Barrow County, GA Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Barrow County Code § 89-465(a), Table 5.2
- Base density
- Table 4.1 dwelling units per acre by district
- Smallest bonus
- 0.10 dwellings/acre at 20-24% open space
- Largest bonus
- 0.50 dwellings/acre at 45%+ open space
- Minimum open space
- 20% of site required under § 89-469
- Review body
- Planning and Community Development, subdivision plat review
Summary
Unincorporated Barrow County lets an open space subdivision build more homes than the base zoning density allows if the developer sets aside extra common open space. Section 89-465(a) and Table 5.2 add a density bonus on a sliding scale, from 0.10 extra dwellings per acre at 20 to 24 percent open space up to 0.50 extra dwellings per acre at 45 percent or more.
Sec. 89-465. - Open space subdivisions. ... (a)Maximum number of lots. An open space subdivision shall not exceed the overall maximum density of dwelling units per acre allowed for the zoning district under Table 4.1 of article IV plus density bonuses in accordance with the following table, Table 5.2. The maximum number of lots shall not exceed the maximum density allowed under Table 4.1 Plus the applicable density bonus indicated below. Table 5.2: Open Space Density Bonuses
Percent Common Open Space Density Bonus 20% to 24% 0.10 dwellings/acre 25% to 29% 0.15 dwellings/acre 30% to 34% 0.20 dwellings/acre 35% to 39% 0.25 dwellings/acre 40% to 44% 0.30 dwellings/acre 45% or above 0.50 dwellings/acre
Full Breakdown
Barrow County's Unified Development Code rewards open space subdivisions with additional density under section 89-465(a). 2, which ties the size of the bonus to the percentage of the site kept as common open space. 50 dwellings-per-acre bonus once common open space reaches 45 percent or more of the site. 1 plus roughly ten percent, with the site required to set aside a minimum 20 percent as open space, including primary conservation areas, under the resource conservation standards of section 89-469. In exchange for the added density, section 89-465(c) requires the preliminary subdivision plat to fix minimum lot widths and building setbacks, keep principal buildings at least 20 feet apart where they are detached, and give every dwelling unit direct street, court or walkway access, and section 89-465(b) still requires every resulting lot to satisfy county health department requirements for its water supply and sewage disposal method.
Violations & Fines
Platting more lots in an open space subdivision than Table 4.1's base density plus the Table 5.2 bonus for the actual percentage of common open space provided is a Unified Development Code violation that Planning and Community Development catches at preliminary and final plat review. An applicant who overstates the open space percentage to claim a larger bonus risks plat rejection, and the county can require the plat revised to the correct lot count or the open space area increased to match the density actually claimed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much extra density can an open space subdivision get in Barrow County?
Is the density bonus added to the district's normal zoning density?
Do I still have to meet septic and lot-width rules if I use the density bonus?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Barrow County
Compare Barrow County to another location·View the Georgia zoning overlays & bonuses overview
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