Roswell opposes state limits on local building regulations

A unanimous Roswell City Council has approved a resolution opposing House Bill 302, a law that critics say would override local governments’ ability to regulate the design of new housing. AJC FILE

A unanimous Roswell City Council has approved a resolution opposing House Bill 302, a law that critics say would override local governments’ ability to regulate the design of new housing. AJC FILE

Roswell is among the latest metro jurisdictions to object to proposed state legislation that critics say would preempt local governments’ ability to regulate the design of single-family homes.

The City Council unanimously approved a resolution opposing House Bill 302, a law that would bar local governments from regulating exterior building colors; types and styles of siding, roofs and porches; placement and styles of windows and doors; number and types of rooms and their layouts, and types of building foundations, according to a staff report. The bill has the backing of the home building industry.

HB 302 “would undermine self-determination of citizens to establish community standards” and “severely erode the ability of all 538 Georgia cities and 159 counties to address unique and community-specific qualify of life issues,” the resolution says.

The resolution mirrors one approved by Roswell in February 2019. It is applicable to the current session of the General Assembly and will be sent to the Fulton County legislative delegation.