Fayette County, GA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

locally. The Board of Commissioners finds that dwellings, buildings, or structures that are unfit for habitation or business use, out of compliance with applicable codes, dilapidated, fire hazards, lacking ventilation or sanitary facilities, or used for drug crimes constitute a public necessity for repair, closing, or demolition. A case starts when a public authority or at least five county residents file a written request with the director of the Building Department, who is designated public officer. After investigation, the director can file an in rem complaint against the property, serve it on the owner and interested parties, and a court hearing is held between 15 and 45 days after filing.

If the court finds the structure unfit, it orders repair, alteration, or improvement when that can be done at reasonable cost relative to the structure's present value, or demolition and removal when it cannot; land value is excluded from that cost comparison. If the owner does not comply, the director may repair, close, or demolish the structure, and must begin that abatement action within 270 days after the owner's compliance deadline expires. ' is posted on the structure, and removing it is unlawful. Demolition costs, court costs, appraisal fees, and administrative costs become a lien against the property, recorded with the clerk of superior court, superior to all liens except tax liens, and collected by the Tax Commissioner using ad valorem tax collection methods, without the usual 12-month delinquency wait.