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

Under § 2-5-200, the Glynn County Board of Commissioners has declared that dwellings, buildings, structures or properties in the unincorporated county that are unfit for habitation or commercial use due to dilapidation, code noncompliance, fire hazards, or inadequate ventilation, light or sanitary features are public nuisances, and the same applies to vacant property used for drug crimes. The Glynn County Planning and Zoning Director serves as the 'public officer' who investigates and, under § 2-5-203(b), files a complaint in rem in Magistrate Court against the property.

The court must hold a hearing 15 to 45 days after filing, following certified-mail notice to every interested party (owner, lienholders, and anyone with a recorded property interest) and posting on the property itself. If the Magistrate Court finds the property unfit under § 2-5-203(d), it must choose one of two orders: where repair is reasonable relative to the building's present value, the owner must repair, alter or improve the structure to bring it into compliance; where it is not, the owner must demolish the building and remove all debris.

The court sets the present value without counting the land, based on appraiser, contractor or inspector affidavits. If the owner misses the deadline, § 2-5-204 lets the public officer do the work directly, post a placard declaring the building unfit for occupancy, and § 2-5-206 places a lien for all costs, including demolition, against the property, collectible through the Tax Commissioner like delinquent ad valorem taxes.