Planning & Development
Development Plan Review

The Development Review Section of the Department of Planning and Development is responsible for the review, permitting, and approval of all civil site plans, final plats, sign permits and various other land development activity located in unincorporated Gwinnett County. This section is also responsible for the assignment of street and subdivision names, issuance of street addresses, approval of location plans for new houses and additions to existing homes, and Chattahoochee River Corridor Reviews.

Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development
Development Plan Review Section
One Justice Square
446 West Crogan Street, Suite 150
Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046
678.518.6010 (office)
678.518.6240 (fax)

Hours of Operation: 8:00-5:00 Monday through Friday

All developments that have a rezoning or Special Use Permit condition with regard to architectural treatments must have Department approval prior to the issuance of any building permits.

Architectural Elevations Submittal Procedures and Form (PDF)

In response to growing concerns about the Chattahoochee River, in 1973 the Georiga General Assembly enacted the Metropolitan River Protection Act (Georgia Code 12-5-440 et seq.). It established a 2000-foot Corridor along both banks of the Chattahoochee River and its impoundments for the 48 miles between Buford Dam and Peachtree Creek. The Act was amended in 1998 to extend the Corridor an additional 36 miles to the downstream limits of Fulton and Douglas Counties (the limit of the Atlanta Region). The act requires the Atlanta Regional Commission to adopt a plan to protect the Chattahoochee River Corridor and to review development proposals for consistency with the plan.

The Act requires local governments along the corridor including Gwinnett County to implement the plan by issuing permits based on ARC findings, monitoring land-disturbing activity in the corridor and enforcing the act and the plan. Under the act, land-disturbing activity in the corridor must comply with the adopted plan to be legal. For more information, please see the Atlanta Regional Commission website.

Please call the Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development, Development Plan Review Section at 678.518.6010 if your property is located within the Chattahoochee River Corridor. You may use Gwinnett County's GIS Data Browser to determine if your property is within the corridor.

Chattahoochee River Corridor As-built Survey Hold and Release Affidavit (PDF)
Chattahoochee River Corridor House Location Plan (PDF)

The Development Plan Review section processes administrative modification applications to the Development Regulations and the Buffer, Landscape, and Tree Ordinance.

Modification Application (PDF)

For preliminary site visits the Development Inspections Section has arborists on staff that will meet with the developer's professional (certified arborist, landscape architect or urban forester) on a proposed site to discuss and verify that a tree meets the specimen tree identification criteria that is listed in the Buffer, Landscape and Tree Ordinance (Section 5.6.b.) (PDF). To schedule an appointment for a preliminary site visit call 678.518.6070.

Steps for Preliminary Site Visit for Specimen Tree Inspection (PDF)

For Specimen Tree Concept Plans the Development Plan Review section reviews the plans that are required after the preliminary site visit and before a commercial development or residential development is permitted. See the Buffer, Landscape and Tree Ordinance (Section 5.6.4.) (PDF). A Specimen Tree Concept Plan is required when there are specimen tree(s) present on the site. Specimen Tree Concept Plans show the existing specimen trees, critical root zones of the specimen trees, proposed building footprint, parking, driveways, existing and proposed utilities and conceptual detention. For questions regarding the Specimen Tree Concept Plan call 678.518.6010 or visit our office.

Specimen Tree Concept Plan Checklist (PDF)

The Addressing Unit of the Development Plan Review Section is responsible for the issuance of street numbers, assignment of new subdivision and street names, and existing address verifications. In addition, the unit is responsible for the approval of house location plans (HLPs), building addition plan locations, accessory structure plan locations, swimming pool location plans, Chattahoochee River Corridor plan review, and in-law suites prior to the issuance of any building permits. Also this unit answers questions regarding setbacks, fences and swimming pools on residential property. For issuance of street numbers, please visit our office with a site plan. For the approval of new street or subdivision names, please call 678.518.6010 or visit our office.

The Development Plan Review Section of the Development Division processes Street Name Changes for existing, named streets located in unincorporated Gwinnett County. A completed application form must be submitted along with a petition signed by all affected property owners to the Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development, Development Plan Review Section. (An affected property owner is one who owns an interest in property contiguous to the street).

The proposed name is submitted for review and approval to various county departments. If they approve the application, a notice is distributed and a public hearing held. If 100 percent of the affected property owners sign the petition, then no public hearing is required. If a street name change is approved, then the applicant is responsible for the cost of replacing the sign blades. Please call the Development Plan Review Section at 678.518.6010 for more information.

Street Name Change Application Form (PDF)

Tall Structure Permits (TSP) are processed by the Development Plan Review Section in the Development Division. There a five (5) different types of TSPs: Commercial Communication Towers, Permitted Use Towers, Co-Location Antennas, Amateur Radio Towers, and Other Tall Structures. TSPs for Commercial Communications Towers, Amateur Radio Towers, and the Other Tall Structures are heard by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners on regularly scheduled public hearing agendas. TSPs for co-located antennas are handled administratively by Department of Planning and Development staff. The last type of TSP - Permitted Use Towers are processed administratively by the Department of Planning and Development staff and by the Zoning Board of Appeals if necessary.

A temporary outdoor activity is an activity not to exceed twenty (20) consecutive days. A second permit for a temporary outdoor activity on the same property may not be applied for or renewed within six (6) months from the date of any prior approval of a temporary outdoor activity. Please call 678.518.6010 or visit our office to determine whether you need to obtain a permit for a temporary outdoor activity.

Temporary Outdoor Activity Ordinance (PDF)
Temporary Outdoor Activity Permit Application Form and Checklist (PDF)

Applications are accepted for variances to the Zoning Resolution. There are two types of variance applications. The first, a Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) application, requires a public hearing and takes approximately 30 to 45 days. Please see the filing deadline and hearing date schedule. The ZBA meets on the second Tuesday of each month (unless otherwise published) at 6:30 PM, usually in the auditorium of the Gwinnett Justice & Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville.

The second type, an administrative application, is processed without a public hearing. Most administrative applications take from three (3) to five (5) business days to process. Administrative buffer width applications, however, take from five (5) to 10 business days. Processing time begins after receiving a complete application with all required information.

Applications are accepted for waivers to the Development Regulations, Buffer, Tree, and Landscape Ordinance and the Floodplain Management Ordinance. There are two types of waiver applications: those decided by the Board of Commissioners (most requirements) and those decided by the Board of Construction Adjustments & Appeals (storm water management requirements). After a review by staff, waivers are scheduled for public hearing. The Board of Commissioners review & decide upon waiver applications monthly at their 3rd Tuesday 2:00 PM meeting. The Board of Construction Adjustments & Appeals review and decide upon waiver applications monthly at their 2nd Wednesday 3:00 PM meeting. Processing time typically takes 45 to 60 days for a decision. If approved, a waiver applies only to a specific project or property requirement that it is associated.

Located below are several links to listings of development permits, projects submitted for review, and to annual reports summarizing land development activity in the county. In addition, you can customize your permit search by using the department's Search Permits Service. You can search for any of the department's permit or case types using your parameters. If you have any questions concerning this information, please contact the Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development, Development Division at 678.518.6000.

Annual Development Activity Reports
Development Permits Issued
Development Plan Submittals