Public Hearing: YES ☒ NO ☐ Department: Planning & Sustainability
SUBJECT:
Title
COMMISSION DISTRICT(S): All Districts
Application of the Director of Planning & Sustainability for a text amendment relating to Residential Entertainment in RE (Residential Estate); O-I (Office-Institutional); OIT (Office-Institutional-Transitional); M (Light Industrial); M2 (Heavy Industrial) zoning districts, and for other purposes.
Body
PETITION NO: N15-2026-0453 TA-26-1248040
PROPOSED USE: Residential Entertainment in RE, O-I, OIT, M, & M2 zoning districts.
LOCATION: County-wide.
PARCEL NO. : N/A
INFO. CONTACT: Yvonne Trammell, Special Projects Coordinator
PHONE NUMBER: 404-371-2155
PURPOSE:
Application of the Director of Planning & Sustainability for a text amendment relating to Residential Entertainment in RE (Residential Estate); O-I (Office-Institutional); OIT (Office-Institutional-Transitional); M (Light Industrial); M2 (Heavy Industrial) zoning districts, and for other purposes.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
COMMUNITY COUNCIL: (April 2026) CC-1: No Quorum; CC-2: Approval; C-3: Approval; C-4: Approval; C-5: Deferral.
PLANNING COMMISSION: (May 5, 2026) Pending.
PLANNING STAFF: (May 2026) Approval.
STAFF ANALYSIS: This is a text amendment request from the Department of Planning and Sustainability to add regulations for Residential Entertainment to address the shift in entertainment practices. Current entertainment regulations were built for a different era. Today, social gatherings increasingly take place in private homes and backyards rather than traditional venues. This shift can create new challenges for surrounding residents, particularly when properties are used for frequent or large-scale events that lead to ongoing disturbances, traffic, and code violations. The proposed regulations aim to provide a balance between providing appropriate entertainment venues and protecting surrounding residential neighborhoods. Toward that end, the proposed regulations are to only allow residential entertainment with a Special Administrative Permit (SAP) in RE (Residential Estate), OI (Office-Institutional), OIT (Office-Institutional Transitional), M (Light Industrial), M-2 (Heavy Industrial) zoning districts, to add the definition "owner occupied", and to add "residential entertainment" as defined terms to Section 9.1.3. The proposed supplemental regulations to address residential entertainment include: Minimum 1 acre lot and 2,000 sq. ft heated floor area; Must be located on minor/major arterial roadway or higher; Events limited to primary structure or fenced rear yard; Indoor music only; subject to the count’s noise ordinance; Permit issued to property owner and is non-transferable; Maximum 8 events per/year (2/per quarter); All events must end @12:30 AM or obtain a SLUP; Parking plan required; Must notify neighbors within (500 ft) and onsite contact signage; No advertising on social media; No alcohol sales. Therefore, staff is recommending “Approval” of this text amendment.
PLANNING COMMISSION VOTE: (May 5, 2026) Pending.
COMMUNITY COUNCIL VOTE/RECOMMENDATION: (April 2026) CC-1: No Quorum. Members present voted for Approval. CC-2: Approval 12-0-0. CC-3: Approval 8-0-0; CC-4: Approval 8-1-0; CC-5: Deferral 10-0-0.