Metro Atlanta led the nation in self-storage construction in 2025, but that dubious achievement is now in jeopardy.
Mayor Andre Dickens has signed an executive order imposing a temporary moratorium on the construction of new self-storage facilities across Atlanta. The move targets an industry that has proliferated along commercial corridors throughout the city.
Critics have long argued that self-storage facilities consume valuable land that could otherwise support housing, retail, or mixed-use development. The facilities typically generate minimal employment and limited tax revenue compared to alternative uses.
The moratorium gives city planners time to evaluate zoning regulations and develop policies that might redirect development toward more beneficial uses. Several neighborhoods have fought individual self-storage proposals in recent years.
West Midtown and corridors along major arterials have seen the most storage facility construction, often on sites that could accommodate denser development.