Big Ideas,
Real Impact.

The City of Buchanan approved a new Unified Development Code on September 21, 2026 with assistance from West Georgia Planning. Buchanan’s New Unified Development Code: Georgia’s New Benchmark for Modern Planning

Buchanan’s new Unified Development Code is a world‑class ordinance built to raise the bar for how small cities plan, grow, and protect their identity. It is one of the most comprehensive, design‑driven, and forward‑thinking development codes in Georgia, created to give the city a clear, modern, and highly functional framework for long‑term success.

This UDC brings every major development regulation into one cohesive, intuitive document. Zoning, land use, design standards, procedures, and graphics work together in a way that is easy for residents, developers, and staff to understand. The structure is clean, predictable, and professional, which reduces confusion and makes the development process more efficient and transparent.

What sets Buchanan’s ordinance apart is its ambition. It includes best‑practice walkability standards, a downtown framework that supports reinvestment and character, and the state’s most innovative Rural Hamlet District. The RHD is a standout: a compact, village‑scale district that protects open land while allowing small‑scale growth in a way that feels authentic, walkable, and rooted in place. Very few communities in Georgia have anything comparable.

For cities looking to modernize outdated zoning or adopt a code that genuinely improves development outcomes, Buchanan’s UDC shows what is possible. It is a model ordinance that demonstrates the level of clarity, quality, and design‑forward thinking West Georgia Planning brings to every project.

If your community is ready for a modern code that works, we can deliver it.