Special Administrative Permit

The following City of Atlanta zoning classifications: all Special Public Interest (SPI) districts, Beltline (BL), Live-Work (LW), Multi-Family Residential (MR), Mixed Residential Commercial (MRC), Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Industrial Mixed Use (I-Mix) and Unified Development Plans (UDP) require that an SAP shall be submitted, as applicable, and approved by the Office of Zoning and Development prior to filing for a building permit.

All SAP applications will be reviewed by the Office of Zoning and Development for compliance with the zoning district regulations as set forth in the City of Atlanta Zoning Ordinance. Also, the City has established Development / Design Review Committees (DRC) as advisory groups for the purposes of providing to the Director formal recommendations / comments on SAP applications within particular zoning districts (BeltLine, certain SPI). Further, the Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) also has a role in the review of SAP applications located within particular zoning districts (BeltLine, certain NC)
Georgia HB 1405 designates the Office of Zoning and Development as a quasi-judicial agency appointed by a local government to exercise delegated, quasi-judicial zoning powers including hearing and rendering decisions on applications for Special Administrative Permits.

The purpose for the SAP public hearing is not to deliver the final decision on the merits of applications but to provide for an opportunity for the public to voice their comments on the proposed scope, in the early stages of the overall review process. There will be opportunity for meaningful discussion within the allotted time period for each application. 
Public comments may be submitted to sapcomments@atlantaga.gov by 10:00 am on the day of the hearing

The requirement for an SAP is triggered by the zoning district (refer to Overview above) and the proposed scope of work. Although not limited to, the following scopes require an SAP application: exterior demolition, new construction (including additions to existing buildings), new or expanded outdoor dining, or work which results in increased lot coverage, modification of the building footprint, or modification of building façades that would reduce the configuration of street facing openings.

Public hearings are scheduled in accordance with the hearing schedule. They are held at the City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 in Committee Room #1 (2nd floor, room at the right out of the elevator).

The Minor Agenda for Special Administrative Permit (SAP) consists of applications for scopes of work that do not result in development of the site or that only assist with transferring land ownership. Minor Agenda for SAP may include, but is not limited to, the following: authorization to operate a farmer’s market, the creation of an urban garden, temporary outdoor vending of 90 days or less, Zero Lot Line subdivisions, etc. 

2025 SAP Public Hearing Schedule

To view application material (survey, site plan, elevation, etc.) or to download it, please follow this procedure: 
Step 1: Go to the following link: https://aca-prod.accela.com/ATLANTA_GA/Default.aspx.  Please create an account if you don't already have one. 
Step 2: Under "Search" click “Search Planning”, scroll down and under "General Search" under "Number" enter the application number and click the "Search" tab. 
Step 3: Under “Record Info” select “Attachments”. Click on the filename hyperlink and download. 

If you have questions, contact the review planner or our Front Desk at dcpozd@atlantaga.gov or (404) 330-6145 

Specific Questions?

For details on specific SAP applications, use sapcomments@atlantaga.gov
For general inquiries on the process, contact dcpozd@atlantaga.gov or (404) 330-6145 

Tshaka Warren, Land Development Assistant Director twarren@atlantaga.gov

Jubie Thompson, Customer Service Manager, Sr. jthompson@atlantaga.gov