The Cobb County Board of Zoning Appeals on Nov. 12 upheld Code Enforcement's decision to issue a notice of violation for a front-yard condition at 1720 Cedar Grove Drive, finding the property exceeded the county's 12-inch height limit on Aug. 26. The vote was 5-0.

Property owner Brian Loughman said he created a small, managed pollinator garden in part of his front yard to support native bees and butterflies, does not spray pesticides and planned the garden to be active March through September. He asked the board to overturn the weed-related enforcement for that portion of the yard.

Brian Johnson of Cobb County Code Enforcement presented photographs and the notice of violation, citing Cobb County Code Section 83-12 and the county's authority under OCGA 36-1-20 to adopt health and safety ordinances. Code Enforcement entered photos taken Aug. 26, 2025, into evidence that staff said showed grass and weeds exceeding 12 inches at the time of inspection.

Board members suggested practical approaches to prevent future complaints: establishing a clearly framed flower bed or raised garden, adding small timbers or edging to distinguish the garden from the lawn, posting a sign identifying the area as a pollinator garden, and notifying nearby neighbors about the project. Staff and the owner were encouraged to coordinate with the county arborist and code enforcement to develop an approach that would reduce the likelihood of future notices.

The board's formal finding upheld the issuance of the notice on Aug. 26; an order will be drafted and entered into the record, and the board noted it may forward recommendations for code amendments to the Board of Commissioners in the future.