---
title: HB 1442. Local government; local moratoria shall not apply to certain properties in certain circumstances; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1442
cite_as: HB 1442, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1442
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1442.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1442/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73575
date: 2026-03-06
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 199
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1442.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1442
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-24
last_action: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
sponsors:
- Dale Washburn
- William Werkheiser
- Matt Reeves
- Clint Crowe
- Josh Bonner
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1442/2025
upstream_id: 2123611
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- local government
- zoning
- building permits
- development moratoriums
- property rights
---
# HB 1442. Local government; local moratoria shall not apply to certain properties in certain circumstances; provide
## Text
The House Committee on Governmental Affairs offers the following substitute to HB 1442:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
general provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, so as to provide that
local moratoria shall not apply to certain properties in certain circumstances; to provide for
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general
provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, is amended by adding a new
Code section to read as follows:
"36-60-34.
(a) For the purpose of this Code section, the term 'zoning decision' shall have the same
meaning as set forth in paragraph (4) of Code Section 36-66-3.
(b) In the event that a county or municipality adopts or enacts a temporary moratorium on
the issuance of one or more permits or zoning decisions, such moratorium shall not apply
to any property where the governing authority for such local government has given, in good
faith, written approval, or confirmation for an identified development of such property, or
where such local government issued permits not related to the matters subject to the
moratorium for the development of such property."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia House bill would stop counties and cities from applying temporary moratoriums on permits or zoning decisions to properties that already have written local approval or unrelated permits for development.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia counties and municipalities sometimes adopt temporary moratoriums that pause the issuance of permits or zoning decisions, often while officials study or revise local rules. This bill adds a new section to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 36-60-34) that limits how those moratoriums can be applied.
Under the bill, if a local government's governing authority has already given written approval or confirmation, in good faith, for a specific development on a property, a later moratorium cannot be applied to that property. The same protection applies if the local government has already issued permits for the property that are unrelated to whatever the moratorium covers. The bill defines 'zoning decision' by referring to the existing definition in O.C.G.A. § 36-66-3. It does not set an effective date beyond the standard process, and it repeals any conflicting laws.
### What it does
- Creates a new Georgia Code section (O.C.G.A. § 36-60-34) limiting when local moratoriums on permits or zoning decisions can apply to a property.
- Exempts a property from a moratorium if the local government already gave written, good-faith approval or confirmation for an identified development on that property.
- Exempts a property from a moratorium if the local government already issued permits for that property unrelated to what the moratorium covers.
- Ties the meaning of 'zoning decision' to the existing definition already used elsewhere in Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 36-66-3).
- Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with this new rule.
### Who it affects
Georgia county and municipal governments that adopt temporary moratoriums on permits or zoning decisions, and property owners or developers who have already received written approval or unrelated permits from those local governments for a specific development project.
### Why it matters
When a city or county pauses new permits through a moratorium, developers who already got written approval or unrelated permits for a project could otherwise see that project stalled anyway. This bill would let those specific projects continue despite a later moratorium, while other properties without prior approval would still be paused.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 adds new Code section 36-60-34 to Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, which covers general rules for counties and cities.
- Subsection (a) defines 'zoning decision' by cross-referencing the definition already in O.C.G.A. § 36-66-3.
- Subsection (b) states that a temporary moratorium on permits or zoning decisions does not apply to a property if the local government already gave written, good-faith approval for an identified development, or already issued unrelated permits for that property's development.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-24)
- Last action: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (2026-03-06)
- Sponsors: Dale Washburn, William Werkheiser, Matt Reeves, Clint Crowe, Josh Bonner
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73575
> The history, votes, and amendments (199 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1442.md?full=1