Homesteading in Georgia
Explore 159 counties and state-level regulations for homesteaders in Georgia.
Georgia uses a Riparian water rights system , enforces statewide IRC building codes , and has constitutional carry. The effective property tax rate is 0.83%.
State Regulations
Water Rights
System: Riparian
Follows regulated riparian doctrine. Surface water and groundwater withdrawals exceeding 100,000 gallons per day require a permit from EPD.
Statute: Ga. Code Ann. § 12-5-31
Building Codes
Statewide IRC: Yes (statewide)
Mandatory statewide minimum building codes adopted by DCA, based on IRC for residential. Local jurisdictions enforce.
Statute: Ga. Code Ann. § 8-2-20 et seq.
Gun Laws
Open Carry: Yes
Constitutional Carry: Yes
Constitutional carry effective April 2022 for persons 21 and older (18 for military). No permit needed for open or concealed carry.
Statute: Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-126; Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-129
Right to Farm
Protected: Yes
Protects agricultural operations from nuisance claims if the operation has been in existence for at least one year. Includes protections for expanded operations and changes in ownership.
Statute: Ga. Code Ann. § 41-1-7
Counties in Georgia
159 counties · Click column headers to sort
| County | Population | Median Home | Property Tax | Growing Days | Overall Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appling County | 18,441 | $88,500 | $657 | 131 | Relatively Low |
| Atkinson County | 8,265 | $77,100 | $719 | 134 | Very Low |
| Bacon County | 11,138 | $95,600 | $925 | 132 | Very Low |
| Baker County | 2,878 | $121,600 | $913 | 134 | Very Low |
| Baldwin County | 43,778 | $154,400 | $1,164 | 121 | Relatively Low |
| Banks County | 18,381 | $229,900 | $1,428 | 115 | Very Low |
| Barrow County | 84,399 | $228,400 | $1,940 | 116 | Relatively Low |
| Bartow County | 109,410 | $237,000 | $1,788 | 115 | Relatively Low |
| Ben Hill County | 17,169 | $100,000 | $1,028 | 131 | Very Low |
| Berrien County | 18,187 | $108,300 | $1,155 | 135 | Very Low |
| Bibb County | 156,554 | $155,200 | $1,743 | 123 | Relatively Low |
| Bleckley County | 12,413 | $121,600 | $1,268 | 126 | Very Low |
| Brantley County | 18,105 | $91,900 | $1,118 | 135 | Very Low |
| Brooks County | 16,275 | $128,400 | $1,525 | 138 | Very Low |
| Bryan County | 44,995 | $276,100 | $2,307 | 129 | Relatively Low |
| Bulloch County | 79,829 | $172,500 | $1,390 | 126 | Relatively Low |
| Burke County | 24,337 | $98,300 | $824 | 121 | Very Low |
| Butts County | 25,522 | $200,000 | $1,688 | 120 | Very Low |
| Calhoun County | 5,594 | $77,100 | $870 | 133 | Very Low |
| Camden County | 55,105 | $213,400 | $2,053 | 137 | Relatively Low |
| Candler County | 10,946 | $141,500 | $1,365 | 126 | Very Low |
| Carroll County | 120,060 | $196,900 | $1,338 | 110 | Relatively Low |
| Catoosa County | 68,052 | $191,200 | $1,397 | 104 | Relatively Low |
| Charlton County | 12,547 | $107,500 | $1,086 | 138 | Very Low |
| Chatham County | 296,266 | $256,400 | $2,418 | 129 | Relatively High |
| Chattahoochee County | 9,402 | $129,300 | $1,103 | 127 | Very Low |
| Chattooga County | 24,902 | $86,400 | $731 | 106 | Relatively Low |
| Cherokee County | 268,567 | $358,400 | $2,556 | 115 | Relatively Moderate |
| Clarke County | 128,864 | $242,600 | $2,302 | 117 | Relatively Low |
| Clay County | 2,855 | $81,200 | $873 | 132 | Very Low |
| Clayton County | 296,312 | $167,200 | $1,523 | 118 | Relatively Moderate |
| Clinch County | 6,713 | $73,900 | $1,141 | 137 | Very Low |
| Cobb County | 765,813 | $346,000 | $2,382 | 117 | Relatively High |
| Coffee County | 43,056 | $122,500 | $928 | 132 | Relatively Low |
| Colquitt County | 45,813 | $113,900 | $1,035 | 135 | Relatively Low |
| Columbia County | 156,921 | $259,000 | $2,363 | 118 | Relatively Low |
| Cook County | 17,242 | $113,600 | $984 | 135 | Very Low |
| Coweta County | 147,449 | $291,900 | $2,328 | 120 | Relatively Low |
| Crawford County | 12,156 | $149,400 | $1,364 | 124 | Very Low |
| Crisp County | 20,255 | $106,900 | $1,370 | 130 | Relatively Low |
| Dade County | 16,239 | $157,900 | $1,010 | 104 | Very Low |
| Dawson County | 27,355 | $312,600 | $2,140 | 114 | Very Low |
| Decatur County | 29,063 | $140,800 | $1,361 | 137 | Relatively Low |
| DeKalb County | 761,209 | $301,100 | $2,856 | 118 | Relatively Moderate |
| Dodge County | 19,977 | $104,600 | $980 | 128 | Relatively Low |
| Dooly County | 11,236 | $94,500 | $1,215 | 128 | Very Low |
| Dougherty County | 85,038 | $119,100 | $1,719 | 133 | Relatively Moderate |
| Douglas County | 144,735 | $227,800 | $1,875 | 118 | Relatively Low |
| Early County | 10,753 | $126,500 | $1,028 | 134 | Relatively Low |
| Echols County | 3,707 | $114,900 | $1,045 | 138 | Very Low |
| Effingham County | 65,314 | $219,000 | $2,195 | 127 | Relatively Low |
| Elbert County | 19,570 | $104,500 | $973 | 116 | Very Low |
| Emanuel County | 22,907 | $87,500 | $772 | 125 | Very Low |
| Evans County | 10,759 | $130,500 | $1,156 | 128 | Very Low |
| Fannin County | 25,436 | $260,100 | $952 | 112 | Relatively Low |
| Fayette County | 119,259 | $369,700 | $3,054 | 119 | Relatively Low |
| Floyd County | 98,541 | $174,000 | $1,428 | 107 | Relatively Moderate |
| Forsyth County | 253,225 | $451,100 | $3,500 | 115 | Relatively Moderate |
| Franklin County | 23,480 | $146,700 | $1,216 | 114 | Very Low |
| Fulton County | 1,061,944 | $398,300 | $3,631 | 118 | Relatively High |
| Gilmer County | 31,519 | $259,700 | $1,068 | 113 | Relatively Low |
| Glascock County | 2,903 | $117,300 | $1,227 | 120 | Very Low |
| Glynn County | 84,566 | $238,000 | $1,567 | 135 | Relatively Moderate |
| Gordon County | 57,785 | $179,100 | $1,302 | 114 | Relatively Low |
| Grady County | 26,075 | $147,000 | $1,518 | 137 | Relatively Low |
| Greene County | 19,020 | $308,000 | $2,132 | 118 | Very Low |
| Gwinnett County | 957,977 | $307,300 | $3,124 | 116 | Relatively High |
| Habersham County | 46,326 | $188,800 | $1,287 | 113 | Very Low |
| Hall County | 204,953 | $277,900 | $2,202 | 115 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hancock County | 8,588 | $93,500 | $980 | 120 | Very Low |
| Haralson County | 30,178 | $187,700 | $1,692 | 109 | Very Low |
| Harris County | 34,914 | $273,200 | $2,460 | 124 | Very Low |
| Hart County | 26,110 | $180,500 | $1,080 | 115 | Very Low |
| Heard County | 11,489 | $134,900 | $920 | 112 | Very Low |
| Henry County | 240,853 | $245,200 | $2,394 | 119 | Relatively Low |
| Houston County | 164,117 | $189,500 | $1,642 | 126 | Relatively Low |
| Irwin County | 9,487 | $94,700 | $1,062 | 132 | Very Low |
| Jackson County | 77,033 | $280,600 | $2,598 | 116 | Very Low |
| Jasper County | 14,882 | $184,000 | $1,707 | 120 | Very Low |
| Jeff Davis County | 14,791 | $106,800 | $1,039 | 130 | Very Low |
| Jefferson County | 15,591 | $90,900 | $938 | 121 | Very Low |
| Jenkins County | 8,704 | $81,800 | $754 | 123 | Very Low |
| Johnson County | 9,225 | $81,300 | $804 | 124 | Very Low |
| Jones County | 28,382 | $159,500 | $1,620 | 122 | Very Low |
| Lamar County | 18,676 | $177,000 | $1,792 | 121 | Very Low |
| Lanier County | 9,964 | $150,200 | $1,559 | 136 | Very Low |
| Laurens County | 49,407 | $132,000 | $1,108 | 126 | Relatively Low |
| Lee County | 32,968 | $208,800 | $2,159 | 130 | Very Low |
| Liberty County | 65,550 | $158,400 | $1,825 | 130 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lincoln County | 7,726 | $164,300 | $1,470 | 117 | Very Low |
| Long County | 16,804 | $159,900 | $1,829 | 131 | Very Low |
| Lowndes County | 118,257 | $177,800 | $1,524 | 138 | Relatively Low |
| Lumpkin County | 33,405 | $249,400 | $1,808 | 114 | Relatively Low |
| McDuffie County | 21,715 | $140,900 | $1,225 | 119 | Very Low |
| McIntosh County | 11,183 | $157,600 | $1,251 | 133 | Relatively Low |
| Macon County | 12,099 | $78,100 | $833 | 127 | Very Low |
| Madison County | 30,378 | $170,600 | $1,430 | 116 | Very Low |
| Marion County | 7,508 | $111,300 | $926 | 127 | Very Low |
| Meriwether County | 20,679 | $147,200 | $1,360 | 122 | Very Low |
| Miller County | 5,923 | $119,400 | $1,614 | 135 | Very Low |
| Mitchell County | 21,634 | $98,400 | $1,328 | 135 | Relatively Low |
| Monroe County | 28,287 | $204,100 | $1,505 | 122 | Very Low |
| Montgomery County | 8,687 | $105,300 | $1,059 | 128 | Very Low |
| Morgan County | 20,171 | $293,300 | $2,396 | 118 | Very Low |
| Murray County | 40,063 | $153,700 | $1,028 | 112 | Relatively Low |
| Muscogee County | 204,572 | $168,400 | $1,479 | 126 | Relatively Moderate |
| Newton County | 113,298 | $200,300 | $1,905 | 118 | Relatively Low |
| Oconee County | 41,978 | $389,200 | $2,872 | 117 | Very Low |
| Oglethorpe County | 14,974 | $176,300 | $1,474 | 117 | Very Low |
| Paulding County | 169,898 | $251,100 | $2,252 | 117 | Relatively Low |
| Peach County | 28,054 | $170,500 | $1,979 | 125 | Very Low |
| Pickens County | 33,439 | $263,200 | $1,855 | 114 | Very Low |
| Pierce County | 19,822 | $116,800 | $1,129 | 134 | Very Low |
| Pike County | 19,145 | $234,700 | $2,220 | 121 | Very Low |
| Polk County | 43,019 | $151,400 | $1,299 | 108 | Relatively Low |
| Pulaski County | 9,887 | $120,500 | $1,164 | 127 | Very Low |
| Putnam County | 22,206 | $203,300 | $1,449 | 120 | Relatively Low |
| Quitman County | 2,180 | $85,800 | $557 | 119 | Very Low |
| Rabun County | 16,915 | $236,900 | $1,295 | 112 | Relatively Low |
| Randolph County | 6,365 | $83,800 | $781 | 131 | Very Low |
| Richmond County | 206,153 | $142,100 | $1,358 | 120 | Relatively Moderate |
| Rockdale County | 93,641 | $221,800 | $1,673 | 118 | Relatively Low |
| Schley County | 4,565 | $154,300 | $1,431 | 127 | Very Low |
| Screven County | 14,026 | $107,800 | $1,192 | 124 | Relatively Low |
| Seminole County | 9,117 | $110,300 | $1,336 | 137 | Very Low |
| Spalding County | 67,415 | $178,800 | $1,714 | 120 | Very Low |
| Stephens County | 26,732 | $154,200 | $1,316 | 114 | Very Low |
| Stewart County | 5,121 | $72,500 | $730 | 129 | Very Low |
| Sumter County | 29,378 | $130,000 | $1,613 | 129 | Relatively Low |
| Talbot County | 5,793 | $119,400 | $1,279 | 124 | Very Low |
| Taliaferro County | 1,635 | $69,200 | $883 | 118 | Very Low |
| Tattnall County | 24,309 | $115,600 | $1,167 | 129 | Relatively Low |
| Taylor County | 7,799 | $90,100 | $814 | 125 | Very Low |
| Telfair County | 12,619 | $90,000 | $1,076 | 130 | Very Low |
| Terrell County | 9,004 | $97,000 | $1,193 | 131 | Very Low |
| Thomas County | 45,665 | $178,900 | $1,462 | 138 | Relatively Low |
| Tift County | 41,247 | $140,700 | $1,360 | 133 | Relatively Low |
| Toombs County | 26,946 | $124,800 | $1,208 | 129 | Very Low |
| Towns County | 12,546 | $278,700 | $1,067 | 112 | Very Low |
| Treutlen County | 6,411 | $98,500 | $1,037 | 126 | Very Low |
| Troup County | 69,527 | $166,700 | $1,681 | 113 | Relatively Low |
| Turner County | 8,894 | $85,600 | $1,035 | 131 | Very Low |
| Twiggs County | 7,955 | $89,300 | $954 | 124 | Very Low |
| Union County | 24,880 | $252,100 | $1,322 | 112 | Relatively Low |
| Upson County | 27,638 | $136,500 | $1,217 | 123 | Very Low |
| Walker County | 68,065 | $149,600 | $1,257 | 105 | Relatively Low |
| Walton County | 97,752 | $267,400 | $2,273 | 118 | Relatively Low |
| Ware County | 35,917 | $94,600 | $977 | 136 | Relatively Low |
| Warren County | 5,197 | $82,700 | $795 | 119 | Very Low |
| Washington County | 19,975 | $113,700 | $1,326 | 122 | Very Low |
| Wayne County | 30,277 | $142,200 | $1,168 | 132 | Relatively Low |
| Webster County | 2,354 | $77,100 | $994 | 129 | Very Low |
| Wheeler County | 7,550 | $82,600 | $685 | 129 | Very Low |
| White County | 28,165 | $232,000 | $1,571 | 113 | Relatively Low |
| Whitfield County | 103,033 | $175,000 | $1,276 | 112 | Relatively Moderate |
| Wilcox County | 8,839 | $65,300 | $608 | 129 | Very Low |
| Wilkes County | 9,610 | $92,500 | $1,194 | 118 | Very Low |
| Wilkinson County | 8,852 | $87,600 | $769 | 123 | Very Low |
| Worth County | 20,706 | $98,000 | $1,082 | 132 | Very Low |
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