Zoning Districts and  FAQs

This district is established to provide suitable areas for general industrial, carpet manufacturing, distribution, or warehousing activities and/or other intensive activities of industrial nature which may generate external traffic and may include moderate amounts of environmental pollution in the form of traffic, noise, odors, smoke, fumes, glare, or heat.

• There are extraordinary and exceptional conditions pertaining to the particular piece of property in question because of its size, shape, or topography;
• The application of this Ordinance to the particular piece of property would create an unnecessary hardship;
• Such conditions are peculiar to the particular piece of property involved;
• Relief, if granted, would not cause substantial detriment to the public good or impair the purposes and intent of this Ordinance, provided, however, that no variance may be granted for the use of land or building or structure which is prohibited by this Ordinance.
• )The applicant provides either formal or informal written evidence that the intended use, if a variance were granted, would be allowed, either by the Whitfield County Health Department or Dalton Utilities, as applicable, with respect to wastewater treatment.
• Click here for Varince Application

1. The land surveyor is encouraged to provide an electronic copy of the survey for review by Dalton-Whitfield Zoning staff.
2. After the review is completed, signatures may be required from specific agencies. If so, plat copies are distributed by the applicant to the Health Department, Dalton Utilities (or appropriate utility), Fire Department, and/or the Public Works Department for approval and signature.
3. Once all agency signatures are obtained, signed plat copies should be transported back to Dalton-Whitfield Zoning staff for the final recording signature.  A review fee will be collected at this time, and any remaining signed copies will be returned to the applicant.
4. Two plat copies with the final recording signature along with a disc containing the final plat pdf should be delivered to the Whitfield County Clerk of Superior Court for recording;
5. If property is to be conveyed to another party, a deed should be composed, witnessed and notarized, and delivered to the Whitfield County Clerk of Superior Court for recording.

1. The land surveyor is encouraged to provide an electronic copy of the survey for review by Dalton-Whitfield Zoning staff.
2. After the review is completed, signatures may be required from specific agencies. If so, plat copies are distributed by the applicant to the Health Department, Dalton Utilities (or appropriate utility), Fire Department, and/or the Public Works Department for approval and signature.
3. Once all agency signatures are obtained, signed plat copies should be transported back to Dalton-Whitfield Zoning staff for a scheduled review by the Dalton-Whitfield Planning Commission.  If the subdivision of property is approved by the Dalton-Whitfield Planning Commission, the final recording signature will be placed on the final plat copies and the approval process will be complete.  A review fee will be collected at this time, and any remaining signed copies will be returned to the applicant.
4. )Two plat copies with the final recording signature along with a disc containing the final plat pdf should be delivered to the Whitfield County Clerk of Superior Court for recording.
5. If property is to be conveyed to another party, a deed should be composed, witnessed and notarized, and delivered to the Whitfield County Clerk of Superior Court for recording.

A request to change a zoning district is called rezoning.  The applicant for rezoning is encouraged to discuss their proposed development plan with Dalton-Whitfield Zoning staff and/or Northwest Georgia Regional Commission planning staff.  The applicant for rezoning will be required to submit a rezoning application along with other documents deemed necessary by the zoning or planning staff to complete the rezoning request packet.

A person may not file a rezoning application on someone else’s property unless he or she has signed legal authorization from the property owner.

The likelihood of successfully changing the zoning designation of a site varies greatly.  The primary considerations are the compatibility of the proposed change with surrounding uses and compatibility with the goals and objectives and policies of the area’s Comprehensive Plan.

The filing fee for a basic rezoning is $200.00.  The fees are not refundable if the application is withdrawn or denied.

During the rezoning process, the planning staff will conduct a land use survey of the area noting all case pertinent facts.  The planning staff will provide the Dalton-Whitfield Planning Commission with a written report indicating the staff recommendation on the rezoning request.  A public hearing for the specific rezoning request is conducted by the Dalton-Whitfield Planning Commission.  Prior to the public hearing, notice of the public hearing is published in the local newspaper, and abutting property owners of the subject property for the proposed rezoning request are notified by mail.  The applicable governing authority (i.e. Board of Commissioners or Dalton City Council or the Varnell City Council) will review the recommendation of the Dalton-Whitfield Planning Commission before making a final zoning decision.

Unified Rezoning Application