Chapter 50 HEALTH AND SANITATION
Plain English: what this part covers
This chapter does two things. It adopts the state health rules for restaurants, motels, septic systems, drinking water and public pools by reference. It also sets up a 1,500-foot protection zone around each city water well, where things that could pollute the water, like septic tanks, fuel tanks and landfills, aren't allowed.
- 1,500-foot radius wellhead protection zone around each city well (Sec. 50-33)
- 1-acre minimum residential lot inside a wellhead zone (Sec. 50-34)
- No sanitary sewer lines within 150 feet of a wellhead (Sec. 50-35(8))
Cross reference— Animals, ch. 14; rabies control, § 14-86 et seq.; buildings and building regulations, ch. 18; environment, ch. 38; floods, ch. 46; solid waste, ch. 70; utilities, ch. 86.
State Law reference— Authority to provide public health facilities and services, Ga. Const. art. IX, § II, ¶ III(a)(3).
What's in here
Questions folks ask
Who sets the health rules for restaurants and motels in Ashburn?
The city adopts the state's food service and tourist accommodation rules by reference. The code still names them as Georgia Department of Human Resources rules, Chapters 290-5-14 and 290-5-18.
Does the city have its own pool or septic rules?
No. It adopts the state rules for public pools and spas, on-site sewage (septic) systems, land disposal of septage and drinking water supply.
What is a wellhead protection zone?
It's the area inside a circle with a 1,500-foot radius around any city water supply well. Land use inside it is restricted to protect the drinking water.
Can I put a septic tank near a city well?
No. Septic tanks and drain fields are prohibited inside a wellhead protection zone.
What's the minimum lot size near a city well?
A residential lot that is even partly inside a wellhead protection zone must be at least one acre.
What else is banned near a city well?
Surface use or storage of hazardous materials (including commercial pesticide use), sanitary landfills, hazardous waste sites, stormwater infiltration basins, underground storage tanks, most paving, and sewer lines within 150 feet of the wellhead.
Which wells are covered?
Any city water supply well. A note says the original survey covered the Pate Street, Manhatten [sic], City Barn and North Ashburn wells, and that survey is on file with the city clerk.
How is the wellhead zone enforced?
It uses the same procedures as the city zoning ordinance (Appendix A), including the rules on nonconforming uses, exceptions and penalties.
This is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. The official code is on Municode and at City Hall. Our copy is from April 30, 2026.
Online: https://jamesburgessleads.com/city-code/PTIICOOR_CH50HESA
Official version: https://library.municode.com/GA/Ashburn/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH50HESA
Paid for by James Burgess