How long does an eviction take in Georgia?
For unpaid rent, expect about 4 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in Georgia, and anywhere from 2.5 to 9.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Georgia eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 3 dayssecondary source
3 days' notice (Ga. Code §§ 44-7-50, 44-7-52) source - File the case and get a judgment about 8-30 days (typical 14)official source
7 days after service to answer; if no answer, landlord can request the writ on day 8 source - Judgment to lockout 7-14 days (upper end is our model default)official source
Writ of possession takes effect 7 days after judgment; the landlord must apply within 30 days (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-55). The sheriff/marshal's scheduling time is not set by statute source - If the tenant appeals 7-day windowofficial source
7 days to appeal; to stay in the unit the tenant must pay the judgment and ongoing rent into the court registry source
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
Can the tenant pay and stay?
Tenant may tender rent and costs after the case is filed (limits apply). secondary source source
Eviction costs in Georgia
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $75-$79 | Fulton and Athens-Clarke examples: Varies by county: Fulton $75 (plus $35 service), Athens-Clarke $79 official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $35 | Fulton County: Fulton County service $35 official source source |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $75-$88 | Fulton and DeKalb counties: Writ of possession: Fulton County $75; DeKalb County $13 writ plus $75 marshal eviction fee official source source · second source |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $1,506/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$18) data file |
Tenant protections
| Statewide rent control | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Statewide just-cause rules | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Right to counsel for tenants | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Seasonal or weather limits | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Required mediation / pre-filing program | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
Eviction cost calculator for Georgia
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 79/100
Timeline 41.7/50 · right to cure 7/20 · statewide protections 30/30. How the score works.
Georgia eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Georgia?
A nonpayment eviction in Georgia typically takes about 4 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 2.5 to 9.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Georgia?
3 days' notice (Ga. Code §§ 44-7-50, 44-7-52).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Georgia by paying the rent?
Tenant may tender rent and costs after the case is filed (limits apply).
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Georgia?
The filing fee we found is $75-$79 (Fulton and Athens-Clarke examples). That is a local example, not a statewide fee, and other courts charge different amounts. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
Is Georgia landlord-friendly for evictions?
Georgia scores 79 out of 100 on the EvictionMath landlord-friendliness score (timeline 41.7/50, right to cure 7/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | secondary source | www.nolo.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | official source | law.justia.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | official source | law.justia.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | official source | law.justia.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | magistratefulton.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | official source | magistratefulton.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | official source | www.magistratefulton.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee (backup) | secondary source | dekalbcountymagistratecourt.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Not yet verified for Georgia: post judgment max. Fields we couldn't source are left blank, never guessed. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
Compare similar states
Tennessee (79, 5.5 wk) · Connecticut (80, 5.5 wk) · Alabama (77, 6 wk) · Illinois (77, 6 wk) · Rhode Island (77, 4.5 wk)