Newton County Zoning Meetings

The Newton County Department of Development Services administers land use in unincorporated Newton County, with its Planning and Zoning division responsible for the day-to-day administration and enforcement of the county's Zoning Ordinance. Development Services also handles building permits for the City of Mansfield, City of Oxford, and Town of Newborn. The department can be reached at 678-625-1650.

Newton County's base zoning districts include A (Agricultural), RE (Rural Estates), AR (Agricultural Residential), R1 and R2 (Single-Family Residential), RMF (Multi-Family Residential), MHP (Manufactured Home Park), OI (Office-Institutional), CN (Neighborhood Commercial), CH (Highway Commercial), CG (General Commercial), M1 (Light Industrial), M2 (Heavy Industrial), and MU-278 (Highway 278 Mixed Use). The county also maintains overlay districts, including the Almon/Crowell Road, Salem Road, and Brick Store overlays, plus environmental overlays such as watershed, groundwater recharge, and river corridor protection districts.

Rezoning petitions are reviewed by the Newton County Planning Commission, which conducts public hearings to solicit public comment on rezonings, conditional uses, subdivision plats, comprehensive plan amendments, and zoning ordinance amendments. The Planning Commission makes recommendations, and the Newton County Board of Commissioners reviews and makes the final decision on zoning petitions. Applications are filed with the Department of Development Services along with the required site plan, application packet, and fees.

Variances are heard by the Newton County Board of Zoning Appeals, which is established under the Zoning Ordinance and has powers set by the county and state law. In addition, staff may grant administrative variances that are routine or minor: for example, an administrative variance of ten percent (10%) or less can be approved at the discretion of staff for matters such as building setback requirements.

The Newton County Planning Commission convenes on the fourth Tuesday of every month to conduct public hearings and act on planning and zoning matters. The Commission has six members: an at-large chairman and five district representatives. Meeting agendas and materials are posted through the county's Agenda Center and Development Services meeting pages.

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