Pop. 56,666 · Cobb County
Smyrna follows Cobb County-area standard — RVs, boats, and trailers may not be parked in front yards in residential districts. Must park to side or rear on approved surfaces. Check Smyrna Zoning Appendix A.
Smyrna follows GA Code §40-6-200+ for street parking. All vehicles must be operable. No parking on unpaved surfaces in residential yards. Inoperable vehicles must be removed or stored indoors.
Smyrna follows GA standards — generally one commercial vehicle ≤¾ ton permitted in residential zones. Heavier trucks, tractor-trailers, or commercial vehicles with advertising prohibited in residential districts.
Smyrna requires proof of liability insurance as part of the Short-Term Rental License application under Code Ch. 22, Art. XI. The ordinance mandates the insurance documentation but does not specify a fixed minimum dollar amount in the published application materials - applicants should confirm the current required limit with the Smyrna Business License Division.
Smyrna's Short-Term Rental Ordinance (Code Ch. 22, Art. XI) limits STR occupancy to two people per bedroom plus three additional people. Non-owner-occupied STRs in single-family zoning are also capped at 180 days of rental per calendar year (stays over 30 days don't count toward the cap).
STR guests in Smyrna must comply with Ch. 46 general noise ordinance — quiet hours 10 PM–7 AM. STR license holder is responsible for guest compliance. Violations may jeopardize STR license.
Smyrna STR operators must remit hotel-motel occupancy taxes. Georgia state hotel-motel tax 4% + $5/night fee applies. Occupational Tax Certificate fee required. Airbnb/VRBO collect and remit most taxes automatically.
Smyrna Code Ch. 22, Art. XI — STR license AND occupational tax certificate required. Background check required. Proof of liability insurance, code compliance form, and local agent designation mandatory.
Smyrna STR ordinance (Ch. 22, Art. XI) requires adequate off-street parking. All vehicles must park on approved surfaces. No overflow parking on grass or right-of-way.
Smyrna's Zoning Ordinance treats detached carports as accessory structures under Section 501. They must sit on the same lot as the principal building, are barred from required front and side yards, must be set back at least 5 feet from the rear lot line in residential districts, cap at 15 feet tall, and cannot exceed one-fourth of the principal building's square footage. Materials must match or complement the home; portable carports on wheels or with metal-frame-only construction are not permitted.
Smyrna requires building permits for accessory structures. Min $125 permit fee. Must comply with zoning setbacks and height limits under Appendix A. Sheds cannot be used for habitation.
Smyrna Zoning Appendix A governs ADUs as accessory uses. Limited to one per lot; must comply with setbacks; owner-occupancy typically required. Contact Planning & Zoning for specific district rules.
Garage conversions in Smyrna require a building permit and must comply with the IRC and 2024 state codes. Off-street parking requirements must still be met. If creating an ADU, zoning provisions apply.
Cobb County has no specific tiny home ordinance. Foundation-built tiny homes must meet Cobb minimum dwelling standards and IRC. Tiny homes on wheels classified as RVs — long-term residential occupancy not permitted in residential zones.
Smyrna Ch. 46 noise ordinance covers animal noise. Excessive or prolonged barking that is plainly audible and unreasonably disturbing is a violation. Complaint-driven enforcement through Code Enforcement.
Smyrna Code Ch. 46, §46-1 — noise ordinance prohibits unreasonable, disturbing sounds. Quiet hours generally 10 PM–7 AM. Complaints filed through Smyrna 311 or Police non-emergency.
Smyrna Ch. 46 noise ordinance applies to construction. Industry standard is 7 AM–7 PM weekdays. No dedicated construction-hours ordinance; general noise prohibitions and permit conditions apply.
Smyrna regulates amplified music under the general noise ordinance. Sound permits available for events. O.C.G.A. §16-11-39 applies to unreasonable disturbances.
Cobb County has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance. Operation governed by general noise code Ch. 50, Art. VII — must stay under 70 dB daytime / 65 dB 11 PM–7 AM, or face Magistrate Court citation. No gas-blower ban.
Aircraft noise in Georgia is governed by federal FAA regulations, not state or local ordinances. Georgia airport zoning law allows compatible land use planning around airports but cannot restrict in-flight aircraft operations.
Georgia regulates industrial noise primarily through O.C.G.A. 12-7 (Erosion and Sedimentation), 12-8 (Solid Waste), and EPD permits, but does not impose statewide decibel limits. Local governments retain primary authority over industrial noise nuisances.
Smyrna limits or prohibits signage for home-based businesses in residential zones. No commercial signage is permitted on residential properties operating a home occupation. General Smyrna sign ordinance (Ch. 22) applies.
Smyrna Zoning Appendix A, Art. VII — home occupations are permitted accessory uses in residential districts subject to use provisions. Occupational Tax Certificate required. Certain commercial activities prohibited in residential zones.
Smyrna Zoning Appendix A — home occupations must not generate commercial-level customer traffic. Client visits should be incidental to the business. Prohibited if traffic, parking, or activity disrupts residential character.
Cobb County follows Georgia Cottage Food Law allowing limited home-produced food sales. Georgia Department of Agriculture license required. Annual revenue cap $50,000. Non-potentially hazardous foods only.
Cobb County permits home daycare with Georgia DECAL/Bright from the Start licensing. Family Child Care Learning Home (FCCLH) allows up to 6 children. Larger programs need Group Child Care Home or center license.
Smyrna property owners may trim trees on their own property without a permit. City Arborist oversees compliance with Ch. 106 vegetation ordinance. No permit needed for trimming (only for removal of trees ≥24 inches DBH).
Smyrna Code Enforcement — high grass/weeds are a common code violation. Properties must be maintained in a neat condition; vegetation exceeding 12 inches is typically cited as a nuisance.
GA Water Stewardship Act (2010) year-round restriction: no landscape irrigation 10 AM–4 PM daily. EPD drought Level 1–4 restrictions escalate during declared drought. Smyrna uses Cobb County water system.
Smyrna Ch. 106 / Arborist Division — tree removal permit required only for trees ≥24 inches DBH. Smaller trees may be removed without permit. Permit fee waived for hazardous trees certified by a qualified professional.
Cobb County encourages native and drought-tolerant landscaping through the Cobb Water System WaterSmart program. No mandate to replace lawns. Georgia Piedmont natives recommended for water conservation.
Cobb County permits artificial turf installation on residential property. No permit required for replacement of existing lawn. HOAs may restrict; Georgia has no state preemption of HOA turf restrictions.
Cobb County Code §78-56 caps grass/weeds at 12 inches on improved residential/commercial lots. O.C.G.A. §41-2-5 authorizes nuisance abatement. Kudzu a major invasive concern — owner responsibility on private land.
Cobb County allows residential rainwater harvesting. No permit needed for rain barrels under 660 gallons. Cobb-Marietta Water Authority (CMWA) offers periodic rain-barrel workshops. Georgia Water Stewardship Act encourages harvesting.
Cobb County §10-11 applies in Smyrna — all dogs must be on a leash ≤6 feet when off owner's property, held by someone capable of restraint. No tethering as primary confinement.
No breed-specific ordinance in Smyrna or Cobb County. Georgia's Responsible Dog Ownership Law (GA Code §§4-8-20 to 4-8-33) applies — dangerous dog status based on individual behavior.
GA Code §27-5-4 prohibits Class 1 wild animals as pets. No local exotic-pet ordinance beyond state law in Smyrna/Cobb County. DNR permit required for many non-traditional animals.
Smyrna has no published standalone beekeeping ordinance. Georgia Apiary Act (GA Code §2-14-40+) governs statewide. Check with Smyrna Planning & Zoning for accessory-use allowance in your zone.
Cobb County prohibits feeding of wildlife that creates nuisances under Cobb Code Chapter 10 (Animals). Coyote, deer, and raccoon feeding is particularly targeted. Georgia DNR regulates state game species.
Cobb County Code Ch. 10 allows backyard chickens on residential lots of 2+ acres (AG and R-80/R-40 zones). Under 2 acres not permitted. Roosters prohibited. Livestock (goats, pigs, horses) requires AG zoning or 2+ acre minimum.
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.
Smyrna Zoning Appendix A — residential fences typically max 6 ft in side and rear yards; front yard fences generally lower (4 ft standard). Pool enclosures up to 8 ft. Verify with Planning & Zoning for specific zone.
Smyrna Building Division — fence permits required for most residential fences. Applications submitted online via OpenGov portal. Min $125 permit fee. Plan review 5–10 business days.
Smyrna does not require neighbor consent before fence installation. Setback and height rules from Zoning Appendix A apply. Boundary disputes are a civil matter under Georgia property law.
Cobb County requires pool barriers per Georgia Residential Code IRC Appendix G/ISPSC. Minimum 4-foot barrier (48 inches), self-closing self-latching gates, no climbable features. Inspected at pool permit.
Cobb County requires a building permit for retaining walls over 4 feet in height or supporting a surcharge. Engineered plans stamped by a Georgia-licensed PE required for walls over 4 feet. Cobb IBC/IRC adopted.
Cobb County Zoning Ordinance §134 permits wood, vinyl, masonry, wrought iron, and chain-link fencing. Barbed wire and electric fences prohibited in residential districts (R-20, R-15, R-30, etc.). Chain-link discouraged in front yards.
Smyrna requires building permits for pool construction. 2024 ISPSC with GA Amendments governs. Anti-entrapment drain covers (VGBA) and electrical bonding required. Min $125 permit fee.
Above-ground pools in Smyrna require the same barrier protections as in-ground pools under the 2024 ISPSC. Building permits required above certain size thresholds. Must comply with zoning setbacks.
Smyrna follows the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) with GA Amendments (effective 1/1/2026). Pool barrier minimum 4 feet high; self-closing, self-latching gate required.
Cobb County requires electrical permits for hot tub and spa installations. GFCI protection mandatory on 240V circuits. Barrier rules apply unless ASTM F1346 locking safety cover installed.
Cobb County requires a building permit from Community Development (770-528-2035) for all in-ground pools and above-ground pools over 24 inches deep. Georgia IRC standards apply. Plan review, multiple inspections, and 4-foot barrier required.
Georgia state law (GA Code §25-10-1+) governs consumer fireworks — adults 18+ may use 1.4G fireworks 10 AM–midnight on designated dates. Public park use and public displays require Fire Marshal permits.
Smyrna allows recreational fires (fire pits) with clean wood in a fuel area ≤3 ft diameter and ≤2 ft height without a seasonal burn permit. Must be attended, 25 ft from structures, no windy days.
Smyrna Code Ch. 50, §50-7 — residential burn permits required Oct 1–Mar 30 for fires >3 ft diameter; clean wood only; 9 AM to 1 hour before sunset. No leaves, no debris from other properties.
Cobb County is not in a designated wildfire hazard zone. Metro Atlanta suburban density and climate reduce wildfire risk. Georgia Forestry Commission burn permits still required for outdoor burning. Kennesaw Mountain area has elevated wildland-urban interface risk.
Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services enforces Int'l Fire Code defensible-space standards. Open burning requires a permit from GA Forestry Commission and is banned May 1–Sept 30 in Cobb (EPD 13-county metro rule).
Georgia regulates propane storage statewide through the Safety Fire Commissioner under the Liquefied Petroleum Safety Act, adopting NFPA 58 standards for residential and commercial tanks.
Smyrna participates in FEMA NFIP. Cobb County holds CRS Class 7 rating (15% flood insurance discount). New floodplain development requires city permit. 50% substantial improvement rule applies in SFHA.
Cobb County Grading Permit required for earth movement over 5,000 sq ft or any work in setbacks/buffers. Drainage cannot be redirected onto adjacent properties (common-law nuisance). Retaining walls over 4 ft require engineered plans.
Cobb enforces Georgia Erosion & Sedimentation Act via Ch. 50, Art. III. Land Disturbance Permit required for disturbance ≥5,000 sq ft. 25-ft undisturbed state-waters buffer (50-ft for trout streams, 75-ft for MRPA). Daily GSWCC inspections.
Cobb County Stormwater Management Ordinance (Ch. 50, Art. VIII) requires post-development runoff to match pre-development for 25-year storm. MS4 permit (GAEPD). Water-quality volume treatment on all new development >1 acre disturbance.
Not applicable — Cobb County is 250+ miles inland from the Georgia coast. Coastal Marshlands Protection Act and Shore Protection Act do NOT apply. Chattahoochee River corridor MRPA serves an analogous local-waters role.
Smyrna enforces a juvenile curfew for minors under 17. Nighttime curfew hours typically run 11 PM to 6 AM on school nights with later weekend hours.
Cobb County Code §74-6 closes all county parks from 10 PM to 6 AM (dusk for some smaller parks). After-hours presence is a trespass violation. Lit athletic fields may run until 11 PM with permit.
Cobb County does not mandate residential recycling. Haulers offer optional single-stream recycling subscriptions. Keep Cobb Beautiful Recycling Center accepts paper, glass, metal, plastics #1–#7 free for residents.
Cobb County Code §102 requires bins be placed at curb no earlier than 6 PM day before pickup and retrieved within 24 hours after service. Bins must be stored out of public view between collections.
Cobb bulk-item pickup handled by each private hauler's subscription. County operates Household Hazardous Waste & E-Waste events and a Recycling Center at 1775 County Services Pkwy, Marietta (770-528-2500).
Cobb County has no county-run trash service; residents in unincorporated areas contract directly with private haulers (Waste Management, Republic, GFL). Most haulers run weekly pickup. County sets hauler licensing standards under Ch. 102.
Cobb County allows political signs on private property under Cobb Zoning Ordinance Article XIX (Signs). Signs in public rights-of-way are prohibited and subject to removal. First Amendment content-neutral rules apply post Reed v. Gilbert.
Cobb County does not regulate residential holiday displays. Standard ordinances on noise, lighting, and obstruction apply. HOA communities across East Cobb, West Cobb, and Vinings may impose additional restrictions.
Cobb County permits temporary yard sale signs on private property only. Signs in public rights-of-way or on utility poles are prohibited and removed without notice. Cobb Code Enforcement actively removes illegal signs countywide.
Cobb County requires trash and recycling carts to be stored out of public right-of-way view between collection days. Set out no earlier than 6 PM evening before pickup and retrieved by 6 AM day after. Cobb uses Republic/Waste Management or approved haulers.
Cobb County has no snow-clearing ordinance — rare event in North Georgia. Cobb DOT salts/clears public roads and bridges; property owners not required to clear sidewalks. General sidewalk-maintenance duty under §78 applies year-round.
Cobb County Code Ch. 78 property maintenance applies to yard sales. Items organized, tables removed at day's end, signs down within 24 hours of sale conclusion. Persistent clutter = blight citation.
Cobb County requires vacant lot owners to maintain grass under 12 inches and keep property free of trash and debris under Code §58-36. County may mow and lien for costs on non-compliant parcels.
Cobb County enforces property maintenance through Code Chapter 58 and the International Property Maintenance Code. Blighted properties including peeling paint, broken windows, debris, and overgrowth face notice and fines up to $1,000 per day.
Cobb Zoning Ord. §134 prohibits outdoor light trespass exceeding 0.5 foot-candles at a residential property line. Neighbor complaints handled by Cobb Code Enforcement (770-528-2180). Floodlights must be aimed and shielded.
Cobb County Zoning Ord. §134 requires full-cutoff outdoor fixtures for new commercial and multifamily projects. Light must not exceed 0.5 foot-candles at residential property lines. No formal IDA Dark-Sky designation.
Cobb Zoning Ord. §134 caps impervious coverage at 35% R-15/R-20, 30% R-30/R-40, 25% R-80. Coverage includes building, driveway, patio, pool. Exceeding triggers stormwater management review.
Cobb Zoning Ord. §134 sets residential setbacks by district: R-80 (50/15/40 ft), R-30 (40/10/35 ft), R-20 (35/10/30 ft), R-15 (35/10/30 ft), R-12 (35/10/30 ft). Accessory structures typically 10 ft rear / 5 ft side.
Cobb Zoning Ord. §134 caps residential structures at 35 ft / 2.5 stories (R-15, R-20, R-30, R-40, R-80). Commercial/industrial districts 45–60 ft. Cumberland CID towers can exceed 150 ft. Dobbins ARB Part 77 surfaces impose FAA height review.
Cobb County follows Georgia state landlord-tenant law (O.C.G.A. Title 44, Chapter 7). Georgia is a strong landlord-rights state with no just-cause eviction requirement. Dispossessory actions filed in Cobb County Magistrate Court.
Cobb County has no countywide rental registration requirement. The City of Marietta operates a voluntary Crime Free Multi-Housing Program. Landlords must comply with Cobb County property maintenance code and state building codes.
Rent control is banned in Georgia by state preemption (O.C.G.A. §44-7-19). Cobb County CANNOT impose rent caps or stabilization. Landlords may raise rent any amount with proper notice — 60 days for month-to-month (O.C.G.A. §44-7-7).
Cobb County requires building and electrical permits for solar panel installations through Cobb Community Development. Plan review, structural calculations, and final inspection required. Expedited solar permitting not formally adopted.
Georgia has no statewide solar access law protecting homeowners from HOA solar restrictions. Cobb County HOAs retain broad authority to regulate or prohibit rooftop solar installations through CC&Rs and architectural review.
Cobb Zoning Ordinance §134 restricts mobile food vending to approved commercial zones (GC, NRC) with property-owner consent. Not allowed in residential zones or public right-of-way. No county-run street vending program.
Cobb County requires mobile food vendors to hold a Cobb Business License (Ch. 90), Cobb & Douglas Public Health mobile food service permit, and food handler cards. Annual license ~$100+; Health permit requires vehicle inspection.
Cobb County does not operate a central No-Knock registry. Instead, Ch. 90, Art. III gives 'No Soliciting' signs the force of law — violators face trespass and permit revocation. Several Cobb cities (Marietta) run their own registries.
Cobb County Code Ch. 90, Art. III requires commercial door-to-door solicitors to obtain a Peddler/Solicitor permit, submit to background check, and wear a photo ID badge. Hours: 9 AM–7 PM (or sunset, whichever earlier). Religious/political exempt.
Cobb County Tree Ordinance uses a Tree Density Unit (TDU) replacement formula. Sites must maintain minimum 20–30 TDU/acre post-construction. Replacement trees 2"–3" caliper, from Cobb-approved native list. Fee-in-lieu paid into Cobb Tree Bank.
Cobb County Tree Preservation Ordinance (§134-Art. XXII) requires tree-protection plan for any development or removal of protected trees (8" DBH+ hardwoods, 12" pines). Residential lot-by-lot clearing strictly regulated. Fines up to $500/inch of unauthorized removal.
Cobb County designates specimen trees at 24" DBH (hardwood) or 30" DBH (pine). Heritage/specimen trees cannot be removed without variance from Cobb Tree Ordinance Administrator. Protected root zone (1 ft per 1" DBH) must be fenced during construction.
Cobb County Code Ch. 90 requires a free garage-sale permit from the Cobb Business License Office before each sale. Limited to 2 sales per household per calendar year. Signs only on your own property.
Cobb County garage sales permitted 7 AM–7 PM under Ch. 90. Must comply with noise ordinance (no early setup before 7 AM). Items and signs removed by end of each sale day.
Cobb County Code §90 caps yard sales at 2 per household per calendar year, max 3 consecutive days each. Exceeding triggers retail-business classification and requires a full occupation tax certificate.
Commercial drone operators in Cobb need FAA Part 107 certificate plus Cobb County occupation tax certificate. Dobbins Class C requires LAANC authorization for every flight. Filming on county property needs Cobb Film Office approval.
Cobb sits under Class C airspace of Dobbins ARB and adjacent to ATL Class B. Recreational drone flights require FAA Part 107 TRUST, LAANC authorization, and are prohibited within 5 miles of Dobbins without approval. Cobb parks ban launches per Ch. 74.
Home cannabis cultivation is illegal in Cobb County under Georgia state law (O.C.G.A. §16-13-30). Any plant cultivation is a felony. Georgia's medical 'low-THC oil' program (Haleon Act) does NOT permit home growing.
Cannabis dispensaries are prohibited in Cobb County. Only state-licensed Low-THC Oil dispensaries (under Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission) are permitted, and Cobb's Board of Commissioners can restrict local siting.
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 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 broadly preempts local firearms regulation under O.C.G.A. 16-11-173, reserving authority to the General Assembly while permitting limited local rules at government buildings and parks.
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.
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.
Georgia prohibits the sale of tobacco, vapor, and alternative nicotine products to anyone under 21, aligning state law with the federal Tobacco 21 standard.
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.