Section 36-66-3. Definitions

   As used in this chapter, the term:

   (1) "Local government" means any county or municipality which exercises zoning power within its territorial boundaries.

   (2) "Territorial boundaries" means, in the case of counties, the unincorporated areas thereof and any area defined in paragraph (5.1) of Code Section 36-70-2, and, in the case of municipalities, the area lying within the corporate limits thereof except any area defined in paragraph (5.1) of Code Section 36-70-2.

   (3) "Zoning" means the power of local governments to provide within their respective territorial boundaries for the zoning or districting of property for various uses and the prohibition of other or different uses within such zones or districts and for the regulation of development and the improvement of real estate within such zones or districts in accordance with the uses of property for which such zones or districts were established.

   (4) "Zoning decision" means final legislative action by a local government which results in:

      (A) The adoption of a zoning ordinance;

      (B) The adoption of an amendment to a zoning ordinance which changes the text of the zoning ordinance;

      (C) The adoption of an amendment to a zoning ordinance which rezones property from one zoning classification to another;

      (D) The adoption of an amendment to a zoning ordinance by a municipal local government which zones property to be annexed into the municipality; or

      (E) The grant of a permit relating to a special use of property.

   (5) "Zoning ordinance" means an ordinance or resolution of a local government establishing procedures and zones or districts within its respective territorial boundaries which regulate the uses and development standards of property within such zones or districts. The term also includes the zoning map adopted in conjunction with a zoning ordinance which shows the zones and districts and zoning classifications of property therein.

Code 1981, § 36-66-3, enacted by Ga. L. 1985, p. 1139, § 1; Ga. L. 1993, p. 806, § 1; Ga. L. 1996, p. 1009, § 1; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1567, § 2; Ga. L. 1998, p. 1391, § 1.