Gwinnett County, GA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- unincorporated Gwinnett County only
- Enforcer
- director of planning and development
- Remedy
- repair, close, or demolish
- Authority
- O.C.G.A. §§ 41-2-7: 41-2-17
Summary
Gwinnett County can order repair, closure, or demolition of any unincorporated-area dwelling or structure found unfit for human habitation, with abatement costs recovered through a property lien.
where it is determined that there exists in the county a dwelling or other building or structure which is unfit for human habitation or for commercial, industrial, or business occupancy or use, or where there exists in the county a condition or use of real estate which renders adjacent real estate unsafe or inimical to safe human habitation, and where such determination is made by the director of the department of planning and development, such official shall have the power to have repaired, closed or demolished any such dwelling, building or structure, or to cause to be abated any such unsafe or unsanitary conditions which create a public health hazard or general nuisance in accordance with the provisions of O.C.G.A. §§ 41-2-7—41-2-17, which are hereby adopted and incorporated by reference within this section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 38-21, the county's director of planning and development may find a dwelling, building, or structure in unincorporated Gwinnett unfit for human habitation or business use, or a condition on real estate unsafe to neighboring property, and order it repaired, closed, or demolished under O.C.G.A. §§ 41-2-7 through 41-2-17. Sections 38-22 through 38-27 set the complaint, hearing, and lien procedure the county follows if an owner does not comply, including posting a placard and filing a lien for demolition costs.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliance lets the county repair, close, or demolish the structure itself and place a lien on the property for the cost, superior to most other liens (Sec. 38-25, 38-27).
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a Gwinnett County property is declared unfit for habitation?
Does this apply inside Lawrenceville or Duluth?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gwinnett County
Compare Gwinnett County to another location·View the Georgia property maintenance overview
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