Impact Fees

The Mayor and City Council determined that, in order to promote orderly growth and development and to protect public health, safety, and general welfare, an equitable program for planning and financing public facilities was necessary.

Under the adopted Impact Fee Ordinance, which has been in effect since March 1, 2008, any new building permit issued within the Sandy Springs city limits is subject to the ordinance requirements.

Impact fees support transportation improvements, recreation and parks facilities, and public safety infrastructure. Fees are assessed at the time a building permit is issued. Applicants may request an estimated impact fee prior to obtaining a building permit.

The Impact Fee Ordinance includes information regarding service areas, fee payments, use of impact fee funds, refunds, credits, exemptions, administrative appeals, court appeals, and impact fee calculations.

• Amended Impact Fee Ordinance Code (PDF)
• Impact Fee Schedule (PDF)

The City Council approved amendments to the ordinance and revised the impact fee schedule during the October 18, 2016, City Council meeting.

Recreation and Parks

Residential development projects are charged a per-dwelling-unit fee to support the construction of new parks and recreational facilities.

Mixed-Use Development

If a building permit is requested for a mixed-use development, the applicable parks and recreation development impact fee is determined using the fee schedule based on the residential uses included within the development.

Change of Use, Redevelopment, Expansion, or Modification

If a change of use, redevelopment, expansion, or modification of an existing use requires issuance of a building permit, the development impact fee is based on the difference in the number of residential units between the proposed use and the previous use.

Public Safety

An applicant for a building permit may choose to have the public safety facility development impact fee determined either through the established fee schedule or through an individual assessment as provided in the ordinance.

Mixed-Use Development

If a building permit is requested for a mixed-use development, the applicable public safety facility development impact fee is determined according to the fee schedule by apportioning space among the individual land uses identified in the schedule.

If the proposed development activity is not specifically listed in the fee schedule, the Administrator will apply the fee associated with the most comparable land use type.

Change of Use, Redevelopment, Expansion, or Modification

For changes of use, redevelopment, expansion, or modification of an existing use requiring a building permit, the development impact fee is based on the difference in square footage or number of units between the proposed and previous use.

If redevelopment or modification of an existing building increases the gross floor area without changing the use, the development impact fee is based on the net increase in gross floor area.

If a redevelopment, modification, or change of use results in a net decrease in gross floor area or a lower calculated impact fee, no refund or credit will be issued for previously paid development impact fees.

Transportation Development

An applicant for a building permit may choose to have the transportation development impact fee determined either through the fee schedule or through an individual assessment as provided in the ordinance.

Mixed-Use Development

If a building permit is requested for a mixed-use development, the applicable transportation development impact fee is determined according to the fee schedule by apportioning space among the individual land uses identified in the schedule.

If the proposed development activity is not specifically listed in the fee schedule, the Administrator will apply the fee associated with the most comparable land use type listed in the schedule.

Change of Use, Redevelopment, Expansion, or Modification

For changes of use, redevelopment, expansion, or modification of an existing use requiring a building permit, the development impact fee is based on the difference in square footage or number of units between the proposed and previous use.

If redevelopment or modification of an existing building increases the gross floor area without changing the use, the development impact fee is based on the net increase in gross floor area.

If redevelopment, modification, or a change of use results in a net decrease in gross floor area or a lower calculated development impact fee, no refund or credit will be issued for previously paid development impact fees.