Georgia Tenant Rights Guide

Last updated: April 2026

Georgia has no rent control. The state's landlord-tenant law is relatively landlord-friendly — there's no statutory warranty of habitability, for example. Still, tenants have some protections worth knowing, and several nonprofits can help if things go wrong.

Check your address to see what tenant protections apply to your rental.

Georgia at a Glance

Rent control: None
Statewide rent cap: None — landlords can raise rent by any amount
Preemption: Georgia state law does not explicitly preempt rent control, but no city has enacted it — and Georgia's landlord-tenant law provides minimal statutory tenant protections compared to most states.

What Protections Georgia Tenants Do Have

Even without rent control, Georgia law gives renters meaningful rights in these areas:

Security Deposit

Landlords must return your deposit within 30 days (or 3 days if the property is sold), along with an itemized statement. Failing to return it can make the landlord liable for the full deposit plus damages (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34).

Notice to Terminate

Month-to-month tenancies require 60 days written notice from either party to terminate, unless your lease says otherwise (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7).

Habitability

Georgia has no statutory implied warranty of habitability, but landlords who own five or more units must keep them in a state of repair. Tenants in smaller buildings rely primarily on lease terms and local housing codes.

Retaliation Protection

Georgia has limited statutory retaliation protections. Atlanta renters have additional protections under the city's ordinances. Document everything in writing if you believe your landlord is retaliating.

Eviction Process

Landlords must follow the dispossessory process — they cannot lock you out or remove your belongings without a court order. You have the right to be notified and to appear in court (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50).

Major Cities in Georgia

Atlanta — No rent control; Atlanta has its own housing code that adds some tenant protections beyond state law.
Savannah — No rent control; Georgia state protections apply.
Augusta — No rent control; Georgia state protections apply.
Columbus — No rent control; Georgia state protections apply.
Macon — No rent control; Georgia state protections apply.

Georgia Tenant Resources

These organizations offer free or low-cost help to Georgia renters:

Atlanta Legal Aid Society — Free civil legal services for low-income residents of metro Atlanta, including housing and eviction defense.
Georgia Legal Services Program — Free legal help for low-income Georgians outside Metro Atlanta, including housing cases in rural and suburban areas.
Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation — Pro bono legal services in Atlanta including housing stability and eviction prevention.
GeorgiaLegalAid.org — Plain-language guides to Georgia tenant rights, security deposits, eviction, and more.
Tenant-Landlord Clinic – Atlanta — Atlanta Legal Aid's housing hotline and walk-in clinic for renters facing eviction or housing code issues.

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