Eviction Laws in Augusta, Georgia
Augusta-Richmond County is Georgia’s third-largest city with a population of around 202,000, anchored by two massive demand drivers that keep the rental market consistently active — Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon), one of the Army’s premier cyber and signal commands, and Augusta University Medical Center, the state’s only public academic medical center. The result is a steady tenant pool of military families, government contractors, medical residents, and university students, with moderate rents, low vacancy, and reliable demand year-round. Nonpayment and lease violations tied to tenant transitions are the most common reasons Augusta landlords end up filing dispossessory actions.
Georgia’s eviction framework is straightforward and landlord-friendly, and Augusta is one of the cleaner markets to navigate because Richmond County has no local tenant protection ordinances layered on top of state law. Under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50, once you make a demand for possession and the tenant refuses, you file a Dispossessory Affidavit with Richmond County Magistrate’s Court. Since HB 404 took effect in July 2024, a written 3-business-day notice is required before filing for nonpayment. Holdover tenants and lease violators can be filed on immediately after the demand. Georgia caps security deposits at two months’ rent, imposes no rent control, and the sheriff executes Writs of Possession typically within one to two weeks of judgment.
Augusta & Richmond County — Local Rules That Affect Landlords
No rent control. Georgia state law preempts local rent regulation and Augusta has none.
Consolidated City-County Government. Augusta operates as a consolidated Augusta-Richmond County government. All dispossessory filings go to Richmond County Magistrate’s Court — one jurisdiction, no ambiguity about where to file regardless of the property’s location within the city.
Military SCRA Protections. With Fort Eisenhower nearby, a significant portion of Augusta’s tenant pool is active-duty military. Federal SCRA protections can affect lease termination rights and eviction timelines for servicemembers. Always verify military status before filing and consult an attorney if SCRA may apply.
Housing Code Enforcement. Augusta enforces local housing and property maintenance codes. Tenants occasionally raise habitability defenses in dispossessory hearings. Keep written records of all maintenance requests and repairs to protect your filing.
Richmond County Magistrate’s Court — Where Augusta Landlords File
Augusta landlords file dispossessory actions at Richmond County Magistrate’s Court, located at 735 James Brown Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901, phone (706) 821-2460, open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. File a Dispossessory Affidavit and pay the filing fee of approximately $60. The court issues a Dispossessory Warrant served by the sheriff. The tenant has 7 days from service to file a written or oral answer. If no answer is filed, request a default judgment on day 8. If answered, a hearing is typically scheduled within 10 to 30 days. A Writ of Possession is issued after a favorable ruling and the sheriff schedules physical removal within 1 to 2 weeks. Self-help eviction — changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities without a court order — is illegal under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-14 and exposes landlords to damages claims.
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