Practice Areas


Zoning and Land Use

The firm's attorneys have a breadth of experience assisting clients with a multitude of zoning and land use issues. We actively represent residential, commercial, and industrial developers before local and regional governments in regard to their requests for rezoning, variances, special land use permits, and other land use and plat approvals. In addition, we provide assistance in negotiating the numerous regulatory issues related to the construction and permitting of land development projects.

Schreeder, Wheeler & Flint has continued to expand and adjust its areas of expertise to reflect the development trends of the marketplace. In addition to active and ongoing practice in the traditional metropolitan Atlanta area, we also have experience representing clients throughout the entire twenty-eight county metropolitan Atlanta area. Further, our representation does not conclude upon obtaining a client's desired rezoning, but we are available to continue to assist you throughout the myriad regulatory requirements applicable to the land development process.

We have obtained favorable land use decisions throughout the metropolitan Atlanta and surrounding area. For example, we have successfully obtained rezonings and variances in DeKalb, Fulton, Clayton, Gwinnett, and Henry Counties for single family subdivisions, multifamily apartment developments, townhouses, retail developments and industrial uses. These have included the approvals of regional development commissions and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, where necessary. We also obtained local and state approvals for a regional solid waste landfill in Forsyth County and a construction and demolition landfill in Clayton County. We have obtained outdoor advertising permits from state and local authorities for outdoor advertising clients throughout the State of Georgia, and we have obtained approval for several residential, commercial, and industrial developments that were originally opposed by local residents through active and successful negotiations, which have resulted in unanimous local support for our clients' projects.

Although we always strive to obtain local government approval of our clients' land use requests, we also have significant experience litigating our clients' rights to develop their property as provided by the United States and Georgia Constitutions and the statutes. Representative cases include City of Columbus v. Georgia Department of Transportation, 292 Ga. 878 (2013), in which we represented the Outdoor Advertising Association of Georgia in successfully defending legislation that allows for vegetation management adjacent to outdoor advertising structures; FSL Corporation v. Harrington, 262 Ga. 725 (1993), in which we obtained a special use permit over the objection of the county commission to allow a solid waste landfill; Legacy Investment Group, LLC v. Kenn, 279 Ga. 778 (2005), in which we successfully achieved rezoning of a tract of property in south Fulton County following the overturning of the trial court's ruling in favor of Fulton County; and Union City Board of Zoning Appeals v. Justice Outdoor Displays, Inc., 266 Ga. 393 (1996), in which we successfully challenged overly restrictive limitations on the erection of billboards within the City of Union City.

This practice area is led by Scott W. Peters. For questions or additional information about our zoning and land use practice, please contact Scott at 404-681-3450 or speters@swfllp.com.

Practicing Attorneys