There are laws (codes and ordinances) that all local cities and counties legislate to try and protect the enjoyment of property that may seem intrusive, but are designed to balance lifestyles and freedom from harm.
These are the codes & ordinances for Cobb County: Complete Cobb County Code
Link for reporting Cobb County Code Violations.
Some of the most common code violation & enforcement topics are:
- Dead Trees
- Dwelling Unit
- Door-To-Door Solicitations
- Exterior Attachments
- Fences/Walls
- Grass and Weeds
- Garbage Collection
- Group Home
- Gutters and Shutters
- Home Business
- In-Home Day Care
- Junk Cars
- Leash Law
- Livestock and poultry
- Outside Storage Limitations
- Parking
- Personal Vehicle Sales
- Temporary Signs
- Windows and Exterior Doors
- Yard Sales
COMMON VIOLATIONS FOUND IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS
We have provided the following information as a general reference. For complete details, please see the relevant section of the The Official Code of Cobb County.
• Dead Trees
Dead trees shall not be allowed to exist or to be maintained on any premises which are hazardous to persons on adjacent property. A finding by a registered forester or certified arborist (as contracted by a person on adjacent property) shall constitute prima facie evidence that a tree is in danger of falling upon adjacent lots or public streets due to the death of the tree. In the event that the tree is found to be dangerous by the registered forester or certified arborist, the property owner shall be responsible for 50 percent of the cost of such registered forester or certified arborist.
• Single-Family Dwelling Unit
A dwelling unit consists of one or more rooms which are arranged, designed or used as living quarters for one family including up to one unrelated adult, or two or fewer unrelated adults and their children and/or grandchildren.
(1) A dwelling unit shall have an interior bathroom and complete kitchen facilities, permanently installed.
(2) A dwelling unit shall have at least 390 square feet of living building square footage (as determined and maintained in the records of the Cobb County Tax Assessor) per each adult occupant.
(3) No more than one vehicle per 390 square feet of living building square footage may be parked regularly overnight on the property upon which the dwelling unit exists. Of the total number of vehicles allowed per 390 square feet of living building square footage, there may be a maximum of 3 or less cars parked outside of the garage, carport or the like for property zones RA-5, R-15 and R-20; a maximum of 4 or less cars for properties zones R-30 and R-40; and maximum of 5 or less for properties zones R-80 and RR. Other zoning districts used for single-family dwelling units shall have no more than two vehicles parked outside. This includes vehicles parked within the right-of-way adjacent to the building. “Regularly” means a majority of days in a seven day period. Exceptions to this definition may be considered as part of a land use permit processed in accordance with section 134-36. Family means one or more persons related by blood, legal adaption, or marriage occupying a dwelling where such persons are all related to each other within the fourth degree, which means parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, brother and sisters.
Adult means any person over the age of 18 years old or legally emancipated in the State of Georgia.
• Door-To-Door Solicitations
The county permits door-to-door solicitations only if the person has registered with the county’s business license office. A registration badge must be worn by solicitors and will include their name, address, organization and a photograph. Solicitation without a registration badge is prohibited. Police will respond to reports of unregistered solicitors.
• Exterior Attachments
Exterior stairways, decks, porches and balconies, and all appurtenances attached thereto, of building shall be maintained so that they are structurally sound, in good repair with proper anchorage and capable of supporting the imposed loads.
• Fences / Walls
Any fence or wall adjacent to a public road right-of-way and within a residential front yard cannot be more than six feet in height. Fences or walls shall be maintained in structurally sound condition. Fences or walls at the rear of a residence cannot exceed eight feet in height. The height limitation includes posts and ornaments on top of the fence or wall.
• Grass and Weeds
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any property less than 40,000 square feet or property within any platted and recorded subdivision, to allow grass/weeds over 12 inches in height on at least ten percent of the size of the property tract , excluding the portion of the property where permanent structures exist. After 20 day notice, the County shall cause the condition to be remedied at the expense of the property owner.
• Garbage Collection
Garbage collectors may not operate between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Garbage cans filled with garbage can only be placed at the curb the evening before collection and should be removed by 11 p.m. on the day of collection.
• Group Home
Dwelling can only be shared by four or less persons, excluding resident staff, who live together as a single housekeeping unit. The managing care giver must reside at the group home. Said home shall not allow use of the dwelling as a home for individuals on parole, probation or convicted or released from incarceration for crimes of child molestation, aggravated child molestation, or child sexual abuse, as defined in O.C.G.A. 16-6-4 or individuals required to register as sex offenders pursuant to O.C.G.A. 42-1-12.
• Gutters and Shutters
Gutters and shutters and all appurtenances attached thereto, of buildings shall be maintained so that they are structurally sound, in good repair with proper anchorage and attachment.
• Home Business
• No signs, products or equipment are permitted around the exterior of the home.
• All business activities must occur inside home.
• No outside employees are permitted to work in the home or to gather at the home for work purposes.
• No more than 25 percent of the home may be used for the business.
• No commercial deliveries are permitted to home businesses.
• No customers or clients are permitted to visit home.
• In-Home Day Care
Child care in a single-family home is limited to a maximum of six children for whom compensation is received.
• The child care cannot create a nuisance to immediate adjacent property owners.
• Parking must be provided for child pick up and drop off on the property.
• No employees are permitted.
• Junk Cars
Any junk, abandoned or inoperative vehicle that remains on a property for longer than 30 days after due notice of violation has been provided per Sec. 2-102 (2) of the Cobb County Code, may be removed by Cobb County or its duly authorized designee.
Any expenses incurred in remedying the condition shall become payable within 30 calendar days, after which a special assessment lien and charge shall be attached to the property, which shall be payable with interest at the rate of 8 percent per annum from the date of such certification until paid. Such lien shall be in favor of Cobb County, Georgia, and may be satisfied at any time by payment thereof including accrued interest. Notice of such lien shall be filed in the Office of the Clerk of Superior Court and recorded among the public records of Cobb County, Georgia.
• Leash Law
Animals are required to be on a leash when outside unless contained by a fence. Pet owners are responsible for collecting animal waste and disposing of it properly. Contact Cobb County Animal Control at (770) 499-4136 to report violations.
• Livestock and Poultry
Livestock and poultry animals are only permitted on a lot of two acres or larger. All animals will be maintained at least 10 feet from any residential property line.
• Outside Storage Limitations
No outside storage is permitted, with the exception of firewood and lawn furnishings.
• Parking
Vehicles must be parked along the curb, facing in the direction of traffic flow, have a valid tag and be operational. Vehicles may not be parked in designated No Parking areas, where they block access to private driveways or where they restrict the safe flow of traffic. There are no county restrictions on the length of time a vehicle may be parked on a residential street. (The above is enforced by police)
Vehicles may not be parked in the grass or unimproved surface between the roadway and the home’s front setback. In the R-30, R-20, R-15, R-12, RD, RA-4, RA-5 zoned districts, parking allows only one vehicle, one boat, and one recreational vehicle (or any combination of such totaling three) in the rear or side yard on a hardened surface.
In the R-40, R-80, RR zoned districts, any combination of boats and recreational vehicles exceeding three must be screened from public roadways via a buffer (approved by the Cobb County Landscape Architect) or fencing. No materials, equipment or business vehicles may be stored or parked on the premises, except for one business vehicle used exclusively by the resident. A business vehicle with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight greater than 12,500 pounds is not allowed to be parked on residential property.
• Personal Vehicle Sales
No more than three personal vehicle and/or equipment sales are allowed per calendar year on any one parcel of property.
• Temporary Signs
The Temporary Local Directional sign code allows temporary signs to temporary events such as church or community gatherings, yard sales, moving sales, estate sales or the sale of an individual house. The code does not include off-premise outdoor advertising signs or signs defined under weekend subdivision directional signs. All temporary local directional signs must be located off the right-of-way.
• Window and Exterior Doors
Windows of buildings shall be fully supplied and maintained with glass window panes or with a substitute approved by the designated Cobb County Building Official, which are without open cracks or holes. Screens, if provided, shall be securely fastened to the window. Exterior doors of buildings shall be maintained so that they fit reasonably well within their frames so as to substantially prevent rain and wind from entering a building. Exterior door jams, stops, headers and moldings shall be securely attached to the structure and maintained in good condition without splitting or deterioration. Additionally, exterior doors shall be provided with property hardware and maintained in proper working condition.
• Yard Sales
Estate sales, yard sales, bakery sales, garage sales, bazaars and the like are limited to three weekends per year and cannot exceed three days per sale.
Link to Common Cobb County Code Violations in Subdivisions
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