FAQ List

• Full-time employees (whether on the City's medical plan or not)
• Retirees between the age of 55 and 65 and not enrolled in Medicare
• Cobra participants who are former employees
• Part-time employees who are eligible for and elected a City medical plan

• Business Occupation Tax Schedule of Rates

• Business Occupation Tax Schedule of Rates

As a caller you should expect to answer the following basic questions:

1) Where is the situation happening – address, building, intersection, etc.

2) What is happening – car crash, house fire, injured subject

3) Who is involved – including how many & descriptions, calling party involvement

4) When did it happen – something old or a situation in progress

The call-taker may repeat back certain information including the address or phone number.  It is important for you, the caller, to remain as calm as possible and allow the 911 operator to direct the conversation.  This will ensure the quickest and most appropriate response.

Roswell Recreation and Parks Office
Roswell City Hall
38 Hill St.
Suite 100
Roswell, GA 30075

If you are currently enrolled in a program that started during the fall/winter session and continues into the spring session, you can be enroll for the spring session before the registration dates listed above. If you were not enrolled during the fall/winter session, you will be required to wait for the spring registration dates. We are sorry for any inconvenience, but there are no exceptions.

Residents are those who live within the incorporated city limits of Roswell. If you have a question about whether you meet resident criteria, please call us at 770-641-3705. Only Roswell residents may register during the first week of registration. Non-residents may begin to register during the open enrollment period.

Certain Roswell residents age 18 and under may qualify for a total or partial fee waiver. For more information on this program, please call 770-641-3705. If you do qualify for the fee waiver, you must apply in person at the Recreation and Parks Department’s administrative office, 38 Hill Street, Suite 100, prior to registering for an activity.

The City of Roswell’s Tax ID number is 586-00-0655.
However, we strongly advise that you consult a tax professional as the City of Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department is not a daycare service, and the IRS may not accept a these costs as a legitimate expenses on tax returns.

Please visit our website at www. roswellgov.com and click on Recreation & Parks and to view our online brochure and see what programs are being offered, as well as register for the program. You may also call 770-641-3705 for information on programs and any available volunteer opportunities.

Katie Troline, Community & Facility Services Manager (770) 641-3705

Chemicals and fuels (also known as Household Hazardous Waste), single-use alkaline batteries, mattresses and box springs, rear projection or wood console televisions, porcelain such as toilets, etc., wood or other construction debris. Please call 770-442-8822 with questions about a specific item before bringing it to the Recycling Center. The Center will accept paint (fees apply), motor oil, anti-freeze and cooking oil – these things are not considered Household  Hazardous Waste.

*Services are currently limited to City of Roswell residents and businesses only at this time.

Residential Fees

• Paint per gallon: $3.82/each (not accepted from businesses).
• Appliances containing refrigerant/Freon: $25/each
• Tires - off the rim: $2/each
• Tires - on the rim: $5/each
• Fluorescent bulbs: $1/each (not accepted from businesses).
• Televisions (Flat Screen or CRT): $5/each
• Computer (Flat Screen or CRT): $5/each
• Shred while you wait: $20/per box (not accepted from businesses)

Business Fees

• Televisions (Flat Screen or CRT): $20/each
• Monitors (Flat Screen of CRT): $20/each
• Tires - off the rim: $2/each (Max 4)
• Tires - on the rim: $15/each (Max 4)
• Appliances with Freon: $25/each
• Appliances without Freon: $10/each

Exact change, cash, or check accepted. Credit or debit cards are also accepted.

Roswell residents (proof required) may bring up to two bankers boxes or copy paper-sized boxes of documents (or the equivalent) per residency per day any time the Recycling Center is open. Staples do not need to be removed but please remove all metal larger than a staple, all file folders, thick booklets, rubber bands, and plastic or laminated cards. Residents may watch documents being shredded from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday through Friday. Documents brought other times will be placed in a locked container until the documents can be shredded. 

Roswell residents (proof required) may bring up to five (5) 4 foot tube or u-shaped fluorescent bulbs per residency to the Recycling Center any time during regular operating hours. 

No, we do not buy any recyclables. 

Yes. Please call 770-442-8822 for more information and to schedule hours. 

• Commercial agricultural operations as defined in Code Section 1-3-3;
• Capture and reuse of cooling system condensate or storm water in compliance with applicable local ordinances and state guidelines;
• Reuse of gray water in compliance with Code Section 31-3-5.2 and applicable local board of health regulations adopted pursuant thereto;
• Use of reclaimed waste water by a designated user from a system permitted by the Environmental Protection Division of the department to provide reclaimed waste water;
• Irrigation of personal food gardens;
• Irrigation of new and replanted plant, seed, or turf in landscapes, golf courses, or sports turf fields during installation and for a period of 30 days immediately following the date of installation;
• Drip irrigation or irrigation using soaker hoses;
• Handwatering with a hose with automatic cutoff or handheld container;
• Use of water withdrawn from private water wells or surface water by an owner or operator of property if such well or surface water is on said property;
• Irrigation of horticultural crops held for sale, resale, or installation;
• Irrigation of athletic fields, golf courses, or public turf grass recreational areas;
• Installation, maintenance, or calibration of irrigation systems; or
• Hydroseeding.

The UDC itself is not responsible for property values; however, it can promote quality development, which in turn supports increased property values.

The UDC can encourage strip center owners to redevelop or improve their properties by making available increased development opportunities and a wider range of uses on their properties. Rules for expansion of these sites will also ensure improvement of existing centers over time.

The UDC applies to the entire City.

Under the proposed UDC, 94 percent of the land area within the city will remain 3 stories or less. Six percent of the land area in the City will be designated between four and eight story buildings with the proposed UDC. These properties are located predominately in corridors such as Alpharetta Highway and Holcomb Bridge Road, and nodes such as the SR 400 interchange.

Not one more apartment than is allowed now under the current zoning code can be built under the UDC without it going through the public hearing process.

Properties that are currently zoned for apartments will retain their zoning designation.

Under the UDC, if apartment complex property owners wish to redevelop their property and increase the number of apartments, they must go before Mayor & Council through the public hearing process just as they do under the current zoning code.

Under the UDC’s new Mixed-Use categories if apartments are proposed to be built, they must go before Mayor & Council through the public hearing process just as they do today under the current zoning code.

A Unified Development Code is a regulatory tool that integrates zoning, subdivision and design standards into a single, comprehensive set of regulations.

Subdivision Parcel – Community Development will have the final plats for subdivisions within the City. The plat will indicate the existing right-of-way.

Non-subdivision Parcel – Community Development has individual files for properties, based on street addresses, which should have a plat of the property with the existing right-of-way at the time of the survey. The right-of-way may have changed over time particularly if a road improvement took place after the property survey was generated.

No Right-of-Way Available – Contact a survey company to provide up-to-date and legally binding parcel boundaries which include road right-of-way widths.

There are specific guidelines that must be followed to legally establish and enforce speed limits. Speed limits between 25 and 65 MPH are required to be established on the basis of engineering and traffic surveys. The engineering and traffic surveys include an analysis of roadway conditions, collisions records, and a sampling of the prevailing speed along the subject corridor. The speed limit is generally set within 5 MPH of the prevailing speed as it is assumed the majority of drivers drive at a speed that is safe and prudent for the given roadway and conditions. If posted speed limits are set artificially low, there is disrespect for the speed limits and if they are not set in accordance with the law, they cannot be enforced by the Police Department.

The City routinely collects and tracks pavement ratings for all City streets and prioritizes what streets will be paved during each paving season (April-October). In addition, the City receives money from the Georgia DOT to pave small segments of roadway. The roadways needing paving are prioritized from the City Pavement Management System. If a roadway has low pavement rankings, the repaving of that road will be higher in priority. The amount of annual paving varies on the amount of available funding. Contact the Roswell DOT at 770-594-6420 for more information or to find out information on your street.

The City has two policies to help. First, our Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy was established for this reason. It has a method for the neighborhood to implement approved measures that will encourage vehicles to drive slower. It requires a 50% cost sharing between the City and the Homeowner Association (HOA) and a 65% majority in favor of any traffic calming measures through a petition process.

The second policy, called the Residential Traffic Control Enhancement Policy, allows HOAs to use their own funds to purchase and install minor traffic control devices under a Right-Of-Way (ROW) Encroachment Permit issued by RDOT. Contact the Roswell DOT for more information.

These changes will enable emergency responders to assist you in a more timely manner in the event of future emergency situations. However, you will need to notify all service providers, financial institutions, employers, schools, etc. of the change.

After a street name change is approved, the Department of Planning and Zoning (Community Development) will revise plats and street numbering, as necessary, and advise all affected public agencies and property owners in writing of the name change and effective date.

After the community meetings, an agenda request is prepared for the City Council to decide if the street name change should be presented in a public hearing. If the decision is to proceed then the public hearing is advertised at least 15 days before but no more than 30 days prior. Transportation will post signs advertising the public hearing and Community Development will mail notices to affective property owners both must occur 15 days prior to the public hearing.

After approving a street name change, the City Council will set an effective date for the name change. The effective date will be at least 90 days following the date of approval.

Every attempt has been made to retain the integrity of the same or similar street name as before with added identifiers for distinction. The City welcomes your input.

Due to land acquisitions, annexations and the creation of new subdivisions, the City has experienced an increase in our street inventory which has created some street naming issues that the City must address for public safety.

The next step should be to vet the results with leadership priorities, financial resource availability, and technical capacity. The vetting process should yield a more concrete, workable plan of the most valued and achievable parts of the strategic plan. This annual action plan should then be periodically reviewed and edited for compatibility with the larger vision of the SEDP. This SEDP should not be viewed as the first and final economic development plan for Roswell. The strategy should be reviewed every 5-10 years to accommodate successes, identify new/modified courses of action and calibrate for new market/community climate, and reviewed more frequently in times of extreme market or community transition (i.e. the recent economic downturn).

Healthcare: Roswell is an ideal location for the expansion of healthcare-related industries. Roswell has a comparatively more mature population that is believed to have a strong desire to age in place. As this population continues to age into their senior years, the demand for medical services likely will increase.

Tech and Corporate: Roswell’s quality of life and ideal location along Georgia 400 make the City very competitive to attract and retain technical, research, consulting, and corporate operations companies, ranging in size from 1-person firms to having thousands of employees.

Entertainment and Recreation: Creating a more diverse and integrated entertainment and recreation industry cluster is consistent with both the stated and implied vision established by the comprehensive plan, this economic development strategy, and numerous previous studies performed for the City. The dining segment has a valuable, but small presence (i.e. Canton Street) that can be expanded. One or more of the historic homes could be an ideal bed and breakfast venue. Other opportunities include expanding community-serving retail and sporting venues (i.e. soccer or softball tournaments).

Housing: There is large demand for affordable, market rate, and luxury rental housing in Roswell and North Fulton County. Without some regulatory and market changes, Roswell’s population may increase more slowly than the rest of the region and erode the competitiveness of Roswell’s commercial market.

Retail Redevelopment: Although Roswell currently is over-supplied in retail space, many of the larger, less competitive sites have the potential for redevelopment. These sites can become transformative projects that increase consumer spending (through new residential development) and decrease the excess retail space (through smaller retail footprints) benefiting all retailers. Selective redevelopment also will improve the viability of the remaining retail developments, as the decreased supply will stabilize rent rates and financial performance.

Class A Office: There will be opportunities as the economy recovers to support Class “A” office development in Roswell at strategic locations. The Holcomb Bridge/400 intersection has development and redevelopment potential to accommodate a substantial amount of new office development. GA9 between the Founder’s Square and Holcomb Bridge/Crossville intersection can accommodate smaller-scale office development (when the market can support new development).

Industrial: The industrial market has immediate opportunities for new development in Roswell. Data indicate much more demand for warehouse and flex space in North Fulton County than there is supply. It is important to balance immediate benefits from industrial development with longer-term opportunities consistent with the stated vision.

Lodging: There may be a market for a hotel type that does not already exist in the Roswell market. A bed & breakfast style concept has been proposed in the Founder’s Square/Canton Street area. This smaller-scale, market niche approach is more feasible than a traditional hotel development and capitalizes on the unique character of this area of Roswell. The City should also encourage new hotel development (in the mid- to long-term) in the areas closest to GA400, as these uses are complementary to the office potential and are strong tax revenue generators.

There is a limited amount of land which has not yet been developed, so future growth will likely require some component of redevelopment. Roswell’s regulations on development are not conducive to redevelopment. Higher density is necessary to make redevelopment fiscally viable and to allow multi-family housing, which is a common component in redevelopment efforts.

Previous economic development efforts are not sufficient to position Roswell to succeed in the current economic and market climate of North Fulton County and the entire metropolitan Atlanta area. Those who desire to keep their community ‘the same’ oftentimes do not understand that things have remained the same because their community experienced economic growth. For example, the ability to maintain and operate excellent parks and recreation amenities requires a growing revenue base. Roswell sustained its fiscal strength and high quality of life through real property appreciation and county-wide retail sales tax revenue growth. Since then, Roswell’s economic viability has suffered from market evolution and market competitiveness.

The SEDP is a “menu” of actions tailored to Roswell based on the inclusive vision of the Advisory Committee. However, the SEDP also provides detailed technical documentation explaining the rationale behind the implementation recommendations. The Strategic Economic Development Plan only is the first step towards implementing a coordinated, strategic action plan.

The SEDP process was guided by three canons established by both the City Council and the Advisory Committee:
• the retention of existing jobs;
• the expansion of existing businesses; and
• the attraction of new investment and jobs to Roswell.

Impervious surfaces are those areas that prevent rainfall from infiltrating into the ground. Examples of typical impervious surfaces found on most properties include rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, patios, parking lots, and storage sheds.

The Police Department Special Investigation Section accepts complaints at 770-640-4260. Information may be given anonymously. For immediate response, contact the Communications Division at 770-640-4100. 

Building permits are not normally required for fences, but if you are installing a swimming pool it is part of the swimming pool requirements which are permitted and inspected. 

All applications, which contain checklists of materials required for each, and a meeting calendar can be obtained on this website and from the Community Development Department at:
38 Hill St.
Suite G-30
Roswell, GA 30075

You may also visit our offices on the ground floor of Roswell’s City Hall.

Each applicant must complete an orientation with staff prior to submitting the required documents. The Department is unable to accept applications until staff has held an orientation meeting with the applicant.

Applications are accepted until the position is filled. 

Please call the Fulton County Public Works Department at 404-730-7400. 

Yes. The penalty is a one-time charge of 10 percent plus a $1.50 late filing fee. Interest is charged (accrued) monthly at the rate of .0058 percent. The City of Roswell will also place a lien on properties for non payment of taxes. 

• In person at Roswell City Hall, Suite 210
• Over the phone by calling 770-641-3800 and selecting Option #2
• Online at www.roswellgov.com/UtilityBilling

Utilities

• Pay Your Utility Bill Online

Property Taxes

• Pay Your Property Tax Bill Online

Yes. Roswell Municipal Court accepts the following methods of payment: cash, personal checks (in-state with ID), money order, cashier's check, Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Depending on your charge, you may also pay online. 

Discuss this situation with the Community Development Department for clarification as to how your project should be handled. If the project appeared before the Design Review Board, the Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Commission, or Mayor and City Council, you will most likely need a development permit. You may need a development permit even if you obtained an administrative approval for your project.

If there is any land disturbance on the project, a grading permit will likely be required. Conversions of residential property to other uses requires all of the above, even if you think no work needs to be done.

If the property is commercial, residential development, single-family over one acre, and in some cases individual lots of a larger development, a tree removal permit is required.

Additional permits may be required from Fulton County, the Georgia DOT, and/or the Roswell Transportation Department.

If you have any additional questions, please contact the Community Development Department at 770-641-3780. 

It is important to note that no guarantee exists on the removal of coyotes from an area. Coyotes are territorial animals. Even if one pack is removed, it is likely that another will move into the area and establish it as their territory. 

The traps can be dangerous to dogs and cats, however the law in Roswell requires all pets be contained in a fenced area or leashed at all times when outdoors.

If a dog or cat is accidentally caught in a trap, it would be taken to Fulton County Animal Control. If it needs medical attention, Fulton County Animal Control will arrange for a vet examination and, assuming the animal is tagged, will notify the owner. Upon payment of a fine for violation of the leash law and the vet's bill, the owner can reclaim his/her dog or cat.

The foothold traps are traditionally set in remote areas by private trappers away from normal pedestrian foot traffic. Trappers should post signs within the neighborhood notifying residents the traps have been set. The foothold traps are designed to grab the foot/leg of a coyote.

It is virtually impossible for a human foot (larger than a toddler's) to be caught in this type of trap. However, if you were to accidentally step on one, when it triggered, it would feel like you stepped on a snake but it wouldn't grab you. 

The municipal code of the City of Roswell creates structure within the City government and protects the welfare of the citizens and the environment. The Code is accessible to all citizens on the City of Roswell website and at the Roswell Library or City Hall.

View the Roswell Municipal Code.

City of Roswell
Accounts Payable
38 Hill Street
Suite 130
Roswell, GA 30075

• Online Payment
  Pay online at www.roswellgov.com/OccupationTaxPayment
  There is a 3% surcharge for all online credit and debit card payments and a flat $1.50 fee for all eCheck payments.
  
  
• In Person
  At City Hall (38 Hill St, Suite 210, Roswell, GA 30075)
  
  
• By Mail
  Checks and money orders may be mailed to:

  City of Roswell
  Attn: Business Registration
  38 Hill Street, Suite 210
  Roswell, GA 30075

• By Phone
  Call 770-594-6235 to pay with a credit or debit card.
  
  

Yes, a house moving permit is required to move a house in, out, or through the City of Roswell. A map of the route is required with notification to Fire, Police, Transportation, and the utility companies. 

No, the insulation cannot be installed for the rough-in inspection; it is considered a visual obstruction and is conducted after the rough-in.

The City has historically issued bonds for:

• Sidewalks
• Drainage improvements
• Public Safety Facilities (fire stations, police building, fire equipment)
• Green space acquisition and park development

A bond rating is a grade given to bonds that indicates their credit quality. Independent rating services such as Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch evaluate the City’s financial strength, or its ability to pay off the bond in a timely fashion.

Bond ratings are expressed as letters ranging from 'AAA', which is the highest grade, to 'C' ("junk"), which is the lowest grade.

To illustrate the bond ratings and their meaning, we'll use the Standard & Poor's format:

• AAA and AA: High credit-quality investment grade
• AA and BBB: Medium credit-quality investment grade
• BB, B, CCC, CC, C: Low credit-quality (non-investment grade), or "junk bonds"
• D: Bonds in default for non-payment of principal and/or interest

The City of Roswell’s most recent bond rating was AAA, the highest credit rating available. 

If the check was a partial payment or a payment on a loan, a credit account, or on an existing debt, it is considered an extension of credit, and not a present consideration.

Post-dated checks or agreements to hold a check knowing the funds are not available at the time, are also not a present consideration.

These situations will usually not facilitate a criminal warrant. You may file a civil suit in the county where the accused resides. 

Make sure the check is stamped by the bank.

If the check is not run through the bank within 30 days from receipt, you may not be able to file a criminal case. You may, however, be able to file a civil suit in the county where the accused resides. 

If not, criminal action must be taken in the city or county where the check was received.

If the check was sent through the mail, it can be processed in the city or county where the receiver’s mailbox is located. 

Applicants need:

• A copy of the demand letter
• Proof of receipt of the demand letter or the unopened, returned envelope containing the demand letter
• The original check 

The Official Code of Georgia sets forth the following requirements for a demand letter:

• The check number, date of issuance, check amount, and the name of the bank
• A demand for payment of the face value of the check. $20 or 5% of the face value of the check (whichever is greater) may be added. This amount is inclusive of warrant or citation and certified / registered mail fees
• A demand for payment of the check amount within 10 days of receipt of the letter
• Notice that criminal action may be taken against the debtor by the Magistrate Court , District Attorney, or Solicitor’s Office if the amounts are not paid 

Yes, OSHA requires that no cross connection be allowed in an installation unless it is properly protected with an approved backflow preventer. These requirements are covered in the B.O.C.A, Uniform Plumbing Code, and City, State, and Federal regulations. 

1. Air Gap
2. Atmospheric Vacuum Breakers
3. Pressure Vacuum Breakers
4. Double Check Valve Assembly
5. Reduced Pressure Zone Backflow Preventers

Please visit www.fultonanimalservices.com for instructions.

All animals picked up by Animal Control Officers and brought in by constituents are only held for a three (3) days after intake. If the animal is microchipped, we are able to contact the owner. Make sure that your pet's microchip company has your current contact information such as phone number and email address. If your pet is wearing a rabies tag, registration tag, or license tag, make sure that the tag agency has your current phone numbers.

The Fulton County animal ordinance requires all pet owners in Fulton County to license their dogs and cats. Licensing requires a 3-year rabies vaccination. Pet owners who do not comply may receive a citation. Find out more at www.fultonanimalservices.com.
 
In order to register your dog or cat:

• Contact Fulton County Animal Services at 404-613-0358 or visit www.fultonanimalservices.com.
• You may bring your rabies certificate to the shelter at 860 Marietta Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30318 and pay for your license in person.

There will be recommendations and implementation strategies contained within the plan which will outline short-term, mid-term, and long-term strategies. These strategies will constantly be reviewed and executed by the City and many other individuals and groups involved with growth and development in the future. 

A Comprehensive Plan is the basis for many other planning activities, such as creation of development regulations, transportation planning, park and open space planning, and economic development strategies. It provides a general framework for other, more specific planning. 

The environmental element of the plan provides guidance for achieving a balance between protecting the environment and planning for the orderly development of the city. 

A Comprehensive Plan is not a fiscal policy document; it will not provide specific dollar amounts for current or future expansion of services for the city’s needs nor will it provide specific cost/benefit information about various infrastructure improvements and taxes. It also does not include an economic impact assessment. 

At a minimum, a plan update must be completed every 10 years, in accordance with the Local Comprehensive Plan Recertification Schedule maintained by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. However, after five years, community leaders may determine that the comprehensive plan needs to be updated, based upon the degree of change in the community. If only minor changes have taken place, then revisions to the plan may be sufficient, in the form of plan amendments. If significant changes have occurred in community conditions (i.e., if the data upon which the plan is based has become significantly outdated, or the community’s vision has changed), an update of the comprehensive plan or a major plan amendment may be needed. Public hearings and a vote by the Mayor and City Council are required for any changes to the Plan. 

The Comprehensive Plan guides decisions regarding growth and development. It establishes policies pertaining to various elements as required by the State of Georgia. The Zoning Ordinance is part of the city’s code and regulates the use, scale, and intensity of development that are allowed in various districts. 

The Comprehensive Plan process allows residents and local decision makers to identify and respond to changing community needs and desires in a thoughtful rather than reactive way. The new process requires representation from all the citizens and outlines implementation mechanisms.

All local governments in the State of Georgia are required to adopt a Comprehensive Plan for their locality. While Georgia does not require strict adherence to them, once adopted the plan becomes policy guides for the future growth. 

The Comprehensive Plan is a municipality’s road map for the future. This official, living, city-wide public document provides long range policy direction for land use, transportation, economic development, housing, public facilities, intergovernmental agreements along with its natural and cultural resources. It serves as a guide for elected and public officials by providing the framework for evaluating development proposals. Included in the Comprehensive Plan are strategies for program funding for all city departments. 

• Maps of Designated Service Areas

• $100: Placement of new devices on an existing pole
• $250: Replacement of existing pole to accommodate new devices
• $1,000: Installation of a new pole

• AT&T: Rod Allen at 678-237-1475 or ra3788@att.com
  
  
• Verizon: Brandon Newton at 704-620-0849 or brandon.newton@essentia-inc.com
  
  
• New Cingular: not available