Wednesday, November 12, 2025–9:50 a.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
The Floyd County Commission may be asked to extend a moratorium on the issuance of permits for new convenience stores.
The commission implemented a six-month moratorium in June to give both the county and the city time to address the proliferation of gas stations and mini-marts.
A proposed ordinance went before the Rome-Floyd County Planning Commission last week, but was tabled for another month.
“There is a lot to it, and it changes the ways we regulate our convenience stores and gas stations, and where they can be,” said County Attorney Chris Jackson. “We are specifically trying to address the issue that we are way over the average—maybe double—the average of convenience stores and gas stations per person who lives in Floyd County, compared to the national average. They [planning commission] did not specifically address any one thing in the ordinance that they didn’t like or anything like that. They just sort of said it’s a lot to come to us, so we have to review it and make a recommendation.”
Jackson explained that with the holidays coming up, and the commission’s second meeting in December will not be held because it falls on Christmas Day, more time will be needed.
“I am probably going to need to bring to you a resolution to consider extending that moratorium for a period of time, potentially another few months,” Jackson told the commission. “This will give the planning commission time to fully look at it. It is possible that they will look at it and would like to see certain changes and continue to table it. Or they could ask that it be rewritten before it comes back to the planning commission for a further hearing, and eventually to the full commission. You want to do that. You want to take your time and do it right the first time.”
You can read the proposed ordinance below: