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Georgia

Georgia Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security deposit limits, eviction notices, rent control, and more for Georgia.

How we research these summaries

Every rule on this page is drawn from state statutes and municipal codes and summarized with AI assistance. Each one cites the statute it's based on and links to a published text of that law so you can read it firsthand. Where a page says a city or county has no local rule on a topic, that means none was found for the topics covered here — not that none exists. Local governments also regulate rental housing in ways these pages don't track, including registration, licensing, inspections and habitability standards. These summaries may be incomplete or out of date, laws change often, and every property and tenancy has specifics a summary can't capture — so treat this as a starting point for your own research, not as legal advice, and check with the local jurisdiction and a qualified attorney before acting on your particular situation.

What to Know in Georgia

Sources last checked July 2026

Georgia's 2024 Safe at Home Act capped security deposits at two months' rent for leases signed or renewed on or after July 1, 2024, and added a mandatory 3-business-day grace period before a landlord may file a dispossessory action for nonpayment. Landlords must give 60 days' written notice to end an at-will tenancy without cause or to raise rent — longer than the 30 days a tenant owes when leaving — under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7. Georgia has no rent control, and O.C.G.A. § 44-7-19 bars any county or municipality from enacting one.

  • 3 business-day notice required before eviction for nonpayment of rent
  • 30-day move-out notice required for month-to-month tenancies
  • No rent control — no statutory cap on rent increases
  • 60-day advance written notice required for rent increases
  • Security deposits capped at 2 months' rent
5 rules summarized · Each linked to the law it cites

Security Deposit Limits

Security Deposit Limits

What is the security deposit limit in Georgia?

Under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30.1, enacted by the 2024 Safe at Home Act (HB 404), no landlord may demand or receive a security deposit exceeding two months' rent for residential leases entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2024. All advance deposits — including pet deposits, damage deposits, and prepaid rent beyond the next rental period — count toward this cap. Landlords holding more than ten rental units must keep deposits in a dedicated bank escrow account and provide written notice of the account location to the tenant. Deposits must be returned within 30 days of lease termination with an itemized statement of any deductions.

O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30.1; O.C.G.A. § 44-7-31

Eviction Notice Requirements

Eviction Notice Requirements

What are the eviction notice requirements in Georgia?

For nonpayment of rent, late fees, utilities, or other charges, the 2024 Safe at Home Act (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50) requires landlords to provide tenants with a written 3 business-day notice to pay or vacate before filing a dispossessory proceeding. For at-will tenancies (month-to-month or no written lease), landlords must give 60 days' written notice to terminate under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7. Notices may be posted in a sealed envelope on the property door and delivered via any additional method agreed upon in the rental agreement. Self-help evictions — such as lockouts or utility shutoffs — are illegal in Georgia.

O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50; O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7

Rent Increase Notice Periods

Rent Increase Notice Periods

How much notice is required for rent increases in Georgia?

Georgia law requires landlords to provide at least 60 days' written notice before a rent increase takes effect, whether the tenancy is month-to-month or fixed-term (for renewals or changes effective at the next lease period). Under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7, landlords must also give 60 days' written notice to terminate or materially change the terms of an at-will tenancy, which encompasses rent changes. The notice must specify the new rent amount and the effective date. Verbal notice is insufficient. Rent cannot be raised mid-lease unless the lease agreement expressly permits it.

O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7

Rent Control / Rent Increase Caps

Rent Control / Rent Increase Caps

Is there rent control in Georgia?

Georgia has no statewide rent control. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-19 explicitly prohibits counties, municipalities, and other local governments from enacting any ordinance or regulation controlling the amount of rent charged for private residential rental units. Landlords may increase rent by any amount, provided proper notice is given. The only restriction is a prohibition on retaliatory rent increases against tenants who have engaged in protected activities such as reporting habitability violations to government authorities.

O.C.G.A. § 44-7-19

Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice

Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice

What is the move-out notice requirement in Georgia?

For at-will or month-to-month tenancies in Georgia, tenants must provide at least 30 days' written notice before vacating, while landlords must give at least 60 days' written notice to terminate, per O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7. For fixed-term leases, the lease expiration date constitutes termination — no additional notice is required unless the lease specifies otherwise. Either party's failure to provide required notice may give rise to liability for an additional month's rent. Written notice is required; oral notice does not satisfy the statute.

O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7

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