As a measure to protect and preserve the health, safety, and welfare of Gwinnett residents, the Board of Commissioners approved a Smoke-free Air Ordinance during the May 24 public hearing.  The ordinance replaces Article V of Chapter 38 in the Code of Ordinances of Gwinnett County entitled Clean Indoor Air and will become effective June 23, 2022.  In Georgia, tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death, and more than 11,700 adults die from smoking-related illness each year.

The Board also approved an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance that is effective immediately. The ordinance now addresses cigar bars in the same manner as hookah lounges and includes definitions related to each.

For questions regarding the Smoke-free Air Ordinance or the amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance, contact PnD@GwinnettCounty.com or view the Smoke-free Air Ordinance flyer for more information.

Effective January 16, 2021, a pre-application meeting will be required prior to the submittal of certain types of Rezoning, Special Use Permit, Buffer Reduction, and Change in Conditions applications. This meeting will allow applicants and Current Planning staff to review and discuss proposed applications prior to official application submittal.  Pre-application meetings will be scheduled based on the Public Hearing Schedule and may be scheduled by emailing your request and a proposed site plan to:
P&DZoning@gwinnettcounty.com.

The applicant is required to attend the pre-application meeting; however, the applicant’s legal counsel and design professionals are also encouraged to attend. At the conclusion of the pre-application meeting, the applicant and a staff member will sign a required acknowledgment form. The signed form and all action items/site plan changes noted at the pre-application meeting must be included with the future officially submitted application. For more details, read Pre-Application Meeting Requirement for Rezoning, Special Use Permit, Buffer Reduction,and Change In Conditions Applications (PDF).