Civic Association & County Codes

Except for the newer neighborhoods with covenants, most of the Dunwoody North Communities' covenants have expired.  DeKalb County Codes are our new covenants.  It is the policy of the DNCA to oppose most variance requests as DeKalb County Codes are already the bare minimum of what we as neighbors should try to adhere to in order to help protect everyone's investment.  We fully support helping neighbors use their property as they desire and will try to find common ground.  Please contact us if you intend to seek a variance.

If any resident has a complaint about a home in our community he/she needs to follow the following process: Contact the neighbor first. If you cannot get the situation resolved with your neighbor, then call Code Enforcement at 770-724-7940 or fax them the issue at 770-724-7963 in order to report the problem. Please keep a record of the date you called, who you spoke to, and what they say. You might want to also send a letter to confirm your conversation. Give them about three or four weeks and then call for an update if you don't see any changes at your neighbor's home. If you do not get any results, please contact Gerri Penn in writing via zoning@dunwoodynorth.org. Please give as much information as possible in your letter. The Civic Association will then intercede by contacting one of the Code Enforcement Officials. DNCA does not support applications for variances to the Dekalb county codes.

The following list is comprised of the most common complaints that we have received in the past few years. Yard is not maintained and there is overgrowth of grass and/or weeds (unraked leaves fall into this category), Too many cars on street or driveway, Junked cars, Open storage in carport, front porch, or in front yard, Barking dogs (a violation of the county Noise Law), Loose dogs and cats (it is required for poop to be scooped up by dog owner, and both dogs and cats fall under the leash law), House in disrepair i.e. in need of paint, falling apart, In-home businesses with customer contact and/or signs.

Please be advised that if you are adding on to your home or building an accessory structure in your backyard, you need to get a permit. You cannot build a freestanding structure in your front yard. Please remember that Dekalb County also has a Tree Ordinance.

To report County Code violations, (junk cars, expired tags, parking on the grass,  unkempt yards or tall grass) please call 770-724-7940.  You are not required to leave your name and number. Give date and address of violation.  There is a Four to Six week turn around on most complaints.  If the violation persists, call again with date and address of violation, identifying this as a second complaint.  If you give your name and phone number, you can request a call reporting the status of the investigation or the person in charge of the investigation may have questions.

DeKalb Code Enforcement 770-724-7940
Make a complaint via Fax - 770-724-7963  (M - F,  8:00 - 4:30)

Yards & Junk Vehicles

DeKalb Ordinance (Chapter 7/Art III/Div 1/Sec 7-357)

(a) Persons shall keep their property free of those weeds and underbrush which create a health menace, fire hazard or an unsafe or unsanitary condition as well as trash, garbage, junked vehicles or other things thereon which constitute a violation of the provisions of this article.

(c) Owners and occupants of property shall not permit weeds or grass within one hundred fifty (150) feet of any building or structure to grow on such property to a height exceeding eighteen (18) inches.

Noise

DeKalb Ordinance (Chapter 16/Art III/Div 1/Sec 16-46)

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be made or continued any loud, unnecessary or unusual sound or noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others in the county, and which is audible to a person of normal hearing ability more than fifty (50) feet from the point of origin of the sound or noise.

Autos

DeKalb Ordinance (Chapter 17/Art IV/Sec 17-138)

Sec. 17-138. Parking for certain purposes prohibited.
No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for:

(1) Displaying the vehicle for sale.
(2) Washing, greasing or repairing the vehicle, except repairs necessitated by sudden emergency; in such emergency the vehicle shall be moved or towed away with all due haste.
(3) Displaying advertising.

Peachtree DeKalb Airport Issues 

PDK Watch is a coalition of civic organizations and individuals. Their purpose is to protect and assure the future of established residential neighborhoods and quality of life in the area affected by PDK Airport. 

Task List 

1.Hold the line on airport expansion. 
2.Keep the airport noncommercial. 
3.Institute and implement an effective noise abatement policy. 
4.Implement effective neighborhood participation in airport activities. 
5.Insure that PDK Airport honors its mission statement. 
6.Encourage efforts to improve the appearance and landscaping of airport property. 

To receive a newsletter send a request to pdkwatch@yahoo.com or
PDK Watch 
2331 Annapolis Court 
Atlanta GA 30345.

Links to other DeKalb Zoning Pages

DeKalb County Ordinances on line can be found at http://www.municode.com/Resources/gateway.asp?pid=10637&sid=10

Another page on DeKalb Zoning is maintained by Blair Belton.  The page is found at http://www.dekalbzoning.com

Since Blair has every conceivable piece of information available which is related to DeKalb Zoning.  I will not bother adding anyone else, not even the county.  The page is that good and that up to date.