Do this today
- Write the date, time, who entered, and whether you were told in advance.
- Keep texts, emails, or posted notes about entry.
- If you felt unsafe, that is a safety issue as well as a tenancy issue — 911 if someone is in danger.
- Do not change locks without confirming Georgia rules and the lease.
What usually depends on the reason?
Emergencies, agreed-upon repairs, and showings to buyers or new tenants are often treated differently in Georgia landlord and tenant provisions. A national “24 hours” line is a rumor, not a rule we will print. The hour-count, if Georgia has one, is in the chapter.
What if it keeps happening?
Repeated unannounced entry is worth a dated log. Whether Georgia treats that as a breach, a privacy violation, or something a court can stop is a legal-aid question. The log is what you take them.
Where is the official Georgia handbook?
The Department of Community Affairs and the Attorney General publish a Landlord-Tenant Handbook. Title 44 of the Official Code is the statute. This classroom cites those. It does not reprint a day-count.
The Georgia chapter
Georgia landlord and tenant provisions (Ga. Code §§ 44-7-1 to 44-7-81) is the starting point. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
Georgia's tenancy rules sit in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, and the state publishes a Landlord-Tenant Handbook through the Department of Community Affairs and the Attorney General's consumer protection division. The handbook is the most readable official starting point for Georgia renters.
Georgia cities run code-enforcement programs for housing conditions. Atlanta and other municipalities have local human-relations ordinances that may add protected classes.
Official sources
- State agencyGeorgia Dept. of Community Affairs — Georgia Landlord-Tenant HandbookThe state's official plain-language handbook for renters and landlords.
- State agencyGeorgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division — Landlord-Tenant IssuesState consumer guidance and the complaint route.
- Free legal helpGeorgiaLegalAid.orgStatewide legal-aid guides and referrals for Georgia tenants.
- Statute indexCornell LII landlord-tenant tableGa. Code §§ 44-7-1 to 44-7-81
- FederalHUD — Georgia
- Free legal helpLawHelp.org — Georgia
Common questions
Can my landlord in Georgia enter without notice?
Sometimes, for emergencies. For other reasons, Georgia landlord and tenant provisions usually requires notice of some kind. We do not print an hour-count. Write down what happened and confirm the chapter.
Can I refuse entry in Georgia?
It depends on the reason, the notice, and the lease. Refusing a lawful entry can become a lease issue. Ask legal aid before you change locks or bar a posted repair visit.
Where is the official Georgia handbook?
The Department of Community Affairs and the Attorney General publish a Landlord-Tenant Handbook. Title 44 of the Official Code is the statute. This classroom cites those. It does not reprint a day-count.
The national landlord entry guide has the full sequence. Open the landlord entry guide
People also ask
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org