The Planning & Development department handles a broad range of responsibilities associated with providing a well-planned, quality community that focuses on advancing and creating economic opportunities; designing communities that are livable and sustainable; ensuring that quality standards of building accountability are achieved, all while preserving and promoting our cultural areas, natural resources and tourism development.

While we are the County government’s lead agency on community development projects, we also partner with other agencies such as Industrial Development, our Cities, School System and other local Authorities to work as a team, bringing both a united front and a common purpose towards shepherding our community forward in a positive growth direction. We provide a variety of supportive services to all of these entities, including the cities of Jackson, Flovilla and Jenkinsburg in the managing of zoning rules and regulations among other services.

Butts County welcomes new industries and new businesses but we also strive to do our part towards ensuring the strength and viability of our existing commercial and industrial base. While attracting and cultivating what is new is both necessary and vital, nurturing and growing our existing economic base is also a key part towards a successful, thriving and healthy county. To help make this happen, we work in concert with our Industrial Development Authority, who markets available property, meets with prospective companies and brings the key players to the table when a prospect is interested in becoming a partner with us. We also work with our Chamber of Commerce who performs a similar function with local businesses and commercial interests. We pride ourselves on these successful relationships we have developed over many years with our partners in community development.

As we move forward toward meeting the challenges of the 20’s and beyond, we want to encourage you to take a closer look at Butts County. We like to say that we are “closer to everywhere than anywhere” because we have what we feel is the best geographic location in Georgia-located along Interstate 75, with Atlanta less than an hour to the north and Macon about a half hour to the south. Two interstate access points-Exit 201 and Exit 205, both located within our county-mean that you can enjoy living in the country while being accessible by road to urban amenities and venues.

Rail lines travel through all three cities. Industrial land is available and convenient to all. Our school system is modern and very well equipped. Our cities are progressive and our county is forward thinking. We have county water serving over 95% of the county and a hospital that is soon to be affiliated with WellStar, one of Georgia’s leading hospital corporations. There’s a lot going on here when you take it all in.

If you enjoy outdoor activities, this is the place to be. We have Jackson Lake, the Ocmulgee River, Indian Springs State Park, portions of High Falls Lake and State Park and Dauset Trails Nature Center, right here in Butts County. We strive to create a better quality of life for our citizens and the Planning and Development Department is a large part of that. Looking forward towards this new decade, we will work harder to ensure that both individual citizens and collective communities are treated with respect, courtesy and professionalism. We want to be a part of your success story. Please let us know how we can help and don’t hesitate to contact us if we can help you.

• Butts County Comprehensive Plan 2022-2042 (Adopted 2/28/2022)