Gordon County, GA Code Violation Reporting: Common Violations (2026)

Section 9-35 of the Gordon County Code names the physical conditions the county public nuisance officer looks for when deciding whether a building in unincorporated Gordon County is unfit. The officer can find a dwelling, building or structure unfit for human habitation, or unfit for its current commercial, industrial or business use, if conditions exist that are dangerous or injurious to the health, safety or morals of its occupants, of the occupants of neighborhood dwellings, buildings or structures, or of other residents of the county.

The section lists six conditions and says the list does not limit the officer's finding: defects increasing the hazards of fire, accidents or other calamities; lack of adequate ventilation, light or sanitary facilities; dilapidation; disrepair; structural defects; and uncleanliness. Because the list is stated as conditions that can be included without limiting the generality of the standard, a building with a different danger to health or safety still falls under the same test.

Section 9-36 adds a separate ground. The officer can determine, under existing ordinances, that a structure is vacant, dilapidated and being used in connection with the commission of drug crimes, on personal observation or a law enforcement agency's report together with evidence of drug crimes being committed.

A finding under these sections starts the process laid out in Sections 9-28 through 9-34: a complaint served on the owner, a hearing 10 to 30 days after service, a written order to repair, vacate and close, or demolish, and a lien for the county's costs if the owner does not act. The county ordinance officer enforces the article in the unincorporated areas under Section 9-38, and Section 9-30 bars a demolition order unless repair would cost more than one-half of the repaired value.