Development Services

In an effort to create efficiency and balance in the business and real estate development process, the city combined the two departments of Planning & Zoning and Economic Development in 2006. The creation of the Development Services department allows for better coordination of development and planning activities and makes the city more efficient by streamlining the development process. All of the services provided by the Development Services department are designed to support balanced and innovative development within the city and provide for future growth. The main goal of the department is to protect and strengthen the community and neighborhoods while also encourage innovative business and real estate development that will enlarge the tax base, create and retain jobs, and provide for high quality developments that will enhance the quality of life for generations to come.

There are four divisions under the department: Economic Development, Planning & Zoning, Code Enforcement, and Community Development. The department administers and enforces the City's Zoning Ordinance, Comprehensive Plan, and adopted Uniform Building Codes, as well as providing Staff services to the Planning Commission, Marietta Historic Preservation Commission, Marietta Development Authority, Marietta Historic Board of Review, the Downtown Marietta Development Authority and the Board of Zoning Appeals. The department also works closely with several other entities including the Marietta Redevelopment Corporation, Marietta Housing Authority, Cobb Community Development Block Grant, Cobb Housing Inc., etc.

As the largest municipal utility in Georgia, Marietta Power and Water are community-owned and serve over 45,000 electric and nearly 20,000 water customers. The City of Marietta created the utility in 1906 to provide low cost electric power to the citizens of Marietta and Cobb County.