Roswell Mayor Lori Henry’s current Executive Order was issued on July 7, 2021, renewing the Public Health State of Emergency and revised COVID-19 safety measures in conjunction with Governor Kemp’s Executive Orders, which now extend through September 28, 2021.

Mayor Henry’s Executive Order and Proclamation (July 7, 2021)

While recognizing that Georgia and the City of Roswell are “no longer experiencing a public health emergency,” both the Governor’s and the Mayor’s Orders acknowledge that there remain long-term negative effects on businesses and the economy as a result of the pandemic. As such, the Mayor’s new Order extends the provisions of her previous Executive Orders regarding temporary business signage and to-go alcoholic beverages.

The signage provision allows businesses to install new temporary signage without a Temporary Sign Permit, provided such signage is in compliance with current code standards. The Mayor’s new Order also acknowledges provisions put into place early in the pandemic—and since signed into state law by Governor Kemp in May 2021—that allowed restaurants to sell unopened to-go bottles of beer or wine.

Special Event Permits & In-person Meetings to Resume

Roswell Mayor Lori Henry is lifting her moratorium on the City issuing special event permits for non-City events beginning in April with CDC-recommended COVID safety measures required. The Mayor is also resuming in-person City Council meetings, Work Sessions, Committee meetings, and Boards and Commissions meetings in April.

The decreasing COVID-19 numbers and the vaccine rollout led to the Mayor’s decision to lift the moratorium and resume in-person City meetings.

“I have been monitoring the numbers from the Georgia Department of Health and the Fulton County Health Department daily, and all of the numbers are steadily coming down. In just the last few weeks, Roswell’s COVID cases have decreased by almost 50 percent, and since January, cases in Fulton County and the state are down about 64 percent.”

While the City will resume issuing special event permits, organizations applying for permits must agree to require masks, take temperatures, and implement social-distancing measures at their events. Organizers will also need to follow Governor Kemp’s orders for gatherings of more than 50 people if those participating in the event exceed that number.

In addition, those attending in-person City meetings will be required to wear masks, have their temperatures taken, and social distance per the CDC-recommended guidelines.

More than 328,000 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Fulton County and almost 2.2 million across the state. The City will be monitoring state and local COVID data and vaccination rates through April. Based on those numbers, the City will make a determination on whether to resume City-held events.

Alcohol Delivery Ordinance

In an effort to help local businesses and restaurants during these tough times, Roswell’s Mayor and Council have approved the delivery of unopened liquor, beer and wine by liquor stores and the ability for retailers and restaurants to deliver beer and wine. There will be a $100 annual fee for businesses that want to deliver alcohol. The new ordinance and fee went into effect on Tuesday, December 15, 2020.

For more information and to apply, visit www.RoswellGov.com/Alcohol.

2021 Business Occupation Tax Credit

Businesses in the City of Roswell will soon be receiving a notice of 2021 Business Occupation Tax renewals, which will be due by March 15, 2021. Due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on many local businesses, the Mayor and City Council approved a one-time tax credit for existing businesses that paid occupation tax in 2020. This tax credit will cap the 2021 tax at the final amount the business paid for 2020. All registered businesses in the City of Roswell will receive a renewal notice and letter that provides detailed information and instructions about this process. Businesses will be able to renew their Business Occupation Tax online at www.RoswellPay.com, which walks the business owner through the renewal with step-by-step instructions.

Temporary Sign Permit Waiver

In accordance with the Executive Order signed by Mayor Lori Henry on April 3, 2020, and extended in subsequent Executive Orders, placement of reasonable new temporary information business signage may be installed without a Temporary Sign Permit provided such signage must be in compliance with current code standards. Signs that are placed in the public roadway right-of-way will be removed by the City’s Code Enforcement staff. The allowed temporary signs must be removed or obtain a Temporary Sign Permit at the conclusion of the February 1 Executive Order/Proclamation and/or any extensions.

City Events

The City of Roswell has decided to cancel or postpone many large City events. City leaders decided not to hold these events to continue proactive physical distancing measures and the limiting of gatherings to combat further COVID-19 transmission. Please refer to the city calendar to check the status of other City events and programs.

For more information, visit RoswellGov.com/Coronavirus.