Zoning is the process of dividing land in a municipality into zones (e.g. residential, industrial) in which certain land uses are permitted or prohibited. Forsyth County has the following zoning categories;Res1 - Single Family Residential DistrictRes2 - Single Family Residential DistrictCR2 - Single Family Community Residential DistrictRes3 - Single Family Residential DistrictRes4 - Single Family Residential DistrictRes6 - Multi-Family Residential DistrictMHP - Manufactured Home Park DistrictR1R - Single Family Residential Restricted DistrictCR1 - Single Family Community Residential DistrictR1 - Single Family Residential DistrictR2R - Single Family Residential Restricted DistrictOSR - Open Space Residential DistrictR2 - Single Family Residential DistrictR3 - Multi-Family Residential DistrictR4 - Mobile Home Park DistrictLR - Lake Residential DistrictNS - Neighborhood Shopping DistrictUV - Urban Village DistrictHB - Highway Business DistrictCBD - Commercial Business DistrictHC - Heavy Commercial DistrictBP - Business ParkO&I - Office and Institutional DistrictOR - Office Residential DistrictOCMS - Office Commercial Multiple Story DistrictM1 - Restricted Industrial DistrictM2 - Heavy Industrial DistrictMINE - Mining Operations DistrictA1 - Agricultural DistrictAg RES - Agricultural Residential DistrictPUD - Planned Unit Development DistrictMPD - Master Planned District

The purpose of overlay districts established by Chapter Nine, Article I of the Forsyth County Unified Development Code is to conserve natural resources or realize development objectives without unduly disturbing the expectations for development allowed by the existing zoning district provisions applicable to particular properties. The existing zoning district provisions may properly regulate the relevant district, in general, but more specific and targeted provisions contained in an overlay district are needed to accomplish pressing land use objectives. The purpose for each Overlay District is as follows:Atlanta Highway-McFarland Parkway-Mullinax Road Overlay District:The purpose of this overlay district is to establish minimum standards for development, exterior architectural design, parking, fencing and landscaping that contribute to the district's recruitment and retention of businesses. This is accomplished through the enhancement of business and industrial development and redevelopment through the creation of visual interest and design flexibility. Architectural design standards are intended to promote architectural continuity and consistency, corridor landscaping for aesthetic benefit, and flexible parking design to minimize impediments to development. It is the intent of this overlay to allow for flexibility in responding to unique characteristics and constraints inherent with different businesses, specific parcels, and related neighborhood areas.Buford Highway Overlay District:The purpose of this overlay district is to establish minimum standards for landscaping, lighting and signage that contribute to the district’s overall character. In addition, this overlay is intended to increase design functionality of vehicle related establishments and to mitigate impacts of commercial uses on residential areas through additional site design considerations. Buford Highway is a major arterial roadway that handles significant volumes of traffic and is therefore highly visible to the traveling public. The enhancement of this well-traveled corridor through a unification of its visual context by way of appropriate design measures offers benefits such as the protection of land values through improved appearance and utility that may foster business attraction.Campground Road, Castleberry Road, Kelly Mill Road, Post Road, Pittman Road and Shiloh Road Overlay District:The purpose of this overlay district is to establish minimum standards for roadway fencing and landscaping that contribute to the district's recruitment and retention of businesses and enhancement of residential communities.Castleberry Bethelview Crossroads Overlay Zoning District:The purpose of this overlay district is to establish minimum standards for site development, exterior architectural design, landscaping, and signage of buildings that contribute to the district's overall character within a phased development approach to commercial and residential expansion. This is accomplished through the protection adn preservation of the district's rural qualities, enhancement of commercial growth through unity of design and quality architecture, and the creation of visual interest through landscape and architectural features scaled for pedestrian use. Design standards are intended to ensure coordinated design of building exteriors in order to promote architectural congruence, positively impact adjacent properties, and produce buildings that augment the character and appearance of the area. It is the goal of this overlay to promote freedom in design while establishing a baseline for design compatibility. This goal is in accordance with the County's objective to encourage landscaping, signage, building design, and other development regulations that enhance the image of the County and create value as stated in the economic development section of the Comprehensive Plan's implementation program.Etowah100ft Overlay District:The purpose of overlay districts is to conserve natural resources or realize development objectives without unduly disturbing the expectations for development allowed by the existing zoning district provisions applicable to particular properties.Etowah 150ft Overlay District:The purpose of overlay districts is to conserve natural resources or realize development objectives without unduly disturbing the expectations for development allowed by the existing zoning district provisions applicable to particular properties.Hazard Areas:New Facilities which handle hazardous materials of the types listed in Section 312 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (excluding underground storage tanks), and amounts of 10,000 pounds on any one day or more, shall perform their operations on impervious surfaces in conformance with any applicable federal spill prevention requirements or the requirements of the Standard Fire Prevention Code.Peachtree Parkway Bethelview Road Overlay District:The purpose of this overlay district is to establish minimum standards for non-residential site development, exterior architectural design, landscaping, lighting and signage that contribute to the district’s overall character. This is accomplished through enhancement of commercial growth through unity of design and quality architecture and the creation of visual interest through landscape and architectural features. Design standards are intended to ensure coordinated design of building exteriors in order to promote visual congruence, positively impact adjacent properties, and produce buildings that augment the character and appearance of the area. It is the goal of this ordinance to promote freedom in design while establishing a baseline for design compatibility. This goal is in accordance with the County’s objective to encourage landscaping, signage, building design, and other development regulations that enhance the image of the County and create value as stated in the implementation program of the Comprehensive Plan. In addition, the overlay district complies with the respective subarea visions which state that the vicinity will be the site of quality development and business opportunities. The subarea visions also maintain that the area will be known to have grown in a responsible manner, offering residents a high quality of life as well as opportunities for employment, shopping, and recreation.Peachtree Parkway Overlay District:The purpose of this overlay district is to establish minimum standards for site development, exterior architectural design, landscaping, and signage of buildings that contribute to the district's overall character within a phased development approach to commercial and residential expansion. This is accomplished through the protection and preservation of the district's rural qualities, enhancement of commercial growth through unity of design and quality architecture, and the creation of visual interest through landscape and architectural features scaled for pedestrian use. Design standards are intended to ensure coordinated design of building exteriors in order to promote architectural congruence, positively impact adjacent properties, and produce buildings that augment the character and appearance of the area. It is the goal of this overlay to promote freedom in design while establishing a baseline for design compatibility. This goal is in accordance with the County's objective to encourage landscaping, signage, building design, and other development regulations that enhance the image of the County and create value as stated in the economic development section of the Comprehensive Plan's implementation program.Ground Water Recharge Areas:The Purpose of the Ground Water Recharge areas show areas in a Protected Groundwater Recharge Area Overlay District subject to the following conditions and standards:(A) The Department of Natural Resources shall not issue any permits for new sanitary landfills not having synthetic liners and leachate collection systems.(B) The Department of Natural Resources shall not issue any new permits for the land disposal of hazardous wastes.(C) The Department of Natural Resources shall require all new facilities permitted or to be permitted to treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste to perform such operations on an impermeable pad having a spill and leak collection system.(D) New above-ground chemical or petroleum storage tanks, having a minimum volume of 660 gallons, shall have secondary containment for 110 percent of the volume of such tanks or 110 percent of the volume of the largest tank in a cluster of tanks. (Note: These figures are consistent with US EPA rules for oil pollution prevention, 40 CFR 112.1.) Such tanks used for agricultural purposes are exempt, provided they comply with all Federal requirements.(E) New agricultural waste impoundment sites shall be lined if they are within:(1) A high pollution susceptibility area;(2) A medium pollution susceptibility area and exceed 15 acre-feet;(3) A low pollution susceptibility area and exceed 50 acre-feet.As a minimum, the liner shall be constructed of compacted clay having a thickness of one-foot and a vertical hydraulic conductivity of less than 5 x10-7 cm/sec or other criteria established by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service; the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division; and/or Forsyth County. (The average size of existing agricultural waste impoundments in Georgia is about 15 acre-feet; sheeps-foot rollers or pans with heavy rubber tires, which are normal equipment for most Georgia earth moving contractors, should be able to compact clay to the recommended vertical hydraulic conductivity.)(F) New homes served by septic tank/drain field systems shall be on lots having the following minimum size limitations as identified on Table MT-1 of the Department of Human Resources' Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems (hereinafter "DHR Table MT-1"):(1) 150% of the subdivision minimum lot size of DHR Table MT-1 if