Sandy Springs requested a ZIP code boundary review from the U.S. Postal Service in early January, seeking to remove Atlanta as the default city name on mailing addresses on all properties within the city.
When Sandy Springs formed in 2005, it inherited eight ZIP codes within its municipal boundaries. Most still have Atlanta as the recommended city name. Previous attempts to establish Sandy Springs as the preferred last line on addresses within the city have failed.
Communications Director Carter Long said one of the reasons Sandy Springs made its most recent request is its neighbor’s success last year, uniting ZIP codes with the city name as the preferred address.
Neighbor spurs effort
Johns Creek in North Fulton County celebrated a new ZIP+4 change last fall, allowing residents to identify the city’s name on addresses by adding four digits to their current ZIP code. Johns Creek officials had considered applying for a unique ZIP code.
“The city just recently marked two decades of incorporation, which is quite an achievement, yet we are still recognized as Atlanta in our ZIP code,” Long said. “We are hoping to align the city ZIP codes with our city name, and that will help to improve address accuracy [and] reinforce our municipal identity for the city of Sandy Springs.”
Sandy Springs’ presentation argued that homeowners and businesses listing a different city of residence may experience emergency response delays and tax revenue errors. Also, staff said public confusion about jurisdiction negatively impacts economic development efforts, community identity, and branding.
Council Member Melissa Mular said she thinks her constituents will appreciate the city’s efforts. Other council members shared anecdotes about residents’ confusion.
“A lot of people always ask this question, so I think this is great,” Mular said.
History of placemaking
In June 2010, the Postal Service began allowing Sandy Springs residents and businesses within the 30338 ZIP code to list the city’s name on mailing addresses, while also providing Atlanta as an option. A majority of that area is within Dunwoody in northern DeKalb County.
Ultimately, a 2012 survey of residents and businesses failed to garner enough support for the change. The last request to change the USPS-approved city name for properties within its municipal boundary was in 2020.
Since then, USPS has dropped a requirement that 80 percent of businesses must approve of the change.
After Mayor Rusty Paul submitted Sandy Springs’ request for a ZIP code review in early 2026, the USPS district manager has 60 days to make a final determination after reviewing all potential impacts and exploring alternatives.
“In this process, we’re also reaching out to elected officials at the state level to get some support behind our efforts,” Long said, citing Johns Creek’s success with their local politicians. “If USPS considers granting this request, they will arrange a meeting with us after that 60-day process to discuss their accommodation.”
City leaders weigh in
Mayor Rusty Paul said the average Sandy Springs resident won’t see any change.
“If you order something from Amazon, rather than it automatically filling in Atlanta, it’ll put in Sandy Springs,” Paul said. “If you want to override it, put in Atlanta … Right now, you can forcibly enter ‘Sandy Springs,’ and your mail gets there just the same. So, it’s just switching which one pops up first.”
Paul said major Fortune 500 corporations in Sandy Springs, like Mercedes-Benz and Newell Brands, may not be as excited as some longtime residents.
“A lot of businesses, and I get it … want to be able to retain that Atlanta designation because more people know about Atlanta globally than they do Sandy Springs,” Paul said. “We’re in the process of changing that, but for now, it’s an issue.”
Nonprofit grant window extended
In other business, the Sandy Springs City Council awarded $113,400 to local nonprofits as a part of its $200,000 Arts and Recreation program this year.
Recipients include Los Niños Primero, Sandy Springs Mission, Horizons Atlanta, Art Sandy Springs. Georgia Ensemble Theatre Company, La Amistad, Djoli Kelen, and Sandy Springs Arts Foundation.
The city expanded the annual nonprofit grant program from $150,000 to $200,000, after lobbying from former Council Member Andy Bauman.
Because around $90,000 remained in this year’s grant program, Council Member Melody Kelley led a chorus of elected officials’ asking to extend the grant window to allow other nonprofits to apply.
“I received some feedback that the change in the timeline, even though it was for a good reason, kind off through off some people,” Kelley said.
Elected officials tasked city staff with reopening the grant application window to Sandy Springs nonprofits.
For more information, contact recreation@sandyspringsga.gov.