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

Section 5-23 sets up an in-rem nuisance process for any dwelling, building, structure, or property found unfit for human habitation or business use, not in compliance with applicable codes, used in connection with drug crimes, or otherwise unsafe. After investigating, the county attorney can file a complaint in rem against the property and serve the owner and parties in interest, who get a hearing at the Whitfield County Courthouse no less than 15 and no more than 45 days after filing. If the court finds the property meets one of those conditions, § 5-23(6) requires it to issue a written order: where repair, alteration, or improvement can be made at a reasonable cost relative to the property's present value, the court orders the owner to bring the structure into compliance within a specified time; where repair cannot be made at a reasonable cost, the court instead orders the owner to demolish and remove the structure and all debris.

If the owner fails to comply, a public officer can have the work done, post a placard declaring the building unfit and its use prohibited, and, under § 5-24, place a lien for the cost of demolition, court costs, attorney fees and appraisal fees against the property, collected by the Whitfield County Tax Commissioner along with property taxes. Public officers empowered to act under this division include Board of Commissioners members, the sheriff, the tax assessor, the probate judge, the county engineer, the zoning administrator, code enforcement officers, and Environmental Health Office employees, per § 5-22.