How long does an eviction take in Georgia?
For unpaid rent, expect about 4 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 2.5 to 10 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Georgia actually earn?
We'll prefill Georgia's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,506/mo
- Property tax 0.74%
- Insurance $741–$1,433/yr
- Vacancy 7.4%–7.7%
The Georgia eviction timeline
Each step comes from Georgia's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 4 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
4 days3 business days (about 4 calendar days) to pay all past-due rent, late fees, utilities and other charges or move out; the notice must be posted in a sealed envelope on the door (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50(c)-(d), leases entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2024)
- 2
File and get a judgment
8–30 days · typical 147 days after service to answer; if no answer, landlord can request the writ on day 8
- 3
Judgment to lockout
7–14 days (upper end is our model default)Writ of possession takes effect 7 days after judgment; the landlord must apply within 30 days (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-55). The sheriff/marshal's scheduling time is not set by statute
- 4
If the tenant appeals
7-day window7 days to appeal; to stay in the unit the tenant must pay the judgment and ongoing rent into the court registry
Can the tenant pay and stay? Tenant may tender rent and costs after the case is filed (limits apply). official source Source ↗
Evicting in Atlanta? City rules add to the state rules. Atlanta eviction timeline, fees and protections →
What an eviction costs in Georgia
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found; most are set by county, so each one says where it applies. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
Fulton County$60Fulton County Magistrate Court dispossessory filing $60, plus $35 marshal service and $8 per extra defendant; other counties differ
Serving the tenant
Fulton County$35Fulton County marshal service of a dispossessory $35 ($8 per extra defendant)
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Fulton and DeKalb counties$75–$88Writ of possession: Fulton County $75; DeKalb County $13 writ plus $75 marshal eviction fee
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,506/moGeorgia median gross rent, ±$18. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Statewide just-cause rules: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Georgia scores 79 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
Georgia eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Georgia?
A nonpayment eviction in Georgia typically takes about 4 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 2.5 to 10 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Georgia?
3 business days (about 4 calendar days) to pay all past-due rent, late fees, utilities and other charges or move out; the notice must be posted in a sealed envelope on the door (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50(c)-(d), leases entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2024).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Georgia by paying the rent?
Tenant may tender rent and costs after the case is filed (limits apply).
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Georgia?
The filing fee we found is $60 (Fulton County). That is a local example, not a statewide fee, and other courts charge different amounts. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Georgia?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Georgia costs a landlord roughly $2,100 to $3,100: about 4 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,506/month (about $1,400), court and service fees of about $170-$183, and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 10 weeks can pass $5,700. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Georgia landlord-friendly for evictions?
Georgia scores 79 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 41.7/50, right to cure 7/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Not yet verified for Georgia: post judgment max. Fields we couldn't source are labeled unverified, never guessed. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Notice period (backup)secondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Appealofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourcemagistratefulton.org ↗
- Service feeofficial sourcemagistratefulton.org ↗
- Lockout feeofficial sourcemagistratefulton.org ↗
- Lockout fee (backup)secondary sourcedekalbcountymagistratecourt.com ↗
- Right to cureofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
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