Landlord-tenant law

Georgia Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security deposit limits, eviction notice periods, lease termination requirements, and late fee rules for Georgia.

Not legal advice. Current as of May 2026. Verify with a local attorney before any compliance decision.

Security Deposit Max

No statutory limit

Ga. Code § 44-7-30 et seq.

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Deposit Return Deadline

30 days

Ga. Code § 44-7-34

Non-Payment Eviction Notice

Demand for possession (no mandatory notice period before filing; effective immediately upon default). Landlords with 10+ units must serve a written demand.

Ga. Code § 44-7-50(a)

Month-to-Month Termination

30 days (landlord to tenant); 60 days for some lease types

Ga. Code § 44-7-7

Late Fee Cap

Greater of $20/month or 20% of monthly rent (for leases entered/renewed on or after July 1, 2019)

Ga. Code § 10-4-217

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Grace Period

No statutory grace period

Georgia specific notes

Georgia is unusual: there is technically no mandatory pre-eviction notice period for nonpayment (landlord may file immediately), though as a practical matter most issue a 3-day demand. Ga. Code § 44-7-50 allows an immediate dispossessory warrant. Landlords with 10+ units must hold deposits in a separate account or furnish a bond. The § 10-4-217 late fee cap only applies to leases entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2019.

FAQ

Common Georgia landlord questions

What is the maximum security deposit in Georgia?+

No statutory limit. Governed by Ga. Code § 44-7-30 et seq.. Deposit must be returned within 30 days after the lease ends.

What notice is required to evict a tenant in Georgia for non-payment of rent?+

Demand for possession (no mandatory notice period before filing; effective immediately upon default). Landlords with 10+ units must serve a written demand.. Per Ga. Code § 44-7-50(a). This is the notice period before a landlord can file an eviction lawsuit.

How much notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in Georgia?+

30 days (landlord to tenant); 60 days for some lease types. Per Ga. Code § 44-7-7. This applies to no-cause terminations of month-to-month leases.

Are late fees regulated in Georgia?+

Greater of $20/month or 20% of monthly rent (for leases entered/renewed on or after July 1, 2019). Per Ga. Code § 10-4-217. Grace period: No statutory grace period. Even where no statutory cap exists, late fees must be reasonable and clearly disclosed in the lease.

References

Authoritative sources for Georgia

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Deposit Limits — All 50

Side-by-side max deposit and return deadlines.

Eviction Notice — All 50

Notice periods for non-payment and termination.

Late Fee Laws — All 50

Caps and grace periods.

Georgia Landlord-Tenant Laws

Common Georgia landlord questions

Authoritative sources for Georgia

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