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Georgia notice to pay rent or quit
As of October 27, 2026, Georgia requires a written notice to pay or vacate within 3 business days before a landlord files for possession over unpaid rent, fees or utilities.1
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs explains that the landlord then files a sworn dispossessory affidavit, usually in the magistrate court of the county where the rental is located.2
Georgia at a glance
- Days to pay or move out
- 3 days1
A dash or a missing box means the official pages we read do not state that rule; we never fill it in from memory.
Preview of the document
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
State of Georgia
1. Notice to pay rent or quit
Date: Date. To: Tenant, and all other occupants. Property: Address, county County.
2. Rent past due
As of the date of this notice, you owe Amount in rent for period under your rental agreement for the property listed above. This amount is rent only.
3. Pay or move out
4. How to pay
5. Federal 30-day notice, when it applies
6. If the rent is not paid
7. Signatures
8. Proof of delivery
Sections 3–8 unlock after purchase. Prepared with SimplePaperwork, which is not a law firm.
Georgia’s rules, with sources
- State form
- A Georgia notice to pay or vacate can list late fees, utilities and other charges owed to the landlord, not only the rent.1
- Deadlines
- Georgia Code Section 44-7-50(c), as rewritten by the Safe at Home Act of 2024, lets a landlord file for possession over unpaid rent only after a notice giving the tenant three business days to pay or vacate.1
- The Georgia three-business-day notice rule covers residential leases signed or renewed on or after July 1, 2024.1
- Delivering the notice
- Georgia requires the three-day notice to be posted in a sealed envelope in a visible spot on the door, plus any other delivery method the rental agreement sets.1
- Where it is filed
- The Georgia Department of Community Affairs explains that the landlord then files a sworn dispossessory affidavit, usually in the magistrate court of the county where the rental is located.2
- Law
- After a Georgia nonpayment case is served, the tenant has seven days to pay the rent, fees and court costs as a complete defense, but only once in any 12-month period.2
Questions about a Georgia pay-or-quit notice
How many days does a Georgia tenant get to pay late rent before an eviction filing?
Three business days. Since the Safe at Home Act took effect on July 1, 2024, a Georgia landlord gives a written notice to vacate or pay before filing a dispossessory case for unpaid rent, for leases signed or renewed from that date.
The notice can cover more than rent: late fees, utilities and other charges owed to the landlord may be part of the amount. A 2026 bill to stretch the period to seven days stalled in the House, so three business days is still the rule.1
How must a Georgia notice to pay or vacate be delivered?
Sealed in an envelope and posted conspicuously on the door of the rental. If the lease names other ways to send notices, such as email, the notice also goes out that way.
The Department of Community Affairs handbook describes the same two steps and suggests keeping a record of how and when the notice was served.1,2
What to have at hand
- Property address, unit and county
- The exact rent past due and the rental periods it covers
- Who takes the rent, where, and the hours for paying in person
- Whether the property has a federally backed mortgage or a federal housing program
It does not evict anyone. Only a court can order a tenant out; this notice is the step that usually comes before filing.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Georgia tenant stop the eviction by paying after the case is filed?
Yes, once a year. Within seven days of being served, the tenant can pay all rent and fees claimed plus court costs, and the landlord cannot evict on that claim. The defense can be used only once in 12 months.2
Where this information comes from
Georgia’s rules above come from the state’s own statutes, agency pages and forms, read on the date shown. A rule that passes its review date without a new check is removed automatically.
- House Bill 404 (2024), Safe at Home Act, as passed by the Georgia General Assembly Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
- Georgia Landlord-Tenant Handbook (Georgia Department of Community Affairs, revised 8-29-24) Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
Something changed? Tell us what is out of date and we will check the official page again.