Understanding the Atlanta Zone Map: A Local’s Guide to City Boundaries, Services, and Neighborhoods

When people search for an “Atlanta zone map,” they’re usually trying to figure out how Atlanta is divided up for things like schools, police, trash pickup, voting, and even planning a commute. Atlanta uses different types of zones and maps depending on what you’re looking for, and they don’t all line up perfectly.

This guide breaks down the main kinds of Atlanta zone maps you’re most likely to need and explains how they work if you live in Atlanta, are moving here, or are visiting and trying to understand the city.

Key Types of Zone Maps in Atlanta

Atlanta doesn’t have just one universal “zone map.” Instead, there are several major systems:

• City Council districts & Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) – for local government and planning
• School zones – for Atlanta Public Schools and nearby districts
• Public safety zones – police zones and fire battalions
• Service zones – trash & recycling, water, and utilities
• Voting precincts & elected official districts – for elections and representation
• Zoning & land use maps – for property, development, and business use

Here’s a quick overview of how some of the most common Atlanta zones compare:

City Council Districts & NPUs: How Atlanta Is Organized Civically

Atlanta City Council District Map

The City of Atlanta is divided into City Council districts. Your district determines:

• Who your City Council representative is
• How local issues like zoning, streets, and city codes are handled in your area
• Which public meetings and hearings are most relevant to you

If you’re trying to understand what’s happening in your part of town—say in Buckhead, Midtown, West End, Old Fourth Ward, or Cascade—looking at the City Council district map helps you identify:

• Your district number
• The councilmember who represents you
• The general boundaries of that district

You can confirm your district by contacting or visiting:

City of Atlanta City Hall
55 Trinity Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main line: (404) 330-6000

Ask for help identifying your City Council district using your home or business address.

Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs)

Atlanta is also divided into Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) – community-based zones used for:

• Reviewing zoning and development proposals
• Discussing land use, transportation, and neighborhood issues
• Providing community input to the City

Examples include NPU-E (Midtown & parts of Buckhead), NPU-V (Mechanicsville, Pittsburgh, Peoplestown), and NPU-K (Grove Park, Center Hill, Collier Heights).

If you’re wondering:

• “Which NPU is my neighborhood in?”
• “Where do I go to talk about a new development or rezoning?”

You’d look at the Atlanta NPU map, then check when your NPU meets (usually monthly, often in the evening).

For NPU assistance, you can reach out to:

Atlanta City Planning Department (NPU Program)
City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main phone (City Planning): (404) 330-6070

School Zone Maps in Atlanta

If you have children or are planning a move, the school zone map may be the most important “zone” for you.

Atlanta Public Schools (APS) Attendance Zones

Atlanta Public Schools divides the city into attendance zones that determine:

• Which elementary, middle, and high school your child is assigned to
• Eligibility for school bus routes in your area

These school zones do not always match city council districts, NPUs, or ZIP codes. Two houses on the same street can sometimes be zoned for different schools.

When you look at the APS zone map, you’ll typically identify:

• Your home address location on the APS boundary map
• The cluster your school belongs to (such as Grady/ Midtown, Mays, North Atlanta, Carver, Washington, Therrell, etc.)

For help understanding your school zone:

Atlanta Public Schools – Central Office
130 Trinity Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main line: (404) 802-3500

You can give them your address and ask which schools you’re zoned for.

Nearby School Districts & Zone Considerations

If you’re in the metro area but not in the City of Atlanta limits, you may instead be part of:

• Fulton County Schools (North or South Fulton, outside city limits)
• DeKalb County School District
• Cobb County School District
• Clayton County Public Schools

Each district has its own zone maps. Your mailing address might say “Atlanta” but your schools could be in a county system, so checking the correct district’s map is important.

Public Safety Zone Maps: Police & Fire Coverage

Atlanta Police Department (APD) Zones

APD divides the city into police zones, each with its own precincts and patrol areas. These zones help organize:

• Patrol coverage
• Response times and resource allocation
• Community policing programs

Well-known APD zones include areas covering Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, Southeast Atlanta, Southwest Atlanta, and more.

If you’re asking:

• “Which police zone is my house or business in?”
• “Which precinct should I contact for non-emergency issues?”

You’d look at the Atlanta Police Department zone map and match your address.

For non-emergency assistance:

Atlanta Police Department – Headquarters
226 Peachtree Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Non-emergency line: (404) 658-6666
Emergency: 911

Atlanta Fire Rescue Service Areas

Atlanta Fire Rescue Department divides the city into battalions and station service areas, which determine:

• Which fire station responds first to your location
• How coverage is planned for homes, businesses, and high-rises

If you want to know your nearest fire station or service area, you can contact:

Atlanta Fire Rescue Department Headquarters
226 Peachtree Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main line: (404) 546-7000

Service Zone Maps: Trash, Recycling, and Utilities

Solid Waste & Recycling Zones

Your address in Atlanta falls into a specific sanitation route or service zone, which affects:

• Trash pickup day
• Recycling and yard trimmings schedules
• Where bulk items may be collected or scheduled

These routes don’t always match city council districts or NPUs. They’re designed around collection efficiency.

To confirm your trash and recycling zone/day, you can contact:

City of Atlanta Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Services
55 Trinity Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Customer service: (404) 330-6333

Have your street address and ZIP code ready when you call.

Water & Sewer Service Area

Within the city, Atlanta Department of Watershed Management manages:

• Water service
• Sewer service
• Stormwater in many areas

If you’re within the City of Atlanta service area, your account and billing zone are handled through:

Department of Watershed Management – Customer Service Office
72 Marietta Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Customer service: (404) 546-0311

Outside city limits, your water/sewer zone might be run by Fulton County, DeKalb County, Cobb County, or another jurisdiction, even if your mailing address is “Atlanta.”

Voting, Political Districts, and Precinct Maps

If your interest in an “Atlanta zone map” is about voting or representation, you’ll encounter several overlapping maps:

• Voting precincts – where you go to vote on Election Day
• City Council districts – for local city representation
• Fulton/DeKalb County commission districts – for county-level decisions
• Georgia House and Senate districts – for state-level representation
• U.S. Congressional districts – for federal representation

These lines change from time to time because of redistricting.

To confirm your voting precinct and elected officials, you can contact:

Fulton County Voter Registration & Elections (for addresses in Fulton County)
130 Peachtree Street SW, Suite 2186
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main line: (404) 612-7020

DeKalb County Voter Registration & Elections (for addresses in DeKalb County portions of Atlanta)
4380 Memorial Drive
Decatur, GA 30032
Main line: (404) 298-4020

Zoning and Land Use Maps: How Property Is Zoned

If you’re buying property, opening a business, or remodeling, the zoning map is often what you mean by “zone map.”

What the Atlanta Zoning Map Covers

The Atlanta zoning map shows how each parcel of land is classified, such as:

• R – Residential (single-family, multi-family, etc.)
• C – Commercial (retail, offices, services)
• I – Industrial
• MR/MRC – Mixed residential-commercial
• Special districts – such as historic districts, BeltLine overlay areas, or special-use zones

This zoning affects:

• What you’re allowed to build or operate on a property
• How tall buildings can be
• Setbacks, parking requirements, and more

If you’re asking:

• “Is this property zoned for a duplex or apartment?”
• “Can I open a restaurant here?”
• “Is this in a historic district with extra rules?”

You’re looking for the official Atlanta zoning map.

For zoning details, contact:

City of Atlanta – Office of Zoning & Development
City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue SW, Suite 3350
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main line (often through City Planning): (404) 330-6070

Having the exact street address or parcel ID will help.

How to Figure Out Which Atlanta Zone Map You Need

Because Atlanta uses many different overlapping zones, it helps to start from your specific goal.

1. If you want to know who represents you

Look for:

• City Council district map
• NPU map
• County commission district and state/federal district maps if you’re interested in broader representation

Useful contacts:

• City of Atlanta City Hall: (404) 330-6000

2. If you’re focused on schools

Look for:

• APS attendance zone map if you’re inside the City of Atlanta
• County school district zone maps if you’re in areas like Sandy Springs, East Point, Decatur, or unincorporated county land

Useful contact:

• APS Central Office: (404) 802-3500

3. If you’re concerned about safety or response coverage

Look for:

• Atlanta Police Department zone map
• Atlanta Fire Rescue service areas or nearest fire station

Useful contacts:

• APD Non-emergency: (404) 658-6666
• Atlanta Fire Rescue: (404) 546-7000

4. If you need service schedules (trash, recycling, water)

Look for:

• Sanitation route/service zone based on your address
• Water/sewer service area for billing or service calls

Useful contacts:

• Solid Waste Services: (404) 330-6333
• Watershed Management Customer Service: (404) 546-0311

5. If you’re planning a project or opening a business

Look for:

• Zoning and land use map
• Any special overlay district map (BeltLine, historic district, etc.)

Useful contact:

• Office of Zoning & Development: (404) 330-6070

Simple Checklist: What to Have Ready Before You Call or Look Up a Map

To get accurate information about any Atlanta zone map, it helps to have:

• 🏡 Full street address, including apartment or unit number
• 📮 ZIP code (important since “Atlanta” spans multiple counties)
• 🎯 Your purpose (schools, voting, trash pickup, zoning, etc.)
• 📞 A phone number or email where agencies can reach you if they need to follow up

With these details, city, county, and school offices can quickly tell you exactly which zone(s) you fall into—whether that’s for schools, services, representation, public safety, or development inside the Atlanta area.