County recording office
Fulton Clerk of Superior Court
Tidying the common area
Georgia POA Act is opt-in
Statutory lien and late-fee powers apply only if your declaration opted into the Property Owners' Association Act (O.C.G.A. §44-3-220+). Watch the 20-year covenant renewal rule too.
Atlanta anchors a sprawling metro across Fulton and DeKalb counties, with HOAs that range from intown condo and townhome associations near the BeltLine to large master-planned subdivisions in the northern suburbs. Because Georgia's Property Owners' Association Act (POAA) is opt-in, the first question many Atlanta boards must answer is whether their recorded declaration submitted the community to the POAA — that single fact decides whether the association has automatic assessment-lien and late-fee powers or must rely on common-law covenants.
County recording office
Fulton Clerk of Superior Court
Southeastern humidity accelerates mold, rot, and paint failure. Set clear maintenance standards for exteriors.
Board checklist
Municipal trash schedules, curb placement, and code enforcement pathways.
City/county sanitation ordinances govern collection and bulk waste in Atlanta. Code enforcement addresses grass, junk, and exterior maintenance when local codes apply.
Mediation, courts, and state resources when board actions are challenged.
Owners may use association dispute procedures, mediation, or Georgia courts. Magistrate Court dollar limits apply—confirm with Fulton County clerk. Georgia Department of Law Consumer Protection Unit provides general guidance.
Atlanta may require business licenses or zoning approval for short-term rentals under Georgia zoning enabling laws. The Georgia Property Owners' Association Act (POAA) governs many association procedures—reconcile city STR rules with recorded covenants.
Late fee estimator
Enter your typical monthly assessment to see how local caps may apply. KindHOA can automate notices and fee schedules once your board defines the rules.
Estimated legal ceiling
$10.00
Many associations cannot assess late fees until accounts are at least 30 days past due and proper notice has been sent. You entered 15 days past due.
Tell us about your community. We'll show you how KindHOA automates dues, late fees, and resident communication — free for self-managed HOAs.
No per-door fees. No enterprise bloat. Just the tools your neighbors need to run Atlanta with confidence.
A volunteer board guide for Atlanta: understand where municipal code ends, where your HOA covenants begin, and how to comply with Georgia Property Owners' Association Act (POAA).
The quick answer
Reviewed by the KindHOA Editorial Team · Last reviewed July 25, 2026
Local rules board members use
City-specific answers for Atlanta — sourced to municipal code and official city pages. Educational, not legal advice.
Atlanta's humid subtropical climate brings hot, stormy summers, occasional tropical-storm remnants, and heavy tree canopy, so covenants frequently address tree removal, stormwater drainage, and exterior maintenance. City zoning and short-term-rental registration sit on top of recorded covenants. Liens and covenant amendments are recorded with the Fulton County Superior Court Clerk.
Primary source: Atlanta municipal code / city ordinances
Summaries below are for board orientation. Verify requirements in the official Atlanta municipal code (opens in a new tab).
Atlanta municipal code
Atlanta may require business licenses or zoning approval for short-term rentals under Georgia zoning enabling laws. The Georgia Property Owners' Association Act (POAA) governs many association procedures—reconcile city STR rules with recorded covenants.
HOA governing documents
HOAs enforce recorded use restrictions (minimum lease terms, guest limits, parking) when consistent with applicable city licensure and state law. Covenant enforcement requires notice, cure periods, and uniform application.
Zoning & building code
Local zoning and UDC rules in Atlanta govern fences and accessory structures. HOAs may regulate design through covenants if enforcement complies with POAA notice requirements.
Permit thresholds
Building permits are issued by the city or county serving Atlanta for regulated construction. HOA architectural review is additive.
HOA architectural control
HOAs review fences and additions through architectural committees under CC&Rs. Municipal compliance alone does not satisfy HOA design or notice requirements.
State / local protections
Georgia law limits certain HOA restrictions on solar installations under O.C.G.A. §44-3-234 (verify current applicability to your community type). Landscaping standards must be reasonable and consistently enforced.
What HOAs may still regulate
HOAs may adopt reasonable design rules that meet statutory tests (location, color, timeline). Associations cannot impose outright bans where state law voids them.
Georgia and Gulf communities benefit from coordinated treatment logs and ARC standards for wood contact.
Board checklist
HOAs must maintain detention ponds, swales, and drains to meet local stormwater permits.
Board checklist
Local zoning and UDC rules in Atlanta govern fences and accessory structures. HOAs may regulate design through covenants if enforcement complies with POAA notice requirements.
City/county sanitation ordinances govern collection and bulk waste in Atlanta. Code enforcement addresses grass, junk, and exterior maintenance when local codes apply.
Building permits are issued by the city or county serving Atlanta for regulated construction. HOA architectural review is additive.
Georgia law limits certain HOA restrictions on solar installations under O.C.G.A. §44-3-234 (verify current applicability to your community type). Landscaping standards must be reasonable and consistently enforced.
Owners may use association dispute procedures, mediation, or Georgia courts. Magistrate Court dollar limits apply—confirm with Fulton County clerk. Georgia Department of Law Consumer Protection Unit provides general guidance.
Sources
KindHOA is educational software for self-managed boards, not a law firm, and this guide is not legal advice. State statutes, local ordinances, and your community’s recorded CC&Rs control and change over time — confirm liens, amendments, and enforcement with association counsel and the official sources above.
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