The Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association’s Historic Preservation and Land Use Committee is an important partner in community redevelopment issues. We take an active role in reviewing all development proposals for Cabbagetown. If applicants have not done so on their own, the Atlanta Urban Design Commission (UDC) directs them to contact the Historic Preservation and Land Use Committee to ensure community input into design reviews.

In addition to reviewing all applications for Certificates of Appropriateness in Cabbagetown, the Historic Preservation and Land Use Committee acts as a resource for all property owners, builders, developers, real estate professionals and others interested in renovation and redevelopment in the neighborhood. We are happy to answer questions and provide guidance with regard to the UDC process. We are also actively engaged in a number of forward-looking activities intended to improve the quality of life in Cabbagetown and to represent the neighborhood’s interests with regard to land use issues. This includes engagement with the Atlanta City Council, Atlanta Beltline, Inc. and the Office of Planning.

Please note that all Certificate of Appropriateness applications must be reviewed at both a Historic Preservation and Land Use Committee meeting and subsequently at a Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association (CNIA) meeting. Historic Preservation and Land use Committee members will vote to recommend or deny support of the proposal; no matter the vote, all applications can be moved forward to the CNIA for a final vote. Once reviewed at a CNIA meeting, members present at the CNIA meeting will vote on whether or not to support the application. The CNIA will submit a letter of support to the UDC for all projects that receive a vote of support. By default, the CNIA will submit a letter recommending deferral of any Certificate of Appropriateness application that has not been reviewed by both the Historic Preservation and Land Use Committee and the CNIA.

Meeting Information and Process

Historic Preservation and Land Use Committee meetings take place VIRTUALLY on the FIRST WEDNESDAY of each month at 7:00pm. Meetings are open to the public. To ask to be put on the agenda for a particular meeting, please contact the committee via email. In order to have the committee review and vote on a particular UDC application, the relevant materials (drawings, photographs, UDC application etc.) must be submitted to the Committee three days prior to a given meeting so that the members of the committee have sufficient time to review the materials. Materials not submitted in advance can be reviewed and discussed for general feedback, but no votes will be taken.

Please note that Historic Preservation and Land Use Committee meetings, CNIA Meetings and Atlanta Urban Design Commission meetings all follow different schedules. It is important for all Certificate of Appropriateness applicants to review the calendar carefully in order to coordinate their project schedule with the UDC and neighborhood review process.

CNIA Historic Preservation/Land Use Committee Email: hplu@cabbagetown.com

Sample Meeting Process

Applicant contacts UDC regarding a Certificate of Appropriateness Application.
Applicant completes UDC application and contacts the Historic Preservation and Land Use Committee to have their application reviewed at the next Committee meeting.
Applicant attends the Committee meeting and the Committee votes to recommend or not to recommend support.
Applicant attends the next CNIA meeting (usually, the Tuesday after a Historic Preservation and Land Use Meeting) and presents the application. Historic Preservation and Land Use Committee designee shares the Committee’s recommendation. CNIA members vote to support or not support the application. The HPLU designee will send an electronic letter to the UDC staff and the applicant giving support or explaining why the project is not supported by CNIA.
Applicant attends their UDC Hearing and their application for a Certificate of Appropriateness is either approved, denied or deferred by the UDC.

Sample Schedule

June 18: Certificate of Appropriateness application submission deadline for July 10 UDC hearing.
June 24: deadline to submit application materials to the Historic Preservation and Land Use Committee for review and vote at the July 1 Committee meeting.
June 25: posting deadline for Type III, IV & Variance sign posting.
July 1: attend Cabbagetown Historic Preservation and Land Use Committee meeting.
July 3: deadline for Type II sign posting.
July 9: attend Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association meeting.
July 10: attend UDC hearing.

Important Documents and Links

Atlanta Urban Design Commission
You can download the application form for the varying Certificates of Appropriateness as well as view the application deadline and Commission meeting schedule.

Cabbagetown Historic District Zoning Regulations (Cabbagetown Landmark District Guidelines)

Map of Contributing Structures

Map of Subareas 1-5

Cabbagetown Design Guidelines (We are working on getting a better scan of the first half)
These guidelines were used to create the first historic district zoning regulations for Atlanta. You can find what style your house is classified as (if it is considered contributing). The HPLU committee looks to these guidelines when reviewing projects, as they have more specific design criteria than the zoning regulations.

1990 Photo Documentation of Cabbagetown

Application to Place Cabbagetown on the National Register 1975

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my house is “contributing”?
In the above section, there is a link to a Map of Contributing Structures. If your property is shaded, your house is considered contributing. If it is not shaded, it is considered non-contributing.
What’s the “compatibility rule” that’s referenced in the regulations?
Any modifications or new construction work must meet the compatibility rule. That means you must look at all contributing structures of the same style of your house on your block face and match them. If your block face has no contributing structures to use, you may use the next closest block face (most likely the one directly across the street). A block face consists of all the properties on your side of the street from the closest intersection on either side.
My neighbor is doing work that I don’t think is approved. What should I do?
You should go talk to your neighbor first. Maybe they don’t know or understand the regulations for Cabbagetown. Ask them to contact hplu@cabbagetown.com and describe the work they’re doing to see if it needs approval. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can email hplu@cabbagetown.com and let us know the work that is being done (a photo would be helpful).
I want to build a fence in my front, side, or rear yard. Do I need to go through the neighborhood and/or the UDC? What type of fence is allowed?
Fences are allowed. For front yards and half-depth front yards (corner lots), only 4 foot high fences are allowed. At side and rear yards, 6 foot high fences are acceptable. The regulations allow wood or chainlink. We are currently seeking to eliminate chainlink as an option. Any design is permitted for a wood fence (horizontal, vertical, picket, lattice, etc). We do not need you to come through the neighborhood process, but you do need to acquire a Certificate of Appropriateness from the UDC. They will request a site plan showing where the fence is to be installed and a detail of what the fence will look like.
What’s the scoop on siding on a house? What is allowed and what will get me banished?
This is the most frequently asked question and there’s not always a straightforward answer. Here are some general answers that may apply to your situation.
- If your house is a contributing structure and it has wood siding, you need to either restore or replace the siding with wood siding. The same size must be used. The UDC may ask that you prove you cannot restore the wood. Restoring is always preferred over replacing.
- If your house is a contributing structure and it has wood siding, but it is currently covered by asbestos siding, vinyl siding, or some other material, you must remove the non-contributing siding, restore the wood siding underneath and/or replace it with new wood siding. The UDC will ask for photo documentation of the condition of the siding.
- If your house is a contributing structure but it does not have an original siding material (ie vinyl siding is installed over sheathing), then you most likely can use smooth faced cementitious siding or wood siding. This is ultimately up to the UDC as they may request wood siding if there is documentation that the home used to have this and all other structure on the block face have it.
- If your house is new construction, you can use smooth faced cementitious siding or wood siding.
- If your house is non-contributing, you can use smooth faced cementitious siding or wood siding.
- Please don’t ever think about installing wood-grained cementitious siding. Pretend it is hot lava. Don’t touch it. Just don’t.
Can I build a guesthouse and/or garage/carport on my property?
Yes, you can. Most of Atlanta residential lots allow accessory dwelling units. Cabbagetown currently does not allow these although we’re looking at revising the regulations. Cabbagetown allows accessory structures. What is the difference? If you have a cooking element (range or stove top), then it is considered an accessory dwelling unit and is not allowed in Cabbagetown. Anything else is permitted. There are no design regulations on accessory structures. There are only placement, lot coverage, setback, and height restrictions. Not every property will be able to fit an accessory structure. Accessory structures are reviewed as a Type II Staff Review and do not go before the full Urban Design Commission. We are working to make the regulations more standardized and easier to follow when it comes to accessory structures.
The accessory structures must be in your rear yard. The setbacks must meet the compatibility rule. That means you need to find other properties close to you with accessory structures and match their setbacks. If all the accessory structures on your block face are 20’ off the rear property line, then you can’t go past that. If they’re 2’ then you can build 2’ off the property line. We are working to make a standard 4’ off the side yard and 4’ off the rear yard, similar to R districts in Atlanta.
The height cannot be taller than your primary structure.
You cannot exceed your lot coverage when you add an accessory structure. Accessory structures do not count toward your FAR.
I need a pool so I have somewhere to enjoy my tiki drinks in the summer. Can I build one?
Yes, pools are allowed in Cabbagetown. For now. They do count toward your lot coverage.
Do you have any architects or builders you recommend?
Below are architects that have come through the neighborhood process and in general honor the intent of the regulations. If you would like to be added, please email hplu@cabbagetown.com
- Josh LeFrancois, AIA
  Local Architects, LLC
  josh@localarchitects.co
  localarchitects.co
- Adam Stillman
  adam@adamstillman.net
  http://www.adamstillman.net
- M. Tarver Siebert, RA, LEED AP
  MT Studio Architecture
  tarver@mts-architecture.com
  www.mts-architecture.com
What type of windows are allowed?
“Windows shall be predominantly vertical in proportion, shall not be constructed in combination of more than two units, and shall be double-hung wood sash with true divided lights.”
I want to paint my house. What colors are allowed, and do I need approval?
Paint colors are not controlled by district regulations. You may use whatever color you like and you do not need approval to repaint. If you are painting an exposed brick structure (ie it’s not currently painted), you will need UDC approval. Before you go painting the entire exterior of your home white, please consider the historic nature of the house and what an accurate paint scheme may do to enhance your home’s true character and beauty. https://www.oldhouseguy.com/exterior-paint-colors/
I need to replace some roofing and/or siding on the house that is damaged. Do I need approval?
If you are doing minor repair work, most likely not. See question below.
I’m only doing a small amount of work. Do I need to go through the process?
If the work you are doing is under $2,500, the UDC does not require approval. Do not confuse this with the City of Atlanta which requires permits for work above $10,000. So, you may be required to attain a Certificate of Appropriateness from the UDC, but not a building permit from the City of Atlanta.
Do I need approval for interior work?
You can do whatever you like inside your home as long as it does not change the exterior.
I have a non-functioning fireplace in my contributing structure. Can I remove it?
You are not allowed to remove the exterior chimney. You can remove the fireplace and chimney inside, provided you find someway to structurally support the exterior chimney.
The original wood siding on my house is applied directly to the studs with no sheathing or weather-resistant barrier. Can I remove the wood siding to install these items and then re-install the siding?
No. The UDC does not want to see the wood siding get damaged by going through this process. You must keep the wood siding attached to the house. Please take the time to read this article from FineHomebuilding.com that touches on two ways to address these walls: https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2016/05/17/insulating-walls-no-sheathing

Example Submissions

Filing a Complaint

Complaints regarding violations of Cabbagetown’s Landmark District regulations may be submitted to the City of Atlanta in two ways:

1. Use the City of Atlanta’s Citizen Gateway. After registering for an account, you will be taken to a page which includes a link to “Create an Application/Complaint” under the “Building” heading at the center of the page. Here you can submit a complaint to the city for review by code enforcement.

2. If you are uncomfortable submitting a complaint directly, you may contact the Historic Preservation and Land Use Committee instead. The Committee will review the complaint. Provided a minimum of three Committee members find merit in the complaint, the Committee will submit a complaint on behalf of the neighborhood. All complaint submissions to the committee will be kept confidential.

A Summary of Cabbagetown's Historic District Regulations

Background Information for Property Owners, Builders, Developers, Real Estate Professionals, and Others Interested in Renovation & Redeveloping Atlanta’s Cabbagetown Neighborhood.

History & Background

Cabbagetown, Atlanta’s oldest industrial settlement, was first developed in 1885 as a village to provide housing for workers at the Fulton Cotton Bag Mill. In 1979, the neighborhood was the first to be designated a Landmark District by the City of Atlanta. Since that time, all development in Cabbagetown has been regulated by the Atlanta Urban Design Commission (UDC), the agency that oversees all historic areas in the city.

When they were first created, the Cabbagetown Landmark District regulations provided relatively little information for rehabilitation, renovation, or new construction in the community. In 2001, the Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association led the effort to update the regulations to better guide the development of the neighborhood for the future. After a lengthy process that included input from many neighborhood residents, architects, historic preservation specialists, attorneys, and lawmakers, the “new” regulations were signed into law in March 2003 by Mayor Shirley Franklin.

A Mix of Homes & Shops

Within its boundaries, Cabbagetown has always had a mix of residential and commercial structures. In the early days of the neighborhood, this mixture provided the goods and services needed by residents who did not have transportation. Today, living in a “walkable village” is among the most highly valued aspects of life for Cabbagetown residents. Most of the current commercial structures in the neighborhood are located along Carroll Street and Memorial Drive, although a few additional spots still exist on other streets. The new landmark district regulations seek to support the neighborhood’s commercial developments while also providing attractive and safe residential areas nearby. To foster the development of goods and services that are likely to be used by Cabbagetown residents, moderate sized bakeries, laundries, restaurants, taverns, barber and beauty shops, other retail shops and galleries, offices, and studios are permitted within Cabbagetown’s commercial areas. And to encourage pedestrian access, new sidewalks along Memorial Drive must be at least 15 feet wide to allow for street trees, street lighting, trash receptacles, etc., and still leave plenty of room for walking.

To ensure Cabbagetown’s residential areas remain pleasant places to live, the regulations prohibit commercial uses that produce noise or dust or otherwise disrupt residential living. Commercial structures must also have landscape buffers and opaque fencing. And the height of new commercial buildings is limited to 28 feet if located within 50 feet of a residential boundary; dumpsters must be at least 30 feet away. Also, any commercial exterior lighting must limit light spillage onto residential areas. The changes to Cabbagetown’s Landmark District regulations were a community-driven effort, designed to suit the needs of the neighborhood. Additional information and contacts are available below.

What’s Governed by the Regulations?

The design of most exterior elements of structures and how structures are used are governed by Cabbagetown’s landmark district regulations. This includes the overall exterior design of any structure, as well as exterior siding, chimneys, windows, dormers, exterior doors & trim, foundations, garages/carports, setbacks, skylights, fencing, driveways, sidewalks, and curbing. In general, any new construction and renovations should closely resemble existing historic structures on the block face. Paint color is not covered in the regulations, nor are “like repairs” that match an existing historic item in size, material, placement, etc. Depending on the type of work being proposed, some applications can be reviewed by AUDC staff (Type I and Type II Staff Review); other types of applications require a public hearing (Type II, III, IV). Please be aware that failure to secure proper approval from the UDC for exterior changes to any structure in Cabbagetown is a violation of Atlanta’s Land Development Code and subject to penalties.

Balancing History with Modern Needs

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of revising the landmark district regulations was balancing the desire to preserve the history of the neighborhood with residents’ need to live and work here in the 21st century. Some residents place top priority on preserving all things historic; others believe any regulations should make way for current technologies and standards of living. As neighbors we agreed that Cabbagetown’s history was one of evolution — the neighborhood has changed significantly over time to meet the needs of its residents — but the basic architecture and land use patterns have remained constant. We also agreed that some key elements contribute to the close-knit feeling of the neighborhood. For example, front porches foster interaction among neighbors, and are therefore required on all residences. Modest-sized housing also encourages people to gather communally; to encourage this in the future, new homes are limited in square footage to 50% of the lot size. Commercial structures and related service areas cannot cover more than 80% of the lot where they are located to help ensure a reasonable scale for commercial buildings. Also, satellite dishes are permitted, but they must be placed out of public view.

Squeezing Cars into Cabbagetown

Because it was developed prior to the advent of the automobile, the original design of Cabbagetown did not include space for cars. Our streets are narrow and sometimes twisty; parking can be extremely limited. The new landmark district regulations seek to balance the need for parking with our interest in fostering neighborhood development. The result: existing structures are not required to provide off-street parking, but any new structure (both residential and commercial) or any change in the use of an existing structure requires off-street parking be provided by the property owner.

Community Liquor License Agreement

Cabbagetown neighbors enjoy a vibrant and interesting food & nightlife scene. In order to increase trust and provide good faith understanding with our business community, all new & existing license holders maintain an agreement that outlines their business plan and policies. This document is kept on file and referenced for NPU support in anticipation of LRB hearings and City of Atlanta code enforcement. CNIA is proud to have such considerate and professional business owners who understand and value neighbor support.

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