Gordon County, GA Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)

Reporting a run-down or dangerous building in unincorporated Gordon County runs through the public nuisance process in Article II of Chapter 9 of the Gordon County Code. Section 2-4 creates the county ordinance officer, who enforces the laws and ordinances relating to litter, nuisances and dangerous dogs. Section 9-27 adopts O.C.G.A. §§ 41-1-1 through 41-2-16 as the county's public nuisance ordinance and names the board designee, serving at the pleasure of the Board of Commissioners, as the county public nuisance officer.

Section 9-28 sets out who can start a case. A request can come from a public authority or from at least five residents of the unincorporated area, charging that a dwelling, building or structure is unfit for human habitation or for commercial, industrial or business use. The officer can also act on his own motion, including when a structure is vacant, dilapidated and being used in connection with drug crimes. A report from a single neighbor does not meet the five-resident threshold, but the officer's own-motion authority covers any structure he finds unfit. After a preliminary investigation that discloses a basis for the charges, the officer issues a complaint served on the owner and any parties in interest.

The complaint fixes a hearing not less than 10 days and not more than 30 days after service. The owner and parties in interest can file an answer, appear in person or otherwise and give testimony, and the rules of evidence used in courts of law or equity do not control. Sections 9-2 and 9-38 direct the ordinance officer to enforce the article in the unincorporated areas and on county-owned property. Sections 9-27 and 9-28 print no hotline or web form, so the filing goes to the public nuisance officer designated by the Board of Commissioners.