Atlanta Flood Area Regulations

The intent of this article is to regulate and restrict uses and structures within both traditional and historically modified floodplain areas of the City of Atlanta in order to protect life and property, to prevent or minimize the hazards and damage which follow periods of severe inundation and to reduce the public cost of rescue efforts, relief efforts and flood control activities made necessary by such inundation; to protect the natural function and character of the traditional floodplain and surrounding areas; and to enable owners of property within the City of Atlanta to qualify for national flood insurance.

Includes the following provisions:
– “Use of lands and buildings, and construction, reconstruction, repair, modification or demolition of any structure within all floodplains, including special flood hazard areas, shall require review and approval of a permit by the commissioner.”
– “The commissioner shall not, by authorizing the approval of a permit under the authority of this article, authorize any use of land, any extension or enlargement of a use of land which existed before the original date of enactment of the provisions of said article, or the commencement of any of the activities described in this article, where the effect thereof would be to decrease the volume of existing flood storage on that land or to increase flooding conditions upstream, downstream or adjacent to that land.”