincorporated Fulton County's juvenile curfew (adopted Feb 2023) prohibits unsupervised minors 17 and under in public places between 8 p.m. Sun-Thu and 12:01 a.m. Fri-Sat through 6 a.m.

Fulton County parks generally close at sunset or 10 p.m. unless posted otherwise. Atlanta parks close at 11 p.m. (or sunset depending on facility) under Code §110-21.

Food trucks in unincorporated Fulton County require a Food Truck Administrative Use Permit under Zoning Article 19 §3, plus a Mobile Food Service permit from the Fulton County Board of Health.

Food trucks in unincorporated Fulton County may operate only at properties with notarized owner consent and proper zoning. Atlanta restricts food trucks to specific public-ROW vending zones under Code Ch. 30.

Door-to-door commercial solicitation in unincorporated Fulton County requires a permit under Chapter 54 (Peddlers and Solicitors). Religious and political canvassers are exempt under the First Amendment.

Door-to-door solicitation in unincorporated Fulton County is restricted to daytime hours (typically 9 a.m.-7 p.m. or sunset). 'No Soliciting' signs must be honored under §54-3.

Georgia O.C.G.A. §44-3-220 prohibits Fulton County HOAs from prohibiting solar collectors but allows reasonable aesthetic and location restrictions.

Solar panel installations in Fulton County require building and electrical permits. Standard residential rooftop solar typically permits within 2-4 weeks; ground-mount systems require zoning review.

Most Fulton County HOAs operate Architectural Review Committees (ARC) requiring approval for exterior modifications. Approvals are governed by CC&Rs and Georgia POA Act §44-3-223.

Georgia HOAs in Fulton County enforce CC&Rs through the Georgia Property Owners' Association Act (O.C.G.A. §44-3-220 et seq.). HOAs can levy fines and place liens for violations.

Georgia O.C.G.A. §16-11-173 preempts all local firearm ordinances. Fulton County and its cities cannot regulate gun possession, carry, or storage beyond state law.

Georgia is a permitless concealed carry state under SB 319 (2022), allowing lawful weapons carriers to carry concealed handguns statewide subject to statutory location restrictions.

Georgia permits lawful weapons carriers to openly carry handguns in most public places, with statewide preemption limiting local restrictions on open carry.

Georgia permits any lawful weapons carrier or eligible person to carry a handgun in a private vehicle without a permit under O.C.G.A. 16-11-126.

Garage sales in Fulton County typically operate 7 a.m.-7 p.m. with a 3-day maximum per sale. Nighttime sales are uncommon and may trigger noise/lighting complaints.

Unincorporated Fulton County and Atlanta do not require permits for residential garage sales. Most Fulton cities cap frequency to 4 per year.

Atlanta and most Fulton cities cap garage sales to 4 per address per year. Each sale typically limited to 3 consecutive days.

Atlanta restricts public-right-of-way vending to designated vending zones with separate annual permits. Unincorporated Fulton County restricts street vending under zoning Article 19.

Atlanta designated vending zones include parts of downtown, Centennial Olympic Park area, Underground Atlanta, and sports/event venues. Outside zones, sidewalk vending is prohibited.

Georgia is a no-just-cause-required eviction state. Landlords in Fulton County may terminate month-to-month tenancies with 60 days notice (landlord) or 30 days (tenant) under O.C.G.A. §44-7-7.

Atlanta operates a Rental Housing Registration program under Code §54-46. Sandy Springs and South Fulton also require rental registration. Unincorporated Fulton has no rental registry.

Georgia O.C.G.A. §44-7-30 et seq. governs security deposits statewide. No state cap on deposit amount. Deposits must be returned within 30 days of vacancy with itemized deductions.

Atlanta inspects rental properties via complaint-driven enforcement under Code §54-46 and during business-license renewals. There is no proactive rental-inspection program in Fulton County.

Georgia state law expressly prohibits any county or municipality from enacting rent control on private residential or commercial property, fully preempting local regulation.

Atlanta and Fulton County have robust film-permit programs. Atlanta requires Mayor's Office of Film & Entertainment permits; Fulton County permits commercial filming through Public Works.

Personal still photography in Fulton County public spaces is generally exempt from permits. Commercial photo shoots in parks or ROW require permits and insurance.

Federal Tobacco 21 (Tobacco Control Act §906) and Georgia O.C.G.A. §16-12-171 prohibit tobacco/vape sales to anyone under 21. Fulton County enforces through municipal licensing.

Georgia does not impose a statewide ban on flavored tobacco or flavored vapor products, leaving sales lawful subject to age, licensing, and federal restrictions.

Georgia regulates vape and alternative nicotine retail sales under Title 16 Chapter 12 Article 8, requiring licensing, age verification, and product compliance for retailers.

Loud party complaints in unincorporated Fulton County are enforced under §46-137 (general noise) plus Chapter 46 disorderly conduct. Atlanta has a separate loud-party citation under Code §74-133.

Georgia prohibits local governments from setting minimum wages above state or federal levels under Title 34 preemption enacted through HB 234.

Georgia preempts local governments from requiring private employers to provide paid leave, sick time, or other employment benefits beyond state and federal law.

Georgia preempts local predictable scheduling and fair workweek ordinances, preventing cities and counties from regulating employer shift practices for private workers.

Georgia requires private employers with 11 or more employees to use E-Verify under O.C.G.A. 36-60-6, with annual affidavit certification tied to business licenses.

Georgia prohibits sanctuary policies under O.C.G.A. 36-80-23 and HB 1105, requiring local governments and law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Georgia counties retain zoning authority for agricultural operations, balanced against the Right to Farm Act's nuisance protections for established farms.

Georgia's Right to Farm Act in O.C.G.A. 41-1-7 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits brought by neighbors and changing land uses.

Georgia does not prohibit plastic carryout bags statewide and has not enacted express preemption barring local action, though local bag restrictions remain rare.

Georgia imposes no statewide ban on polystyrene foam food service containers, leaving foam cups, plates, and clamshells widely available across the state.

Georgia has no statewide ban or upon-request rule for plastic straws, leaving food service operators free to provide single-use straws under standard health rules.