3-1772-4829 
 
Georgia House of Representatives Public Information Office 
Room 131, State Capitol 30334 404-656-5082 1-800-282-5800 
 
Representative Jones Introduces Legislation 
 
March 6, 2003 
 
Aim is to Require Cities and Counties Follow Own Land Disturbance Ordinances Atlanta  State Representative Jan Jones (R-Alpharetta) sponsored legislation this week that would require cities and counties to abide by their own land disturbance ordinances. It would also subject school boards to local land disturbance ordinances. 
 
Currently, private businesses and citizens must conform to locally-adopted land disturbance ordinances, including stream buffer requirements and tree ordinances. But cities, counties and school boards do not. Rep. Jones' bill would change that situation. The 180 local school boards in Georgia are currently exempt from local environmental and land disturbance ordinances. 
 
"What's good for the goose is good for the gander. If a city or county chooses to enact a tree ordinance, it should have to live by its own decision," she said. "This bill levels the playing field. It's only right that local governments and school boards obey the local land disturbance regulations that churches, small business owners, private citizens and I must, obey." 
 
"If you decide to build a new home or if you contribute to Sunday's church offering plate towards a new fellowship hall, the construction must conform to locally-adopted environmental and tree ordinances. But if your county constructs a civic center or the school board builds new classrooms down the road, neither must conform. That's inconsistent and it's wrong. This bill, in effect, provides a check and balance that local governments pass laws that they don't find too burdensome to uphold," she said. 
 
House Bill 509 does not interfere with a city's or county's right to decide for itself if it wants to enact local land disturbance ordinances beyond those ordinances already required by the state. Additionally, local land disturbance ordinances do not apply to roads as provided by state law. 
 
*** For further information please contact Rep. Jones at 404-656-0137.