City of Atlanta GIS Data: How to Access, Use, and Make Sense of It

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data is one of the most powerful tools the City of Atlanta uses to manage growth, infrastructure, public safety, and community planning. For residents, visitors, and businesses, Atlanta’s GIS data can answer practical questions about property, zoning, transportation, parks, flood zones, and much more.

This guide walks through what City of Atlanta GIS data is, how it’s organized, where you can get it, and how to actually use it for everyday needs in Atlanta, Georgia.

What Is GIS Data and Why It Matters in Atlanta

GIS (Geographic Information Systems) data is information that’s tied to a location on a map. In Atlanta, GIS data might describe:

• The exact boundary of your parcel or lot
• What your property is zoned for
• Where sidewalks, streets, and bike lanes are
• Locations of parks, fire stations, libraries, and schools
• Areas with flood risk or other environmental features
• Council districts and other political boundaries

For someone living in or visiting Atlanta, GIS data can help you:

• Check zoning and land use before buying or remodeling a property
• Understand setbacks, height limits, or overlays that affect development
• See where construction, road closures, or new projects are happening
• Find the nearest park, recreation center, or public facility
• Look up solid waste service days and city service areas
• Analyze neighborhood trends and planning activities

Who Manages GIS Data for the City of Atlanta?

Within the City of Atlanta government, GIS is typically coordinated through central information technology and planning-related departments. Common participants include:

• Department of City Planning
  • Helps maintain data related to zoning, land use, and the Atlanta City Design framework.
• Department of Watershed Management
  • Oversees data on water, sewer, stormwater, and often floodplain or watershed-related mapping.
• Department of Public Works / Transportation-related offices
  • Maintains data on streets, sidewalks, traffic signals, and right-of-way.
• Atlanta Fire Rescue and Atlanta Police Department
  • Use GIS for response zones, station locations, and other operational mapping.
• Office of the City Council / Municipal Clerk
  • Maintains council district boundaries, NPU (Neighborhood Planning Unit) boundaries, and related maps.
• Atlanta GIS or Enterprise GIS Team
  • Often sits within an IT or enterprise systems office and supports GIS infrastructure citywide.

Residents don’t usually need to know which department owns each dataset; Atlanta often presents this information through public map viewers or an open data portal, where layers are organized by topic.

Main Types of City of Atlanta GIS Data You Can Access

1. Parcel and Property Data

This is some of the most commonly used GIS data in Atlanta.

You can typically find:

• Parcel boundaries
• Parcel ID / Property Identification Number (PIN)
• Owner name (subject to privacy policies)
• Mailing and site address
• Assessed value and tax-related attributes (through county-level systems)
• Building footprints in some datasets

Use cases in Atlanta:

• Checking the exact shape and size of your lot in neighborhoods like Grant Park, Buckhead, or West End.
• Confirming whether a fence, driveway, or accessory structure fits within property lines.
• Seeing how your property relates to adjacent public right-of-way or alleyways.

While the City of Atlanta maintains important property-related layers, detailed property tax data often comes from the appropriate county:

• Fulton County for much of Atlanta north of I-20
• DeKalb County for many neighborhoods east and south of downtown

2. Zoning and Land Use Data

Zoning is critically important for homeowners, renters, and developers in Atlanta.

Typical GIS-based zoning data includes:

• Zoning district (for example: R-4, R-5, C-1, MRC, etc.)
• Special overlay districts (such as historic districts, BeltLine overlay, or neighborhood commercial overlays)
• Land use designations from the city’s comprehensive or long-range planning documents

Atlanta residents often use this GIS data to:

• See whether a property is zoned for single-family, duplex, multi-family, or commercial use
• Understand height limits, setbacks, and density restrictions (by combining GIS maps with the city zoning code)
• Check if a property lies in a historic district, SPI (Special Public Interest) district, or BeltLine overlay

For example, a homeowner in Inman Park or Grant Park may want to know if their home is within a historic district boundary, which can affect exterior changes or additions.

3. Transportation and Infrastructure Layers

Atlanta’s GIS data frequently includes detailed transportation mapping, such as:

• Street centerlines and classifications (local, collector, arterial)
• One-way streets, turn restrictions, and roadway jurisdiction
• Sidewalks, bike lanes, and multi-use paths (often including sections of the Atlanta BeltLine)
• Traffic signals and signs, crosswalks, and intersection features
• Bridges and underpasses

Use cases:

• Identifying safe walking or biking routes to places like Atlanta BeltLine segments, MARTA stations, or schools.
• Checking whether a street in your neighborhood is a city-maintained road versus a state route.
• Assessing potential impacts of nearby transportation projects.

4. Public Safety and Emergency Services

Public safety GIS data in Atlanta often covers:

• Atlanta Fire Rescue station locations and response areas
• Atlanta Police Department zones and beats
• Emergency service boundaries (such as 911 service zones)

This data helps residents:

• Know which police zone or fire station serves their neighborhood
• Understand response coverage when evaluating a new home or business location
• Identify which public safety contacts or community liaisons apply to their area

5. Parks, Recreation, and Public Facilities

The City of Atlanta maintains GIS layers for:

• Parks and recreation areas
• Trails and greenways, including sections of the Atlanta BeltLine, local greenways, and neighborhood paths
• Recreation centers, swimming pools, and athletic fields
• Libraries, city service centers, and other public buildings

Residents and visitors use this data to:

• Find the nearest park or playground in areas like Cascade Heights, Midtown, or Old Fourth Ward.
• Discover trails and green spaces near their home or hotel.
• Map out ways to reach public facilities without a car.

6. Environmental and Floodplain Data

Environmental GIS layers in Atlanta can include:

• Floodplain boundaries and flood risk zones (often based on federal flood mapping, integrated into local GIS)
• Creeks and streams such as Peachtree Creek, Proctor Creek, and others
• Watershed boundaries
• Topography (elevation, slope) in some cases

These are especially important if you:

• Own or are considering buying property near creeks or low-lying areas
• Plan to add basements, retaining walls, or major grading to a site
• Need to understand potential stormwater or flood issues before investing in a property

The Department of Watershed Management is a major source for this type of information inside Atlanta.

7. Political and Administrative Boundaries

Atlanta GIS data often includes:

• City limits
• Atlanta City Council districts
• Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs)
• Neighborhood boundaries (for planning purposes)
• School-related boundaries (often managed in coordination with Atlanta Public Schools)

Residents use this information to:

• Determine which City Council member represents them
• Find their NPU, which is key for neighborhood-level planning and rezoning input
• Understand how their neighborhood fits into the broader city planning framework

How to Access City of Atlanta GIS Data

While specific web addresses may change over time, the City of Atlanta typically offers multiple ways to access GIS data:

1. Interactive Online Map Viewers

The city often publishes map viewers that let you:

• Search by address or parcel number
• Turn different layers on and off (zoning, parcels, floodplains, parks, etc.)
• Click on a parcel or feature to see attribute details
• Print or save a map image for your records

These mapping portals are designed for everyday users – homeowners, renters, businesses, and visitors – not just GIS professionals.

Typical features you might see:

• A search bar for addresses
• A layer list with checkboxes
• Legend explaining colors and symbols
• Tools to measure distance or draw on the map

If you are unsure where to start, contacting the following can help you identify the current official GIS map links:

• Atlanta City Hall
  55 Trinity Avenue SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Main information lines can direct you to the city’s GIS or mapping resources.

• Department of City Planning (Zoning / Land Use)
  Frequently assists with map-based questions about zoning and land use.

2. Open Data Portals and Downloadable Datasets

In addition to map viewers, many cities, including Atlanta, maintain an open data portal where GIS datasets can be:

• Viewed in-browser
• Downloaded in formats like Shapefile, GeoJSON, or CSV
• Filtered and exported by boundary or attribute

Typical downloadable Atlanta GIS datasets include:

• Parcels and lot boundaries
• Zoning and land use layers
• City Council and NPU boundaries
• Parks and recreation facilities
• Sidewalks and bike lanes

These are especially useful if you:

• Are a planner, architect, or engineer working in Atlanta
• Want to analyze trends in development, transportation, or environmental features
• Need to incorporate Atlanta GIS data into your own mapping or analysis software

Quick Reference: Common Atlanta GIS Data Types & Where They’re Used

Practical Ways to Use Atlanta GIS Data

For Homeowners and Renters

If you live in Atlanta or are moving here, GIS data can answer questions like:

• “What is my lot size, and where are the true property lines?”
  View parcel layers and lot boundaries.

• “Is my home in a historic district, overlay, or special zoning area?”
  Turn on zoning and overlay layers for your address.

• “Am I in a flood-prone area?”
  Check floodplain and watershed layers to see if your property lies within a mapped risk area.

• “Which City Council district and NPU am I in?”
  Useful for attending meetings, voicing concerns, or tracking local issues.

If you plan a renovation or accessory structure (such as a garage, ADU, or fence), you can:

1. Use the city’s GIS viewer to identify:
   • Your zoning district
   • Any overlay or historic district
2. Then contact:
   • Office of Buildings / Permitting within the Department of City Planning for how the zoning code applies to your plan.
   • Your NPU or neighborhood organization if a public review is required.

For Businesses and Developers

GIS data is central to site selection and planning in Atlanta:

• Evaluate whether a property is zoned appropriately for a planned restaurant, office, or mixed-use project.
• Analyze proximity to MARTA stations, BeltLine trails, and major corridors.
• Check infrastructure availability like roads, water, and sewer near a proposed site.
• Review overlay districts that may require design guidelines or special approvals.

Many developers also cross-reference Atlanta GIS data with county and regional datasets for traffic, demographics, and market analysis.

For Visitors and New Residents

Even if you are just visiting or new to the city, Atlanta GIS data can be surprisingly helpful:

• Find nearby parks, trails, and recreation centers to get outdoors.
• Identify the closest libraries or city service centers.
• Explore the Atlanta BeltLine segments and nearby amenities.
• See boundaries of neighborhoods like Midtown, Virginia-Highland, or Westview as recognized for planning purposes.

While you may not need raw data files, the interactive map viewers provide a simple way to get oriented.

Getting Help with GIS Data in Atlanta

If the city’s online tools feel overwhelming, or you need help interpreting what you see, you have options:

1. City Planning and Zoning Staff

For zoning, land use, and development questions:

• Department of City Planning
  Typically headquartered at or near Atlanta City Hall
  Staff can:
  • Confirm zoning designations
  • Point you to official zoning maps
  • Explain how map-based information interacts with the zoning ordinance

2. Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs)

Atlanta’s NPU system is a major part of community planning:

• Each NPU covers certain neighborhoods within city limits.
• NPUs review and provide recommendations on zoning changes, variances, and community plans.
• GIS maps of NPU boundaries help you find which NPU you belong to so you can attend meetings and stay informed.

City staff or the Department of City Planning can help you find current NPU contact information and meeting locations once you know your NPU from the GIS map.

3. County Offices for Tax and Appraisal Data

Although the City of Atlanta handles zoning and many municipal datasets, property tax and detailed appraisal information are managed at the county level:

• Fulton County Board of Assessors
• DeKalb County Tax Assessor’s Office

If a city GIS map gives you a parcel ID, you can usually use that ID to look up tax and valuation information on the appropriate county portal.

4. Professional Help (Surveyors, Planners, Engineers)

When GIS data raises complex or high-stakes questions—such as:

• Exact location of a property line or encroachment
• Compliance with complicated overlays or building rules
• Site feasibility in flood-prone or environmentally sensitive areas

Residents and businesses often consult:

• A licensed land surveyor for exact boundary surveys
• A professional planner or zoning consultant for development strategy
• A civil engineer for grading, drainage, and infrastructure planning

GIS data can guide these professionals and help frame the right questions.

Tips for Using City of Atlanta GIS Data Effectively

• Double-check layers: Make sure you’re looking at the correct layer (for example, current zoning vs. planned land use).
• Use the legend: Colors and symbols can be confusing without the legend explaining what they mean.
• Look at multiple layers together: For example, overlay zoning, floodplains, and parks to get a full picture of a site.
• Confirm critical decisions: For legal or financial decisions (like buying property or starting construction), treat GIS maps as a guide and confirm details with:
  • City staff
  • County tax offices
  • Licensed professionals
• Take note of update dates: Many GIS layers show when they were last updated. For zoning, transportation projects, and new developments, using up-to-date data is essential.

City of Atlanta GIS data is a powerful resource for understanding how the city is laid out, how property is regulated, and where services and amenities are located. Whether you live here, plan to visit, or are evaluating an investment in Atlanta, learning how to navigate these maps and datasets can give you a much clearer view of the city and how it works.