Planning and Development

About the Department


 The Planning and Development Department's mission is to help guide citizens and developers through the processes of development established by the Mayor and City Council. The functions of the Planning and Development Department include administration of zoning and development regulations, permitting and inspections, and long-range community planning, in an effort to promote economic prosperity and neighborhood stability.

See the Recent Zoning Agenda Items and Upcoming Zoning Agenda Items sections for information and documents pertaining to zoning cases.

Serving the Public


The Planning and Development Department is primarily responsible for current and long-range planning, rezonings, variances, zoning map amendments, development permits, and creating, amending and ensuring compliance with the Unified Development Ordinance and the Comprehensive Plan. Staff works with residents and the development community in enhancing quality of life within the City. The routine functions of staff include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Taking public inquiries regarding zoning, variances, permits, development regulations, master plans, and land use
  • Reviewing plans for compliance with zoning and other requirements
  • Issuing zoning certification letters
  • Preparing staff analysis for public hearing applications
  • Preparing legal ads and mailing notices for public hearings
As part of the City's Chamblee 101 program to educate the public on how government works, the Planning and Development Department presented two sessions on the Planning and Zoning, and Permitting and Land Development processes. The presentations from those classes can be downloaded here:

Chamblee 101 Development Department - Session 1
Chamblee 101 Development Department - Session 2

Serving the Mayor, City Council and ARB


Planning and Development Department staff also serve the Mayor and City Council and the Architectural Review Board (ARB) for the City of Chamblee. The Mayor and City Council review requests for zoning map  and future development map amendments, variances, Developments of Community Impact (DCI), appeals of administrative decisions, extensions of nonconforming uses, and text amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The ARB reviews all DCI applications and advises the Mayor and City Council on these developments. A DCI is any development or building project with an aggregate of 20,000 square feet or more of new buildings or a site consisting of two acres or more.

Let Us Know How We Are Doing

If you have recently interacted with the Planning and Development Department, please take two minutes to fill out our customer service questionnaire.